New Zealand PM Proposes Social Media Ban for Under-16s

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has proposed legislation that would ban children under the age of 16 from using social media platforms, citing "harm being done to a generation" of young people. The proposal, unveiled on Monday, aims to address concerns about the impact of social media on teenagers' mental health, sleep, and education. Research from 2025 indicated that one-third of New Zealand teenagers spend at least five hours daily on social media. Luxon stated that these platforms expose children to harmful content, addictive technology, and pressures they are not equipped to handle, which negatively affects their family life, mental well-being, sleep patterns, and academic performance.

The proposed law would mandate that social media platforms, including Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and Facebook, implement "reasonable steps" to verify users are over 16. These verification methods could encompass reviewing existing account information, employing facial age estimation technology, utilizing digital ID services, or requiring formal identification. However, the bill excludes messaging platforms such as WhatsApp, online gaming platforms like Roblox, and AI applications with productivity functions, such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot. The proposed legislation does not include penalties for parents or children; instead, technology companies could face fines of up to 10% of their global revenue for non-compliance.

Despite the prime minister's initiative, the bill faces significant hurdles to becoming law. Two of the three parties within Luxon's coalition government have indicated they will vote against it, meaning passage would necessitate support from opposition lawmakers, who have not yet declared their voting intentions. Furthermore, there was insufficient time for the proposal to undergo the required three rounds of voting before Parliament dissolved on October 1, in preparation for the November general election. Bills typically require several months to navigate this legislative process.

This proposal positions New Zealand among a growing number of countries that are considering or have already enacted age restrictions for social media use. Luxon expressed his intent to pursue this legislation again if his government is re-elected, aiming to join other nations in implementing such measures. The prime minister's party supplied material on Monday detailing the proposed requirements for social media platforms to verify user ages, highlighting the range of potential verification techniques.