Stuff Cuts the Comment Dance After Christchurch Shock
The Big Switch on Stuff.co.nz
The biggest news portal in Aotearoa, Stuff, has decided to pause the comment game on its front page. The move came on March 26, the day after the horrific Christchurch mosque tragedy raised a fire‑starter on how the media treats online hate.
Why the Hot Button?
The editors admit that, although most of the chatter is harmless, a splash of toxic remark can turn the whole stream into a toxic stew. Patrick Crewdson, the editor‑in‑chief, summed it up: “A little toxin can poison an entire stream.”
What’s Changing?
- Personal attacks and prejudice will get a quick slap from the moderators.
- The up‑vote/down‑vote dance has been scrubbed from the comment section.
- Some hot topics will be locked out forever: Christchurch shootings, Israel/Palestine, vaccinations, and transgender issues.
Pricing the Censorship Debate
Crewdson warns that people will chew over two main concerns: “We’re being accused of censorship” and “Should we shut the whole comments house brick‑by‑brick?” But the site aims to keep the conversation friendly and welcoming – even if that means turning the comment section into a less‑so‑barbed garden.
Final Word
Stuff’s new approach is a double‑edged sword that may get a knif‑pointed backlash from the free‑speech crowd but also could lift the flood of hate that sometimes seeps into casual conversation. Whether the move will save the conversation or stall it remains to be seen – but at least the platform is trying to keep the line between healthy discussion and venomous ranting tidy.
Stuff Straps the Iron Curtain on Hate & No-Thanks Polys for Votes
New Zealand’s flagship news platform, Stuff (formerly Fairfax NZ), is tightening its comment policy after the nation’s worst mass shooting. The site will wipe out personal attacks and pretty much lock the upvote/downvote buttons to curb extremist echo chambers.
Why Now? The Christchurch Shock
On 15 March, Brenton Tarrant, an Australian white‑supremacist, raided two mosques in Christchurch, killing 50 victims. He posted a rambling “manifesto” online, puffed up to get sensational coverage, and livestreamed the carnage. NZ authorities have since banned that footage and tie‑off his online manifesto.
- Cold‑blood killing of 50; the deadliest shooting in NZ history.
- Online manifesto used to drum up media attention.
- Livestream turned raciness into a televised screamer.
Stuff’s New Anti‑Hate Rules
Chief executive Chris Crewdson wrote that while Tarrant’s venom was lurking in the dark corners of the web, Stuff’s comment section still needed a health check. The site will now:
- Block personal abuse, slurs and hate speech.
- Remove the ability to up‑ or down‑vote comments.
- Strictly screen for extremist content before it goes live.
Staff will keep a close eye on commentators, ensuring no extremist pulp is allowed to spread in the comments jungle.
Apple‑pie News: Stuff’s Popularity Stack
Stuff isn’t a new kid on the block:
- Their website stuff.co.nz gets about 1.8 million unique visits monthly.
- It outsells nzherald.co.nz by a whisker.
- Owned mail: Christchurch Press and Dominion Post.
What’s Next for Tarrant?
The justice machinery is churning:
- His next court hearing is in Christchurch High Court on Friday, April 5.
- He’s currently housed at Auckland Prison’s new maximum‑security wing in Paremoremo.
- Staff are 24‑hour on a watch and CCTV is slicing through his every move.
- No TV, radio, or newspapers. Visitation is on a “strictly approved” list.
- He might face isolation from the largely Polynesian inmate population to avoid potential hate threats.
All this to say: New Zealand is making sure that its biggest media hub stops becoming a platform for hate music and that Tarrant’s prison stay remains as guarded as a bakery’s cake during a robbery.
