Standing Up for Games: NZGDA's Advocacy on the Social Media Bill

When National MP Catherine Wedd introduced the Social Media (Age-Restricted Users) Bill into Parliament in May 2025, it raised immediate concerns  for the NZGDA. While the bill's intent - protecting under-16s from online harm - was one we support in principle, the legislation's broad framing created a real risk of inadvertently capturing video games within its scope.

We moved quickly.

Spotting the Risk Early

The bill defined "social media" widely enough that platforms with user interaction, messaging, and community features - many of which describe online games - could have been swept up alongside traditional social media apps. Platforms like Roblox sit squarely in that grey zone, but the ambiguity didn't stop there. Experts and lawmakers quickly flagged that almost any online multiplayer game could theoretically fall within the bill's reach.

For game developers, that would have meant compliance costs, age verification obligations, and regulatory uncertainty on par with major social media companies - for products that are fundamentally not social media.

Our Written Submission

The NZGDA submitted a formal written submission to the Select Committee examining the bill. In it, we outlined the critical distinction between social media platforms and video games, argued against broad regulation that could inadvertently disadvantage  New Zealand developers, and pointed to the Australian model as a useful benchmark - one that drew clearer boundaries around platform type and usage, rather than sweeping in all interactive digital experiences.

That submission was well received., and we were subsequently invited to appear before the Select Committee in person.

Appearing Before the Select Committee

At the hearing, we outlined our position directly and answered questions from committee members. Our core argument remained the same: game development and interactive media are distinct from social media, and any legislation that fails to make that distinction would unfairly penalise New Zealand developers and the 1,418 people they employ.

What the Committee Found

The Select Committee's final report, published in March 2026, reflected a more considered approach to the problem. Rather than defining regulated platforms by genre or category, the committee recommended reframing the legislation around harmful design mechanics - features like engagement-based algorithms, infinite scroll, and addictive "streak" gamification. 

Where Things Stand

In May 2026, Education Minister Erica Stanford confirmed the original bill is now on hold while the government undertakes a wider programme of work in this area. The intent is to introduce replacement legislation that is more fit-for-purpose - including explicitly capturing platforms that blur the line between gaming and social media.

 It’s worth being clear about what that means. The government is not stepping back from regulating this space - it is stepping back to do it better. The coming rewrite will likely capture platforms like Roblox that combine gaming with powerful social networking features, and rightly so. What it should not do - and what we will continue to  advocate for - is  capture legitimate game development  alongside the platforms it is designed to address

Our Ongoing Role
The NZGDA will remain actively engaged as the replacement legislation takes shape. We are encouraged that the Select Committee process produced a more targeted framework, and that our sector's voice was heard at the table. But the work is not finished, and we will  remain closely engaged  as any new  legislation  takes shape to ensure that "social media" and "video games" remain distinct categories in New Zealand law - because they are.

We'll keep members updated as this progresses