On a recent trip to New Zealand, I delivered a public lecture to researchers, facilitated by the University of Auckland. The next week, I spoke with researchers at the enAble Institute at Curtin University. In these lectures, I set out the research & theory linking social media use in under 16’s to decreased resilience and more hostile school environments. This is the talk that pushed Australia to be the first mover - introducing a fine for platforms.
This regulation is not the end point, it is the beginning of education and change. In this clip, I spoke with TVNZ for the second time. Breakfast’s Chris Chang, thoughtfully explored some of the key issues facing both countries - Australia and New Zealand.
During the clip, I share why asking social media platforms to set up age limits for social media access is essential—but still not enough. As a Clinical Psychologist, Researcher and contributor to Australia’s upcoming legislation for social media for under-16s, I’ve seen firsthand in the clinic - and documented in my lectures - exactly how these platforms manipulate young minds, undermine mental health, and create a shallow form of support.
Here, I explain why sharing personal trauma online is not helpful, and how there are errors in data sitting in government reports.
During my visit to New Zealand, I called on parents, educators, doctors, and students to come together, acknowledge the addictive pull of our devices, and start working toward thoughtful solutions to enhance our use of technology.
