NZ to introduce teen social media ban | The Saturday Paper

New Zealand is set to introduce a bill seeking to ban under-16s from using social media. Social media platforms, which include TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook, will need to ensure users are over 16. Platforms that fail to meet the country’s rules could face fines of up to 10% of their global revenue (BBC). New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said social media was exposing children to “harmful content, addictive technology and pressures they are not equipped to deal with” (BBC). It remains uncertain when the legislation will be introduced, as coalition partners NZ First and ACT have both voiced opposition to the proposal, questioning the law’s effectiveness (DW). The government’s data shows one in three children aged 13 to 17 now spend at least five hours a day on social media (DW).
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