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In partnership with Orygen’s suicide prevention research team, Orygen Institute co-hosted a symposium at Parliament House in late August. Discussions provided suggestions for industry and policymakers in improving the social media experience and opportunities for supporting young people. Orygen Institute’s Ella Gow reported back on what unfolded in Canberra.
Orygen hosted two significant events at Parliament House in Canberra on Wednesday 21 August, with the aim of addressing the growing concerns about social media's impact on youth mental health, self-harm, and suicide. This concern has led Australian governments to explore online safety measures, including potential social media bans and age assurance trials for those under 16.
The first event was the Parliamentary Friends of Youth Mental Health meeting, chaired by Kylea Tink MP, Stephen Bates MP, Senator Karen Grogan, and Aaron Violi MP. Around 60 parliamentarians and sector leaders attended to hear from Professor Jo Robinson (Orygen), Ben Bartlett, Director Government Relations and Communications ReachOut, and Suzanne Dick, CEO of Prevention United. The speakers emphasised the importance of recognising the complexity in the ongoing debate surrounding social media and youth mental health. They highlighted the need to amplify young voices, rely on evidence-based decisions, respect digital rights, and collaborate with the social media industry for better transparency and control. Importantly, they pointed out that if social media is banned for young people, alternative accessible mental health supports must be provided.
The second event was a symposium on social media's role in preventing youth self-harm and suicide. Professor Robinson presented new research showing that while social media has risks, it also offers key benefits, particularly for marginalised groups. Social media often serves as a vital connection for young people who may feel unable to discuss self-harm and suicide elsewhere due to stigma.
A panel discussion moderated by Elfy Scott followed, featuring insights from Professor Robinson, youth adviser Sankara Santosa, Meta’s Mia Garlick, and Kellie Britnell from the Office of the eSafety Commissioner. The panel called for improved algorithms, evidence-based safety features, and policies co-designed with young people. They advised policymakers to integrate online safety into suicide prevention strategies and ensure policies are evidence-based.
The consensus was that a blanket age restriction is unlikely to be effective. Instead, the focus should be on listening to young people and empirical evidence to address these challenges.