New Zealand to introduce bill for under-16s social media ban

What the report says

New Zealand plans to introduce legislation that would bar under-16s from using social media, in a move the government says is aimed at protecting children from harmful content and the pressures of addictive platforms. According to BBC World News, the proposed Online Safety Bill would require services such as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook to take reasonable steps to verify users are at least 16. Companies that do not comply could face fines of up to 10% of their global revenue.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon argued that social media is affecting children’s mental health, sleep, education and family life, and said safeguards in the virtual world should match those in the real one. The bill is due to be introduced to parliament on Monday, but its passage is uncertain.

BBC World News reported that several parties have said they will vote against the measure, including coalition partners Act and New Zealand First. Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour said the ban would not work, while Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters warned about broader implications for lawmaking and called Australia’s similar approach a failure.

The proposal follows Australia’s under-16 social media ban and comes as other countries, including the UK and Greece, are considering restrictions. It highlights the wider international debate over how to balance child protection, online safety and freedom of expression.