# Labour wants to force social media changes or pay price

> Labour promises social media companies must let users choose feeds or face penalties.
- Title: Labour wants to force social media changes or pay price
- Summary: Labour promises social media companies must let users choose feeds or face penalties. Labour plans to require social media platforms to let users switch…
- Keywords: labour, social media, digital duty of care, under-16s ban, new zealand, election 2026, algorithmic feeds, penalties, politics, news, wants, force
- Source: NZ Herald — https://nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/election-2026-labour-thinks-it-can-force-social-media-companies-to-make-changes-or-they-will-pay-the-price/TXEFMJ7RLBGRZKGZG3IPMWLJ3A
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: labour, social media, digital duty of care, under-16s ban, new zealand, election 2026, algorithmic feeds, penalties, politics, news
## Labour's social media plan
Labour promises to require social media companies to let users choose between algorithmic feeds and feeds only showing followed accounts within 100 days.

> The algorithms deciding what we see are designed to keeping us scrolling, but that’s not always what Kiwis want
## Digital Duty of Care
Labour will impose new legal responsibilities on social media companies including stronger protections against harmful content and non-consensual sexual images.
## Penalties for non-compliance
The most serious penalty for non-compliance would be the greater of $40 million or 10% of the relevant global turnover.
## Global cooperation
Labour plans to work with other countries like Australia to enforce social media regulations and create a framework for online safety.
## National's stance
National leader Christopher Luxon supports similar social media ban for under-16s but emphasizes global cooperation for enforcement.
## NZ First's criticism
NZ First leader Winston Peters calls Labour's social media ban for under-16s a 'naive solution' requiring digital ID for all or VPN bans.

> Throwing out simplistic soundbites denies the reality that banning social media in its entirety means either banning VPNs or using digital ID for everyone
## Under-16s ban timeline
Labour plans to send the social media ban bill through first reading and to a select committee within 100 days.
## Age verification challenges
Labour promises stronger privacy safeguards on age checks for the social media ban bill.
## Penalty enforcement
Labour says platforms will have to work within new rules or face penalties including $40 million or 10% of global turnover.
## Global impact
Labour claims global social media platforms are losing their social license to operate and need stronger rules for online safety.
## National's position
National leader Christopher Luxon says the government's social media ban bill will go to first reading within 100 days.
## NZ First's concerns
NZ First leader Winston Peters warns that banning social media for under-16s would require digital ID for all or VPN bans.

> Throwing out simplistic soundbites denies the reality that banning social media in its entirety means either banning VPNs or using digital ID for everyone
## Bill support
The social media ban bill has only support from National in the current coalition government.
## Digital ID concerns
NZ First leader Winston Peters says the social media ban would require digital ID for all users or banning VPNs.

> Throwing out simplistic soundbites denies the reality that banning social media in its entirety means either banning VPNs or using digital ID for everyone
## What happens next
Labour plans to implement the social media changes within 100 days with penalties for non-compliance.
## Key takeaway

Labour plans to require social media platforms to let users switch between algorithmic and followed-content feeds within 100 days, with penalties including $40 million or 10% of global turnover for non-compliance.