New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced that his party will introduce a bill in parliament to ban children under 16 from using social media. The proposed legislation would impose fines of up to 10% of a platform's global revenue for non-compliance.
The announcement was made on August 24, 2026, during a policy address. Luxon stated that the measure aims to protect young people from online harms, including cyberbullying and exposure to inappropriate content.
The bill would require social media platforms to verify users' ages and enforce the ban. Companies that fail to comply could face significant financial penalties. The exact details of the enforcement mechanism are yet to be finalized.
If passed, New Zealand would join a growing number of countries considering or implementing similar restrictions. For example, Australia has already passed a law banning under-16s from social media, which is set to take effect in late 2025.
The bill is expected to be introduced later this year, with a potential vote in parliament before the end of 2026. Public consultation and cross-party support will be crucial for its passage.
