New Zealand to Investigate Social Media Ban for Under-16s

By Netvora Tech News

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New Zealand's Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, has announced that the government will further investigate a proposed ban on social media for children under the age of 16. The investigation will examine how such a ban could be implemented and how other countries have approached this issue. The proposal, which was introduced by a member of Luxon's own party, is a so-called "member's bill" that parliamentarians can introduce themselves. The bill would need to be chosen from a list of proposed bills and then receive sufficient votes to become a law. Luxon has expressed concerns about the potential harm that social media can cause to young people in New Zealand, citing issues such as bullying, exposure to harmful content, and social media addiction. He believes that limiting access to social media for children under 16 could help protect them from these harms.

Government Investigation to Examine Feasibility of Ban

The government investigation will examine the feasibility of a social media ban and how it could be implemented in practice. This will include looking at how other countries have approached this issue and what measures they have taken to regulate social media use among young people.

ACT New Zealand Opposes Proposal

Not everyone is in favor of the proposal, however. The political party ACT New Zealand has expressed concerns about the practicality of implementing a social media ban. They argue that requiring all social media users to provide government-issued identification to social media companies would raise privacy concerns. "We are worried about the practicality of implementing a ban," said a spokesperson for ACT New Zealand. "For example, requiring all social media users to provide government-issued identification to social media companies would raise privacy concerns." The debate around social media and its impact on young people is ongoing, and it remains to be seen whether a ban on social media for under-16s will become a reality in New Zealand.