New Zealand's government introduced legislation Monday banning children under the age of 16 from social media, following the lead of several countries across the world, including neighbor Australia. 

What does New Zealand's social media ban entail?

The Online Safety Bill requires platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and Facebook to verify users are 16 or older using tools such as facial age estimation and digital ID, with fines of up to 10% of global revenue for non-compliance.

​​Platforms would also have to assess the risks they pose to young users and report on efforts to reduce them.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the harm to children is too great to ignore. 

"We simply cannot accept the harm being done to a generation of New Zealand children," he said, citing effects on mental health, sleep and education. The government's data shows one in three children aged 13 to 17 now spend at least five hours a day on social media.

Education Minister Erica Stanford said the bill places the legal burden on platforms, not families: "No penalties are proposed for children, their parents or caregivers." 

Will the bill really be introduced?

Even though New Zealand spent more than a year examining the potential ban, the bill's future is uncertain, as coalition partners NZ First and ACT have both voiced opposition, questioning the law's effectiveness. 

 Australia's similar ban took effect last year, barring under-16s from platforms including Facebook, Instagram and TikTok as part of an effort to shield children from bullying and "predatory algorithms." But a June peer-reviewed study by Australian researchers found little evidence it reduced teen social media use.

Edited by: Rob Turner

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