Ryan Bridge: National needs Labour's support on its social media bill

Where is National's social media bill at? 

We know Seymour doesn't like it. Winston is apparently has reservations with the wording, though that's only according to Stuff, rather than the man himself.

Labour might need to step in and save the day by supporting it from across the aisle. 

In Australia, half the kids who were on socials are still on socials. 

Here, there's no shortage of famous and big-money backers behind a ban. And Erica Stanford's been on the case. 

Yesterday, Gemma McCaw was talking about it – she's part of the group wanting a ban. 

Personally, I don't think social media is a net positive for society. 

But I don't think we'll ever fully get rid of the thing completely. 

Doesn't happen. Not with booze, not with cigarettes, and it won't with social media. 

Which is not a reason not to do it, but it seems like National's having a very hard time getting this across the line. 

Which Luxon won't like. It's one of his babies – like the India FTA.

He'll want to head to the polls with a bill under his belt, telling parents their kids will be saved from the perils of the internet. 

So the ball looks to be in Hipkins' court. Does he help Luxon out and make himself look more Prime Ministerial and above-the-fray, as Key did with Helen Clark and the anti-smacking law?

That probably depends on the actual wording of the bill, which we haven't seen, because you can't back something that won't work or doesn't make sense, no matter how morally, or politically, worthy it might be.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Where is National's social media bill at We know that
Seymour doesn't like it. Winston is apparently having conniptions about
the wording of it, so Labour might need to step
in and save the day by supporting it. From across
the aisle. In Australia, half the kids who were on
the social media's are still on the social media's Here
there's no shortage of famous and even big money backers
behind a band. Erica Stamford's of course in charge of it.

(00:21):
Yesterday Jim and McCaul was the latest coming out saying
she was in support of that part of that group
that's wanting a band. Personally, I don't think social media
is a net positive for society. I think it's probably
on balance as a bad thing. But I don't think
we'll ever get rid of it completely. Either doesn't happen
really happens. Look at booze, look at cigarettes. You don't
ever really get rid of stuff, do you. And it
won't happen with social media either, which is not a

(00:43):
reason not to do it, of course, But it does
seem like Nationals having a hard time getting it across
the line, which Luxon won't like. Of course, he wants
it strapped up in a bow by election time so
he can go to parents and say your kids will
be saved from the perils of the Internet. So the
ball really is in Hipkins court. Does help Luxon out
and make himself look more prime ministerial above the fray,

(01:04):
as Key did with Helen Clark over the anti smacking Wall.
Remember that probably depends on the actual wording of the bill,
doesn't it, which we haven't seen yet, because you can't
back something that won't work or doesn't make sense, no
matter how morally or politically worthy it might be. For
more from Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, Listen live to
News Talks at b from five am weekdays, or follow

(01:27):
the podcast on iHeartRadio.