The New Zealand government on Monday, announced plans to ban social media for children under 16.
The bill would require social media platforms the government deemed “high risk”, to take reasonable steps to check that users are over 16, by using existing account information, facial age estimation, digital ID services and formal ID.
The law would cover platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube and X. Platforms would be required to regularly assess the risks they posed, and report on how those risks were being identified and reduced.
Under the bill, companies that failed to comply could face penalties of up to 10% of their global revenue. Education Minister Erica Stanford said the government was “taking action to protect young people online, backing parents and holding Big Tech” accountable. “Right now, too many of the risks children face online are going unchecked. Harmful content, addictive design and rapidly emerging technologies are reaching young people while protections haven’t kept pace,” she said. “Parents are doing their best, but they shouldn’t be expected to take on the world’s biggest technology companies alone.”
She said responsibility sits with the platforms, with no penalties proposed for children, parents or caregivers. “We protect children from harm in the physical world. It’s time we took their safety online just as seriously,” Stanford said.
The bill must still pass through parliament. Both coalition partners, New Zealand First and ACT, are opposed to it, while the opposition Labour Party is yet to declare its support.
GNA
