New Zealand proposes social media ban for under-16s
Photo: REUTERS
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced on Monday his party’s plan to introduce a bill in Parliament that seeks to ban children under 16 from using social media.
Under the proposed legislation, platforms that fail to comply could face hefty fines of up to 10 percent of their global revenue. The bill would require tech companies to take reasonable measures to verify users’ ages, utilizing methods like facial technology, digital identity documents, and existing account information.
Expressing concern over the impact of digital platforms on youth, Luxon issued a statement explaining, “We simply cannot accept the harm being done to a generation of New Zealand children. Social media is exposing them to harmful content, addictive technology and pressures they are not equipped to deal with and it’s affecting their family life, mental health, sleep and education.”
Despite his push, the draft bill faces an uncertain path in Parliament because one of Luxon’s coalition partners, the New Zealand First party, declared its opposition to the measure.
Expressing his disapproval on the platform X, Winston Peters, the leader of New Zealand First who also serves as the nation’s foreign minister, said, “We have been concerned with the proposed legislation and the direction and slippery slope that legislation like this will inevitably take our country.”
Peters pointed to Australia, which in December became the first nation in the world to ban social media for children under 16 - restricting access to platforms such as TikTok, Alphabet’s YouTube, and Meta’s Instagram and Facebook.
Peters labeled the Australian legislation a “colossal failure,” arguing that keeping children off social media platforms must remain the responsibility of parents.
While speaking at a public event, Luxon acknowledged the steep challenges of implementing such a ban. “I won’t pretend that it will be simple or that it will be perfect,” Luxon remarked.
He conceded that “We won’t get every single child off social media. Some will always find ways around it, but frankly, it’s just way too important not to at least try.”
Source: Reuters (adapted)
