School counsellors oppose social media ban

The New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC) say the social media ban proposed by National MP Catherine Wedd fails to address the key issues of the digital era.

Kamaia Renata, Naenae’s College Head of Department Guidance and NZAC member says that despite good intentions, a blanket ban may create harms while ignoring the issues it tries to address.  

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“A blanket ban might appear to be a quick fix, but it overlooks the complex reasons young people use social media and the very real harms that occur when addiction and isolation go unaddressed,” says Renata.  

“For those rangatahi who are anxious, introverted, or geographically isolated, social media can be a lifeline. For others, it can fuel sleeplessness, poor mental health, and withdrawal from real-world connections. 

“Both realities need to be acknowledged.” 

Renata says that bans will not stop young people from accessing social media, and gives the example of youth vaping.  

Renata says the bill risks driving social media use underground, which means adults, whānau and schools cannot address issues and harms.  

Instead, the government should be investing in digital citizenship education, says NZAC, including “stronger resourcing” for organisations like Netsafe, and improved services to help support rangatahi struggling with digital use and cyberbullying.  

Renata says school guidance counsellors and other on-the-ground youth professionals are seeing increasing issues like poor sleep, poor routines and mood disorders linked to excessive screentime.  

“The harms are real, but the solution isn’t a ban. What we need is a national response that focuses on education, early intervention, and digital wellbeing.”  

The social media ban has sparked debate among educators, policy-makers and academics.  

Writing for The Conversation, Alex Beattie, lecturer of Media and Communication at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington, said “while there is merit in young people spending more time offline, and there are real concerns about the impact of social media on wider society, it’s not clear that outright prohibition will achieve what is hoped for.” 

Some sports coaches and dance teachers have spoken to media about the positive impacts of social media on young people, stating that social media helps young people learn to manage their schedules and take responsibility.  

They point out that social media is an important part of teens’ transitions into adulthood. 

“Synthesising” international models 

The ban is modelled on a similar policy recently passed in Australia, expected to come into effect in November. Under the new law technology companies who run social media platforms must take action to prevent under-16s from creating accounts and accessing social media. Fines of up to AU$49.3 million (NZ$53.6 million) will be given to platforms that do not comply. YouTube and messaging apps will be exempt from the ban.  

Australian social media laws on this issue are currently the strictest in the world. It has been opposed by youth advocates across the ditch, including the Australian eSafety Youth Council. 

In France, similar legislation was introduced which blocked social media access for children under 15, who did not have parental permission. Research has shown almost half of users can avoid the ban using a VPN.  

In New Zealand, the bill is backed by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. The draft law proposes requiring companies to verify users’ age as 16+ before creating an account. Fines for noncompliance would be up to $2 million.  

“This is about protecting our children. It’s about making sure social media companies are playing their role in keeping our kids safe,” said Luxon.  

The work will be led by Education Minister Erica Stanford, who says the bill should “synthesise” existing global policy.  

“We have heard from parents, teachers and principals… how important this is and how much feeling there was out there. And, you know, parents know the harm, they see it, and they want us to do something about it.  

“They need someone… they want someone to come in and help create those guardrails. And yeah, it’s going to be difficult and it’s not going to be easy, but we need to create a societal shift that says, ‘Hey, this is the harm, we all know it, and here are the guardrails.'”