Member of the New Zealand National Party, Catherine Wedd, has proposed a bill aimed at restricting children's access to social media. The bill suggests banning individuals under the age of 16 from using social media platforms, and proposes that digital service providers must verify the age of all users.
According to a report from Radio New Zealand (RNZ) on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, if the bill is passed, social media companies will be required to implement adequate verification measures to ensure that users are at least 16 years old. In case of violation, companies may face fines. The bill also stipulates that platform providers must take steps to prevent access by users under the specified age.
About the Social Media Bill
Catherine Wedd explained that the bill, named My Social Media Age-Appropriate Users Bill, is designed to protect children and teenagers. "This bill aims to protect young people from bullying, inappropriate content, and social media addiction," Wedd said as quoted by RNZ. She emphasized that these restrictions are important to prevent inappropriate experiences for children.
The bill proposal has received a positive response from New Zealand Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon, who expressed openness to adopt the bill as part of the government's legislative program.
Luxon emphasized the importance of cross-party cooperation in discussing this issue. "This is not a political issue. It is actually a New Zealand issue," he said, adding that he is working to build bipartisan support.
The content of the bill refers to the legal provisions that have been applied in Australia. Similar regulations were implemented in November 2024. Australia became the first country in the world to enact laws restricting children under the age of 16 from accessing social media, as reported by Antara on Tuesday, May 6, 2025.
The regulations empower government officials to determine which platforms fall under the age-restricted category of services. The regulations require an evaluation within three years of implementation to assess their impact on society. If this bill is passed in New Zealand, it will follow in the footsteps of Australia in reshaping the use of social media with age considerations and child safety.
Who is Catherine Wedd?
Catherine Wedd studied English literature and then pursued political science at the undergraduate level. She continued her studies in journalism at the postgraduate level, and is interested in public communication and social policy.
Wedd previously worked for the BBC in the UK and TVNZ in New Zealand. After leaving her journalism career, she worked as a marketing executive in the horticulture industry. This experience provided her with a background in strategic communication and primary industry policy.
Wedd began her political career actively in 2023 when she was appointed as the National Party candidate for the Tuki Tuki electorate. In the general election of that year, she won a parliamentary seat, defeating the incumbent from the Labour Party, Anna Lorck. They had previously worked together as directors of a public relations company.
During her campaign, Wedd criticized the government's handling of the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle, especially in terms of the uncertainty of assistance for farmers and horticulturalists. She also expressed views on the importance of reforms in the education system and supported a stricter approach to the presence of criminal groups in the Hawke's Bay region. Her grandfather, Bill Tolhurst, was a member of parliament for the National Party representing the Whanganui electorate from 1969 to 1972.
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