New Zealand becomes latest country to introduce legislation to ban under-16s from social media

Under New Zealand’s proposed law, social media firms could be fined up to 10% of their global revenue if they fail to comply. The government is set to follow Australia's lead and introduce a bill banning children from social media. But the plan already faces opposition from within the ruling coalition.

The bill would require social media platforms to take reasonable steps to verify users' ages, including by utilizing existing account information and facial technology. Prime minister Christopher Luxon’s party to introduce bill seeking the ban, citing harm to a generation of childrenNew Zealand prime minister Christopher Luxon has said his party will introduce a bill in parliament that ⁠seeks to ban children ⁠under ​16 from using social media, proposing fines of up to 10% of a platform’s global revenue for non-compliance.The bill would ⁠require social media platforms to take reasonable steps to verify users’ ages, including by utilising existing account information, facial technology and ⁠digital identity documents. New ⁠Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on Monday his party would introduce a bill in parliament that seeks to ban children under 16 from using social media, proposing fines of up to 10 per cent of a ‌platform’s global revenue for non-compliance.

“We simply cannot accept the harm being done to a... "Social media is exposing them to harmful content, addictive technology and pressures they are not equipped to deal with, and it's affecting their family life, mental health, sleep, and education," New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said.