New Zealand to introduce bill for under-16s social media ban

New Zealand’s government will table the Online Safety Bill on Monday, a legislative package that would require major social‑media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook to verify that every user is at least 16 years old before granting access. The bill mandates that companies employ “reasonable steps” – including checking existing account data, using facial‑age estimation technology or digital identity verification – to confirm age, and obliges them to regularly assess and report on the risks their services pose to minors. Companies that fail to meet these obligations could be fined up to 10 % of their global revenue, a penalty considerably higher than Australia’s maximum $99 million fine for similar breaches. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon framed the measure as a response to what he described as children’s exposure to harmful content, addictive technology and pressures that undermine family life, mental health, sleep and education, arguing that protections needed in the physical world must extend to the virtual one.

The proposal arrives amid growing international scrutiny of under‑16 social‑media use, following Australia’s December ban that has struggled to enforce compliance and been labeled a “colossal failure” by New Zealand First leader Winston Peters. Both the Act Party and New Zealand First, coalition partners in the current government, have signalled they will vote against the bill, with Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour contending the ban would be ineffective. Critics point to the difficulty of policing age verification, the potential for workarounds, and concerns that such restrictions could set a “slippery slope” for broader internet regulation. France’s top court recently struck down a comparable ban on free‑expression grounds, underscoring the legal challenges that may confront New Zealand’s effort.

If passed, the legislation would place New Zealand at the forefront of stringent age‑based social‑media regulation, compelling platforms to invest heavily in verification infrastructure and risk‑assessment reporting. The absence of penalties for children, parents or caregivers means enforcement would rest entirely on corporate compliance, raising questions about the bill’s practical impact. Opposition from key coalition partners threatens its passage, and the outcome will likely influence whether other jurisdictions—such as the United Kingdom and Greece, which plan similar restrictions next year—adopt comparable approaches. The debate also highlights broader tensions between protecting youth online and preserving digital freedoms, a balance that will shape future policy discussions both domestically and abroad.

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