VNorway’s government has announced plans to extend its proposed social media age restrictions to include certain gaming and messaging platforms considered harmful to children under the age of 16.
The Norwegian government announced the change on Monday, October 19, 2026, saying the revised proposal would cover digital platforms whose design, features or content could threaten children’s emotional and cognitive development, health or safety.
The platforms expected to fall within the proposed legislation include TikTok, Snapchat and the online gaming platform Roblox.
According to the government, some gaming platforms operate with features that go beyond traditional gaming, including algorithmic recommendation systems and advertising practices that may expose children to harmful content.
Norway’s Minister for Children and Families, Lene Vågslid, said the government wanted to ensure that children received stronger protection across digital platforms, rather than focusing exclusively on conventional social media applications.
The proposed age restriction would remain in place until January 1 of the year a child turns 16. Technology companies would be responsible for introducing systems to verify users’ ages and ensure compliance with the rules.
The government said the revised approach was intended to make the legislation more targeted while reducing exemptions that could allow potentially harmful platforms to escape regulation.
The proposal reflects growing international concern about children’s online safety, including exposure to inappropriate content, online harassment, harmful advertising and digital features designed to encourage prolonged engagement.
Gaming platforms such as Roblox allow users to interact, communicate and share experiences, raising questions about whether services that combine gaming with social networking should be subject to similar restrictions.
Norway’s government plans to present the proposed legislation to parliament before the end of 2026. However, the bill must receive sufficient parliamentary support before it can become law because the governing Labour Party does not hold a majority in parliament
The proposal is part of broader efforts by governments to strengthen protections for children in digital environments while addressing concerns about privacy, freedom of communication and access to online services.
If adopted, the legislation would place greater responsibility on technology companies to establish reliable age-verification systems and protect younger users from platforms classified as harmful.
The final scope of the restrictions will depend on the legislation approved by parliament and the criteria used to determine which platforms fall under the age limit.
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