National introduces bill to ban social media for under-16s

National MP Catherine Wedd is introducing a new member’s bill aiming to ban children under 16 from accessing social media platforms in New Zealand.

Wedd, MP for Tukituki in Hawke’s Bay, said the My Social Media Age-Appropriate Users Bill is about protecting the “most vulnerable young teenagers and children from the online harms of social media”.

Wedd said social media was an “extraordinary resource” but it came with risks.

“Right now, we aren’t managing the risks for our young people well.”

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the move was intended to protect young people from bullying, inappropriate content and social media addiction.

“As a dad, I feel very strongly that we need to do a lot more to keep our kids safe from harm,” he said.

“We have restrictions to keep our children safe in the physical world, but we don’t have the equivalent restrictions in the virtual world, and we should.”

Luxon said the initiative builds on National’s cellphone ban in schools, which he said had improved engagement and learning.

The bill would put the onus on social media companies to verify that someone is over the age of 16 before they access social media platforms.

Currently, there are no legally enforceable age verification measures for social media platforms in New Zealand.

Wedd said she hopes the proposal, placed into the ballot today, will be adopted as a Government bill “as soon as possible”.

Government bills are typically prioritised and have greater resources thrown behind them, while member’s bills are selected for debate through a ballot system known as the biscuit tin.

“I’d love to see my bill becoming a Government bill, and us pushing this through into law and taking the action that it deserves,” Wedd said.

“Now my job is to advocate really strongly for it to become a Government bill.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Tukituki MP Catherine Wedd, who is introducing the bill.

“As a mother of four children, I feel very strongly that families and parents should be better supported when it comes to overseeing their children’s online exposure.

“Parents and principals are constantly telling me they struggle to manage access to social media and are worried about the effect it’s having on their children.”

Wedd said the bill closely mirrors the approach taken in Australia, which passed the Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill in December 2024.

“Other jurisdictions are also taking action. Texas recently passed legislation which bans under-18s from social media use and the UK, the EU and Canada all have similar work in train,” Wedd said.

Luxon said it was, for now, a National bill.

“What I’m making sure is that when we actually open this with other parties, we’ve got a really good starting point.”

Labour leader Chris Hipkins said he was “broadly supportive” of Wedd’s aims.

“I think we’ve always got to stand up for what’s best for New Zealand young people,” he said.

“My concern about a member’s bill is that it won’t be properly supported, realistically.

“If we’re going to do this well, it’s going to need the weight of government behind it.”

Opposition leader Chris Hipkins says the Government should take full ownership of the bill. Photo/ Jason Dorday

What’s happening in Australia?

Australia’s law, which will come into effect by the end of 2025, mandates age verification for platforms enabling online social interaction, including TikTok, X, Facebook and Instagram, while exempting education-focused platforms like Google Classroom or health apps like Headspace.

Companies failing to comply could be fined up to A$49.5 million ($53.6m).

The legislation is being overseen by Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, who is testing more than 30 different age-verification technologies with tech firms.

Initial reactions to the law have been mixed. While some parents and advocacy groups welcomed the stronger protections, academics have warned it may drive teenagers to less regulated spaces or increase their sense of social isolation.