New Zealand Seeks Social Media Ban for Under-16s
The Spin
Pro-government narrative
Social media is wrecking an entire generation, and New Zealand has been dragging its feet while the evidence piles up. Depression, anxiety and bullying are all tied to these platforms, which are designed to addict young minds for profit. Banning under-16s is the right call — big tech doesn't get to keep using kids as revenue sources while their mental health crumbles.
Government-critical narrative
A social media ban for under-16s sounds good on paper but falls apart the moment anyone asks how it gets enforced — banning VPNs or mandating digital ID is the only way it could work, and that's a serious threat to privacy and freedom. Australia's version has already been called a colossal failure, and copying it solves nothing. Parental rights, not government overreach, should be the foundation of any real solution.
Metaculus Prediction
There is a 40% chance any social-media account will reach 1 billion followers before 2031, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Public Figures
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