A New Zealand lawmaker is pushing for legislation that would ban children under 16 from accessing social media, potentially aligning the country with Australia’s stricter stance on digital platform regulations.
Catherine Wedd, a National Party MP, has introduced a member’s bill requiring social media companies to verify users’ ages and prevent minors from creating accounts, according to Xinhua news agency.
Platforms that fail to comply could face financial penalties and would be required to take “all reasonable steps” to ensure users are at least 16 years old, Radio New Zealand (RNZ) reported.
“My Social Media Age-Appropriate Users Bill is about protecting young people from bullying, inappropriate content, and social media addiction by restricting access for under-16-year-olds,” Wedd said, as quoted by RNZ.
The bill is supported by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who expressed openness to adopting it as a government bill — a move that would fast-track its progress through Parliament.
“This is not a political issue; it’s a New Zealand issue,” Luxon said, adding that he is seeking bipartisan support.
The proposed law is modeled on legislation currently being implemented in Australia. If passed, it would allow the responsible minister to classify specific platforms as age-restricted and mandate a formal review three years after implementation to assess its impact.
Australia’s social media ban for children under 16 — the first of its kind globally — passed the Senate in November 2024. Under this legislation, social media companies that fail to prevent users under 16 from accessing their platforms may face fines of up to AUD 50 million (USD 32.5 million).
Importantly, the responsibility for enforcing the age limit falls on the platforms themselves, not on children, parents, or guardians.-IANS
