Why NZ needs to lead, not follow, when it comes to tech regulation

New Zealand’s recent proposal to ban under-16s from using social media platforms has reignited an important conversation about the role of regulation in an increasingly digital world. While France has already implemented rules requiring parental consent before children can access social media, Australia’s outright ban for under-16s is a significant step up. It’s a move that signals where the regulatory winds are blowing as more countries, including ours, consider following suit.

As it stands, major social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok set their minimum age at 13, but enforcement is effectively non-existent. Young people can, and do, bypass these limits with ease. If we leave regulation to the platforms themselves, two issues emerge. First, platforms would hold even more sensitive data on children. Second, the platforms will seek the easiest route to compliance.

Instead, governments like ours need to lead with regulation that works. In New Zealand, RealMe could play a central role as a trusted age verification intermediary, allowing users to prove their age without surrendering personal data to social media companies. This approach protects privacy and ensures that the regulatory burden is not simply passed down the chain. It’s a way for New Zealand to lead, rather than follow, in creating effective technology regulation.

That said, a ban on under-16s is not a silver bullet. While studies show the negative impacts of social media (ranging from mental health effects to exposure to harmful content and polarised social dynamics) these platforms also provide spaces for connection. To truly address the issue, we need input from a multitude of stakeholders such as government, schools, parents, and the young people themselves. We also need to be informed by what’s working (and what’s not) overseas and give ourselves permission to refine our approach.

So, what does this mean for businesses and organisations? In short – quite a lot.

As governments here and overseas move toward tighter regulation of social media and other digital platforms, particularly those headquartered offshore, we’re moving into a new regulatory era. For New Zealand businesses, this isn’t just a policy debate happening in the background. This means organisations relying on digital channels need to start thinking beyond compliance and toward long-term digital responsibility. If your audience includes young people, this matters even more. Organisations that embrace this shift will be better positioned for what’s next. The ban is a start, but it’s just the beginning of a much broader conversation, not the end.