Experts urge government to go beyond a ban to build effective online safety law for children

Leading New Zealand children’s agencies are calling for the national conversation on a proposed social media ban to be grounded in children’s rights, children’s voices, and evidence about what actually keeps young people safe online.

In a new joint resource, Making the online world safe for children, the Children’s Monitoring Group (CMG) outlines how Aotearoa New Zealand can respond to online harm in ways that are both effective, evidence-based and informed by children themselves.

The resource emphasises that while online harm is real and significant - including exposure to violence, bullying, exploitation, and misinformation - restricting access through a social media ban does not make the internet safer. Instead, the resource outlines a set of evidence‑based actions that would meaningfully reduce harm.

These include regulating tech companies, rather than children, to require prevention, reporting, and removal of harmful content, support for children when harm occurs, holding platforms accountable for unsafe design choices including algorithms, establishing an independent online safety regulator and reviewing online safety laws to ensure they are fit for purpose.

The CMG is also calling for comprehensive digital citizenship education for children, young people, parents and families and for any changes to be aligned to New Zealand’s obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

“This national conversation about online safety is extremely important, and it must centre children themselves, and their participation, protection and provision rights,” says CMG Convenor and Children’s Commissioner Dr Claire Achmad.

“In particular I‘ve heard from mokopuna Māori, disabled children, children with chronic health conditions and Rainbow mokopuna that online spaces are important to their sense of belonging and participation. Their lived experiences must be heard in this conversation, and we need evidence-based solutions that protect them from harm while ensuring their rights to connection, culture and community are upheld.”

“Young people are telling us clearly that the online world is part of their everyday lives. They want to be safe, they want to be heard, and they want adults to understand the realities they face. While acknowledging this is not their problem to solve, any law we make now must reflect that.”

Australia’s eSafety Commissioner reports that two thirds of the target group remain on supposedly-banned platforms since the ban was implemented in Australia.

“A ban may seem like a simple fix, but online harm is complex,” says Jacqui Southey, Save the Children New Zealand’s Child Rights Advocacy and Research Director.

“Evidence shows that restricting access does not make the internet safer — and for some children, especially those in LGBTIQA+ and marginalised communities, it can actually increase harm. We need solutions that protect children while upholding their rights, not measures that limit their access without addressing the real problems.

“We can design legislation that genuinely keeps children safe online, by drawing on international evidence from Australia and beyond about what works - strong regulation of tech companies, accountability for harmful platform design, and an independent online safety regulator.

“Children have the right to be safe online, and we need solutions that uphold their rights. We urge Government to take this opportunity to build strong, effective, child‑centred online safety law, not to place the burden of safety on children and their whānau.”

Editor’s notes

Find the CMG explainer here.

The CMG, convened by Mana Mokopuna - Children’s Commissioner, is made up of the Children’s Rights Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand, Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission, Save the Children New Zealand and UNICEF Aotearoa.

The Children’s Convention Monitoring Group (CMG) monitors the New Zealand Government’s implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (Children’s Convention), the Convention’s three optional protocols, and its response to recommendations from the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child.

Children’s Monitoring Group leaders are available for media interviews:

• Dr Claire Achmad, Children’s Commissioner
  Melissa Wastney - 029 909 2715
• Jacqui Southey, Save the Children New Zealand’s Child Rights Advocacy and Research Director
  Amie Richardson – 027 248 6478