AI Generated Image
New Zealand moves to ban children under 16 from social media
BBC • • world
Key Points:
- New Zealand's proposed Online Safety Bill would require platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook to verify users are over 16, with fines up to 10% of global revenue for non-compliance.
- Prime Minister Christopher Luxon emphasized the need to protect children from harmful content and addictive technology on social media, likening virtual protections to those in the real world.
- The bill mandates platforms frequently used by children to regularly assess and report on the risks they pose, using methods such as facial age estimation and digital identity checks.
- Despite government support, coalition partners including the Act and New Zealand First parties oppose the bill, citing concerns over its implications and enforcement challenges.
- The move follows similar legislation in Australia, which has faced enforcement difficulties and criticism for failing to prevent under-16s from accessing banned apps.
