The new Zealand prime minister proposes a social media ban for children under 16
New Zealand’s prime minister, Christopher Luxon, has unveiled a proposed law banning children younger than 16 from using social media platforms, citing what he said Monday was “harm being done to a generation” of young people. However, the bill hasn’t yet attracted enough support to pass into law because two of the three parties in Luxon’s coalition government will vote against it. Passage would…
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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