New Zealand Parliament Discusses Prohibition Of Social Media For Teens Under 16 Years

JAKARTA A bill aimed at limiting the use of social media for children under the age of 16 will be introduced in New Zealand parliament. This move adds to the momentum of the government's efforts to protect teens from the negative effects of online activity.

According to local officials on Thursday, October 23, the draft will require every social media platform to implement a user-age verification process, similar to the 'social media ban on teenagers' which was first passed in Australia in 2024.

This bill is an initiative of National Party lawmaker Catherine Wedd, who submitted the proposal in May 2025. On Thursday, October 23, the draft was officially elected to be brought to a parliamentary session.

Wedd has received support from fellow members of the National Party, but there has been no confirmation from the coalition party whether they will support the move.

For the record, members of the bill or member bill can be submitted by anyone who is not a cabinet member, and the election is carried out through a ceremonial lottery. It is not yet known when this bill will be officially discussed in parliament.

The New Zealand parliamentary committee is currently also researching the impact of social media on the younger generation, including the role of the government, business world, and society in dealing with various forms of online danger. An official report from the committee is scheduled to be published in early 2026.

New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has repeatedly raised concerns about the impact social media on teens' mental health, including the spread of misinformation, online bullying, and content that negatively affects the body's image.

However, the PILLAR civil liberties organization considers the bill will not be effective in protecting children in cyberspace. On the other hand, the policy is considered to pose serious privacy risks and limit the online freedom of New Zealanders.

"Deliberateing policies with international efforts does sound responsible, but this is a form of lazy policymaking," said PILLAR Executive Director Nathan Seiuli in a statement.

New Zealand's move marks a global trend where the government is increasingly putting pressure on social media companies to take responsibility for the impact their platform has on the mental health and security of young users in the digital era.