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New Zealand steps up plans to ban under-16s from social media

Economic Times

Economic Times · 3m ago

New Zealand steps up plans to ban under-16s from social media

New Zealand aims to ban under-16s from social media, with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon emphasizing the need to protect youth from bullying, harmful content, and addiction. Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead efforts to develop legislative options. The proposal follows similar steps by Australia and other countries. Luxon's National Party has introduced a members’ bill, requiring government and opposition support to become law, potentially enacting the restrictions before the 2026 election.

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Related News

ETtech Explainer: Amid online harm fears, nations push social media ban for under-16s

Economic Times

Economic Times · 3m ago

ETtech Explainer: Amid online harm fears, nations push social media ban for under-16s

New Zealand is considering a law to ban children under 16 from social media, aligning with other nations like Australia, which already has similar restrictions. This move, aimed at protecting children from online harm and addiction, is part of a global trend, with the UK, EU, Canada, and some US states contemplating comparable measures. If passed, the law would join New Zealand with countries actively legislating to protect minors from digital platform exposure.

Australia PM plays down privacy fears of social media ban for children

Economic Times

Economic Times · 8m ago

Australia PM plays down privacy fears of social media ban for children

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced that social media firms will be required to delete personal data used for age verification under new legislation banning under-16s from using their services. The government plans to test an age-verification system using biometrics or government identification, setting some of the strictest controls globally. Platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Snapchat will be affected by the laws, which have drawn criticism from Elon Musk and others. The legislation proposes fines of up to $32 million for non-compliance and aims to be passed by the end of the parliamentary year.

Australia's teen social media ban faces a new wildcard: teenagers

Economic Times

Economic Times · 1m ago

Australia's teen social media ban faces a new wildcard: teenagers

Australia's proposal to ban under-16s from social media is facing skepticism due to teenagers' tech savviness potentially circumventing age verification methods. The trial involved testing various age-checking tools with mixed results. Critics, including tech firms and child protection advocates, question its effectiveness. From December, platforms face hefty fines if they fail to block underaged users. Globally, other nations are observing Australia’s approach as they consider similar regulations to protect young users’ mental and physical health.

TikTok accuses Australia of favouritism in social media crackdown, targets YouTube’s special treatment

Livemint

Livemint · 5m ago

TikTok accuses Australia of favouritism in social media crackdown, targets YouTube’s special treatment

TikTok has criticized the Australian government's decision to exempt YouTube from a new social media crackdown banning under-16s, labeling it as "illogical, anti-competitive, and short-sighted." TikTok, along with Meta and Snap, argues that YouTube’s classification as a health and education service is unjustified. The regulation, set to be enforced by 2025 with significant penalties, could impact social media firms by restricting access to a key demographic, prompting backlash from platforms seeking regulatory fairness.

Indonesia planning to ban goods transactions on social media

Economic Times

Economic Times · 1y ago

Indonesia planning to ban goods transactions on social media

Indonesia plans to ban goods transactions conducted on social media platforms under new trade regulations. Ecommerce sellers using predatory pricing on social media have been seen as a threat to offline markets in Southeast Asia's largest economy. Current trade regulations do not specifically cover direct transactions on social media, but revisions under consideration will explicitly ban such transactions. TikTok, with 2 million sellers in Indonesia, has expressed no plans for cross-border e-commerce in the country. Indonesia's e-commerce sector is expected to grow to $95 billion by 2025, driven by factors like increased digitalization.

After Australia legislated a teen social media ban, it has to figure out how to enforce it

Economic Times

Economic Times · 8m ago

After Australia legislated a teen social media ban, it has to figure out how to enforce it

Software testers hired by the Australian government to enforce a national teen social media ban will draw on their experience as parents to guide their study. The trial will involve approximately 1,200 randomly selected Australians and will test age-checking technology. The results of the trial, expected by mid-2025, will provide recommendations on reasonable steps tech platforms can take to prevent users under 16 from accessing social media. The approach taken by Australia could influence how other countries approach online age checks. The ban is driven by concerns about youth mental health and data collection.

Social media ban for children younger than 16 introduced in Australia's Parliament

Economic Times

Economic Times · 8m ago

Social media ban for children younger than 16 introduced in Australia's Parliament

Australia's communications minister has proposed a new law that would prohibit children under the age of 16 from using social media platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, and Instagram. The aim is to safeguard children from harmful content. Platforms that fail to enforce this age restriction could be fined up to 50 million Australian dollars. The bill has received widespread political support. However, critics argue that the ban could isolate teenagers from their existing online networks. In addition to the social media ban, Australia is also exploring ways to prevent minors from accessing online pornography.

Pakistan to ban all social media platforms for 6 days to control 'hate material' during Ramadan

Economic Times

Economic Times · 1y ago

Pakistan to ban all social media platforms for 6 days to control 'hate material' during Ramadan

The Pakistan government, led by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, is planning to ban all social media platforms, including YouTube, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, for six days from July 13 to 18. The decision was made to control the spread of hate material and misinformation during the Islamic month of Ramadan. The government believes that social media can be used for "digital terrorism" and is taking steps to address the issue. This move follows the previous ban on X (formerly Twitter) for over four months.

Australia has barred everyone under 16 from social media. Will it work?

Economic Times

Economic Times · 8m ago

Australia has barred everyone under 16 from social media. Will it work?

Australia has passed a sweeping ban on social media for children under 16, making it one of the most comprehensive measures worldwide to protect young people online. The law puts the responsibility on social media platforms to prevent anyone under 16 from having an account, with potential fines for corporations failing to comply. However, the details of enforcement and which platforms will be covered remain unclear. Critics argue that the ban may not effectively counteract the dangers of harmful content, while supporters believe it will help change social media usage norms among parents and children.

Australia wants to ban kids under 16 from social media as world governments seek to crack down on the 'addictive' apps

Business Insider

Business Insider · 9m ago

Australia wants to ban kids under 16 from social media as world governments seek to crack down on the 'addictive' apps

Australia is proposing a ban on social media for individuals under 16, aiming to address the harmful impact of social media on children. The law would require social media companies to prevent minors from accessing their platforms, with a 12-month grace period for compliance. Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that the proposed legislation puts the onus on social media companies rather than parents, emphasizing the need to protect children from the negative effects of social media. This announcement follows similar measures taken in the US and UK, as concerns of social media addiction and its impact on mental health continue to grow. However, critics argue that the ban may be too broad and could impede access to critical services for young people.

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