New Zealand Considers Social Media Ban for Under-16s

The New Zealand Government is considering a social media ban for users under 16. This proposal follows 12 recommendations issued in March 2026 by the Education and Workforce Select Committee, which urged the government to implement age restrictions and establish an independent online safety regulator.

While the government acknowledged the recommendations in June and is actively developing age-based restrictions, it has delayed a substantive response to other proposals. Officials have attributed this caution to the complexity of online harm and the upcoming November election.

New Zealand has previously resisted the creation of a central regulator. The Department of Internal Affairs ended a 2024 process to establish such an entity due to concerns over free speech. Critics of the current approach suggest New Zealand should instead emulate Australia's Online Safety Act 2021, which uses an eSafety Commissioner to enforce industry codes. However, early data from the Australian model indicates poor platform compliance and limited impact on youth usage patterns.