New Zealand is moving ahead with a social media ban for under-16s, with the Government introducing the Online Safety (Minimum Age and Child Safety Risk Assessment) Bill to Parliament. The proposed law would require high-risk social media platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent children under 16 from accessing their services and would place greater responsibility on technology companies to address risks to children online.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the Government was responding to concerns about the amount of time young people spend on social media and their exposure to harmful content, addictive technology and online pressures.
“We simply cannot accept the harm being done to a generation of New Zealand children,” says Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
According to the Government, one in three children aged 13 to 17 spends at least five hours a day on social media.
New Zealand Social Media Ban Introduces Age Verification
Under the proposed social media ban, high-risk platforms including Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and Facebook would be required to take reasonable steps to establish whether users are over 16.
The Bill allows for multiple age-checking methods, including existing account information, facial age estimation, digital ID services and formal identification.
The proposed framework would also require platforms used by children to regularly assess the risks they pose and report on how those risks are being identified and reduced.
The Government said the framework is designed to evolve alongside technology and would also cover emerging services, including AI companion platforms.
Companies Could Face Significant Penalties
The proposed online safety law would introduce significant penalties for platforms that fail to meet their obligations. Companies could face fines of up to 10 percent of their global revenue.
An online safety regulator within the Department of Internal Affairs would independently monitor compliance, investigate platforms and enforce the law.
Education Minister Erica Stanford said the Bill would place legal obligations on technology platforms rather than children, parents or caregivers. No penalties are proposed for children, their parents or caregivers under the proposed framework.
“The Bill places legal obligations on platforms. No penalties are proposed for children, their parents or caregivers,” Ms Stanford says.
“It doesn’t just introduce a minimum age requirement. It creates an enduring framework that can evolve alongside technology and holds platforms responsible for understanding and reducing the risks they create for children,” she says.
The Government also plans to strengthen education and public awareness so parents, schools and communities have information and tools to help children navigate online services safely.
New Zealand Joins Growing Push for Child Online Safety
The proposed New Zealand social media ban follows similar moves in other countries seeking to place greater responsibility on technology companies.
Earlier this year, Spain announced plans to prohibit social media access for children under 16. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez described the internet as a “digital Wild West” and said stronger protections were needed to shield young people from online harm.
France has also moved toward age-based restrictions. In February, French lawmakers approved legislation banning children under 15 from accessing social media platforms, with the measure expected to take effect at the start of the next school year.
French President Emmanuel Macron backed the proposal, arguing that children’s development should not be dictated by algorithms designed to maximize engagement.
Government Says Rules Aim to Change Online Behaviour
Luxon acknowledged that the Government does not expect every child to stop using social media but said early evidence from Australia showed minimum age requirements were already changing behaviour.
The Government said the child online safety framework is intended to make a meaningful difference while creating longer-term obligations for technology companies.
The Online Safety (Minimum Age and Child Safety Risk Assessment) Bill will now be introduced to Parliament, beginning the legislative process for the proposed under-16 social media restrictions.