AUGUST NEWSLETTER

Kia ora koutou

Our August update comes to you off the back of a huge July. We launched our new research in conjunction with Netsafe, and we travelled to three North Island towns and cities to meet with students for our Censor for a Day programme.

So like an athlete who's just finished their marathon effort at the Olympics we aren't resting for long, as we work on our next campaigns for the remainder of this year. Watch this space for our youth campaign about objectionable content. We're currently consulting with young people and their caregivers to understand how big and gnarly the situation is.

Our newsletters generally talk about topics like sex, drugs, and the media content landscape. Our aim is to have difficult conversations and shine a light on ways to reduce harm for New Zealanders. If you know someone who should receive these updates, please share our newsletter or encourage them to subscribe. Be sure to follow our socials and LinkedIn too.

Aroha atu, aroha mai, tātou i a tātou
Let’s look out for each other

— Chief Censor Caroline Flora

#Mātakitahi #WatchTogether #Kōrerotahi #TalkTogether 

Image: still from Deadpool & Wolverine

Classification Office and Netsafe launch new research into Youth perspectives on body image in the online world

"I was always constantly on social media since I was in year 7, so I’ve been just consuming these images of the perfect body. It just subconsciously made me think that I should be looking like that.” — Female, 17, Asian

In case you missed it: During Netsafety Week 2024 (28 July to 2 August) we released new research about young New Zealanders' experiences with online content and its impact on body image.

"I do think boys can worry about similar things like, “am I getting a bit too fat?”, or like, “are my muscles big enough?”, or “am I strong enough?” That’s the sort of the thing that media has pushed about what’s attractive to the opposite gender." — Trans or gender diverse, 16, NZ European

The research provides valuable insights, with a key takeout that rangatahi said social media and other online content can have a significant influence on their wellbeing and self-perception.

Digital Reflections: The online experience and its influence on youth body image in Aotearoa research report and summary report are available to download from our website. 

Recent media coverage about the new research report includes:

Survey finds young people seeing more unwanted and harmful content online (RNZ's Nine to Noon)

'Sucked into the trap' How social media can impact body image (RE:news)

Research reveals online content's dual impact on Kiwi youth (Future Five)

Stepping into the world of film ratings: Students become censors for a day

During July around 500 media studies students from high schools in Upper and Lower Hutt, Palmerston North, New Plymouth and Napier joined us at their local cinema to learn what it's like to be a Censor for a Day. 

These workshop-style sessions involve screening a new release film and giving the students the tools to rate the film themselves. This term our film of choice has been Dream Scenario starring Nicolas Cage, which is rated R13 with content warnings for bloody violence, offensive language, sexual material and content that may disturb. 

We love hearing the students' feedback about the experience, and the importance of ratings:

“I think ratings are important so you don’t expose an immature audience to a serious or inappropriate topic for someone their age." — Daniel, 17, Heretaunga College

Over on the blog we explore what's involved during a Censor for a Day session and hear from the students about the experience.

Why did Alien: Romulus get this classification?

R16: Violence, horror, and offensive language

A group of young miners break into an abandoned spaceship in an attempt to escape their colony – only for their plans to be disrupted by the strange and horrifying life forms they find on board.

This film was classified by the Office and received an R16 with content warnings for violence, horror and offensive language. Read our breakdown of the classification.

Why did Deadpool & Wolverine get this classification?

R16: Graphic violence, sexual references and offensive language

After retiring as Deadpool and settling into a ‘normal life,’ Wade Wilson is forced to suit up again after finding out his friends, family and world are at stake. Seeking out Wolverine, the two of them team up to defeat a mutual opponent.

This film is not for younger tamariki or rangatahi. Deadpool & Wolverine was classified by the Office and received an R16 with content warnings for graphic violence, sexual references and offensive language. Read our breakdown of the classification.

Why did Sausage Party: Foodtopia get this classification?

R16: Violence, sex scenes, drug use, offensive language

In this series spinoff of the 2016 film Sausage Party, Frank and his friends attempt to build their own society, called “Foodtopia.” After a huge flood destroys their safe haven, they are forced to team up with humans to survive.

Definitely not one for younger viewers, Sausage Party: Foodtopia was classified by the Office and received an R16 with content warnings for violence, sex scenes, drug use, offensive language. Read our breakdown of the classification.

Because our work requires a broad knowledge of the vast online landscape, we consume a lot of media in the office. Here are just a few of the things we’ve found relevant and informative over the past month. Take a break with these media lunch items:

The line between free expression, hate speech: Chief Censor Caroline Flora talks with John Campbell (TVNZ's Q&A)

What's the Manosphere, and how is it infecting the minds of our young men? (Duncan Garner Podcast)

Hot off the press, our latest NZIFF 2024 mini-reviews (Flicks.co.nz)