New Zealand PM Luxon introduces bill banning social media for under-16s
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New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on Monday his party will introduce a bill in Parliament to ban children under 16 from using social media, proposing fines of up to 10% of a platform's global revenue for non-compliance. The bill would require platforms to take reasonable steps to verify users' ages, including using account information, facial technology and digital identity documents. The move follows Australia's December ban on social media for under-16s, which New Zealand First leader Winston Peters called a 'colossal failure'.
Key Facts
- The bill proposes fines of up to 10% of a platform's global revenue for non-compliance.
- Platforms would be required to verify users' ages using account information, facial technology and digital identity documents.
- New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said his party will not support the bill, calling Australia's similar ban a 'colossal failure'.
- Australia became the world's first country to ban social media for children under 16 in December 2025.
Proposed Legislation
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced the bill on Monday, stating that social media exposes children to harmful content, addictive technology and pressures affecting their family life, mental health, sleep and education. The bill would require social media platforms to take reasonable steps to verify users' ages, including utilising existing account information, facial technology and digital identity documents. Non-compliance could result in fines of up to 10% of a platform's global revenue.
Political Opposition
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters, who is also the country's foreign minister, said his party would not support the bill. Peters described Australia's December ban on social media for under-16s as a 'colossal failure' and said keeping children off social media should be the responsibility of parents. It was not immediately clear if the bill would garner sufficient support to pass through Parliament.
Regional Context
In December 2025, Australia became the world's first country to ban social media for children under 16, blocking them from platforms including TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook. Luxon acknowledged the challenge, saying, 'I won't pretend that it will be simple or that it will be perfect. We won't get every single child off social media. Some will always find ways around it, but frankly, it's just way too important not to at least try.'
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New Zealand PM Luxon introduces bill banning social media for under-16s
