New Zealand Plans Social Media Ban for Under-16s with Heavy Global Revenue Fines
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Wellington: New Zealand’s government has announced plans to introduce landmark legislation prohibiting children under the age of 16 from using social media platforms, with non-compliant tech firms risking penalties of up to 10 per cent of their global revenue.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon declared that the government must act to protect young citizens from screen addiction, mental health issues, and exposure to harmful online content. Under the proposed measure, platforms will be required to implement age-verification systems utilizing facial recognition, digital IDs, and existing account data to restrict access for minors.
The proposal faces immediate political resistance within the ruling coalition. Foreign Minister Winston Peters, leader of the coalition partner New Zealand First, voiced strong opposition, stating that policing children’s internet usage remains a parental responsibility rather than a state mandate. Australia passed similar restrictions late last year.
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