Online safety, especially for young people, is a new area of policy debate.
Australia passed a law banning under-16s from major social media platforms. A similar member's bill has been proposed in New Zealand.
ACT said it would use its agree-to-disagree clause to vote against the under-16 ban, arguing it would not work. Source
The Greens oppose National's under-16 ban, arguing platforms should instead be regulated to remove harmful content for all users. Source
Labour backed the under-16 ban bill at first reading, while wanting a stronger regulator and safety-by-design focus rather than age limits alone. Source
National introduced a bill requiring platforms to take reasonable steps to keep under-16s off, with large fines, and plans to progress it after the election. Source
Winston Peters said NZ First would never support the under-16 ban, warning that enforcement would require digital ID or VPN restrictions. Source
UnconfirmedNo clear public position found; reporting noted Te Pāti Māori had not announced a stance and its voters were split. Source
UnconfirmedNo public position found. Opportunity's digital policy covers privacy, cyber security and AI rights but not age limits for social media. Source