How will NZ’s under-16 social media ban work? (And why do NZ First and Act hate it?)
Toby Manhire speaks to video journalist Robbie Nicol about the National Party’s under-16 social media ban announcement, and to Alex Casey about Lynda Topp’s latest star turn on Three.
25 Aug 2026
More about the episode
A new law has been drafted to ban social media for under-16s in New Zealand. Robbie Nicol joins Toby to answer all the big questions. Which platforms meet the definition of “social media”? How will it be enforced? When will the rules kick in? And is it really a government bill? Winston Peters doesn’t think so. We work through some of the objections, from NZ First, Act, the Greens and Labour. (Since this podcast was recorded, Labour has announced it will support the bill on first reading, and urged the government to proceed before the election.)
Plus, in How Good, Alex Casey sings the praises of Lynda Topp on Guy Montgomery’s Spelling Bee.
At Large with Toby Manhire is produced by Te Aihe Butler, Jin Fellet and The Spinoff. Read more at thespinoff.co.nz.
