New Zealand Moves to Ban Social Media for Under-16s

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on Monday that his party will introduce legislation seeking to ban children under 16 from using social media, with platforms facing fines of up to 10% of their global revenue for failing to comply.

The proposed bill would require social media companies to take reasonable measures to verify users’ ages, potentially using existing account information, facial technology and digital identity documents. Luxon said the move was aimed at protecting children from harmful content, addictive technology and online pressures affecting their family life, sleep, education and wellbeing.

However, the bill faces political uncertainty after coalition partner New Zealand First said it would not support the proposal. Foreign Minister Winston Peters called Australia’s similar under-16 social media ban a “colossal failure” and argued that keeping children off social media should remain the responsibility of parents. Australia introduced the world’s first such ban in December, covering platforms including TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.

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