At the Women Deliver conference, I created an opportunity to speak directly with the e-Safety Commissioner about the recent social media ban for under-16s.
I raised my ongoing concerns about how removing access to social media could further isolate disabled and queer young people. For many in our communities, these platforms aren’t just “social media” — they’re lifelines for connection, peer support, identity, and community when physical spaces are inaccessible or unsafe. There’s already a lot of angst and feelings of disconnection in our communities, and this policy risks making that much worse.
The Commissioner responded that they had done targeted research with LGBTQIA+ young people, First Nations communities, kids with disability, and their care workers. She mentioned working with mental health organisations like Headspace, noted exemptions for gaming and messaging apps to preserve some “digital lifelines,” and said they are evaluating whether marginalised kids are being disproportionately impacted. She emphasised they will follow the evidence and data.
While I appreciated the conversation, I made my position clear at the end:
That the e-Safety Commissioner and her office engage in much broader public consultation. We need to hear directly from people with lived experience, not just organisations, by collecting personal stories and case studies about how these rules are actually affecting mental health, community connection, and daily life. This should be executed through a national inquiry open to public feedback and consultation. Real first-person accounts must be properly documented and considered, as part of the evaluation process for the policies 'success'.
Policies made for young people's own good, can’t ignore the voices of the very communities they impact. True protection includes safeguarding access to connection for disabled and queer youth, not cutting it off.
I’d love to hear from other disabled and queer folks (and parents/carers) in the comments — what has your experience been?
#SocialMediaBan #eSafety #DisabilityRights #QueerYouth #LivedExperience #InclusivePolicy
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