New Zealand is moving to stop children under 16 from using social media, with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon saying his party will introduce a bill that could see social media companies fined heavily if they fail to enforce the proposed age restriction.
Under the proposed law, platforms would have to take reasonable steps to check the age of their users. They could use information already held on users’ accounts, facial-age technology and digital identity documents to determine whether someone is old enough to use their services.
Companies that fail to comply could face fines of up to 10% of their global revenue.
“We simply cannot accept the harm being done to a generation of New Zealand children,” Luxon said in a statement.
He argued that social media was exposing young people to harmful content, addictive technology and pressures they were not prepared to handle, with consequences for family life, mental health, sleep and education.
But the proposal already faces a political hurdle.
New Zealand First, one of the parties supporting Luxon’s coalition government, has said it will not back the bill. Party leader Winston Peters, who is also foreign minister, said his party had serious concerns about the legislation and where it could lead.
“We have been concerned with the proposed legislation and the direction and slippery slope that legislation like this will inevitably take our country,” Peters said in a post on X.
Peters also criticised Australia’s similar policy, describing it as a “colossal failure” and arguing that parents, rather than governments, should be responsible for deciding whether children use social media.
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New Zealand’s proposal follows Australia’s decision to introduce the world’s first nationwide social media ban for children under 16.
Australia’s law, which took effect in December, prevents under-16s from accessing major platforms including TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.
Luxon acknowledged that enforcing such a ban would not be easy.
“I won’t pretend that it will be simple or that it will be perfect,” he said at an event.
Some children will inevitably find ways around restrictions, he said, but that should not stop the government from trying.
“We won’t get every single child off social media,” Luxon said. “Some will always find ways around it, but frankly, it’s just way too important not to at least try.”
The New Zealand bill still needs enough support in Parliament to become law, meaning its future will depend on whether the government can win over its coalition partners or find support elsewhere.
For parents, technology companies and young people, the debate is likely to centre on a simple but difficult question: who should decide when a child is old enough to use social media — the government, the platforms or the parents?
About the Author
Cecilia Attah is a tech analyst with a degree from Benue State University. She covers tech news and startups at TechRegard with a focus on how technology is transforming Africa and shaping the global landscape.
