New Zealand to ban under‑16s from social media
New Zealand is drafting a bill that would prohibit anyone under 16 from using social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook.
Key requirements: Platforms must verify users are over 16, using existing account data, facial age estimation or digital identity checks. They will also need to regularly assess and report on the risks of their services.
If they fail to comply, the bill could impose fines up to 10% of a company’s global revenue.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the ban is needed to protect children from harmful content, addictive technology and pressure they’re not equipped to handle. “We have protections to keep children safe in the real world and we need them in the virtual world too,” he added.
The proposal follows Australia’s recent under‑16 ban and mirrors upcoming plans in the UK and Greece.
Opposition comes from coalition partners Act and New Zealand First, who say the bill is ineffective and could hurt children’s freedom. Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour criticised the ban for “not working,” while NZF leader Winston Peters warned it could lead to a “slippery slope.”
The bill’s success is uncertain, as parliament must still debate and vote on it.
