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

New Zealand is to introduce a bill seeking to ban under-16s from using social media.

Key points

• Under-16s will be banned from social media from early 2027.
• David Seymour, New Zealand's deputy prime minister and leader of Act, remarked the ban would not work.
• Prime Minister Christopher Luxon remarked social media was exposing children to "harmful content, addictive technology and pressures they are not equipped to deal with".
• While countries including the UK and Greece are set to introduce restrictions next year, the move follows a similar ban in Australia.
• Peters additionally described a ban introduced in Australia in December as a "colossal failure".

Under the latest proposals, platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook, will have to take steps to check users are over 16 and platforms that fail to meet their obligations could face fines of up to 10% of their global revenue.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon remarked social media was exposing children to "harmful content, addictive technology and pressures they are not equipped to deal with". But a number of political parties have stated they will vote against the bill.

Luxon remarked social media was affecting children's family life, mental health, sleep and education.

"We have protections to keep children safe in the real world and we need them in the virtual world too, " he remarked.

New Zealand's administration has not outlined which other "high risk" platforms could be impacted.

According to A statement, under the Online Safety Bill, which is being introduced to parliament on Monday, social media businesses would be required to "take reasonable steps" to check users are over the age of 16 by using methods including existing account information, facial age estimation and digital identity checks.

Platforms regularly applied by children would additionally be required to regularly assess the risks they pose and report on how they are being identified and reduced.

No penalties are proposed for children, parents or caregivers for breaches of the ban, but fines for social media firms could be substantially higher than in Australia, where the maximum penalty is $99m (£51.7m). Under-16s will be banned from social media from early 2027. Social media firms must better enforce Australia under-16 ban, watchdog notes. France's top court blocks social media ban for under-15s.

After both the Act and New Zealand First (NZF) parties – which are coalition partners in the administration – remarked they would oppose it, it is unclear if the bill will obtain enough votes to pass even so.

Foreign affairs minister Winston Peters. This person leads the NZF party, remarked: "We have been concerned with the proposed legislation and the direction and slippery slope that legislation like this will inevitably take our country."

For context, the ban has been tough for Australia to enforce, and it has been widely acknowledged that numerous children under the age of 16 have still been able to access and employ banned apps.

Earlier this month, France's top court struck down a similar proposed social media ban, saying it infringed upon freedom of expression.

For now, new Zealand to introduce bill for under remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.