A 2026 New Zealand survey finds 73% of parents support parental approval for teens' social media app downloads, favoring targeted safeguards over broad bans.

A 2026 New Zealand survey of 832 parents shows 73% favor parental control over social media use for teens under 16, with strong support for requiring app store-level parental approval before downloads. Most oppose broad bans, citing challenges with age verification and teens migrating to less regulated platforms. Experts and parents alike back centralized, privacy-conscious solutions like app store consent, which aligns with existing tools such as Meta’s Teen Accounts. The findings suggest empowering families through accessible, consistent safeguards is more effective than sweeping legislation.