Almost 1,000 children and young people across Aotearoa
New Zealand have had their say on online safety in a new
survey conducted by Save the Children and Netsafe – and the
results send a clear message: children want to be heard and
informed, as well as protected.
The survey, launched
in the lead-up to New Zealand Children’s Day in March,
asked tamariki and rangatahi aged 6 to 18 about their
experiences in the online world, what makes them feel safe,
and what they want adults – including parents, teachers,
decision-makers, and tech companies – to
know.
The survey findings were launched at
Parliament this morning at an event in association with
Netsafe, TikTok and Save the Children, with youth and online
safety experts, industry representatives, and Members of
Parliament in attendance.
Key findings
show that:
– 64% of children feel safe online, but
many say that safety depends on guidance from parents and
knowing how to avoid harm.
– Advertising and harmful
content are top concerns, with more than 750 children
calling for greater control over ads and stronger protection
from harmful material.
– Children want tech companies
to step up – from limiting live chat in games, improving
reporting systems, and taking faster action to remove
harmful content.
– Age-appropriate design matters –
children across all age groups called for better age
restrictions to keep younger users safe, and to prevent
adult users from accessing children’s games.
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–
Education, not just restriction is key – many young people
said they want to be taught how to recognise and respond to
online risks, rather than just having content blocked or
being excluded as users.
Save the Children New
Zealand’s Director of Advocacy and Research, Jacqui
Southey, says the findings show the value of listening
directly to children’s experiences.
“Children are
not just passive users of the internet – they are legitimate
digital citizens with real insights. Their voices highlight
both the joys and risks of the online world, and their
advice must be taken seriously,” she
says.
“This survey clearly shows that
while many children feel safe online, they’re also
navigating a world full of challenges – from harmful content
to adult strangers in online games and unwanted advertising.
They’re asking for more support, more tools, and more
respect for their ability to understand and shape their
digital experiences.”d
Netsafe CEO Brent
Carey says the insights will help guide online safety
strategies going forward.
“We often talk about making
the internet safer for kids, but we don’t ask them what
that actually means. These findings shift the conversation.
Tamariki and rangatahi are telling us exactly what they need
– and it’s time we listened.”
The survey responses
came from a wide range of age groups and locations, with
strong participation from girls (67% of respondents) and
young people living in urban areas (81%). Social media use
increased with age, while younger children were more engaged
with online games and streaming platforms.
One young
person (aged 15-17) put it simply: “Please filter out
content that is likely to harm the well-being of children
and teenagers. A lot of stuff online – once you see it, you
can’t unsee it.”
Save the Children and Netsafe are
encouraging decision-makers to use the findings to inform
safer online environments that uphold children’s rights to
participation, protection, and
provision.
