In a move igniting national debate, Tukituki MP Catherine Wedd has introduced a member’s bill aiming to ban under-16s from accessing social media platforms in New Zealand. Titled the My Social Media Age-Appropriate Users Bill, the legislation is being promoted by the National Party as a necessary step to curb the harms associated with youth use of social platforms.
Backed by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, the bill places responsibility on social media companies to verify that users are over 16 before granting access. This is about protecting “our most vulnerable young teenagers and children from the online harms of social media,” Wedd said. Luxon added, “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.”
Personal and Political Motivation
Wedd, a mother of four, described the bill as a response to repeated concerns voiced by parents, teachers, and school principals about the challenges of managing social media use among adolescents. She emphasised that the legislation mirrors Australia’s recent Online Safety Amendment Bill, passed in December 2024, which mandates age verification for platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram while exempting educational and health-related apps.
“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,” Wedd said. “Right now, we aren’t managing the risks for our young people well”.
Core Provisions and Enforcement Mechanisms
The bill requires platforms to take “all reasonable steps” to prevent under-16s from creating accounts, allowing them to rely on “reasonable verification measures” to demonstrate compliance. If platforms fail to meet these obligations, financial penalties can be imposed. Regulatory oversight would lie with the Minister, who has the authority to designate age-restricted platforms. A three-year review clause is included to assess the law’s effectiveness and consider potential amendments.
While acknowledging enforcement may not be flawless, Wedd said on Mike Hosking Breakfast that the bill sets a necessary direction. “It’s not going to be perfect, but this is a direction from the government that we need to do more to protect kids from online harm”.
A Divided Political Landscape
The proposal has received enthusiastic backing from National, with Luxon expressing hopes for bipartisan support. “It’s not a political issue. It’s actually a New Zealand issue,” he said. However, support within Parliament remains fractured.
ACT leader David Seymour has strongly opposed the bill, describing it as “simple, neat, and wrong.” Seymour said the legislation sidesteps the role of parents and warned against hastily implementing policies before understanding Australia’s rollout. “What I’d like to see is the people worried about this… come before a select committee, really thrash it out, and get a solution that is technologically feasible”.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins has indicated cautious support, agreeing with the bill’s intent but arguing it should be a Government bill to ensure proper backing and scrutiny. “If the National Party believes in this, make it a government bill,” he said.
NZ First has offered partial endorsement, with leader Winston Peters calling for both Government adoption of the bill and a select committee inquiry.
Public Support and Civil Society Reactions
Public sentiment appears to lean in favour of restrictions. A 1News Verian Poll from late 2024 showed that 68% of voters supported similar legislation, with the strongest support from National voters and women. Opposition was most pronounced among men and younger adults aged 18 to 34.
Family First CEO Bob McCoskrie welcomed the bill but expressed disappointment that it was not being progressed as a Government priority. He called for wider parliamentary and public consultation via a Select Committee process, warning the issue should not “be left in a biscuit tin”.
Implementation Hurdles and Global Context
A major challenge facing the bill is the practical enforcement of age verification. Wedd herself acknowledged the ease with which users can fake their age, but maintained that platforms must bear responsibility and face consequences for non-compliance.
Australia’s similar law, set to be enforced by the end of 2025, is being overseen by the eSafety Commissioner, who is currently testing over 30 age-verification technologies. Early reactions have been mixed, with concerns that stringent controls could push youth towards unregulated platforms or increase social isolation.
Globally, jurisdictions like Texas, the UK, Canada, and the EU are exploring or implementing similar legislation, suggesting a broader international reckoning with the impact of social media on youth mental health and safety.
What’s Next?
Currently, the bill sits in Parliament’s members’ bill ballot—a randomised process often referred to as the “biscuit tin.” Wedd and Luxon have both expressed a desire for the bill to be adopted as a Government bill to fast-track its path through Parliament. Whether consensus can be reached remains uncertain.
As the debate continues, the bill has crystallised a growing national and international conversation: how to protect young users in a digital environment that increasingly shapes their daily lives.