Education Minister Olivia Bailey announced Monday that the government will introduce social media restrictions for children under 16, as officials continue consulting on the potential harms of social platforms to young users.

Bailey said the government will implement "some form" of restrictions, specifically mentioning "age or functionality restrictions" for users under 16 years old. The announcement comes as part of ongoing government consultation examining how social media affects children's wellbeing and development.

The minister's pledge represents a concrete commitment from the government to take regulatory action on youth social media access, though specific details about the nature and scope of the proposed restrictions were not immediately provided.

The announcement follows growing concerns among parents, educators, and policymakers about the impact of social media platforms on children's mental health, online safety, and academic performance. Various studies and advocacy groups have called for greater protections for young users on social networking sites.

The government consultation process is examining evidence about social media's effects on children and considering what regulatory measures might be appropriate to address identified risks while balancing concerns about digital access and parental rights.