Wellington: The ACT party, one of three parties in New Zealand's ruling coalition, has rejected a proposal to ban children under 16 from accessing social media. The bill, introduced by Catherine Wedd, a member of the National Party and supported by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, aims to require social media companies to verify the age of users and block those under 16 from their platforms.

According to Anadolu Agency, ACT's opposition has prevented Luxon from advancing the bill, necessitating support from other parties outside the government for its approval. ACT's leader, David Seymour, criticized the proposal as "simple, neat and wrong" during a parliamentary session. He emphasized that the solution should involve parents and address the complexities of the internet, rather than impose a hastily-drafted ban.

Seymour highlighted the importance of learning from Australia's past mistakes, rather than replicating them. On the other hand, Catherine Wedd argued the necessity of mitigating social media risks for young people. Winston Peters, leader of the New Zealand First party, expressed support for the proposal, deeming it "very necessary" and suggesting it should be a government bill.

The initiative follows Australia's legislation last year, which made it the first government to enforce an under-16 social media ban. Although most platforms technically restrict access to those under 13, enforcement is often weak, allowing children to bypass these restrictions. Social media companies have faced criticism for allegedly using algorithms that increase user dependency, particularly among teens, though they deny these claims.

Research has linked excessive social media use among youth to issues such as lower self-esteem, anxiety, and other mental health challenges.