The prime minister of New Zealand made the suggestion on Tuesday ( May 6 ) that all children under the age of 16 be banned from social media, underscoring the need to protect them from the dangers of big tech platforms.
As social media is becoming increasingly flooded with harsh and unsettling information, regulators around the world are grappling with how to protect children online.
Draft rules that may require social media companies to evaluate people were at least 16 years old or experience fines of up to NZ$ 2 million ( US$ 1.2 million ) were unveiled by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
The proposed restrictions was based on Australia’s recent stringent rules, which are at the forefront of international efforts to regulate cultural advertising.
” New Zealand should acknowledge that, despite the positive things that come from social media, it’s not always a safe place for our young people to be,” Luxon told reporters.
” It’s moment we put the burden on these programs to protect disadvantaged children from dangerous content, bullying, and exploitation.”
When the policy would be introduced to parliament was unknown, but Luxon said he was hoping to win support from allies in the room.
The majority of New Zealand’s three-way controlling partnership, Luxon’s centre-right National Party, wrote the rules.
They would need the backing of Luxon’s two different alliance partners in order for them to be passed.
” Parents are constantly telling us that they are truly concerned about the effects that social media is having on their kids,” Luxon said.
” And they claim that they are actually having trouble managing access to social media.”