New Zealand Plans Social Media Ban For Under-16s
Muhammad Irfan
Published August 24, 2026 | 12:45 PM
WELLINGTON, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 24th Aug, 2026) The New Zealand government on Monday announced plans to ban social media for children under 16.
The bill would require social media platforms deemed "high risk" by the government to take reasonable steps to verify that users are over 16 using existing account information, facial age estimation, digital ID services, and formal ID.
The law would cover platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, and X.
Education Minister Erica Stanford said the government was "taking action to protect young people online, backing parents and holding Big Tech" accountable.