New Zealand proposes a wider duty of care for children online
A proposed Online Safety Bill would restrict high-risk social-media platforms for under-16s, require services used by children to assess and reduce risks, bring AI companion platforms into scope, and establish an independent regulator.
What it could improve
The proposed duties could move responsibility away from families alone and toward the platforms that design and operate children’s digital environments. Regular risk assessments, regulatory oversight and coverage of emerging services could create a more durable framework than a single platform rule.
What remains unresolved
A minimum-age restriction may reduce some immediate exposure, but it does not by itself make the wider Internet suitable for children. Effectiveness is likely to depend on whether children migrate to less accountable services, whether circumvention can be addressed proportionately, and whether age checks protect privacy and avoid excluding people who lack particular identity documents or technologies.
The Child-Friendly Internet perspective
Access restrictions should be accompanied by safer service design, privacy-preserving assurance and positive age-appropriate alternatives. The wider goal should be an environment that responds appropriately wherever children connect—not simply a boundary around a list of platforms.