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New Zealand Bans Social Media for Under 16s
24 Aug
Summary
- New Zealand proposes bill to ban social media for under 16s.
- Tech companies face hefty fines for non-compliance with the bill.
- Age verification measures will be mandatory for social media platforms.
New Zealand is set to implement a ban on social media for individuals under the age of 16, as announced by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Monday, August 24, 2026. The proposed Online Safety (Minimum Age and Child Safety Risk Assessment) Bill seeks to restrict access to platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat, and also includes AI companions.
This legislation will mandate that high-risk social media companies, including Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and Facebook, implement robust age verification measures. These may involve age estimation tools and digital ID services. Failure to comply could result in substantial penalties, with fines reaching up to $40 million or 10 percent of a platform's global revenue. The bill requires parliamentary approval, after which platforms will have a six-month grace period to adhere to the new terms.
The government aims to enhance online protections for children, drawing parallels with similar initiatives in countries like Australia. The bill emphasizes that existing regulatory frameworks are insufficient to safeguard minors from online harms. An online safety regulator will be established within New Zealand's Department of Internal Affairs to oversee the enforcement of this new law.
