Norway Set to Introduce Age Limit for Social Media – What you Need to Know

The Norwegian Government confirmed in a press release today that it will present a bill to the Parliament in 2026 requiring social media platforms to verify the age of young users and prevent access for children below the age limit. Under the proposed framework, enforcement will be anchored in the EU Digital Services Act (DSA), which Norway is in the process of incorporating into the EEA Agreement, placing the compliance burden squarely on the platforms rather than on children or their parents. The age limit will be set at 1 January of the year a child turns 16 to ensure equal treatment of all children at the same school cohort.

Once the DSA is fully implemented in Norwegian law, platforms that fail to comply could face fines of up to six percent of their global annual turnover. The bill is expected to be sent for mandatory EEA notification before the summer, with a standard three-month consultation period, and could enter into force at the earliest in 2027. The initiative places Norway at the forefront of European efforts to regulate children's access to social media, alongside similar proposals being developed in France, Denmark, Spain and Portugal.

It is also worth noting that Norway's Data Protection Authority (Datatilsynet) has raised concerns about the privacy implications of large-scale age verification, particularly the risk that sensitive personal data may end up with commercial operators. Businesses offering social media services in or into the Norwegian market should monitor the legislative process closely and begin assessing how age-verification requirements may affect their operations. The IP/Tech Team at CMS Kluge will continue to monitor developments as the legislative process progresses. For questions about the proposed legislation and its potential impact, please contact Linn Cathrine Jøsendal or Nora Aareskjold.