New Zealand proposes social media ban for under-16s
The government is set to follow Australia's lead and introduce a bill banning children from social media. But the plan already faces opposition from within the ruling coalition.
New Zealand's government has introduced legislation banning children under 16 from using social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and Facebook. This follows similar actions taken by other countries, including Australia. The Online Safety Bill requires these platforms to verify users' ages using methods like facial age estimation and digital IDs, with penalties of up to 10% of global revenue for non-compliance.
Platforms will also need to assess and report on the risks they pose to young users. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon emphasized the need to address the harm caused to children, which includes impacts on mental health, sleep and education. According to government data, one in three children aged 13 to 17 spend at least five hours a day on social media.
Education Minister Erica Stanford stated that the bill places legal responsibility on the platforms, not families or caregivers. However, the bill's future remains uncertain as opposition from coalition partners NZ First and ACT questions its effectiveness. Australia implemented a similar ban last year, but a recent study found little evidence that it reduced teen social media use.
Written by urgent.news from DW News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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