It\u2019s time to stop pretending. Social media isn\u2019t safe for our kids and the people who built these platforms know it.<\/p>\n
Sarah Wynn-Williams, a Kiwi and former Facebook executive \u2013 and a mum of three \u2013 told US senators plainly this week: \u201cThese executives … know the harm that this product does. They don\u2019t allow their own teenagers to use the products that Meta develops. The hypocrisy is at every level.\u201d<\/p>\n
She\u2019s right. And we need to listen.<\/p>\n
Wynn-Williams has spoken about how Facebook actively targeted adolescents aged 13-17, tracking their emotional vulnerabilities and selling that data to advertisers. A deleted selfie? That\u2019s a prompt to push beauty products. A sign of depression? That vulnerability becomes a commercial asset.<\/p>\n
This isn\u2019t a side effect, it\u2019s the business model. Addiction equals engagement. Engagement equals revenue.<\/p>\n
See the full column here.<\/a><\/p>\n Wayne Brown has had his time at the helm of Auckland\u2019s leadership. At 78, he has dedicated decades of service to the city, bringing a results-focused, no-nonsense approach to governance.<\/p>\n He was elected to clean up inefficiencies, hold council-controlled organisations accountable, and bring fiscal discipline to the city\u2019s finances. He has made tough calls \u2013 some necessary, some controversial \u2013 but his impact is undeniable.<\/p>\n He has done what he set out to do: cut waste, push back on bureaucracy, and demand better performance from Auckland\u2019s council agencies. Now, with his term nearing its end, he has a unique opportunity to step aside on a high, securing his legacy as a leader who tackled Auckland\u2019s financial challenges head-on and paved the way for a more sustainable future.<\/p>\n The best leaders know success isn\u2019t just about what they achieve in office but also about how they set up the next generation for success.<\/p>\n Leadership is about timing, and great leaders recognise when to step back so that fresh energy and new perspectives can take the reins.<\/p>\n That moment has arrived for Wayne Brown.<\/p>\n Read the full column here. <\/a><\/p>\n The response to one of my recent columns genuinely surprised me.<\/p>\n Readers reached out to say they felt relieved, even grateful, to see someone talk about what is working in education rather than what is broken.<\/p>\n It confirmed what many of us have sensed for some time: New Zealanders are hungry for good news, yet positive stories are too often drowned out by negative narratives.<\/p>\n And we could all do with a little more optimism. We are heading into summer, that hopeful time of year when everything feels possible.<\/p>\nWayne Brown announces his bid for a second Auckland mayoralty. Photo \/ Alex Burton<\/p>\n