Protection of children –
New Zealand wants to ban social networks before 16 years old
The New Zealand Prime Minister proposed on Tuesday to impose strict measures on the platforms to prevent children from accessing it.
Posted today at 8:10 a.m.
Christopher Luxon did not indicate when this bill would be presented to the New Zealand Parliament.
AFP
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The New Zealand Prime Minister proposed on Tuesday to prohibit access to social networks for those under 16, a few months after the adoption in Australia of similar restrictionsamong the strictest in the world.
The bill presented by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who must be subject to his partners in the power coalition, would oblige platforms as Instagram or Tiktok Take measures to prevent those under 16 from accessing it.
The text provides fines up to around one million euros for companies in the event of non-compliance with this obligation. At this point, it does not specify what the platforms concerned would be.
Protect children
It is inspired by the legislation adopted by the Parliament of Australia in November, a country at the forefront of the regulation of social networks to protect children.
This Australian law, which must apply by the end of the year, has been condemned by social media giants. They pointed out the risk that it could send children and young adolescents to dangerous alternative platforms.
“It is time for New Zealand to recognize that, despite all the good things that social networks bring, it is not always a safe place for our young people,” said Luxon in front of the press.
“It is time to weigh on these platforms the responsibility to protect vulnerable children from prejudicial content, cyberbullying and exploitation,” he continued.
-Monitor online exposure
Christopher Luxon did not indicate when this bill would be presented to the New Zealand Parliament. “It’s about protecting our children. It is a question of ensuring that social media companies play their role by ensuring the security of our children, “he justified.
The text was written by its political training, the National Party of New Zealand (Center right). To be adopted, he will have to benefit from the support of the two other parties of the government coalition in power.
“As a mother of four, I am convinced that families and parents should be better supported when it comes to monitoring their children’s online exposure,” said deputy Catherine Wedd, who wrote the bill.
Lack of moderation on social networks
The use of social networks by young children and adolescents has aroused concerns in recent years, in particular concerning the time spent in front of screens and the lack of moderation on certain platforms.
The entry into force by December of Australian law prohibiting access to social networks to under 16s will be followed close abroad, several countries planning to implement similar restrictions, such as New Zealand and Spain.
China has restricted access to minors since 2021 and requires identification via an identity document. The under 14s cannot spend more than 40 minutes a day in Douyin, the Chinese version of Tiktok, and the online playing time for children and adolescents is also strictly limited.
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