The National Party has put forward a new members’ bill that would ban under-16s in New Zealand from using social media.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Tukituki MP Catherine Wedd announced the ‘Social Media Age-Restricted Users Bill’ on Tuesday morning, saying it’s a step toward reducing online harm for young Kiwis.
It's a topic that has caused mounting concern in recent years, particularly following the release of Netflix's hit show ‘Adolescence’, which highlights how social media and unrestricted access to the internet can negatively impact young people.
The bill would see the responsibility fall on the social media companies to verify that users are at least 16 years old before they can access the platforms.
“This is about protecting our children and making sure that social media companies are playing their role in keeping all of our children safe,” Luxon said.
The aim is to "limit the exposure of harmful content" and interactions, including cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and online addiction.
It also proposes penalties for non-compliance, regulatory oversight, and a review process after three years.
“Currently, there are no legally enforceable age verification measures for social media platforms in New Zealand,” Wedd said. “[This bill] puts the onus on social media companies.”
Luxon said he’s looking for support from the opposition Party, claiming the proposed bill is “not a political issue, it’s a New Zealand issue.”
Labour leader Chris Hipkins told RNZ he’s open to the idea, but thinks it's an issue the government should "show some leadership on."
As a father himself, Luxon added: “We have restrictions to keep our children safe in the physical world, but we don’t have restrictions in the virtual world – and we should.”
"It's time that New Zealand acknowledged that for all the good things that come from social media, it's not always a safe place for our young people to be and we need to do something about it."
“Obviously parents have a role to play in monitoring what social media their children are on, but so too do the social media companies.”
The proposal follows Australia’s ‘Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill’, passed in late 2024.
The bill has yet to come into effect, with social media companies taking 2025 to implement and roll out age verification systems.
Because this is a member’s bill from an MP (not a Minister), it has to be drawn from a ballot before it can be debated in New Zealand Parliament.
