New Zealand’s National Party Proposes Social-Media Ban for Under-16s

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s National Party plans to introduce legislation that would bar children under 16 from using social-media platforms and impose steep penalties on companies that fail to enforce the restriction.

Under the proposal announced on Monday, August 24, 2026, platforms would have to take reasonable steps to verify users’ ages. The available methods could include information already linked to an account, facial-age technology and digital identity documents. Companies that do not comply could face fines of as much as 10 percent of their global revenue.

Luxon said the measure is intended to reduce children’s exposure to harmful content, addictive product design and pressures that can affect mental health, sleep, education and family life. He acknowledged that enforcement would not prevent every child from gaining access but argued that the scale of the risks justified an attempt.

The bill’s passage is uncertain. New Zealand First, one of the National Party’s coalition partners, has said it will oppose the plan. Party leader and Foreign Minister Winston Peters argued that restricting children’s social-media use should remain a parental responsibility and criticised Australia’s experience with a similar policy.

Australia introduced an under-16 social-media ban in December 2025, covering services including TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook. New Zealand’s debate is therefore likely to focus not only on child safety but also on the reliability of age checks, privacy risks and the practical limits of platform enforcement.

The proposal must still go through New Zealand’s parliamentary process before it can become law.