New Zealand to introduce bill banning social media for children under 16

New Zealand's conservative coalition government is set to introduce legislation that would prohibit children under the age of 16 from using social media platforms. The proposed bill, scheduled for introduction in Parliament on Monday, August 24, also includes significant financial penalties for non-compliant platforms, with fines potentially reaching up to 10% of their global revenue. Under the proposed law, social media companies would be required to implement reasonable measures to verify users' ages. These measures could include utilizing existing account information, employing facial recognition technology, and requiring digital identity documents. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon emphasized the government's commitment to safeguarding young New Zealanders, stating, "We simply cannot accept the harm being done to a generation of New Zealand children." He highlighted concerns that social media exposes children to harmful content, addictive technologies, and pressures they are ill-equipped to handle. Luxon noted the detrimental effects on children's family life, mental health, sleep patterns, and educational performance.

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We simply cannot accept the harm being done to a generation of New Zealand children.