New Zealand plans to introduce a bill to bar under-16s from social media.
Why it matters: If passed, the proposal would force major platforms to verify users' ages or face penalties tied to global revenue. The bill also faces a difficult path in a coalition government that is not united behind it.
- Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said Aug. 24 that the government will introduce an Online Safety Bill.
- The proposed law would require social media platforms to take reasonable steps to verify users are at least 16.
- Platforms could face fines of up to 10% of global revenue for noncompliance.
- The proposal would cover Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and Facebook, but not WhatsApp, Roblox, ChatGPT, Gemini or Copilot.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the government will introduce an Online Safety Bill to restrict social media use by children under 16. The government has presented it as a proposal, not an enacted law.
Under the plan, platforms would need to take reasonable steps to verify that users are at least 16. The government said those steps could include existing account information, facial age estimation, digital ID services or formal ID.
The proposal would apply to major social platforms including Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and Facebook. It would not cover WhatsApp, Roblox, ChatGPT, Gemini or Copilot. That exemption list is part of the government's announcement, while AP reported that the coalition is split and at least two partners oppose the bill.
Luxon said social media is exposing young people to harmful content, addictive technology and pressures they are not equipped to handle, affecting family life, mental health, sleep and education. If the bill advances, it would still need to clear Parliament before it dissolves on Oct. 1, 2026, ahead of the November election.
New Zealand's approach would be a platform-level restriction enforced through age verification, rather than a broader youth internet rule. The government has tied the proposal to penalties of up to 10% of global revenue for companies that fail to comply.
By the numbers
- 16 - age under which social media use would be restricted under the proposed bill
- 10% - maximum global-revenue fine for noncompliance
- Oct. 1, 2026 - date Parliament is set to dissolve ahead of the November election
Yes, but: The measure is only a proposal and still faces a narrow legislative path, with coalition disagreement reported by AP.
What's next: The government must bring the bill to Parliament, where it would need enough support to pass before dissolution on Oct. 1, 2026.