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RNZ News
3 days ago
- Health
- RNZ News
The powerful women behind a social media ban campaign
Founding member of B416, Malindi MacLean Photo: Sharon Brettkelly A year ago, a group of rich-lister mums met with other high fliers from all walks of life and political hues with one thing in mind. Many were strangers to each other but the thing that united them was the push to bring in a law to get under-16-year-olds off social media . Such is the power of the group B416 and their cause that politicians from all corners came along to their launch last month, including ACT's David Seymour - who doesn't support a social media ban. It took place just days after National's Catherine Wedd put forward her Social Media Age-Restricted Users Bill, a private members bill. Since the launch, the move has faced criticism of moral panic, overreach and that a ban will risk the lives of vulnerable young people. But B416, which is co-chaired by entrepreneur Cecilia Robinson and includes multi-millionaire toy maker Anna Mowbray, says it is time to listen to parents who want to protect their children from social media harm. Founding member Malindi MacLean, who heads Outward Bound, says a lot of the criticism is from people who are not parents. "It's really important to keep [in mind] the lived experience of parents. They are day in, day out experiencing the impact of social media addiction, or addictive behaviours of their children. "A parent who has just been dealing with their teenager who is self harming or has sextortion or dealing with cyber bullying ... it's not something that you can argue with." The Social Media Age-Restricted Users Bill is in the biscuit tin at Parliament, which means it may never see the light of day before the next election. Photo: RNZ Pacific/ Koroi Hawkins Those arguing against a potential law that would force social media giants to use age verification measures on under-16s include retired district court judge David Harvey; youth mental health activist Jazz Thornton, Victoria University media lecturer Alex Beattie and the online counselling service Youthline. Judge Harvey says the proposed bill is flawed and could get the government in trouble with freedom of expression laws. There's also a risk that it will exclude the likes of YouTube, he says. Thornton believes a blanket ban will cause harm to the most vulnerable children and even lead to deaths; while Beattie argues social media can be a good communication tool for children and parents, and is not an addiction like smoking. MacLean says she welcomes the debate but her group wants progress. Hence the extensive billboard and social media campaign. She says the time and resources put into the campaign would be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. But the influential group has tapped into many communities for contributions and support. "That just shows the appetite for change. The other thing is we've had a lot of support from organisations pro bono because most of them are human beings who also understand the issues." Wedd's private members bill is in the biscuit tin at Parliament, which means it may never see the light of day before the next election. That's not good enough for B416, which wants to see a policy by the end of the year, following Australia's world first law and trials of the age-verification technology already underway. Tech expert Danu Abeysuriya of digital firm Rush tells The Detail how the technology could work and why it is important for New Zealand to follow Australia and others. "We are a small nation and we don't represent a lot of revenue for large tech companies like Google, Facebook or X or Twitter. They focus on social media and to those companies our ad revenue is relatively small. CEO of digital firm Rush, Danu Abeysuriya Photo: Sharon Brettkelly "Whatever we have to do we should still attempt to be practical otherwise we risk being alienated from those platforms. The balancing act is aligning what we do with what the rest of the world does." Abeysuriya says there are a number of age verification options but one of the simplest would be a digital token that could be bought from the Warehouse or the local petrol station or even the child's school. Other technology could be used to put children off using social media, such as slowing down internet traffic. In this case the government would mandate Internet Service Providers such as One NZ to run traffic at half-speed in specific time periods. "It creates a bit of friction," says Abeysuriya. "If the TikTok video loads really slowly the kids might not watch the TikTok video, they might do something else like read a book." He says the solutions are ideas and nothing will be perfect. "The bravery to move is the thing that needs to happen here." Check out how to listen to and fol low The Detail here . You can also stay up-to-date by liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter .
Scoop
06-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
New Charity Welcomes Private Bill To Set Minimum Age Of 16 To Access Social Media
Press Release – B4-16 A newly established charity dedicated to improving online safety for children is welcoming the Government's announcement this morning that a private member's bill has been introduced to set a minimum age of 16 to access social media. B4-16 (Before 16) is a non-partisan, independent group of parents, public health experts and business leaders who have been advocating for greater online protection for children, saying New Zealand is falling behind comparable countries in protecting children from online harm. Today's announcement follows Australia's groundbreaking move in November last year to introduce the world's first age restriction for under-16s on social media, requiring platforms to take 'reasonable steps' to prevent underage use. B4-16 is urging New Zealand policymakers to follow suit with a recent Horizon poll revealing 74% of adults support setting an age limit for social media access for children. 'Children need to be tech-savvy to thrive in today's digital world – digital literacy is 100% essential. But social media is a different beast. It's designed to be addictive, persuasive, and often exposes young minds to harmful content and pressures they're not developmentally ready to handle. 'Delaying access for children doesn't mean denying technology. It just means we're giving Kiwi kids time to build resilience, critical thinking, and emotional maturity before we open the gates to an environment that is built for adult engagement,' says B4-16 co-Chair Cecilia Robinson. While Australia, the UK, the EU and the US have introduced legislation to regulate social media and shield young people from online harm, New Zealand has not followed suit. Unlike Australia – which has an independent eSafety Commissioner with powers to investigate harm, enforce standards, and hold platforms accountable – New Zealand has no dedicated regulator. 'At the moment, we put Big Tech first. We need a system that puts our children first,' says Dr Samantha Marsh, a public health researcher with the University of Auckland, and B4-16 advisor. 'It's time for a truly independent regulatory body with the power to protect our children. Social media is harmful in a variety of ways, but particularly for young children. Education alone doesn't change behaviour – regulation is needed,' says Marsh. A growing body of international evidence shows that social media is a high-risk environment for children's mental health, emotional wellbeing, and cognitive development. 'At Outward Bound, I've seen first-hand the positive impact on teens' mental resilience when they step away from social media for days and weeks at a time. If we can protect growing brains and bodies for longer from addictive and harmful algorithms, we will be a better society for it. There is so much at stake,' said B4-16 's Malindi Maclean who is also tumuaki CEO of Outward Bound New Zealand. The Ministry of Health's latest New Zealand Health Survey revealed the number of 15–24 year olds in high or very high psychological distress increased by 400% for the eleven year period to 2023. Studies consistently link social media use with anxiety, depression, disordered eating, sleep disruption, and poor academic outcomes. In 2023, Youthline's State of the Generation Report found that 75% of young people believed mental health was the biggest issue they face, and half of all young people in Aotearoa said social media was a major issue for them. B416 says it's a complex issue which is too big for parents to manage on their own. 'We've got strong research showing social media is harmful, that it's structurally changing our children's brains – and it's doing it at scale,' said Marsh. 'It's a public health issue that requires regulation. New Zealand has laws to protect our children from smoking and alcohol and we need to do the same for social media.' A 2024 Horizon Research poll found that 74% of New Zealanders support a legal age restriction for social media, with 83% concerned about harmful and inappropriate content online. In its report, Meeting the Mental Health needs of young New Zealanders, the Office for the Auditor-General also raised concerns about rising levels of mental distress among young people aged 12-24. It estimated that mental illness costs New Zealand about 5% of gross domestic product annually – more than $20b. B4-16 says the campaign presents a clear opportunity for cross-party action and is seeking government-wide support for regulation. B4-16 is calling for: legislation to set a minimum age of 16 to access social media platforms the implementation of stronger 'age assurance' systems for age verification a dedicated online safety regulator who is responsible for protecting children and young people from online harm, and has enforceable powers
Scoop
06-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
New Charity Welcomes Private Bill To Set Minimum Age Of 16 To Access Social Media
Press Release – B4-16 Children need to be tech-savvy to thrive in todays digital world – digital literacy is 100% essential. But social media is a different beast. Its designed to be addictive, persuasive, and often exposes young minds to harmful content and pressures theyre … A newly established charity dedicated to improving online safety for children is welcoming the Government's announcement this morning that a private member's bill has been introduced to set a minimum age of 16 to access social media. B4-16 (Before 16) is a non-partisan, independent group of parents, public health experts and business leaders who have been advocating for greater online protection for children, saying New Zealand is falling behind comparable countries in protecting children from online harm. Today's announcement follows Australia's groundbreaking move in November last year to introduce the world's first age restriction for under-16s on social media, requiring platforms to take 'reasonable steps' to prevent underage use. B4-16 is urging New Zealand policymakers to follow suit with a recent Horizon poll revealing 74% of adults support setting an age limit for social media access for children. 'Children need to be tech-savvy to thrive in today's digital world – digital literacy is 100% essential. But social media is a different beast. It's designed to be addictive, persuasive, and often exposes young minds to harmful content and pressures they're not developmentally ready to handle. 'Delaying access for children doesn't mean denying technology. It just means we're giving Kiwi kids time to build resilience, critical thinking, and emotional maturity before we open the gates to an environment that is built for adult engagement,' says B4-16 co-Chair Cecilia Robinson. While Australia, the UK, the EU and the US have introduced legislation to regulate social media and shield young people from online harm, New Zealand has not followed suit. Unlike Australia – which has an independent eSafety Commissioner with powers to investigate harm, enforce standards, and hold platforms accountable – New Zealand has no dedicated regulator. 'At the moment, we put Big Tech first. We need a system that puts our children first,' says Dr Samantha Marsh, a public health researcher with the University of Auckland, and B4-16 advisor. 'It's time for a truly independent regulatory body with the power to protect our children. Social media is harmful in a variety of ways, but particularly for young children. Education alone doesn't change behaviour – regulation is needed,' says Marsh. A growing body of international evidence shows that social media is a high-risk environment for children's mental health, emotional wellbeing, and cognitive development. 'At Outward Bound, I've seen first-hand the positive impact on teens' mental resilience when they step away from social media for days and weeks at a time. If we can protect growing brains and bodies for longer from addictive and harmful algorithms, we will be a better society for it. There is so much at stake,' said B4-16 's Malindi Maclean who is also tumuaki CEO of Outward Bound New Zealand. The Ministry of Health's latest New Zealand Health Survey revealed the number of 15–24 year olds in high or very high psychological distress increased by 400% for the eleven year period to 2023. Studies consistently link social media use with anxiety, depression, disordered eating, sleep disruption, and poor academic outcomes. In 2023, Youthline's State of the Generation Report found that 75% of young people believed mental health was the biggest issue they face, and half of all young people in Aotearoa said social media was a major issue for them. B416 says it's a complex issue which is too big for parents to manage on their own. 'We've got strong research showing social media is harmful, that it's structurally changing our children's brains – and it's doing it at scale,' said Marsh. 'It's a public health issue that requires regulation. New Zealand has laws to protect our children from smoking and alcohol and we need to do the same for social media.' A 2024 Horizon Research poll found that 74% of New Zealanders support a legal age restriction for social media, with 83% concerned about harmful and inappropriate content online. In its report, Meeting the Mental Health needs of young New Zealanders, the Office for the Auditor-General also raised concerns about rising levels of mental distress among young people aged 12-24. It estimated that mental illness costs New Zealand about 5% of gross domestic product annually – more than $20b. B4-16 says the campaign presents a clear opportunity for cross-party action and is seeking government-wide support for regulation. B4-16 is calling for: legislation to set a minimum age of 16 to access social media platforms the implementation of stronger 'age assurance' systems for age verification a dedicated online safety regulator who is responsible for protecting children and young people from online harm, and has enforceable powers
Scoop
05-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
New Charity Welcomes Private Bill To Set Minimum Age Of 16 To Access Social Media
A newly established charity dedicated to improving online safety for children is welcoming the Government's announcement this morning that a private member's bill has been introduced to set a minimum age of 16 to access social media. B4-16 (Before 16) is a non-partisan, independent group of parents, public health experts and business leaders who have been advocating for greater online protection for children, saying New Zealand is falling behind comparable countries in protecting children from online harm. Today's announcement follows Australia's groundbreaking move in November last year to introduce the world's first age restriction for under-16s on social media, requiring platforms to take 'reasonable steps' to prevent underage use. B4-16 is urging New Zealand policymakers to follow suit with a recent Horizon poll revealing 74% of adults support setting an age limit for social media access for children. 'Children need to be tech-savvy to thrive in today's digital world - digital literacy is 100% essential. But social media is a different beast. It's designed to be addictive, persuasive, and often exposes young minds to harmful content and pressures they're not developmentally ready to handle. 'Delaying access for children doesn't mean denying technology. It just means we're giving Kiwi kids time to build resilience, critical thinking, and emotional maturity before we open the gates to an environment that is built for adult engagement,' says B4-16 co-Chair Cecilia Robinson. While Australia, the UK, the EU and the US have introduced legislation to regulate social media and shield young people from online harm, New Zealand has not followed suit. Unlike Australia – which has an independent eSafety Commissioner with powers to investigate harm, enforce standards, and hold platforms accountable – New Zealand has no dedicated regulator. 'At the moment, we put Big Tech first. We need a system that puts our children first,' says Dr Samantha Marsh, a public health researcher with the University of Auckland, and B4-16 advisor. 'It's time for a truly independent regulatory body with the power to protect our children. Social media is harmful in a variety of ways, but particularly for young children. Education alone doesn't change behaviour – regulation is needed," says Marsh. A growing body of international evidence shows that social media is a high-risk environment for children's mental health, emotional wellbeing, and cognitive development. 'At Outward Bound, I've seen first-hand the positive impact on teens' mental resilience when they step away from social media for days and weeks at a time. If we can protect growing brains and bodies for longer from addictive and harmful algorithms, we will be a better society for it. There is so much at stake,' said B4-16 's Malindi Maclean who is also tumuaki CEO of Outward Bound New Zealand. The Ministry of Health's latest New Zealand Health Survey revealed the number of 15–24 year olds in high or very high psychological distress increased by 400% for the eleven year period to 2023. Studies consistently link social media use with anxiety, depression, disordered eating, sleep disruption, and poor academic outcomes. In 2023, Youthline's State of the Generation Report found that 75% of young people believed mental health was the biggest issue they face, and half of all young people in Aotearoa said social media was a major issue for them. B416 says it's a complex issue which is too big for parents to manage on their own. 'We've got strong research showing social media is harmful, that it's structurally changing our children's brains – and it's doing it at scale,' said Marsh. 'It's a public health issue that requires regulation. New Zealand has laws to protect our children from smoking and alcohol and we need to do the same for social media.' A 2024 Horizon Research poll found that 74% of New Zealanders support a legal age restriction for social media, with 83% concerned about harmful and inappropriate content online. In its report, Meeting the Mental Health needs of young New Zealanders, the Office for the Auditor-General also raised concerns about rising levels of mental distress among young people aged 12-24. It estimated that mental illness costs New Zealand about 5% of gross domestic product annually – more than $20b. B4-16 says the campaign presents a clear opportunity for cross-party action and is seeking government-wide support for regulation. B4-16 is calling for: legislation to set a minimum age of 16 to access social media platforms the implementation of stronger 'age assurance' systems for age verification a dedicated online safety regulator who is responsible for protecting children and young people from online harm, and has enforceable powers
