Comment: Whatever government manages to form after November 7 seems likely to bring substantial new restrictions for online freedom of speech, including social media age limits and an online regulator.

Experience with similar regimes overseas does not suggest this will end well. And it will be difficult for any online age-verification regime to keep kids off social media without also imposing substantial encumbrances on adults or threatening privacy. 

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Dr Eric Crampton is chief economist at the New Zealand Initiative, a business-funded think-tank. Its members are listed on its website.