New Zealand plans to pass legislation to restrict the use of social media by teenagers under the age of 16.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced on the 11th that the government has officially included "restricting the use of social media by teenagers under the age of 16" in the legislative agenda, and Education Minister Stanford will lead the development of specific implementation plans. According to the New Zealand Herald, the proposal was put forward by National Party MP Catherine Wade. Wade stated that there is currently no legally binding age verification mechanism for social media in New Zealand, and schools, teachers, and parents are generally concerned about the negative impact of social media on teenagers, including cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and social media addiction. This proposal will restrict the use of social media by teenagers under the age of 16 to protect their physical and mental health. It is reported that Stanford will work with multiple departments to develop an age verification mechanism, requiring social media platforms to enforce a 16-year-old access restriction, with violators facing economic penalties. The government also has the right to designate specific platforms as "age-restricted platforms." Ardern stated that 70% of parents strongly support this policy, "this is a bipartisan issue of child protection."