Banning kids from social media won’t make them safer.
On Thursday, National MP Catherine Wedd’s Members’ Bill to “protect under-16s from social media harm” was pulled from the biscuit tin, and right behind it came a wave of calls for government bans and state interference in the lives of parents and internet users.
Call me old-fashioned, but one of my greatest joys (and biggest responsibilities) in life is raising, providing for, and protecting my three sons. I take that seriously. And not once have I ever thought, “I wish the government would tell me how to do this parenting thing.”
That’s why this bill really gets to me. It’s not just about social media, it’s about who gets to decide what’s best for our kids: parents or politicians.
We don’t need control. We need common sense.
Beyond the huge privacy and freedom risks, this kind of policy is lazy. It copies what’s being attempted overseas, slaps it onto our Kiwi system, and calls it progress. It’s about following trends, not fixing the real problem.
What happened to the Kiwi spirit of problem-solving? That mix of optimism, No. 8 wire, and help from your neighbour? Why are we copying unelected e-safety commissioners from overseas instead of leading the world with smart, freedom-respecting solutions that actually keep kids safe online?
The world noticed.
When this bill was announced, we at PILLAR immediately spoke out. We made it clear that banning under-16s from social media won’t protect children, it’ll just make things worse. It will create serious privacy risks, force ID checks on everyone, and reduce online freedom for all of us.
And guess what? The world noticed. Our comments were picked up by Yahoo, Reuters, Adda247, Business World, and The Straits Times. It’s clear people are looking for someone to stand up against digital control dressed up as child protection, and PILLAR is that voice.
Our approach
In our October submission, we outlined real, practical ways to keep kids safe online without sacrificing freedom or privacy:
• Respect parental authority
• Improve digital literacy
• Focus on illegal content
But instead of listening, we’re still seeing calls for age-verification, ID checks, and platform bans. These are quick fixes that sound good in headlines, but they’ll make things worse in practice.
Here’s how you can help
This fight isn’t just mine, it’s ours. Here are two simple but powerful ways you can stand with us:
Firstly, sign our petition. We’re aiming for 15,000 signatures by December to send a clear message that Kiwis don’t want more government overreach.
Secondly, support our work. PILLAR is 100% grassroots-funded. Every dollar goes into protecting freedom, privacy, and democracy for everyday New Zealanders. If you believe in what we’re doing, I’d greatly appreciate your partnership.
We won’t back down from defending your freedom and privacy, and we’ll keep fighting for smarter, better solutions that actually help parents and protect kids.
Thanks for standing with us,
