26 August 2026
PSNZ has released a media statement today responding to the Government's Online Safety (Minimum Age and Child Safety Risk Assessment) Bill.
In short, PSNZ strongly welcomes the Bill as a critical step forward, particularly its 16-year minimum age threshold for harmful platform features, the fact that responsibility sits with platforms rather than children or whānau, meaningful enforcement powers (penalties of up to 10% of global turnover), and a built-in two-year statutory review.
However, we've been clear that age restrictions alone won't protect tamariki and rangatahi. Our release calls on Government to strengthen the Bill by:
- Embedding explicit equity provisions for Māori, Pacific, rainbow, disabled, and rural young people
- Requiring meaningful, ongoing participation of children and young people in implementation and review
- Raising the minimum age for social AI companions to 18, given their distinct attachment and developmental risks
- Requiring independent auditing and banning of harmful design features, rather than relying on platform self-reporting alone
- Investing in safe, inclusive alternative spaces for connection and mental health support
- Funding culturally responsive digital literacy and whānau support
This builds directly on PSNZ's recent position statement, Protecting Tamariki and Rangatahi Online: Social Media, Digital Harm, and the Case for Action, which sets out the full evidence base and recommendations behind our position.
Full documents linked below 👇
Ngā mihi nui,
The Paediatric Society of New Zealand | Te Kāhui Mātai Arotamariki o Aotearoa