Summarised by Centrist
National and Labour both support a proposed ban on under-16s using social media. But ACT and the Greens say a ban risks being ineffective, easy to bypass and potentially harmful to vulnerable young people.
The disagreement comes despite broad agreement across Parliament that social media is causing real harm.
But ACT and the Greens split from National and Labour on the proposed solution. Swarbrick said teenagers would find ways around a ban. “We are not going to be able to get rid of social media. We can’t turn off the internet,” she said. She also warned that at-risk groups, including rainbow communities, could become more isolated.
Parmar said the select committee process “was not done properly”. She also warned that bans could push young people “into darker corners of the internet” with fewer safeguards, citing overseas reports of teenagers bypassing age restrictions by using makeup or fake facial features.
Parmar argued the ban appeared more political than practical, calling the select committee process a “rubber-stamping exercise” shaped by party narratives.
Catherine Wedd’s member’s bill, modelled on Australia’s under-16s ban, could pass with Labour’s support. But Education Minister Erica Stanford says the bill is now being deprioritised while the government works on broader online harms legislation, with an update expected next month.
The select committee also recommended wider measures, including bans on deepfake and “nudify” apps, algorithm transparency, online advertising restrictions, public education campaigns and an independent regulator.
