New Zealand Moves to Ban Social Media for Children Under 16

 New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said his party will introduce legislation aimed at preventing children under 16 from using social media, with platforms potentially facing fines of up to 10% of their global revenue if they fail to comply.

Under the proposed bill, social media companies would be required to take reasonable measures to verify users' ages. These measures could include checking existing account information, using facial age-estimation technology and accepting digital identity documents.

Luxon said the government could not ignore the potential harm social media is causing young people, pointing to exposure to harmful content, addictive technology and online pressures. He said these issues can affect children's family relationships, mental wellbeing, sleep and education.

However, the proposed legislation faces uncertainty in Parliament. New Zealand First, one of the parties in Luxon's coalition government, has said it will not support the bill.

New Zealand First leader and Foreign Minister Winston Peters criticized the proposal, arguing that legislation restricting children's access to social media could lead the country down an undesirable path. He also described Australia's similar policy as a "colossal failure" and said parents should ultimately be responsible for deciding whether their children use social media.

Australia became the first country to introduce a nationwide ban on social media access for children under 16 in December. The rules cover major platforms including TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.

Luxon acknowledged that enforcing the proposed restrictions would not be easy and that some children could find ways around the rules. However, he argued that the potential benefits make the effort worthwhile.

The proposed legislation will now face parliamentary scrutiny, with its chances of passing depending on whether the government can secure enough support from coalition partners and other lawmakers.