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New Zealand to Introduce Bill Banning Social Media for Under-16s

The government proposes fines of up to 10% of global revenue for platforms that fail to prevent children under 16 from accessing social media.

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Proposed Legislation and Penalties

New Zealand is set to introduce a bill in Parliament seeking to ban children under the age of 16 from using social media. The proposed legislation, referred to as the Online Safety Bill, aims to restrict minors from accessing major social media platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook.

Under the proposed rules, social media platforms will be required to take reasonable steps to verify that their users are over 16 years old. To achieve this, the government suggests platforms utilize existing account information, digital identity documents, and facial technology.

To ensure compliance, the government proposes significant financial penalties for technology companies. Platforms that fail to meet their obligations to keep minors off their services could face fines of up to 10% of their global revenue.

Government Objectives

In a statement issued Monday, Luxon said, “We simply cannot accept the harm being done to a generation of New Zealand children”.

According to the government, the legislation is designed to protect children from addictive technology, harmful content, and the broader negative effects associated with excessive social media use. The move places a greater burden of responsibility on technology companies to enforce age restrictions and protect young users.

Political and International Context

Despite the government's push, the proposal faces opposition from some Members of Parliament who believe a ban will not be effective. Additionally, reports indicate the move comes amid clashes within the coalition government.

New Zealand's proposal follows a trend of similar restrictions globally. The National Party's investigation into the ban followed the implementation of a world-first ban in neighboring Australia in December. Other countries with similar laws or proposals under review include the United Arab Emirates, Poland, Slovakia, and the United Kingdom.

Next Steps

The government is scheduled to introduce the legislation in Parliament on Monday. The bill will then undergo the legislative process to determine if it becomes law.

Sources (8)Open
  1. 1.BBC World — New Zealand to introduce bill for under-16s social media ban
  2. 2.Bbc — New Zealand moves to ban children under 16 from social media
  3. 3.Storyboard18 — New Zealand moves to restrict social media access for under-16s
  4. 4.Dig — New Zealand proposes bill to ban under-16s from social media | Digital Watch Observatory
  5. 5.Com — New Zealand introduces under-16 social media ban amid coalition clashes
  6. 6.Rfi — New Zealand moves to ban social media for under-16s
  7. 7.Theguardian — New Zealand to consider banning children under 16 from social media
  8. 8.Economictimes — New Zealand to introduce bill banning social media for children under 16

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How NewsNews AI made this storyOpen

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From the editor

13 claims in this story were checked against the source cited for each, and quoted material was matched to the reporting it came from. The story draws on 8 sources, 8 of which carry claims in the finished piece. 1 passage was set aside for a closer read against its source and cleared. Nothing required changing.

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