New Zealand Moves To Ban Social Media For Under-16s

New Zealand’s government has moved to introduce legislation that would ban children under 16 from using social media platforms, joining a growing number of countries seeking to restrict young people’s access to the platforms.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced on Monday that the bill would be introduced in Parliament, saying social media was exposing children to harmful content, addictive technology and pressures affecting their mental health, sleep, education and family life.

Under the proposed legislation, social media companies would be required to take reasonable steps to verify users’ ages, including through existing account information, facial technology, and digital identity documents.

Platforms that fail to comply could face penalties of up to 10 per cent of their global revenue.

The proposed restrictions would apply to major social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and Facebook, while excluding messaging apps, gaming platforms and productivity AI tools.

Luxon acknowledged that enforcing the ban would not be perfect but said the government could not ignore the potential harm to children.

However, the proposal faces political opposition. New Zealand First, a coalition partner in Luxon’s government, has said it will not support the legislation, while another coalition partner, ACT, also opposes the proposal.

The bill is also unlikely to be voted on before New Zealand’s upcoming election, meaning its passage remains uncertain.

The move follows Australia’s introduction of the world’s first nationwide social media minimum-age law, which began restricting access for under-16s in December 2025.