New Zealand: Children under 16 won't be able to use social media; government may introduce new law..

Addiction to smartphones and social media has become a major challenge for the mental health and future of children worldwide. Now, the New Zealand government is set to take a very strict step to protect children from this serious threat. A new bill will be introduced in Parliament to completely ban social media use for children under the age of 16. Tech companies failing to comply with this rule will face hefty financial penalties.

**Hefty fines for tech companies**

Announcing this historic decision, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon made it clear that social media platforms disregarding the rules would not be spared. Under the proposal, if a company fails to prevent children under 16 from using its platform, it could face a fine of up to 10 percent of its total global revenue.
The new law will mandate that social media companies use digital identity verification, facial recognition technology, and existing account data to verify users' ages.

**'Compromising children's future is unacceptable'**

Prime Minister Luxon has expressed deep concern regarding the adverse effects of social media on children. He stated that they cannot stand by and watch an entire generation of New Zealand children suffer such harm. Social media is exposing them to harmful content, addictive algorithms, and mental pressures they are ill-equipped to handle.
This is severely impacting their family life, mental health, sleep, and education. The Prime Minister acknowledged that fully implementing this rule would not be easy, but emphasized that making this effort is crucial for the safety of children.

**Voices of dissent within the government**

However, getting this bill passed in Parliament will not be easy for the government. The Prime Minister's coalition partner, the 'New Zealand First' party, has decided to oppose this legislation. Winston Peters, the party leader and the country's Foreign Minister, expressed concern on the social media platform X, stating that such legislation could steer the country in the wrong direction.

Citing the ban imposed by Australia last December on children under 16 using platforms like TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook, he described that move as unsuccessful. Peters believes that the responsibility for keeping children away from social media should lie with parents, not the government.
Children's Online Safety: A Global Concern

New Zealand's proposal comes at a time when the debate regarding social media usage by children and adolescents is intensifying worldwide. While governments are striving to enhance online safety, issues such as age verification, privacy, and parental responsibility are also coming to the fore.

In December, Australia became the first country in the world to ban social media use for children under the age of 16. Regulations concerning children have been implemented there for a dozen major platforms, including TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook.
If New Zealand's proposed legislation is passed by Parliament, the country could become a major nation—following Australia—to impose a strict ban on social media use for children under 16.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from NDTV India. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.