New Zealand's Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, announced plans to introduce legislation that would prohibit children under 16 from using social media platforms. The proposed law aims to address concerns about the negative impact of social media on the mental health, sleep, education, and family life of young New Zealanders, citing exposure to harmful content, addictive technology, and undue pressures.
The legislation would impose significant penalties on social media companies that fail to comply, with potential fines reaching up to 10% of a platform's global revenue for violations. Platforms identified as "high-risk" and popular with children, such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and Facebook, would be required to implement "reasonable steps" to verify users are over 16. Verification methods could include facial age estimation, digital ID services, formal identification, and existing account information.
Beyond age verification, the bill would mandate that these platforms consistently monitor the risks they pose to young users and report on their strategies for identifying and mitigating those risks. The framework would also extend to emerging technologies, including AI companions.
To oversee compliance and enforce the new regulations, the proposed bill would establish an online safety regulator within New Zealand's Department of Internal Affairs.
While the Prime Minister's office emphasized the necessity of protecting children from the harms associated with social media, the proposed bill is expected to face opposition from other New Zealand politicians, making its passage into law uncertain.
New Zealand's initiative aligns with a growing global trend, as several European countries, Turkey, Brazil, Indonesia, and Canada are either pursuing or have already implemented similar legislation regarding social media access for minors. Australia previously introduced a ban for children under 16, though independent studies have indicated challenges in enforcing that law, with many young teenagers reportedly still accessing the platforms.
