New Zealand’s prime minister proposes banning children from using social media

New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has proposed a law that would ban children under 16 from using social media platforms, claiming that "harm is being done to a generation" of young people. This proposed legislation has not yet garnered enough support within Luxon's coalition government to pass into law, as two of the three parties will vote against it.

If reelected, Luxon aims to make his government the latest worldwide to enact age restrictions for social media platforms, following the example set by dozens of other countries. He cited research showing that 2025 data revealed a third of New Zealand teenagers spend at least five hours daily on social media. Luxon stated that social media exposes them to harmful content, addictive technology, and pressures they are not equipped to handle, affecting their family life, mental health, sleep, and education.

The proposed law would require social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and Facebook to verify users are older than 16 through measures like account information, facial age estimation, digital ID services, and formal ID. Messaging platforms and AI apps with productivity uses would be excluded from this law. Tech companies could face fines up to 10% of their global revenue for failing to comply.

The promise of a ban has divided New Zealand's government, with the other two parties opposing the measure. Child safety advocates and some parents support the idea, while privacy groups argue it can be easily bypassed and that requiring identification raises privacy concerns.