New Zealand Proposes Ban on Social Media for Under-16s to Shield Youth from Online Harms
New Zealand’s prime minister has put forward a plan to prohibit children under the age of 16 from using social media, aiming to safeguard young users from dangers such as cyberbullying and exposure to disturbing or harmful content.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced on Tuesday that the draft legislation would require social media platforms to verify that users are at least 16 years old before allowing them to register. Companies failing to comply could face penalties of up to NZ$2 million (US$1.2 million).
While acknowledging the benefits social media can offer, Luxon emphasized that these platforms are not always safe environments for minors, and he called on tech firms to act responsibly.
“This is fundamentally about child safety,” Luxon said. “We want to ensure social media companies are held accountable for keeping young people protected.” He noted that educators and parents have raised consistent concerns, including online harassment, inappropriate or violent material, exploitation, and screen addiction.
“Parents keep telling us how worried they are about what social media is doing to their children,” he added. “Many feel overwhelmed trying to control their kids’ access to these platforms.”
The legislation was authored by National Party MP Catherine Wedd, who pointed out that New Zealand currently lacks enforceable requirements for age verification on social media. She said the proposed law would give families better tools to monitor and manage their children’s digital activities. The proposal draws heavily from recent legislation introduced in Australia, which is leading international efforts to regulate youth access to social media.
Australia passed significant legislation in November that bans users under 16 from joining major platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter), marking one of the strictest crackdowns on youth social media use globally.
That move met strong resistance from major tech firms, who criticized the rules as overly broad, hastily enacted, and potentially difficult to implement.
In New Zealand, public opinion appears to support similar action. A 1News Verian poll conducted in December found that more than two-thirds of New Zealanders backed the idea of limiting social media use for under-16s.
The bill has been put forward by Luxon’s centre-right National Party, the largest party in the three-party coalition government. However, it will still need support from the coalition partners to become law.
The timeline for the bill’s introduction to parliament has yet to be confirmed, but Luxon expressed hope that the measure would receive cross-party backing. “This isn’t about party politics—it’s a national concern,” he said.
Opposition Labour leader Chris Hipkins said in a radio interview with RNZ that he was open to the proposal.
“This is a national conversation we need to have,” Hipkins said. “Australia has shown leadership on this, and I think it’s time New Zealand followed suit.”
