John MacDonald: If a kid wants to be on social media, they will be

Author: John MacDonald,
Publish Date: Tue, 25 Aug 2026, 12:40pm

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Well done to ACT and NZ First for not agreeing to National’s social media ban just because it’s election year.

Because that's all this is. Another example of a political party getting so-called runs on the board at the last minute so it can say to voters “look what we’re doing”. Or, “at least we’re doing something”.

It’s something they’re already doing in Australia. And a new report out shows, surprise, surprise, it’s not working. Which I’ll get to.

But, yesterday, the Prime Minister and the Education Minister announced to the world that legislation is being introduced to get the under-16s off social media here in New Zealand.

Now I’m not denying that there is a problem with kids and social media. But this needed to happen 15 years ago if we wanted it to work.

That’s not putting National off. The fly in the ointment, though, is that its ACT and NZ First coalition partners are using the “agree to disagree” clause in their agreement. And so National is going to need Labour’s support to get it across the line.

Labour’s making all sorts of noises about wanting to know more detail. But they’ll eventually support it. Because they’re just as politically desperate as National.

ACT and NZ First, though, at least they’ve got some principles. In relation to this anyway.

That’s because they’ve seen the same reports I’ve seen, which show Australia is really pushing it uphill trying to make their ban work.

According to Australia’s internet regulator, more than 80 percent of teens and pre-teens over there are still using social media. Despite a social media ban for under-16s being introduced late last year.

So, if it’s not working over there, should we even be bothering here?

No. Because it was never going to work in Australia. It will never work here. And it will never work anywhere else that wants to give it a go.

Because it’s too little, too late. It would have worked 15 years ago. Not now.

Because the horse has already bolted. And politicians are dreaming if they think they can put a lid on it at this stage.

Let’s not forget too that social media can actually do a lot of good. I saw mental health campaigner Jazz Thornton saying that social media can be a lifesaver for teenagers.

I’ve heard the same said about young people in the LGBTQIA+ community. How social media can be very positive in terms of creating a sense of belonging, at a time when they can feel very, very isolated.

And if you think it sounds like I’m saying just because a ban won’t work we shouldn’t be doing anything about kids and social media, I’m not.

But I’m realistic. And, like it or not, parents and caregivers are the only ones who can actually make a difference.

But, even then, and I know from experience, parents and caregivers are limited in what we can do.

The kids will always find a way. Just like they’ll find a way to get around any ban.

The most obvious way is to get a virtual private network (VPN) set up, which hides your internet protocol (IP) address. It’s like turning off the caller ID on your phone. You do that, and people can’t see your number when you call them.

You get a VPN, and the social media companies can’t see where in the world you are. Kids in New Zealand will do that and there’ll be no chance of Facebook and Instagram and the rest of them shutting down their accounts.

Because what it comes down to is this: if a kid wants to be on social media, they’ll be on social media.

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