National pushes ahead on under 16 social media ban without NZ First or ACT, Labour's slogan, Opportunity in kingmaker's seat

National is pushing ahead with its plan to ban social media for under 16-year-olds, with platforms facing fines of up to 10% of global revenue for breaking the rules.  

Social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and Facebook would need to take “reasonable steps to check users are over the age of 16 by using a number of methods including; existing account information, facial age estimation, digital ID services and formal ID", Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced on Monday. 

Luxon said it would be a government bill that would be introduced to Parliament, but not progress to law this term. 

However, the Bill’s placement under a government umbrella was questioned after both coalition partners NZ First and ACT said they would not support the Bill.  

“The Government is not moving to ban under 16 from social media. The National Party is,” NZ First leader Winston Peters said.

“We have been concerned with proposed legislation and the direction and slippery slope that legislation like this will inevitably take our country."

He said they were having to tell a coalition partner how MMP works, “and this is not how it works on this occasion”.

“You've got two parties that aren't agreeing. But nevertheless, they're saying it's a government bill. No, it is not.”

Winston Peters - Anna Whyte.

While the Bill is only being introduced and will not be progressing through Parliament before November's election, National will still have to rely on Labour. 

Leader Chris Hipkins, who thought up until Luxon’s press conference National was intending to ask for Labour’s support this term, said Labour still wanted to “find a way forward.”

“I'm concerned about the harm that's being done to young people online generally," Hipkins said.

"There are many, many bigger and wider issues here as well. If we can find ways forward as Parliament to try and address some of those, social media being only one of them, our door’s open to those conversations.”

Labour's new slogan

Labour released its campaign slogan - 'Better Starts Now' on Monday, with Hipkins saying it "captures the spirit of our campaign."

"It’s a call to action, and a promise for better jobs, more affordable healthcare, warm, dry homes, and real action on the cost of living."

National campaign chairman Simeon Brown said the slogan, Better Starts Now, was "the closest thing to a confession we will ever get from Chris Hipkins, because with 10 weeks until the election, he had better start now."

"Christopher Luxon has spent months on the Building the Future Tour, listening to thousands of New Zealanders at public meetings in halls and community centres from one end of the country to the other. Meanwhile, Chris Hipkins has been nowhere to be seen."

Polls polls polls 

The latest RNZ Reid Research poll has the left bloc - with the addition of the Opportunity Party - with 61 seats, which is enough for form a government. Opportunity - which was polling at 5.3%, equal to six seats, tips the bloc over by one. 

While Opportunity still says it can work with National, Luxon has ruled out working with the party. 

Labour was on 32.2%, National on 29.1%, NZ First at 11.9%, the Greens on 10.2%, ACT at 7.7% and Te Pāti Māori was at 3%.