Self-harm Content

At a glance

  • Self-harm content is not automatically illegal. Some content may be age restricted or carry a content warning, while other content may meet the legal threshold for being objectionable (illegal).
  • Context matters. Content is assessed as a whole, including its purpose, tone, framing and potential impact.
  • Content that promotes, encourages, instructs or glorifies serious self-harm may be illegal.
  • The law recognises the potential harm self-harm content can have on young people. Content that does not meet the threshold for being objectionable may still be age restricted.
  • Fiction, news, education and discussion about self-harm are not automatically illegal. The law does not ban all content that depicts or discusses self-harm.
  • AI-generated, animated and fictional self-harm content can still be subject to New Zealand classification law.
  • Support is available if this content has affected you or someone you know. Helplines and support services are listed below.

Self-harm content is often restricted by age, but it can also be objectionable (illegal), depending on what the content is.

Self-harm is a complex issue that affects individuals, whānau, and communities. There is no single definition or experience of self-harm, and people may engage in self-harming behaviours for a range of reasons. This page is focused specifically on how self-harm content may be treated under New Zealand law, including content that promotes, encourages or instructs self-harm. It is not intended to explain the causes of self-harming behaviour or provide mental health advice. If you or someone you know needs support, helplines and support services are listed at the bottom of this page.

Self-harm content can influence vulnerable people, encourage or glorify self-harm, or provide instructions. Content like this can lead to copycat behaviour, make people feel hopeless, encourage shame or overwhelm them with shocking or distressing details. Viewing or sharing this content may increase the risk of harm by encouraging or misrepresenting the behaviour, or making it appear painless or easy to carry out. Some self-harm content may also be created or shared in coercive, exploitative, or extremist contexts, including situations where people are pressured, manipulated, or harmed for the purpose of producing or distributing the material.

Self-harm content can be classified in different ways depending on its context, tone, and impact. Some material that depicts or discusses self-harm may be unsuitable for children and young people and may be age restricted. This is because the content may distress or shock young audiences or increase the risk of serious harm to themselves or others. While it can be upsetting or shocking to see self-harm content at any age, most content depicting self-harm will not be legally restricted for adults, but will carry content warning to allow informed viewing choices.

This page tells you what New Zealand law (the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993) says about self-harm content and what you can do if you come across it.

This information is for general understanding and awareness. It is not legal advice.

What is self-harm content?

Self-harm content can include material that depicts or discusses a person intentionally harming themselves. This may include fictional or real-life depictions, written descriptions, images, videos, livestreams, or online discussions.

Not all self-harm content is treated the same way under New Zealand law. Content that includes depictions or discussions of self-harm in a wider narrative, educational, documentary, or fictional context may be age restricted where appropriate.

However, content that promotes, encourages, instructs or glorifies self-harm may meet the legal threshold for being considered objectionable.

What does self-harm content include?

Content involving self-harm can be films, shows, images, videos, livestreams, discussions in forums and chatrooms or any online content. It often includes real people, but it doesn’t have to. The Classification Act treats Artificial Intelligence (AI), Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI), and animated self-harm in the same way as self-harm containing real-life content. Even if content is fake, it can still encourage real-life harm. You can read more about AI and the law here.

Is self-harm content illegal?

Whether self-harm content is illegal depends on the nature of the content, the context in which it appears, and the level of harm it may cause. Not all depictions or discussions of self-harm are illegal under New Zealand law. Some content may be classified with an age restriction and warning note, while other material may meet the legal threshold for being considered objectionable.

Content may cause harm if it promotes, encourages, glorifies, instructs, or exploits self-harming behaviour, particularly where it may influence vulnerable people or young audiences.

Some people might share self-harm content without fully understanding the potential impact it can have on others. However, there are also individuals, groups, and online communities that deliberately share this material knowing it may cause harm, distress, or influence vulnerable people.

Of particular concern are online groups and networks that target vulnerable young people and encourage self-harming behaviour, isolation, secrecy, or the sharing of graphic self-harm content. In some cases, these groups may use manipulation, pressure, threats, coercion, or emotional abuse to maintain control over members or encourage increasingly harmful behaviour. Within some of these networks, self-harm content may be shared in ways that reinforce harmful behaviour, including through repeated exposure, peer validation, or encouragement to escalate behaviour over time. Content created or shared in these environments can contribute to harm by promoting self-injury, encouraging copycat behaviour, or making dangerous behaviour appear acceptable or unavoidable.

In New Zealand, the law that deals with self-harm content is sections 3 and 3B of the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993.

Section 3 of the Act defines what is considered objectionable (illegal). The Act recognises that self-harm content is often primarily harmful in its impact on vulnerable people, particularly young people. It is therefore very rare that self-harm content alone would meet the threshold for being objectionable. However, the Act requires that content is assessed as a whole, in its context, and in relation to any other classifiable material within the publication.

This means that self-harm content may be considered objectionable where, in context, it promotes or encourages the infliction of extreme cruelty, violence, or torture, or the infliction of serious physical harm, including where this is directed at oneself. This can include content that sits within broader online communication networks or communities that actively encourage, validate, or reinforce harmful behaviour.

Section 3B of the Act recognises the potential harm self-harm content can have on young people specifically. It allows content to be age restricted where it does not meet the threshold for being objectionable.

What does “promote, support or encourages” mean?

In this context, “promote, support or encourages” refers to content that actively supports, normalises, or presents serious physical injury as acceptable, justified, or without serious consequence. It may also include content that provides instruction, endorsement, or reinforcement of self-harming behaviour, where the behaviour involves serious physical injury. In the context of the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993, this is most relevant where the content involves the promotion or depiction of extreme cruelty, violence, torture, or serious physical harm, including where such harm is self-inflicted.

This helps distinguish between material that depicts or discusses self-harm in a broader sense, and material that crosses into the promotion of extreme harm that may meet the threshold for objectionable content under section 3 of the Act.

In some cases, this can also include content presented as fictional, humorous, or for entertainment, where the overall framing, tone, or effect still encourages or legitimises serious self-inflicted harm.

Are all representations of self-harm illegal? What about fiction, satire or news reporting?

The law places a high priority on freedom of expression. The law does not restrict or ban all content that deals with self-harm. Content that refers to self-harm in a factual, critical, or harm-focused way, such as news reporting, education, or legal discussion, does not promote or support it and is not illegal. References to self-harm in fiction, film, or other forms of entertainment don’t always need to age restricted either. Generally, the stronger the content, the higher the rating. If the content is all about self-harm and shows it in detail, then it may be restricted to older audiences.

New Zealanders have told us they are particularly sensitive to content involving self-harm. We take this into account by applying clear content warnings to films, series and games where self-harm may harm audiences, and by providing information to help people make informed decisions about what they view. For more information about self-harm in films and series see our Find a Rating page.

About the Classification Office’s role and how the law works

The Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993 balances freedom of expression with protecting people from harm – especially children and young people.

Every piece of content the Classification Office sees is different and to decide whether something is illegal it must consider each one on its own merits and carefully apply the Act and the principles of fairness and natural justice. There are also serious penalties for offences under the Act. This is why decisions about whether content is illegal are made by trained experts at the Classification Office, who, guided by the Act, follow a very transparent and fair process before making a decision.

You can read more about the classification process here.

Need support?

This page is focused on how self-harm content is treated under New Zealand law and does not provide information about causes, triggers, or responses to self-harming behaviour.

If this topic has affected you, or you are looking for information or support about self-harm, help is available.

You can find more information about self-harm, mental health, and wellbeing here:
Mental Health Foundation – Self-harm information

If you are concerned about yourself or someone else, you may also wish to contact a support service. In New Zealand, you can reach out to:

  • Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357
  • Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 TAUTOKO (0508 828 865)
  • Youthline: 0800 376 633 or text 234
  • Samaritans: 0800 726 666
  • If there is immediate danger, call 111.

How to report harmful or illegal content

If you come across harmful, distressing, or illegal content online, it’s important to report it.

Reporting helps protect you, your whānau, and others, supports safer online spaces, and ensures the right agencies can act. You don’t need to be certain whether content is illegal, different New Zealand agencies can assess it and respond appropriately. You can report content even if it’s hosted overseas.

Find out who to report to and how to report harmful or illegal content in New Zealand.
How to Report Harmful or Illegal Online Content in New Zealand

People across Aotearoa have consistently told us they are concerned about the harms of extreme content. Young people, parents and caregivers, grandparents, aunties and uncles, educators, and community leaders are worried for themselves, for young people, and for their communities.

Addressing these harms is a shared effort, supported by clear laws, dedicated agencies, and community action. Together, we can reduce harm by not creating or sharing objectionable content, protecting wellbeing, and reporting harm when we see it.

What’s next?

For parents and whānau: The Classification Office has a range of practical resources to help you support young people who may be encountering extreme content online — from conversation starters to insights shared directly by rangatahi.

For educators and those working with young people: Our resources focus on supporting young people safely and confidently, including guidance on keeping yourselves safe in those conversations and knowing what to do if concerns arise.

For young people: Learning about this content is an important step in staying safe and understanding where the legal line sits. If you need to report something, you can find out how here. If you’d like to talk to someone, our list of support helplines is available here.