New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced that he will introduce a bill to parliament banning children under 16 from using social media. Companies that fail to comply with the law could face fines of up to 10 percent of their global revenue. Platforms will be required to use account credentials, facial recognition technology, and digital ID verification to check users' ages.
The Prime Minister stated that the ban is intended to protect children's mental health, education, and family life from the negative impacts of social media. However, since coalition partner New Zealand First has stated it will not support the bill, its parliamentary approval remains uncertain. Party leader Winston Peters criticized the proposal, arguing that restricting children's social media use should be the responsibility of parents, not the government.
In December, Australia implemented a similar ban prohibiting children under 16 from accessing social media platforms including TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook. While the Australian measure has faced criticism as being overly restrictive, New Zealand's Prime Minister responded that while the Australian plan may not be perfect, it is important to make such efforts.
Ref: Reuters
