Prime Minister of New Zealand advocates for restricting access to social media platforms for individuals under the age of sixteen.
Let's dive into the latest digital drama down under!
Aussie-style Social Media Ban Proposes Kiwi Children's Protection
It's a hot topic in Sydney, as New Zealand's prime minister, Christopher Luxon, introduces a new proposal: barring kids under 16 from social media. Amid concerns about the damaging effects of big tech platforms, regulators worldwide are scrambling to safeguard our little ones.
Luxon's party has drafted laws that threaten social media giants with hefty fines—up to 2 billion New Zealand dollars (39 million baht)—if they fail to verify users as at least 16 or allow underage access to their platforms.
This ambitious plan follows in the footsteps of Australia, a global pioneer in digital regulation. As the first nation to implement a broad under-16 social media ban, Australia has set a precedent—with New Zealand hoping to join the ranks soon.
"Keeping our children safe is the essence of this bill," Luxon declared. But when will the legislation hit the parliamentary floor? Stay tuned, it's anyone's guess right now.
Behind the scenes, the drafting of the bill belongs to the National Party, the biggest member of New Zealand's three-party ruling coalition. To become law, the measure needs the backing of the other two coalition partners.
Are parents breathing a collective sigh of relief? Many have voiced worries about their kids' social media woes, claiming they're struggling to manage their youngsters' online activity [2].
How does New Zealand's proposal compare to Australia's law? Well, both aim to regulate age verifications and penalize non-compliance. But, similar to the Australian bill, the New Zealand proposal may raise eyebrows from big tech companies, who have previously argued that the laws are too vague and rushed [3].
Wondering what's next? The bill is currently a member's bill, but Luxon has signaled his intention to adopt it as government legislation, potentially speeding its route through parliament [4]. And with the provisions for a review three years after implementation, let's hope things change for the better down under!
The New Zealand prime minister, Christopher Luxon, has proposed a bill to ban children under 16 from social media, with hefty fines of up to 2 billion New Zealand dollars for non-compliance, following Australia's lead in digital regulation. Parents may find relief as the National Party, the biggest member of New Zealand's ruling coalition, is drafting this legislation, but its success relies on the backing of the other coalition partners. This proposed bill, set to be reviewed three years after implementation, comes amidst general news and politics discussions, with concerns about the damaging effects of big tech platforms on children being at the forefront.
References:[1] Let's dive into the latest digital drama down under![2] Many have voiced worries about their kids' social media woes, claiming they're struggling to manage their youngsters' online activity.[3] The New Zealand proposal may raise eyebrows from big tech companies, who have previously argued that the laws are too vague and rushed.[4] Luxon has signaled his intention to adopt the bill as government legislation, potentially speeding its route through parliament.
