New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said his party will introduce legislation in Parliament seeking to ban children under 16 from using social media, in a move aimed at limiting what the government says are growing harms to young people.
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Under the proposed law, social media platforms could face fines of up to 10% of their global revenue if they fail to comply, according to The Guardian.
Luxon said the legislation would require social media companies to take reasonable steps to verify users’ ages, potentially using information already held in accounts, facial-recognition technology and digital identity documents.
He said the government could not accept the harm children are being exposed to through social media platforms.
Growing Concerns
Luxon said social media exposes children to harmful content, addictive technologies and pressures they may not be equipped to handle. He said these effects can extend to family life, mental health, sleep and education.
The prime minister acknowledged that enforcing the proposed ban would not be easy or completely effective, noting that some children could find ways around the restrictions. However, he argued that the importance of addressing the issue justified moving ahead with the legislation.
Political Disagreement
The proposal has faced opposition from one of Luxon’s coalition partners. New Zealand First has said it will not support the legislation, raising questions about whether the bill can secure the majority needed to pass Parliament.
Party leader and Foreign Minister Winston Peters said his party had concerns about the proposed legislation and the direction it could take, warning of what he described as a “slippery slope” created by laws of this kind.
Australia’s Experience
The debate in New Zealand has been heavily influenced by Australia’s experience. Australia became the first country in the world to ban social media use by children under 16 in December last year, covering platforms including TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.
Peters criticized the Australian approach, calling the legislation a “dismal failure” and arguing that responsibility for keeping children away from social media should rest with parents rather than the government.
Digital Age Verification
The proposed legislation would require technology companies to verify users’ ages, potentially increasing reliance on facial recognition, digital identity systems and information already held in user accounts.
The move comes amid growing international debate over the impact of social media use on children, particularly concerns about harmful content, digital addiction, mental health, sleep disruption and academic performance.
Luxon acknowledged that the government could not guarantee that all children would be kept off social media if the law were passed, but stressed that this should not prevent authorities from seeking stricter protections for those under 16.
