We agree that it’s important to involve young people in defining the issues and providing solutions for safer social media use. Our recent webinar featured 15-year-old Hue Dwyer talking about what healthy online relationships look like: "I think it’s a lot about setting boundaries so everybody feels comfortable in the online relationship and…being understanding of each other." Watch the full webinar on supporting positive peer relationships in online spaces here: https://lnkd.in/ghQh4WXi
Social Media and Youth Mental Health: A Call for Comprehensive Solutions ARACY, along with other allied Australian mental health organisations, has released the "Youth Mental Health and Social Media: A Joint Position Statement" to address the complex relationship between social media and young people's mental health. Our stance is further detailed in our June submission to the Joint Select Committee on Social Media and Australian Society, emphasising the need for a human rights-centric approach to legislative changes. At ARACY, we believe that the conversation around social media and youth mental health needs a nuanced approach. While social media can have negative impacts, it's overly simplistic to blame it solely for the youth mental health crisis. We must also consider other critical factors like childhood maltreatment, family violence, poverty, climate change, and the cost of living crisis. Social media can actually be protective, offering connectedness, creativity, and a sense of community—especially for young people in remote areas or those at higher risk, such as neurodivergent or LGBTQIA+ youth. Rather than imposing blanket age-based social media bans that may not be effective and could isolate vulnerable youth seeking support we advocate for policies that engage young people in defining the issues and creating solutions. 🔹 Key Points for Policy Makers: - Engage young people in defining the issues and solutions for safer social media use. - Collaborate with social media companies to enhance safety measures. - Promote digital literacy and support for families to navigate the online world. - Ensure legislative changes prioritize the best interests of children. Let's work together with policymakers, mental health organisations, and social media companies to create a safer online environment. It's crucial that young voices are heard and that we address all factors contributing to youth mental health. Join us in this important conversation to ensure young people can access the support they need while staying safe online. Together, we can build evidence-based solutions that truly make a difference! Read the full joint statement here: https://lnkd.in/gDDdWEBG Read our social media submission here: https://lnkd.in/gqPBrnnt For resources and information on keeping children safe online visit the e-safety commissioner's website: https://lnkd.in/gUJZuTTk eSafety Commissioner Orygen Prevention United batyr Beyond Blue PROJECT ROCKIT headspace ReachOut Australia