Social media ban not enough to protect young from 'silent crisis’, advocates say

Advocates for young people say they welcome the proposed bill by the Government that would ban social media for rangatahi but are urging for even more to be done.

A member’s bill put forward by National MP Catherine Wedd seeks to ban under 16s from accessing social media.

Advocacy group Before 16 says social media organisations need to be held accountable for the damage social media is causing.

Co-chair Anna Curzon says New Zealand parents have had enough of seeing their children struggling silently without help.

“I think you're seeing a global tipping point here where we had a silent crisis.

“We have the data now and parents globally are saying, enough - our kids are not for sale.”

A Horizon research survey shows  74 per cent of people surveyed support limiting social media access under a certain age, with cyber bullying, inappropriate content and mental health implications reported as the biggest concerns.

Curzon says multiple factors contribute to the declining mental health and wellbeing of young people.

“They're having people contact them, strangers that don't have their best interests at heart.

“They're constantly comparing themselves to unattainable images and you're starting to see mental health spiral from there.”

The Auditor-General's overview of young New Zealanders' mental health in 2024 found young people reported the highest level of unmet mental health needs compared to any other population group.

Advocates are calling for social media companies to be held accountable for creating addictive algorithms.

Social media specialist Melissa McDonnell argues social media companies can help improve the issue.

“The big tech companies can stop all of that in the ‘for you feed’ and messing up the algorithm and presenting toxic content to young children if they want to.”

An Outwards Bounds survey found 93 per centof participants felt more accomplished without screens.

McDonnell says that role modelling and talking about positive screen time habits are beneficial for young people.

“Education, having the conversation, and having role models demonstrate that living in the real world, with your eyes up, learning, and [even] being bored creates so much and kids haven't got the ability to do that.

“So if the Government can do anything, have the conversation about screen time in general.”