New Zealand moves to ban social media for under-16s
Firms like Meta could be fined up to 10 percent of their global revenue if they fail to comply
New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon introduced legislation on Monday to ban children under 16 from using social media, citing the harmful effects on young people, such as exposure to harmful content, addictive technology, and pressures they are not equipped to handle. This proposal wouldn't pass into law, however, as two parties in his coalition government will vote against it, leaving supporters to seek votes from opposition lawmakers.
The bill requires social media platforms including Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and Facebook to verify users are older than 16, with potential fines of up to 10% of their global revenue for non-compliance. Child safety advocates and some parents support age restrictions, while privacy groups argue they can be easily circumvented and that requiring identification raises privacy concerns.
Canada, Brazil, and Indonesia have enacted similar age restrictions since Australia's ban in 2025, which Luxon hopes to emulate if reelected.
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