New Zealand PM Pushes for Social Media Ban for Under-16s Amid Growing Concerns

In a bold move, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has proposed legislation to prohibit children under the age of 16 from using social media. Speaking on August 24, 2026, Luxon expressed concern over the detrimental impact social media is having on youth, stating, "harm is being done to a generation."

Despite the urgency of this initiative, the proposal faces significant hurdles in Parliament. Two of the three parties in Luxon's coalition government have announced their intention to oppose the bill, and as the Parliament is set to dissolve on October 1 ahead of the upcoming November elections, time is running short. Luxon acknowledged that there isn't sufficient time for lawmakers to conduct the necessary voting rounds.

The proposed law would mandate that platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and Facebook implement measures to verify users' ages, employing techniques such as facial age estimation and digital ID services. However, messaging apps like WhatsApp and gaming platforms like Roblox would be exempt from this legislation. While no penalties would be imposed on parents or children, tech companies could face fines of up to 10% of their global revenue for non-compliance.

Luxon noted that research from 2025 revealed that a significant portion of New Zealand teenagers spend five hours or more daily on social media, exposing them to harmful content and affecting their mental health and education. Since Australia's recent legislation banning social media access for minors, countries like Canada, Brazil, and Indonesia have followed suit, while others are considering similar measures.

Source: www.thehindu.com