New Zealand Introduces Bill to Ban Under-16s from Social Media

New Zealand’s government introduced the Online Safety Bill on Monday that would ban children under 16 from social media platforms including Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and Facebook. Platforms would be required to take reasonable steps to check users’ ages using existing account information, facial age estimation, digital identity services and formal identification.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said social media exposes children to harmful content, addictive technology and pressures they are not equipped to deal with. He cited effects on family life, mental health, sleep and education. One in three children aged 13 to 17 now spend at least five hours a day on social media, according to government figures.

Companies that fail to meet their obligations could face penalties of up to 10 percent of global revenue. No penalties are proposed for children, parents or caregivers. The bill also requires platforms used by children to assess risks regularly and report on mitigation. An online safety regulator would be established within the Department of Internal Affairs.

Messaging apps such as WhatsApp, online games like Roblox and productivity AI tools including ChatGPT are excluded. Social AI companions would be covered.

The bill is unlikely to progress before the November election. New Zealand First, a coalition partner, has said it will vote against the measure, arguing that parental responsibility is preferable and that Australia’s similar ban has been a failure. Passage would therefore require support from opposition parties.

Australia introduced the world’s first under-16 social media ban in December 2025. Several other countries, including the United Kingdom and Greece, are preparing related restrictions.