The New Zealand government is moving forward with a restrictive bill that would effectively ban children under 16 from using major social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.
Under the proposed Online Safety Bill, tech companies would be forced to implement intrusive age-verification measures—such as facial scanning and digital identity checks—or face crushing fines of up to 10% of their global revenue.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon claims the state must intervene to protect children from harmful content and the addictive nature of these platforms, arguing that digital protections are a necessary extension of real-world safety laws. However, the proposal faces a rocky road in parliament.
The government’s own coalition partners, the Act and New Zealand First parties, have signaled they will oppose the measure.
Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour has flatly stated the ban will not work, while Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters warned of a dangerous 'slippery slope' and labeled similar efforts in Australia a 'colossal failure.' Critics point out that such bans are notoriously difficult to enforce and often infringe upon fundamental rights, as evidenced by France’s top court recently striking down a similar proposal on the grounds that it violates freedom of expression.
While the government insists on these new regulations, the internal division suggests that New Zealanders are far from convinced that more state control is the answer to the challenges of the digital age.
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