Refusal to ban phones in schools leaving kids ‘demonised’ by bullying, expert says

A leading bullying expert says the Queensland Government’s reluctance to introduce a mobile phone ban in state schools is leaving schools to tackle the fallout of online bullying, image-based abuse and sextortion.

Rachel Downie says a mobile phone ban in Queensland would help schools assist students struggling with cyber bullying, image-based abuse and sextortion. Picture: Mick Tsikas

A leading bullying expert says the Queensland Government’s reluctance to introduce a mobile phone ban in state schools is leaving schools to tackle the fallout of online bullying, image-based abuse and sextortion.

Former Queenslander of the Year Rachel Downie said children were being “demonised” by the prolific sharing of inappropriate content in and out of the classroom.

Ms Downie said there had been a significant spike in online bullying, sharing of non-consensual and image-based abuse and sextortion, and that a “time out” from the phones would help.

The former educator founded Stymie – a platform that empowers young people to ask for help if they need support, or if they are seeing or experiencing harm – after losing a Year 9 student to suicide.

Stymie received 95,000 notifications last year, varying from self harm, suicide ideation, family violence to mental health. Of those, about 8000 were for online bullying accompanied with sextortion.

Ms Downie says there has been a significant spike in online bullying, and that a “time out” from the phones would help

It comes as Queensland is set to be the only state yet to bring in a mobile phone ban in state schools with New South Wales preparing to introduce one in term 4.

Education Minister Grace Grace last month tasked the department to survey state schools to get a “clearer picture on exactly what is happening” regarding phone bans with a decision months away.

Ms Downie said a blanket ban would provide schools with an opportunity for a “time out” away from the addictive devices.

“The lack of a ban has not made our lives easier. Schools are having to deal with the fallout of bullying and peer to peer harm,” Ms Downie said.

“It’s one of the reasons why schools are trying to develop policies around devise use is that inside schools.”

Ms Downie compared the sharing of images or videos to the days where a note was secretly passed around the classroom – only now with tenfold the harm.

“You’re having kids getting their first period at school and it’s being filmed and then it’s shared. Videos of students having consensual sex and it’s unknowingly filmed and then shared around,” she said.

“Kids aren’t fully aware of what they’re watching or sharing. And it’s on everything, Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok.”

Bullying expert Rachel Downie says she would support Queensland to introduce a mobile phone ban in schools.

It comes amid shocking statistics from the eSafety Commissioner which received nearly 2000 reports of image-based abuse from people aged 18 and under in 2022.

eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said it was “deeply concerning” that so many young people did not understand that image-based abuse, sometimes known as revenge porn, is illegal.

Ms Inman Grant said discussions around consent were confined to decisions and actions made in the offline world.

“I think this is a less about a flagrant disregard for the law and more about a lack of awareness of how harmful and distressing this type of abuse is,” Ms Inman Grant said.

Ms Inman Grant said of the 2000 reports, one in six related to peers sharing intimate images of someone without consent.

“We suspect this number is far lower than what is actually happening in schools and communities,” she said.

“Shame, humiliation and fear of having mobiles confiscated can deter young people from seeking support when things go wrong online.

“Parents, carers and educators need to be talking to young people about how to have respectful online relationships.

“We cannot ignore that sexting is frequently seen as part of the modern-day courting ritual, and sometimes these images are shared further than was intended or wanted.”

Former Queensland Family and Children’s Commissioner Cheryl Vardon has been tasked with heading up the evaluation of what the state should do when it comes to mobile phones in schools.

Ms Grace said the “best interest of students will be at the heart” of any decision made.