New Zealand Plans Social Media Ban for Children Under 16

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced plans for legislation that would restrict children under the age of 16 from accessing major social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and Facebook. Under the proposed rules, social media companies would be required to take reasonable measures to verify users’ ages, with businesses potentially facing fines of up to 10% of their global revenue if they fail to comply.

The government says the proposed restrictions are aimed at protecting young people from harmful online content and the potential negative effects of excessive social media use. Officials have also cited concerns surrounding mental health, sleep, education and the impact social media can have on family life.

The Online Safety (Minimum Age and Child Safety Risk Assessment) Bill was introduced to Parliament on August 24, 2026, but the proposed restrictions are not yet in effect. The legislation will need to pass through Parliament before becoming law, and the exact timeline for implementation remains uncertain.

If approved, the rules would place the responsibility primarily on social media companies to prevent under-16s from accessing their platforms. The government has said platforms could use methods such as age-verification technology, digital identification services or other measures to determine whether users meet the minimum age requirement.