New Zealand moves to ban under-16s from social media in major crackdown

New Zealand's prime minister, Christopher Luxon, plans to introduce a bill in parliament that would ban children under 16 from using social media. The legislation aims to protect the well-being of the next generation by limiting their exposure to harmful content, addictive technology, and pressures that they are not equipped to handle. Those found in breach of the law could face fines of up to 10% of the platform's global revenue.

Social media has been linked to various negative consequences for young New Zealanders, including detrimental effects on their family life, mental health, sleep patterns, and educational performance. Luxon emphasized the urgency of the issue, stating that, despite the challenges, it is crucial to try and safeguard the well-being of children.

In December, Australia became the first country to implement such a ban, prohibiting children under 16 from accessing platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook. This move, however, has been deemed a "colossal failure" by New Zealand First leader Winston Peters, who is also serving as the country's foreign minister. He argued that the responsibility of keeping children away from social media should rest with parents.

While Luxon acknowledged that it would not be easy to achieve a complete ban, he reiterated that the potential benefits of protecting children's well-being are simply too important to ignore.