he Under the Influence series is a six-part NZ Herald documentary that investigates how today's digital technologies - particularly social media, algorithms and AI - are shaping the lives of young New Zealanders.
Rather than focusing solely on screen time, it explores the psychological design of digital platforms, the attention economy, online harms, mental health, body image, addictive design and the emerging influence of AI companions.
The series combines:
Although the series highlights significant risks, its overall message is hopeful. It argues that the solution is not simply to remove technology from young people's lives, but to better understand the psychology behind digital platforms, strengthen digital literacy, foster open conversations between parents and young people and redesign the wider ecosystem supporting childhood and adolescence.
Under the Influence | Not a Love Story
Porn is reshaping young people’s experiences, and rough sex is becoming the norm. Experts explain how the trend stems from social media and what we can do about it.
Under the Influence | Boy vs Manosphere
Unrealistic standards that plagued girls are now hitting boys. Gen Z voices reveal what’s in their feeds as experts unpack the dangerous messages shaping masculinity.
Under the Influence | Girl vs Algorithm
The algorithm is exploiting girls’ need to belong. Gen Z share the toll, while experts explain their vulnerability — and one mother and daughter fight back.
Under the Influence | Lessons from Australia
Australian teens and experts discuss the impacts of the ban on social media for under-16s, highlighting important lessons for New Zealand should it choose to follow.
Under the Influence | Predatory Chatbots
Big Tech shifts from attention to affection with unregulated chatbots. A tech expert and artist work to protect young people as bots begin disrupting real-world relationships.
Under the Influence | Technoference
Social media distraction isn’t just hurting teens—it’s affecting parents and babies too. Dr Miriam McCaleb and Gemma McCaw share ways to push back and protect family connections.
As this 60 Minutes report discovers, you can have too much of a good thing. What's being called “Internet Addiction Disorder” is ruining lives and even changing the way our brains process information. Worse still, experts are seeing dangerous signs in toddlers.
Read More
/afk - Away from Keyboard explores the relationship between online gamers and the games that they play. It examines the evolution of the World of Warcraft from its infancy to its non-existent conclusion and beyond. Through the lives of several key characters, this film shows the real joys associated with online games while offering an objective look at some of its inherent trappings.
Read More
In the past few years internet addiction (IA) and internet gaming disorder (IGD) have become very frequent, leading to many personality and psychiatric disorders including low self-esteem, impulsivity, poor sleep quality, mood disorder, and suicide. IA has been included in Appendix III of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-5) as IGD. In addition, IA leads to many neuroanatomical and neurochemical alterations including cortical thinning of various components of the brain and altered dopaminergic reward circuitry.
Read MoreScreen Sense offers personalised one-to-one support to help you better understand your digital habits and make practical, lasting changes to the way you use technology.
Sessions >
