New Zealand to introduce bill banning social media for children under 16

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced plans to introduce a bill in Parliament that would ban children under 16 from using social media, with penalties of up to 10% of a platform's global revenue for non-compliance. The legislation aims to prevent young New Zealanders from being exposed to harmful content, addictive technology, and pressures that can negatively impact their family life, mental health, sleep, and education.

Social media platforms would be required to verify users' ages using existing account information, facial technology, and digital identity documents. The bill faces opposition from New Zealand First leader Winston Peters, who expressed concerns about the potential for a slippery slope in legislation. In December, Australia became the first country to ban social media for children under 16, but Prime Minister Luxon acknowledged that it has been a "colossal failure" and that the responsibility for keeping children off social media should ultimately lie with parents.

Luxon emphasized the importance of trying to protect a generation of New Zealand children from the potential harms of social media.