Youths on proposed social media ban: Cautious approval, but questions around enforcement
New Zealand youth are expressing skepticism regarding the government's proposed social media ban for those under 16. While acknowledging the risks of harmful content, students question the feasibility of enforcement and the effectiveness of such legislation.
Why it matters
The debate over regulating social media for minors highlights the tension between digital safety and practical implementation in the modern age.
"How are you going to enforce this?" That's the response from young people who grew up with social media to the proposed ban for under-16s.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said social media is exposing young people to harmful content, addictive technology and pressure they aren't equipped to deal with, and the government would push ahead with the Online Safety Bill.
"We would never knowingly let our children wander into places in the real world we know to be unsafe. We put boundaries around cars, around alcohol, around gambling, because we know children aren't yet equipped for them."
So, it has been proposed that social media platforms will risk financial penalties if they don't take steps to verify the age of users.
But some Auckland 17- and 18-year-olds say they're not convinced a complete ban will work.
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