New Zealand to pursue social media ban for children under 16
New Zealand's Prime Minister proposed a law banning social media for under-16s, with fines up to 10% of global revenue and an online safety regulator.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said his party will introduce legislation barring under-16s from high-risk platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and Facebook, requiring age verification via facial age estimation, digital ID or formal IDs, and penalties up to 10% of global revenue. The bill would mandate ongoing risk monitoring by platforms popular with children, cover emerging tech including AI companions, and create an online safety regulator within the Department of Internal Affairs. It faces political opposition and follows similar moves in Australia, several European countries, Turkey, Brazil, Indonesia and Canada.