A New Zealand lawmaker has introduced a bill that would ban children under 16 from accessing social media, a move that could see the country follow Australia in tightening regulations on digital platforms.
New Zealand National Party MP Catherine Wedd has introduced a bill that would require social media companies to verify the age of users and prevent minors from creating accounts.
Social media platforms could face fines if they fail to comply with the rules and will be required to take “all reasonable steps” to ensure users are at least 16, Radio New Zealand (RNZ) reported.
"The My Social Media Age-Appropriate Users Bill aims to protect young people from bullying, inappropriate content and social media addiction by restricting access for those under 16," Wedd was quoted as saying by RNZ.
The social media bill has the backing of New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who has said he is open to adopting it as a government bill, a move that would speed its progress through parliament.
"This is not a political issue. This is actually a New Zealand issue," Luxon said, adding that he was seeking bipartisan support.
The proposed bill is modeled on the current law in Australia. If passed, it would give the minister in charge the power to classify certain platforms as age-restricted and require a formal review three years after its introduction to assess its impact.
