New Zealand Proposes Legislation to Prohibit Social Media Use by Children Under 16

New Zealand is to introduce a bill seeking to ban under-16s from using social media.

Under the latest proposals, platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook will have to take steps to check users are over 16. Platforms failing to meet these obligations could face fines of up to 10% of their global revenue.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon stated that social media exposes children to “harmful content, addictive technology, and pressures they are not equipped to deal with.” However, several political parties have indicated they will vote against the bill.

The move follows a similar ban in Australia, while countries including the UK and Greece are set to introduce restrictions next year.

Luxon noted that social media is affecting children’s family life, mental health, sleep, and education.

“We have protections to keep children safe in the real world and we need them in the virtual world too,” he said.

New Zealand’s government has not yet outlined which other “high risk” platforms could be impacted.