A New Zealand lawmaker has proposed a new idea to ban children under the age of 16 from using social media. The proposal aims to protect young people from the negative effects of social media, including cyberbullying, mental health issues, and online harm.
The lawmaker, who is a member of the New Zealand Parliament, believes that young people are spending too much time on social media platforms, which can have a harmful impact on their well-being. He has argued that social media can expose children to inappropriate content, online predators, and the pressure of unrealistic beauty standards, all of which can harm their mental health.
The proposal suggests that children under 16 should not be allowed to create accounts on popular social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. The lawmaker has called on social media companies to enforce stricter age restrictions and to require users to provide proof of their age when creating accounts.
Many parents and experts have supported the idea, saying that it could help reduce cyberbullying and other dangers associated with social media. They believe that limiting social media access could also help children focus more on schoolwork, physical activity, and face-to-face interactions with friends and family.
However, some critics of the proposal argue that it might be difficult to enforce and could limit the ability of young people to communicate with others online. They point out that many children and teenagers use social media to stay connected with their peers, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when social distancing made it harder to meet in person.
In response, the lawmaker emphasized that the goal of the proposal is not to completely restrict children’s access to the internet but to help them use it in a safer and more responsible way. He suggested that schools, parents, and technology companies should work together to educate children about safe online behavior and set healthy boundaries for their screen time.
The proposal is still in the early stages, and it will take time to see whether it will become a law. However, it has sparked a larger conversation in New Zealand and around the world about how to protect young people in the digital age.