Government Leader Advocates for Prohibition of Social Media Access for Individuals Under Age 16
Unleashing the Untamed: Social Media Showdown in the Land of the Long White Cloud
It's time for Kiwi kids to log off, at least till they hit 16, according to New Zealand's Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, who unveiled a bill this Tuesday that aims to curb their access to social media platforms, emulating the stringent controls enforced in Australia.
The proposed legislation, tentatively titled "My Social Media Age-Appropriate Users Bill," if given the go-ahead, would push social media giants to implement measures to safeguard underage users. Defiance to these measures could lead to heavy fines, potentially amounting to a whopping million euros. The bill's details, such as which platforms would be targeted, remain undefined as of now.
This moves follows the footsteps of Australia's legislation, which made waves in November, marking their venture into the forefront of social media regulation to shield children. Despite the widespread praise, this law has garnered criticism from social media titans, who argue that it could drive young users towards potentially dangerous alternative platforms[1][2].
Luxon stands firm, stating, "It's high time New Zealand acknowledged that while social media unquestionably brings numerous benefits, it isn't always a safe haven for our young ones." He underscored the importance of holding these platforms responsible for shielding vulnerable children from harmful content, cyberbullying, and exploitation.
The proposed bill's exact submission date to the New Zealand Parliament is shrouded in uncertainty. Luxon is bullish about bipartisan support for the cause and has been working on it diligently[3]. MP Catherine Wedd, a mother of four and the bill's author, echoes Luxon's sentiment, advocating for stronger family and parental support in monitoring children's online presence[4].
The growing concerns surrounding young children and teens' social media usage have been brewing for quite some time, with the debates revolving primarily around screen time and the lack of moderation on various platforms[5]. The impending enforcement of Australia's law, banning under-16s from social media access by year-end, is being observed closely in many countries, including New Zealand and Spain, as they ponder imposing similar restrictions.
In a stark contrast, China has been imposing stringent access controls for minors since 2021, requiring ID verification before use[6]. Underage users are permitted a maximum of 40 minutes daily on the Chinese version of TikTok, Douyin, and strict limitations have been instituted on online gaming hours for children and teens.
Stay tuned for updates on the progress of the proposed regulation in the land of the long white cloud. The battle for adolescent cyber-safety is well and truly on.
- In response to concern over young children's social media usage, New Zealand's Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, has added a policy-and-legislation titled "My Social Media Age-Appropriate Users Bill" to the agenda.
- If approved, this bill may potentially lead to the banning of underage users on social media platforms, similar to the recent legislation in Australia.
- The bill, if enacted, would encourage social media platforms to develop policies for safeguarding minors, with defiance to these measures resulting in hefty fines.
- The Sydney-based MP, Catherine Wedd, who authored the bill, supports stronger family and parental involvement in monitoring children's social media activities, aligning with Luxon's stance.
- As general-news outlets and politics continue to cover the issue, countries like New Zealand and Spain are closely observing Australia's approach to legislate the age-appropriateness of social media usage.
