New Zealand has introduced legislation seeking to ban children under 16 from using social media, joining a growing number of countries tightening restrictions on young users of platforms such as Instagram and TikTok.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on Monday that the proposed law was necessary to protect children from the growing risks associated with social media use.
“We simply cannot accept the harm being done to a generation of New Zealand children,” Luxon said.
He noted that one in three New Zealanders aged 13 to 17 spends at least five hours a day on social media, warning that excessive use exposes young people to harmful content, addictive technology and social pressures.
According to the Prime Minister, the effects are increasingly being felt in children’s family relationships, mental wellbeing, sleep and education.
Under the proposed legislation, major platforms including Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and Facebook would be required to take reasonable steps to verify that users are at least 16 years old.
Companies that fail to comply could face fines of up to 10 per cent of their global revenue.
New Zealand’s move follows similar measures in other countries. Australia became the first country to introduce a nationwide social media ban for children under 16 in December 2025, while the United Kingdom, France and others have also moved towards tighter controls on children’s access to social media.
The New Zealand government says the proposed restrictions are aimed at ensuring that children are better protected from online harms while giving families greater support in managing their children’s digital lives.
