Broader & Beyond Under-16s Social Media Ban Online Hui

Inclusive Aotearoa Collective Tāhono, Wellington Abrahamic Council, Ethnic Research Aotearoa, and the Coalition of Ethnic Communities are pleased to invite you to this online hui, featuring Assoc. Prof. Peter Thompson from VUW School of Arts & Media on Thursday 23 October 2025.

The Broader and Beyond Under-16s Social Media Ban is a community-led initiative to facilitate community engagement and conversation, gather evidence, and co-develop a legal framework for online safety and platform accountability that is broader and beyond the proposed social media ban for under-16s.

This online session offers an opportunity to share the impact of online/social media on individuals and families from some of New Zealand’s less often heard community voices and facilitate key stakeholders in the community to engage with the topic and have a collective approach going forward.

The negative impacts of social media are not mere side effects; they are often direct consequences of the platforms’ business models, which are built on capturing and holding user attention at any cost. For young people, who are in a critical stage of development, these impacts can be profound and long-lasting.

Peter Thompson will provide some clarity around the principles and mechanisms through which harmful online content might be regulated, based on the international study researching UK, EU, Canada, Ireland, and Australia.