Digital ID Proposed for Social Media Age Checks in New Zealand

New Zealand's government is exploring a potential ban on social media for those under 16, with a digital identification system proposed as a method to enforce age restrictions. The government received advice suggesting that such a system could be used to verify users' ages when they access social media platforms.

This consideration comes as both the National and Labour parties have publicly indicated their interest in implementing a ban on social media for under-16s. The primary hurdle identified in these discussions is the creation of a reliable system capable of accurately verifying the ages of social media users.

The proposal for a digital ID system aims to address this challenge, providing a potential mechanism to ensure that only individuals aged 16 and over can access these platforms. The specifics of how such a system would be implemented, including data privacy and user accessibility, remain key areas for further consideration.