Inside the online wild west of Aotearoa with Jo Robertson & Holly Brooker

In this episode, we take a closer look at what it’s like growing up in New Zealand’s Online Wild West.

Compared to children in countries like the UK, Australia, or Canada, Kiwi kids face far fewer protections online. This leaves them exposed to a range of serious risks, from grooming and cyberbullying to explicit content and addictive platform design, often without any clear safety net.
Jo Robertson, sexual harm prevention expert, and Holly Brooker, policy advocate from Make Sense, join the discussion to share their frontline experiences and insights. They explain why New Zealand’s current systems are struggling to keep up with the rapidly evolving digital world and how this gap puts tamariki at high risk.

The conversation covers the scale of online harm in Aotearoa, the ways tech companies fail to safeguard young users, and what meaningful changes are needed, from stronger policies and regulations to practical steps families and communities can take.

This is an important, eye-opening conversation about the very real risks of social media, and the changes we can all make to support one young mind at a time.

New Zealand Helplines:

• Lifeline: Call 0800 543 354 or text 4357 (HELP) (available 24/7)
• Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) (available 24/7)
• Youth services: [phone]
• What’s Up: Call 0800 942 8787 (11am to 11pm) or webchat (11am to 10.30pm)
• Depression helpline: Call 0800 111 757 or text 4202 (available 24/7)
• Aoake te Rā – Free, brief therapeutic support service for those bereaved by suicide. Call 0800 000 053.
• Helpline: Need to talk? Call or text 1737
• The Lowdown: Free text 5626 or visit thelowdown.co.nz
• EDANZ (Eating Disorders Association NZ): Visit ed.org.nz for resources and support
• If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111

For more information about Make Sense click here

Follow us @b416.nz or find out more at b416.co.nz

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