PILLAR
Protecting Individual Life, Liberty and Rights
New research from Australia has reinforced what PILLAR has argued from the beginning: the most effective way to protect children online is by empowering parents, not expanding the power of the state.
The findings come as Australia’s widely publicised under-16 social media ban continues to fall flat. Despite being championed as a “world-first” solution, around 80 per cent of Australian children under 16 remain on social media, demonstrating the policy has failed to achieve its stated objective.
At the same time, new research from Australia’s eSafety Commissioner surveyed 2,008 parents of children aged three to 10 and paints a very different picture of what actually keeps children safe online.
The report found:
* 92% of parents have rules in place to help their children stay safe online.
* 84% regularly provide guidance and advice about online safety.
* 68% actively monitor their children’s online activity.
* 71% use parental control technologies.
* Around 93% regularly discuss online safety with their children.
The report also found that parents often underestimate the emotional support children receive online, highlighting the need for better education and stronger communication rather than blanket prohibitions.
eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant acknowledged the central role of families, stating: “Parents play a critical role in helping children develop healthy digital habits. They are on the frontline of helping children navigate the online world, but they shouldn’t have to do it alone.”
Nathan Seiuli, executive director of PILLAR, said the findings should prompt a fundamental rethink of New Zealand’s approach to online safety.
“For the past year, politicians have promised that government intervention could solve what are ultimately parenting and community issues. The evidence increasingly shows that simply isn’t true.”
“Parents are already doing the heavy lifting. They’re setting rules, having conversations, supervising their children, and using parental controls. That’s where the greatest gains are being made, not through sweeping state intervention.”
Mr Seiuli said it was remarkable how quickly the conversation had shifted away from government control and back towards parental responsibility.
“The same institutions that were celebrating government bans are now acknowledging that parents are the frontline. That’s exactly what PILLAR has been saying from day one.”
As part of this year’s budget, the New Zealand Government committed more than NZ$30 million towards initiatives aimed at improving children’s online safety.
Mr Seiuli questioned whether that investment was being directed towards measures proven to work.
“If the government genuinely wants safer children online, it should invest in parents, education, and local communities instead of building systems that create privacy risks, increase surveillance, and have already proven ineffective overseas.”
“The lesson from Australia is clear. You cannot outsource parenting to Wellington. The role of government should be to equip parents, not replace them.”
PILLAR has consistently advocated for a Digital Bill of Rights approach that prioritises parental empowerment, digital literacy, education, targeted enforcement against genuinely illegal content, and privacy-respecting tools over broad government controls.
