Victoria
New Zealand proposes Australian style social media ban
The New Zealand prime minister has proposed a social media ban for minors, mirroring Australia's landmark under-16 law passed last year.
The New Zealand government is considering a ban on social media for young people, following the regulatory model recently established by Australia.
According to a wire report, the New Zealand prime minister has proposed introducing restrictions similar to Australia's landmark laws. The development marks New Zealand as the latest country to contemplate such a ban since Australia enacted its world-first policy in December 2025, which prohibits children under the age of 16 from using social media platforms.
The proposal reflects a growing international trend of governments seeking to regulate digital platforms to protect minors. However, the specific details of the New Zealand proposal remain limited. It is not yet confirmed what specific age limit the country will target, which digital platforms will fall under the scope of the restrictions, or what penalties non-compliant technology companies might face.
In Australia, the legislation placed the responsibility for enforcing the age limit directly on social media companies, threatening them with substantial fines for non-compliance. The Australian law did not penalise underage users or their parents, focusing instead on the systemic responsibilities of the platforms themselves.
Whether New Zealand will adopt an identical age threshold of 16, or opt for a different age limit, remains to be seen. Industry groups and digital privacy advocates are expected to scrutinise any forthcoming policy, particularly regarding the technology used to verify user ages without compromising personal privacy.
Observers will now be watching for the release of a formal policy paper or draft legislation from the New Zealand government detailing how the proposed ban would operate.
This report draws on original reporting by Wire report.
Dedicated to a Stronger Victoria.
A message from the editor, August
Every story here is free to read. Only readers keep it that way.
We take no government money, run no paywall, and answer to nobody in Spring Street. That independence is paid for by a small number of readers, not the many who benefit from it. If just one in a hundred of today's readers gave $8 a month, our Victorian politics coverage would be funded for the year.
- Funds reporting, not shareholders
- Cancel in one click, anytime
- Supporter badge and reply access
Prefer a one-off? Send a tip. It takes about twenty seconds.