Our monthly update shines a spotlight on the great work done to inform and empower New Zealanders No images? Click here NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER Kia ora koutou Navigating online spaces can feel like a perilous journey right now. There’s a lot of upsetting things going on in the world, and it is being shared at pace online. In this newsletter we provide reminders about the tools, tips and services that families can use to keep themselves and their loved ones safe online. We know that during times of global conflict there can be a lot of distressing content popping up in social media feeds and it can be hard to know where to turn. We created these tools to support individuals and families to take control of their content consumption; please do share them among your networks. This past month Rupert Ablett-Hampson, our Deputy Chief Censor, and I attended the Breaking Glass Ceilings and Building Bridges online safety conference hosted by Netsafe and Australia's eSafety Commissioner at the glorious Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre. It was great to connect with leaders from across the online safety ecosystem, and learn about innovative approaches to keeping online spaces safe, respectful and empowering. 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 too. Aroha atu, aroha mai, tātou i a tātou — Chief Censor Caroline Flora #Mātakitahi #WatchTogether #Kōrerotahi #TalkTogether Image: still from the new Martin Scorsese film Killers of the Flower Moon. ![]() ![]() What to do when you see distressing contentIt can be a good thing to be up to date with what is happening in the world, but sometimes it can be a bit much. There is a lot of distressing content being shared online about the events unfolding in Israel and Gaza, and it can overwhelm our social feeds. If you come across harmful content online, it’s okay not to engage with it yourself. You can report that content directly to the social media platform, and to Te Tari Taiwhenua Department of Internal Affairs (DIA). We encourage you to report potentially illegal content so that other people aren't also harmed by seeing it. Here are a few resources to help keep you and the young people in your life safe online: We have created a resource to help whānau navigate those tricky conversations about what they’re seeing on their screens. This is great to help our young ones think critically about what they’re seeing on their devices and safely navigate online spaces. You’re in control with Parental Controls. Our resource will point you in the right direction for your streaming provider or gaming platform, so you avoid seeing harmful content showing up on your screen. Keep It Real Online has practical tips and support for using social media, including more on parental controls, updating privacy settings, and where to report harmful and illegal content online. ![]() Netsafe is 25 years youngHappy birthday to the Netsafe tīma who celebrated 25 years of online safety support for New Zealanders at their e-Safety conference in October. The conference was jointly hosted by Netsafe and the Australian eSafety Commissioner, with the theme of Breaking Glass Ceilings and Building Bridges. Interesting and informative talks were held across the two full days. It was fascinating to hear from media personalities living their life in the digital and public spotlight, members of the rainbow community talking explicitly about the harm and attention they receive online, and from leaders in the Pacific who are taking action to strength online safety systems for their nations. We tautoko the Netsafe and Australian eSafety teams and the conference sponsors for providing this spotlight for difficult topics and online solutions in Australia and Aotearoa. Photo credit: Jenny-May Clarkson hosts a panel on Life in the digital & public spotlight with Polly Gillespie and Duncan Garner. Innovative Education happening in AustraliaAt the e-Safety conference we heard about grassroots youth-focused initiatives in Australia that really caught our eye: Crushed But Okay Project Rockit Constable Care EXPOSED: CERT NZ's Cyber Smart Week campaignThese days it can feel like a case of 'not if but when' you'll be the victim of an online scam or hacking incident. We tautoko CERT NZ's recent campaign for Cyber Smart Week to highlight that it is happening to everyday New Zealanders, myth-busting online security myths, and what to do to ensure your online security is up to date. Check out their ten EXPOSED stories of New Zealanders who were targeted by attackers online. Take their scam check, get help, get protected. Visit CERT NZ's Own Your Online website where you can report an incident or do your own security health check. 13 spooky films for Halloween!Still got some Halloween treats to indulge in? The scary holiday may be over but if you're in the mood we’ve listed a mixture of supernatural and terrifying shows and films that you and your whānau can enjoy, over on the blog – if you dare! Our short guides break down the content warnings and age ratings, so you can have a safe viewing experience over the holidays. Parental controls are your hack to making sure that your whānau can safely browse for something to watch or play. Find out how you can set them up here. Read on for 13 spooky films (and their content warnings explained) over on the blog. Why did Cat Person get this classification?R16: Sex scenes, violence, offensive language and content that may disturb Margot, a 20-year-old sophomore college student, meets Robert, an older man and regular attendee at the movie theatre she works at. The pair begin to flirt via text and then date until a series of differing perceptions, miscommunications, and misunderstandings prompt Margot to take decisive action. The film is told from Margot's perspective as she navigates dating and aims to find a balance between societal expectations and her own desires. This film was classified by the Office and received an R16: Sex scenes, violence, offensive language and content may disturb. Read our breakdown of the classification. Why did Five Nights at Freddy's get this classification?R13: Horror, violence and cruelty A troubled security guard begins working at a closed down restaurant filled with possessed animal mascots that come to life. A Blumhouse Production, directed by Emma Tammi. This film was classified by the Office and received an R13: Horror, violence and cruelty. Read our breakdown of the classification. Why did Killers of the Flower Moon get this classification?M: Violence, offensive language and content that may disturb Set in the 1920s, members of the Osage tribe are being murdered around Fairfax, Oklahoma. War veteran Ernest Burkhart moves to town and marries Molly, an Osage native, while Ernest's uncle, Bill 'King' Hale, has other plans for him. The film is based on the true stories of murders in Osage country. There is violence, racism and crime shown. The film isn’t restricted in Aotearoa, but at nearly three and a half hours’ runtime, it is more suited to mature viewers who will appreciate the historic true-crime context. For these reasons, we recommend this movie as being more suitable for mature viewers aged 16 and over. This film was classified by the Office and received an M: Violence, offensive language and content that may disturb. Read our breakdown of the classification and the difficult subject matter here. Why did Gen V get this rating?18: Explicit sex scenes, graphic violence, drug use, offensive language, self-harm A new generation of up-and-coming superheroes compete for the best rankings and to become a superhero. However, the death of the school’s top ranked student alerts a small group of students to uncover a terrifying secret. Gen V is part of The Boys universe. This series was self-rated by Amazon Prime and received an 18: Explicit sex scenes, graphic violence, drug use, offensive language, self-harm. Read our breakdown of the rating. ![]() 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: Horror films may actually be ‘beneficial’ for your health, experts say (NZ Herald) NZ Geographic photographer of the year Becki Moss: 10 years documenting society’s most vulnerable (NZ Herald) How to navigate online disinformation and propaganda and practicing information resilience (Center for Countering Digital Hate)
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