New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced a plan to ban children under the age of 16 from using social media.
He said the proposal is meant to protect young people from harmful content, cyberbullying, and exploitation.
What the Proposed Law Will Do
The new law will require social media companies to verify that users are at least 16 years old.
If they fail to do so, they could be fined up to NZ$2 million (about S$1.55 million).
PM Luxon said:
“It’s time that New Zealand acknowledged that, for all the good things that come from social media, it’s not always a safe place for our young people to be.”
“It’s time we put the onus on these platforms to protect vulnerable children from harmful content, cyberbullying and exploitation.”
Parents Are Struggling, Says PM
According to PM Luxon, many parents have been asking for more support.
“Parents are constantly telling us that they are really worried about the impact that social media is having on their children.”
“And they say they are really struggling to manage access to social media.”
Law Drafted by National MP Catherine Wedd
The bill was drafted by Catherine Wedd, a lawmaker from Luxon’s National Party.
She said:
“As a mother of four children, I feel very strongly that families and parents should be better supported when it comes to overseeing their children’s online exposure.”
The National Party is the largest member of New Zealand’s three-party ruling coalition. To pass the bill, the support of the other two coalition partners will be needed.
Inspired by Australia’s Tough Laws
The proposal follows the example of Australia, which passed one of the world’s toughest social media laws in November 2024.
Australia’s law blocks children under 16 from accessing platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X, though YouTube will likely be excluded, so children can still use it for schoolwork.
Some tech companies have criticised Australia’s law as being “rushed,” “vague,” and “problematic.” New Zealand is expected to learn from how Australia rolls out its policy.
Still in Early Stages
The proposed law does not yet name specific social media platforms and is still in its early stages.
New Zealand previously banned mobile phones in schools in 2023, in an effort to improve literacy levels.
