ETtech Explainer: Amid online harm fears, nations push social media ban for under-16s

New Zealand prime minister Christopher Luxon has said a proposal to ban children under the age of 16 from social media will be part of the government’s agenda, increasing the likelihood of it becoming law.

“I am concerned by the harm social media can cause young New Zealanders and I believe restricting access for under-16s would help protect our kids from bullying, harmful content and social media addiction,” he said in a statement.

If approved, the restrictions could become law before the 2026 election, Stanford told Radio New Zealand.


The move aligns New Zealand with several countries that are introducing laws aimed at protecting children online. Australia passed a law last year that bans children under 16 from setting up accounts on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok. Luxon noted that the UK, the European Union, Canada and some US states are also weighing similar restrictions.

Global push to regulate kids' online access

India’s Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act prohibits processing personal data, tracking or running targeted ads for users under 18. It also requires verifiable parental consent for children to access online services.

The European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA) bans targeted advertising for users aged 17 and under. As ET reported earlier, the European Commission is investigating Facebook and Instagram over concerns their algorithms could drive “addictive behaviour” among children.

France, meanwhile, proposed a law in 2023 to ban children under 15 from social media, though it allows access with parental consent.

New Zealand’s proposal signals growing political consensus on limiting children’s exposure to digital platforms. If passed, the law would put the country among a small but growing group of governments taking legislative steps to curb online harm and social media addiction among minors.