New Zealand is moving towards a nationwide ban on social media for children under 16, with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon saying his government will introduce legislation aimed at keeping young people away from platforms it believes are causing harm.
The proposed bill would require social media companies to take reasonable steps to verify users' ages, with methods potentially including existing account information, facial technology and digital identity documents. Platforms that fail to comply could face fines of up to 10% of their global revenue.
Luxon said the government could not accept the harm social media was causing to children, pointing to harmful content, addictive technology and pressures that could affect family life, mental health, sleep and education.
However, the proposal already faces political opposition, including from coalition partner New Zealand First, meaning its path through Parliament is far from certain.
Why New Zealand Wants the Ban
Luxon has acknowledged that the proposal will not be perfect and that some children will find ways around the restrictions. He nevertheless argued that the issue was too important for the government not to try.
'We simply cannot accept the harm being done to a generation of New Zealand children,' Luxon said.
He said social media was exposing children to harmful content, addictive technology and pressures they were not equipped to handle.
The proposed law would put responsibility on platforms rather than children. Companies would be expected to establish that users were at least 16, with age checks potentially using information already held by platforms, facial technology or digital identity documents.
The proposal has already encountered resistance. New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said his party would not support it, describing the direction of the legislation as a 'slippery slope'. Peters also argued that keeping children off social media should remain the responsibility of parents.
That means the government still faces a political battle before the proposed restrictions could become law.
Other Countries Are Taking Similar Action
New Zealand would not be the first country to impose restrictions on social media accounts for under-16s. Australia introduced its social media minimum age rules on 10 December 2025. Under those rules, age-restricted platforms must take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under 16 from creating or keeping accounts.
The Australian system covers platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, Twitch, X, YouTube, Reddit and Threads. Under-16s are not penalised for accessing the services, and parents are not fined. The responsibility instead falls on the platforms.
Indonesia has also introduced a minimum age of 16 for accounts on high-risk digital platforms. Its government said implementation began on 28 March 2026, initially covering services including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live and Roblox.
Norway is taking a different route but is also preparing legislation. Its government said in April 2026 that it plans to introduce a bill setting a social media age limit that would apply from 1 January in the year a child turns 16, with technology companies responsible for age verification.
Australia's experience suggests the method can reduce access, but it has not stopped under-16s from using social media. A government-commissioned study found that more than 80% of Australian teenagers were still using social media three months after the restrictions began.
The proportion of children aged 10 to 15 who reported having accounts fell from 52% to 42%, but many were still able to access platforms because their age was not checked, was incorrectly assessed, or they provided a false age.
Age verification itself has also emerged as a major weakness. In testing reported in July, platforms did not request age proof from any of 50 test accounts, raising questions about how consistently the rules were being enforced. Australia has since moved towards tougher enforcement, including stronger powers for its online safety regulator.
The evidence so far therefore shows that an under-16 restriction can reduce the number of children holding accounts, but it does not completely prevent access, particularly when platforms fail to apply effective age checks.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the proposed social media ban in New Zealand?The proposed ban aims to prevent children under 16 from accessing social media platforms by requiring companies to verify users' ages.
- Why does New Zealand want to implement this ban?The government believes social media is causing harm to children, including exposure to harmful content and addictive technology.
- What challenges does the proposed ban face?The proposal faces political opposition and concerns about its effectiveness in preventing under-16s from accessing social media.
- Are other countries implementing similar social media restrictions?Yes, countries like Australia and Indonesia have introduced similar age restrictions for social media platforms.
