New Zealand is joining the growing international push to restrict social media access for children under 16, with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s government introducing an Online Safety Bill aimed at placing greater responsibility on technology companies to protect young users, according to AP News and Reuters. The proposed legislation targets major platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and Facebook.
Under the proposal, social media companies would be required to take reasonable steps to verify that users are at least 16 years old. Platforms that fail to comply could face penalties of up to 10% of their global revenue, while age verification could involve digital identification and other technologies. The government says the policy is driven by concerns over harmful content, addictive technology and the effects of excessive social media use on children’s mental health, sleep, education and family life.
Luxon said the government could not accept the harm being experienced by a generation of children, noting that one in three New Zealanders aged 13 to 17 reportedly spends at least five hours a day on social media. The proposal follows Australia’s introduction of a world first under 16 social media restriction and comes amid similar regulatory efforts across several countries.
However, New Zealand’s proposal faces significant political hurdles. Coalition partners New Zealand First and ACT oppose the legislation, while the opposition Labour Party has not committed to supporting it. With an election approaching, the bill is unlikely to be enacted immediately, making the country’s next steps an important test of whether governments can balance child protection, privacy, enforcement and parental responsibility in the digital age.
