New Zealand plans to restrict social media access for under-16s

12:42

By: Azzat Manal

New Zealand plans to restrict social media access for under-16s

New Zealand is preparing legislation that would prevent children under the age of 16 from accessing major social media platforms, as the government seeks to strengthen online safety protections for young people.

Under the proposed legislation, social media companies classified as high-risk would be required to take reasonable measures to verify that users are at least 16 years old. Possible methods could include checking existing account information, age-estimation technology, facial analysis, digital identity services and official identification documents.

The proposed restrictions would apply to major platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube and X. The government argues that stronger safeguards are needed as children face growing exposure to harmful content, addictive platform designs and rapidly developing digital technologies.

Education Minister Erica Stanford said the initiative was intended to protect young people online while giving parents greater support and holding major technology companies accountable. She argued that families should not be left alone to manage the risks created by some of the world's largest digital platforms.

However, the proposal faces political opposition and still requires parliamentary approval. Coalition partners New Zealand First and ACT have expressed reservations about the plan, while the opposition Labour Party has not yet confirmed whether it will support the legislation.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said his party would not back the proposed measure, raising concerns about its practical implementation and potential consequences for internet users. He also questioned how authorities could enforce an age restriction without potentially restricting the use of virtual private networks or relying on digital identity systems.

The debate reflects a wider international discussion over how governments should balance children's online safety with privacy, digital rights and freedom of access to the internet. Supporters of age restrictions argue that social media companies have not done enough to protect minors, while critics warn that strict verification systems could create new privacy and surveillance concerns.

Australia became the first country to introduce a nationwide minimum social media age of 16 in December 2025, providing a closely watched example for other governments considering similar measures. New Zealand's proposal could therefore become an important test of whether age-based restrictions can effectively protect young users while remaining practical and respectful of digital privacy.