23 Aug 2025

Social media ban for under 16s

From Saturday Morning, 7:33 am on 23 August 2025

An Auckland-based criminologist is concerned New Zealand's proposed social media ban for under-16s won't address on-line misogyny.

The National led government proposed the ban earlier this year after Australia announced it would be the world's first country to do so. 

Dr Claire Meehan, a senior lecturer in criminology at the University of Auckland, explains to Mihi why she doesn't think a ban here - or anywhere - is going to work.

A woman using the Instagram app on her cellphone.

Photo: Unsplash/ Kate Torlin