New research showing that four in five Australians under
the age of 16 continue to use social media demonstrates what
PILLAR has warned for months: blanket social media bans do
not work.
Rather than acknowledging the policy’s
shortcomings, Australian policymakers are reportedly
considering even tougher enforcement measures. That risks
doubling down on a policy that has failed to achieve its
stated objective while further expanding government control
over online freedoms.
PILLAR says New Zealand should
learn from Australia’s experience instead of repeating its
mistakes.
“Our message to New Zealand policymakers is
simple: follow the evidence, not the headlines,” said Nathan
Seiuli, Executive Director of PILLAR.
“If four out of
five children are still accessing social media despite one
of the world’s toughest bans, the policy has failed on its
own terms. The answer is not to give governments even more
power over how New Zealanders access the
internet.”
Australia’s approach has already prompted
discussion about stronger age verification, expanded online
regulation, and digital identity requirements. PILLAR says
these measures would come at a significant cost to privacy,
freedom of expression, and the rights of law-abiding
citizens.
“The real question is this: if the evidence
shows the policy is failing, why would we copy it?” Seiuli
said.
“At what point do we stop blaming enforcement
and start questioning whether the policy itself is
fundamentally flawed?”
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PILLAR argues that the greatest
success of those advocating for social media bans has been
convincing the public that legislation is the primary
solution. In reality, the most effective responses are
already well understood: engaged parents, digital literacy
education, and targeted enforcement against genuine criminal
harms.
“No Act of Parliament can replace the role of
parents,” Seiuli said.
“Good parenting, digital
education, and holding bad actors accountable will always
achieve more than blanket restrictions imposed by the state.
Pretending otherwise gives families a false sense of
security while expanding government power in ways that are
difficult to reverse.”
Seiuli said governments must
resist sacrificing fundamental freedoms in pursuit of
policies that offer little practical
benefit.
“Well-intentioned politics that abandons
careful consideration of the foundations of a free and open
democracy for the sake of appearing to ‘do something’
ultimately sacrifices liberty at the altar of
safety.”
PILLAR will continue advocating for
evidence-based policies that genuinely protect young people
while preserving the fundamental rights and freedoms of all
New
Zealanders.
