What's happened
A 13-year-old boy in New Zealand ingested up to 200 high-powered magnets bought online, leading to emergency surgery. Despite a ban since 2013, these magnets remain accessible via online marketplaces like Temu, raising enforcement and safety issues.
What's behind the headline?
The case underscores the persistent challenge of regulating dangerous products in the digital age. Despite legal bans, online marketplaces facilitate access to high-powered magnets, especially for children. The magnetic force can cause severe internal injuries, including necrosis and perforation, requiring urgent surgery. This incident highlights the need for stricter enforcement and better oversight of online sales. Platforms like Temu claim to monitor compliance, but the ease of purchase and lack of age verification make enforcement difficult. The case also raises questions about the effectiveness of existing regulations and the responsibility of online marketplaces to prevent hazardous products from reaching vulnerable consumers. Moving forward, policymakers must consider more robust measures to close enforcement gaps and protect children from such preventable injuries.
What the papers say
The Independent reports that despite a ban since 2013, high-powered magnets are still accessible online, with Temu launching an internal review after the incident. The NY Post details the severity of the injuries, with the boy's intestines damaged by magnetic forces pulling together. Gulf News emphasizes the ongoing risks and the difficulty of enforcement in the online marketplace era, noting Temu's investigation and the broader regulatory challenges. All sources agree that the magnets pose a serious health risk, especially to children, and that online sales complicate enforcement efforts.
How we got here
New Zealand banned small, high-powered magnets in 2013 due to health risks, but enforcement remains difficult with online sales. These magnets, often marketed as toys or stress relievers, are still widely available online, including through platforms like Temu, which has come under scrutiny for product safety compliance.
Go deeper
Common question
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How Did a Child Swallow 100 Magnets Bought Online?
A recent incident in New Zealand has brought attention to the dangers of online marketplaces selling high-powered magnets. Despite bans since 2013, these magnets are still accessible to children, leading to serious health risks. Many parents wonder how such products slip through regulations and what dangers they pose. Below, we explore common questions about child safety, online sales of dangerous toys, and how to protect your kids from hidden hazards online.
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Why Are High-Powered Magnets Still Available Online Despite Bans?
Despite a ban on high-powered magnets since 2013, these dangerous toys are still accessible online, posing serious health risks to children. How are they still getting through regulations, and what can parents do to keep their kids safe? Below, we explore the ongoing challenges in enforcing safety laws and what you need to know about these hazardous products.
More on these topics
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New Zealand is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It comprises two main landmasses—the North Island and the South Island —and around 600 smaller islands, covering a total area of 268,021 square kilometres.
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Temu is an online marketplace operated by e-commerce company PDD Holdings, which is owned by Colin Huang. It offers heavily discounted consumer goods, mostly shipped to consumers directly from China. By April 2025, the platform had expanded its operations