New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced plans on August 24, 2026, to introduce legislation that would ban children under the age of 16 from accessing social media platforms.
The proposed bill follows similar initiatives in Australia, aiming to mitigate the impact of digital platforms on youth mental health and online safety across the country.
The government is expected to debate the specifics of the age-verification mechanisms required to enforce the ban, with public consultations scheduled to begin in the coming weeks.