Shielding Youth Online: New Zealand's Proposed Social Media Age Limit
Online sociability platforms to be prohibited for minors under 16 in New Zealand - Online restrictions for under-16s to be instated in New Zealand
Let's dive into New Zealand's upcoming plan to secure young minds from the unwanted chaos of online networks!
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has set the stage with a bill, making it mandatory for platforms like Instagram or TikTok to verify that users are at least 16 years old. Failure to comply could cost these companies hefty fines of up to 1.1 million euros ( roughly equivalent to 2 million NZD).
Parents have shared their anxieties about their kids' exposure to social media, and they appreciate some relief—a sentiment echoed by Luxon: "They're really struggling to control access to social media," he said. This bill, however, does not single out particular companies for regulation.
The specifics of when the bill will hit parliament remain unclear, but Luxon remains optimistic about its broad support in both houses. The drafting honors was bestowed upon Luxon's own center-right National Party, a part of the current coalition government. For it to become law, the coalition partners' support is crucial.
Across the globe, governments are grappling with shielding children from harmful, disturbing, and manipulative online content. In fact, New Zealand's initiative seems to draw inspiration from Australia's stringent regulations rolled out last November.
The Australian law sets the age limit for using platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat at 16. However, exceptions are made for educational purposes on video platforms like YouTube. Prior to the law's implementation in December, though, several critical questions must be addressed, such as the enforcement procedure.
Last year, New Zealand took a step further by banning the use of mobile phones in schools to combat plummeting literacy rates.
Now, let's take a look at how the proposed New Zealand law compares to its Australian counterpart:
- Age Verification: Companies in New Zealand would be required to verify the ages of their users, just like in Australia. This is the crux of a member's bill introduced by National Party MP Catherine Wedd.
- Penalties for Non-Compliance: New Zealand seeks to impose penalties of up to NZ$2 million (roughly USD 1.2 million) on companies that fail to comply with the age restrictions.
- Objective: The objective of both bills is mainly to shield children from online bullying, inappropriate content, and social media addiction.
- Support and Progression: Prime Minister Luxon is actively seeking bipartisan support to pass this legislation.
Although the Australian law is already in effect, New Zealand's remains a work-in-progress. However, the existing Australian legislation paves the way for New Zealand's proposal and demonstrates the worldwide concern for children's online safety. Some critics, however, contend that simply banning access for under-16s isn't enough to tackle the underlying issues of online security and may shift responsibility onto young users themselves.
The Commission has decided to enforces a policy-and-legislation that prohibits the use of online networks by children under the age of 16, a move mirroring Australia's legislative action. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's center-right National Party is currently drafting this bill. Failure to comply with the age restrictions could result in fines reaching up to 1.1 million euros (roughly equivalent to 2 million NZD), similar to the penalties for non-compliance in Australia. Critics argue that this legislation may only shift the burden of online security onto young users, such as young people in Zealand or Luxon.
