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

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says his party will introduce legislation aimed at preventing children under 16 from accessing social media, with platforms potentially facing significant financial penalties if they fail to comply.

Under the proposed law, social media companies would be required to take reasonable measures to establish users' ages. Those measures could include checking existing account information, using facial-age technology and verifying digital identity documents.

Luxon said the government could not ignore what he described as the growing harm social media was causing young people.

He said children were being exposed to harmful material, addictive technologies and social pressures they were not yet equipped to manage, with potential consequences for family relationships, mental health, sleep and education.

However, the proposed legislation faces an uncertain path through Parliament.

One of Luxon's coalition partners, New Zealand First, has indicated it will not support the bill. Party leader Winston Peters, who is also foreign minister, criticised the proposal, warning that such legislation could put New Zealand on a dangerous path.

Peters also pointed to Australia's experience with its under-16 social media restrictions, describing the policy as a "colossal failure". He argued that responsibility for managing children's access to social media should ultimately rest with parents.

Australia introduced its landmark under-16 social media restrictions in December, becoming the first country to implement such a broad ban. The rules cover major platforms including TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.

Luxon acknowledged that enforcing a similar policy in New Zealand would not be straightforward.

He said some young people would inevitably find ways to circumvent restrictions, but argued that the potential benefits made the effort worthwhile.

The proposed legislation could therefore trigger a broader debate in New Zealand over how far governments should go in regulating children's online activity, and where responsibility should lie between governments, technology companies and parents.