Introduction
The New Zealand government has drafted a bill aimed at banning children under 16 from using social media. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said that one in every three children in the country spends approximately 5 hours a day on social media, while approximately 40 percent of young users wish these platforms had never been invented.
Developments
If the bill is adopted, high-risk platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, YouTube and X will be required to verify users’ ages through methods such as facial age estimation, digital identity or official identity documents. Companies that fail to take the necessary measures could be fined up to 10 percent of their annual global revenues.
Details
It is reported that the ruling National Party may need opposition support, as its coalition partners ACT and New Zealand First oppose the regulation. Following Australia, France, the UK, Denmark, Malaysia, Indonesia and Türkiye are also working on or considering regulations aimed at limiting children’s use of social media.