New Zealand to Ban Children Under 16 From Social Media

Christopher Luxon announced that the New Zealand government will introduce the Online Safety (Minimum Age and Child Safety Risk Assessment) Bill on Monday. The legislation bans children under 16 from using social media platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook.

To enforce the ban, high-risk platforms must implement age-verification measures such as digital ID services, formal identification, and facial age estimation. Platforms that fail to comply face penalties of up to 10% of their global revenue. The bill also extends regulatory oversight to AI companion platforms and establishes a new online safety regulator within the Department of Internal Affairs to monitor compliance.

Luxon stated the move is necessary because social media exposes children to "addictive technology and harmful content," which impacts their education and mental health. The policy follows a similar legal framework implemented in Australia in December. The proposal previously faced opposition from ACT New Zealand, a junior coalition partner that had labeled such a ban unworkable.