New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced plans to introduce legislation preventing children younger than 16 from holding accounts on major social-media platforms.
Under the proposal, technology companies would have to take reasonable measures to determine whether users meet the minimum-age requirement. Possible verification methods include existing account information, facial-analysis systems and government-recognized digital identification.
Platforms that fail to comply could face penalties amounting to as much as 10% of their worldwide revenue. The proposal has not yet secured enough support to pass Parliament, with New Zealand First—one of Luxon’s coalition partners—opposing it.
Australia became the first country to introduce a nationwide social-media prohibition for children under 16 in December 2025.
Why it matters: The proposal could establish one of the world’s strongest online child-safety frameworks. It also raises concerns about digital privacy, data collection and whether age-verification systems can operate accurately.
Status: Legislation proposed; parliamentary passage uncertain
