New Zealand’s conservative coalition government will introduce a bill on Monday to ban children under 16 from using social media, with platforms facing major fines for failing to comply.
The proposed legislation would require social media companies to take reasonable steps to verify users’ ages.
Platforms could use existing account information, facial recognition technology and digital identity documents to determine whether users meet the minimum age requirement.
Companies that fail to comply could face fines of up to 10% of their global revenue, according to the proposed legislation.
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Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the government could not accept the harm that social media exposure causes to children.
He said social media exposes young people to harmful content, addictive technology and pressures they may not be prepared to handle.
Luxon also linked excessive social media use to problems affecting family life, mental health, sleep and education.
The government says the proposed restrictions aim to provide greater protection for children while addressing concerns about the impact of social media on young people.
Parliament will consider the bill as New Zealand joins a growing international debate over age limits and online safety for children.
