'Parents really worried': New Zealand PM introduces draft laws to ban users under 16 from social media

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Tuesday introduced draft laws which would require social media companies to verify that their users are at least 16 years old.

Non-complying companies are proposed to face fines of up to NZ$2 million (US$1.2 million).

Luxon said parents across New Zealand are "really worried" about social media's impact on kids.

"This is about protecting our children. It's about making sure social media companies are playing their role in keeping our kids safe. Parents are constantly telling us they are really worried about the impact that social media is having on their children. And they say they are really struggling to manage access to social media," news agency AFP quoted Luxon as saying.

Further, the New Zealand premier stated he is "hopeful" the legislation would garner support across political spectrum. However, he did not mention when the legislation would be introduced to parliament.

The laws are drafted by Luxon's centre-right National Party, the biggest member of New Zealand's three-way governing coalition. To pass the laws, the National Party would need the support of its two coalition partners.

The proposed ban is modelled on the one in neighbouring Australia, which sits at the forefront of global efforts to regulate social media.

Also Read: Australia world's first country to ban social media for children under 16

Australia passed landmark laws in November banning under-16s from social media, a first for any country.

The move sparked a fierce backlash from big tech companies who variously described the laws as "rushed", "vague", and "problematic".