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[POLITICS] · New Zealand · 100 sources

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New Zealand proposes social media ban for children under 16

The New Zealand government has introduced the Online Safety Bill, which proposes a ban on social media use for children under the age of 16. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon stated the measure is necessary to protect a generation from harmful content, addictive technology, and mental health pressures.

Under the proposed legislation, high-risk platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat would be required to implement reasonable age-verification measures. These could include facial age estimation, digital identity documents, or existing account information. To ensure compliance, companies could face fines of up to 10 per cent of their global revenue. The bill places legal responsibility on the platforms rather than on parents or children.

The bill faces significant political hurdles. While the Labour Party has indicated support, coalition partners New Zealand First and the ACT Party have expressed opposition. New Zealand First leader Winston Peters criticized the move, citing concerns over implementation and comparing it to the Australian model, which he described as a “colossal failure.”

Entities

Christopher Luxon · Erica Stanford · Meta · New Zealand First · New Zealand Government · New Zealand Parliament · TikTok · Winston Peters

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Sources

Coalition rumbles [www.politik.co.nz]
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