New Zealand Proposes Bill to Restrict Social Media for Under-16s
Summary
New Zealand has introduced a bill to block social media access for users under 16, putting legal responsibility on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and Facebook to verify age. The proposal adds to a growing global push, with Australia, the UK, France, Brazil and Canada all taking different approaches to child online safety.
Key Points
- New Zealand's proposed Online Safety Bill would require high-risk social media platforms to take reasonable steps to block users under 16.
- Companies that fail to comply could face fines of up to 10% of global revenue, while an independent regulator would oversee enforcement.
- Australia, the UK, France, Brazil and Canada are all pursuing different child-safety rules for social media and online services.
- The wider debate centers on whether age bans, parental supervision or platform accountability are the best way to protect children online.
