New Zealand Eyes Social Media Ban for Minors Following Australia’s Lead

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has proposed a landmark law aimed at prohibiting children under 16 from accessing social media platforms, echoing Australia’s recent legislation.

Unveiled on Monday, the proposal reflects concerns over the adverse effects of social media on youth, with Luxon stating, "We simply cannot accept the harm being done to a generation of New Zealand children." The proposed ban includes popular platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and Facebook.

If passed, the law would impose fines of up to 10% of a platform’s global revenue for failing to verify user ages. Possible verification methods could include existing account information, digital ID services, and facial recognition technologies. Unlike Australia’s maximum fine of $99 million, New Zealand's penalty system will differ.

Since Australia implemented its under-16 ban in December 2025, countries like Canada, Brazil, and Indonesia have followed suit, while others are exploring similar measures. Advocacy for child safety is strong, yet privacy advocates warn that age verification methods raise significant privacy concerns.

However, the proposal faces significant opposition from New Zealand's smaller ruling parties, ACT and NZ First, both of which intend to vote against it. The main opposition party, Labour, has not yet taken a stance. As New Zealand's parliament is set to dissolve on October 1 ahead of the general election, there will be no opportunity for a vote on the proposal before the election.

Source: www.abc.net.au