Legislation aiming to ban under-16s from social media is on hold, the government has confirmed.
Parliament debated the matter yesterday after a select committee inquiry into the harms online platforms cause.
Labour agreed to support National's proposal for a ban - while the Greens and ACT were opposed to the idea, saying it would be too easy to get around the rules, that at-risk groups could become more isolated as a result, and that social media harms more than just young people.
National MP Catherine Wedd's bill - which would impose the under-16s ban in line with Australia's - was drawn from the biscuit-tin ballot in October, having been lodged in May last year.
When RNZ sought an update on how the committee's findings would affect the legislation, Education Minister Erica Stanford - who had been tasked with reviewing legislation to reduce those harms - said it was on hold.
"The government is undertaking a wider programme of work in this area and Wedd's bill is on hold for the moment. We are continuing to work through the process and will have more to say soon."
Wedd's bill remained at third among the member's bills on Parliament's order paper yesterday.
Stanford did not respond to requests for further clarification and Wedd did not respond to requests for comment.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in November reiterated he was "deeply supportive" of a ban for under-16s, suggesting one would be introduced before the election.
"Certainly before the term, yes we'll have our first go at making sure we can put the ban for under-16s in place. And then I suspect it will be one of those issues that require ongoing work as well."
Australia's ban, which came into force this month, requires specified social media platforms to take "reasonable steps" to ensure under-16s do not access them, with fines of up to $A49.5 million ($NZ60 million) for serious or repeated breaches.
The general election is on November 7.
This story was first published on rnz.co.nz |  |
