New Zealand MP proposes social media ban for under-16s
While the bill has gained notable backing, it is not yet part of the government’s official agenda and must be selected from the parliamentary ballot to advance.
A new bill introduced in New Zealand’s Parliament seeks to ban children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms. The Social Media (Age-Restricted Users) Bill, put forward by National Party MP Catherine Wedd and supported by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, aims to curb the online risks faced by young users, including cyberbullying, addiction, and inappropriate content exposure.
If passed, the bill would require social media companies to verify users’ ages and take ‘all reasonable steps’ to prevent underage users from creating accounts. Non-compliant platforms could face fines of up to NZ$2 million. The initiative draws inspiration from recent legislative efforts in Australia targeting similar youth safety concerns in the digital space.
While the bill has gained notable backing, it is not yet part of the government’s official agenda and must be selected from the parliamentary ballot to advance. The proposal has stirred political debate, with some parties hesitant to endorse it as formal policy, citing concerns about implementation and broader implications for digital rights and access.
Why does it matter for civil society?
While the bill aims to shield young people from online harms such as bullying, addiction, and inappropriate content, it raises complex dilemmas around freedom of expression, data privacy, and equitable access to digital spaces. Requiring platforms to verify users’ ages could improve safety but might also lead to intrusive data collection, disproportionately affect marginalised youth who rely on social media for support, and prove difficult to enforce fairly.
For civil society groups in New Zealand, the proposed bill presents a difficult balancing act: how to protect children online without slipping into overregulation that risks excluding or restricting fundamental freedoms. The core challenge is to design safeguards that ensure safety while preserving openness, inclusivity, and personal rights in the digital space.
