Social media has been identified as the primary platform for encountering offensive content, according to a report by New Zealand’s Pacific Peoples, Māori, Asian, and Muslim communities. The Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) released its findings in a report titled “Freedom of Expression and Harms Impacting Diverse Communities,” which surveyed 493 individuals. The study revealed that nearly one-third of respondents from Māori, Pasifika, and Muslim groups reported exposure to offensive, discriminatory, or controversial opinions shared publicly in the last six months.
Social media received the most criticism for harmful content, followed by free-to-air television and online news outlets. The BSA’s findings indicated that half of the diverse audiences avoided broadcasts due to concerns over perceived racist remarks, anti-Māori sentiments, biased commentary regarding the Palestine-Israel conflict, or references depicting certain individuals as criminals or terrorists.
BSA chief executive Stacey Wood stated that while news media generally uphold broadcasting standards well, there is a broader societal issue related to social cohesion and kindness. The report highlighted serious repercussions of publicly expressed offensive views, noting their potential to “normalize” bad behavior, affect community aspirations, and perpetuate negative stereotypes.
Denise Kingi-‘Ulu’ave, chief executive of Pacific mental health organization Le Va, emphasized the negative impact constant exposure to discrimination has on individuals’ self-esteem and mental health. A minority of those surveyed felt that New Zealand maintained the right balance between freedom of expression and minimizing harm, while a majority believed that freedom of expression should be moderated to respect others’ views. Approximately 56% of Māori, 60% of Pacific respondents, 45% of Asian, and 41% of Muslim participants advocated for stricter limits on freedom of expression to prevent harm.
While social media was deemed the most harmful source of offensive content, the report suggested that themes portrayed in mainstream media contributed to legitimizing such views. The “relative anonymity” of talkback radio and social media was seen as encouraging the expression of more extreme opinions and establishing fewer boundaries.
Wood pointed out that social media poses significant challenges due to a lack of regulation, urging the New Zealand government to consider implementing regulations for online platforms to address the existing regulatory void. Kingi-‘Ulu’ave affirmed that the report accurately reflects the experiences within Pacific communities and called on politicians to refrain from promoting ideologies that lead to discrimination or hate speech.
New Zealand Muslim community leader Anjum Nausheen Rahman highlighted the prevalence of organizations claiming to be media that operate online but are not held to broadcasting standards. She mentioned the economic ramifications of communities disengaging from mainstream platforms and turning to unregulated media, making them targets for disinformation campaigns.
Academic Malini Hayma noted that news media have a responsibility to enhance the portrayal of diverse community groups. She criticized instances of insensitive and non-inclusive content, advocating for authentic storytelling that accurately represents all communities.
The report recorded that all respondents could recount experiences of encounters with offensive views, although many struggled to pinpoint specific content sources. It noted encouragement of negative actions by entities like Destiny Church and the reinforcement of stereotypes, such as views on Māori and Pacific Peoples being reliant on welfare or lacking academic capabilities.
The report’s conclusions were met with criticism from Jonathan Ayling, chief executive of The Free Speech Union, who expressed concern over potential encroachments on free speech. He asserted that censoring unpopular opinions does not address underlying divisions in society.
The report also pointed out that few respondents took action against hearing offensive views in public broadcasting, emphasizing the need for a more streamlined complaints process. Many from Pacific and Muslim communities expressed cultural reservations against complaining.
The findings arrive as global scrutiny increases on social media companies to curtail harmful content exposure to young audiences. Recent developments include the Australian government’s announcement to restrict social media use among children, the arrest of Telegram’s chief executive in France, and ongoing regulatory changes in the EU and the US that may reshape the landscape of social media oversight.