Policy
To date, policy in relation to online safety has been slow and stagnant in NZ. We advocate to Government, industry, providers, schools and communities about the issues our kids face online and what needs to change to protect them. Instead of waiting until they are forced to, we encourage all parties to take proactive steps on online safety for our kids now. Because it's the right thing to do.

Creating strategic preventative policy change at a systemic level is essential for child safety online, with a cross-agency, whole-of-society approach. We all have a role to play.

Good policy isn’t piecemeal. It considers our current and future children, and prioritises vulnerable groups. This means ensuring these groups are central in developing national strategies. Together, we can work to ensure Aotearoa stands out, in our care and protection of children online.

Platforms
We believe tech platforms should be held accountable for harm that is able to occur on their sites, to children. This is complex and requires robust, codes of practise, with a safety by design approach, partnered with regulation and enforcement. Effective public policy has the power to reduce online harm where it happens.

Prevention
Prevention is embedded at a micro and macro level and it requires a systemic approach, to see the gaps and address them effectively. Strong education policy and digital literacy are essential.
But it doesn’t end there.
Prevention also happens in the details, such as redirecting those making harmful online searches to support services, so they get help before they commit a crime online. Or, in expanding filtering systems to block illegal content. In the case of the Digital Child Exploitation Filtering System (DCEFS) we believe this should include extreme and illegal material such as rape and bestiality - a crucial prevention measure. You can read about our petition submission on illegal content here.

Parents & Caregivers
Broader changes are crucial, but it’s not all about policy and power. The simple stuff matters too.
What can we do at home to ensure our kids can navigate online spaces as safely as they can? In our own families, we can advocate for our children’s needs and foster healthy conversations and approaches to tech to build openness and critical thinking. But we need to truly understand the online landscape to prepare them well.
See resources here.

Contact us if you want information or to book a parenting talk in your community, “Left to their Own Devices”.