New Zealand’s ruling National Party is using negative body image and self-harm as a reason to ban social media for users under 16.
Following hot on the heels of Starmer announcing his government’s intention, the NZ legislation, which is in the final stages of the Parliamentary process, mirrors Australia’s ban, which passed in 2024 and took effect in late 2025, and requires platforms to implement age verification.
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National Cites Eating Disorders And Self-Harm To Justify Digital ID And Total Online Surveillance
Summarised by Centrist, 18 June 2026
The National Parrty is using concerns about body image and self-harm among teenage girls to argue for an under-16 social media ban that could require every New Zealander to verify their age online.
Cabinet is expected to consider the final proposal within weeks, although ACT and NZ First remain unconvinced.
Education Minister Erica Stanford said the government could not wait while young girls were exposed to damaging material.
“Every minute that we waste, another young girl has been fed awful information about her weight and her looks, and she’s being told that, ‘how about you know going to use this blade to cut yourself’,” Stanford claimed.
Stanford acknowledged it would not stop all children from accessing social media, comparing the platforms to cocaine and saying it would take time for attitudes to change.
“I’ve never said that a ban is going to be immediately effective for 100% of young people,” she said.
The unresolved issue is how platforms would determine whether a user is under 16.
NZ First is concerned that the scheme could result in all users, including adults, being required to prove their age through a government-backed digital identity system before accessing social media.
ACT supports the stated aim but has questioned whether the ban is workable.
Stanford would not say whether she had secured their support.
If ACT and NZ First refuse to back the legislation, National may need Labour to pass it.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins said his party was open to working with the government.
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