NEW ZEALAND – A bill which seeks New Zealand social media ban for children has been introduced by the ruling party member of parliament which wants to ban social media use for people under 16 years. The bill has seen an endorsement by the New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, as reported by the local media.
Age Verification on Social Media
The bill, put forward by National Party MP Catherine Wedd, would require social media companies to verify the age of users and prevent those under 16 from accessing their platforms.
Wedd argued that the country needs to do more to mitigate the risks social media poses to young people.
“That’s why today National has introduced a members bill to ban social media for kids under 16 years old,” she said on X.
Australian Social Media Ban for Kids
The move comes after Australia passed similar legislation last year, becoming the first government globally to enforce an under-16 social media ban.
While most social media platforms technically prohibit users under 13, enforcement has been lax, and children often bypass restrictions. Several platforms have faced criticism for allegedly using algorithms that increase user dependency – particularly among teens – though the companies strongly deny such claims.
Social Media and Mental Health
Multiple studies have linked excessive social media use among youth to lower self-esteem, anxiety, and other mental health issues.
