The New Zealand government has introduced legislation to ban children under 16 from using social media platforms, according to official announcements. The bill, which was introduced in Parliament on August 22, 2026, aims to address concerns about the impact of social media on young people's mental health and well-being.
Under the proposed law, social media platforms would be required to verify users' ages and prevent under-16s from creating accounts. The legislation would also impose fines on companies that fail to comply. The government has said it will work with platforms to implement the measures, but details on enforcement mechanisms are still being finalized.
New Zealand joins a growing list of countries taking action on youth social media use. Australia passed a similar law in 2024, banning under-16s from social media, and France has introduced restrictions requiring parental consent for under-15s. The New Zealand bill is expected to be debated in the coming months, with some opposition parties expressing concerns about privacy and implementation.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said in a statement that the legislation is about 'protecting our children from the harms of social media' and ensuring they have a safe online environment. The bill has bipartisan support in principle, though some lawmakers have called for more consultation with tech companies and child safety experts.
