Celebrities lend support to Unplug24, boycotting social media for mental health

Big names from the world of entertainment, sport, politics and business have pledged support for a new national initiative designed to save Australian lives.

Big names from the world of entertainment, sport, politics and business have pledged support for a new national initiative to switch off their social media for 24 hours.

Singer Jessica Mauboy, former Australian cricket captain Adam Gilchrist, TV personality and fitness trainer Michelle Bridges, rugby league legend Corey Parker, Opals Alice Kunek and Bec Cole, Home & Away star Juliet Godwin, and politicians Senator Jacqui Lambie and Andrew Charlton, Labor’s special envoy for cyber security, are just a few of the names who will forgo those addictive apps on October 24.

Unplug24, the name of the day, is the brainchild of Wayne Holdsworth, whose son Mac, took his life aged 17 after being harassed on social media.

The high profile stars join News Corp and SmackTalk, a suicide prevention charity set up in Mac’s name, in backing the day.

Singer Jess Mauboy is backing Unplug24.

Personal trainer Michelle Bridges will switch off her social media on October 24.

Jessica Mauboy, who is pregnant with her first child, said Mac’s story was “devastating and

and highlights the real dangers of social media”. “As someone in the public eye, I’ve seen how harmful online negativity can be,” Mauboy said. “That’s why I’m backing the Unplug24 campaign. Taking a break from social media is important for our mental health, and I’m encouraging everyone to join me on October 24 in stepping away to reconnect with nature, friends, and family.”

Unplug 24 is a national day of action and a chance for Aussies to switch off from social media.

Opal Alice Kunek, 33, knows what it is like to be at the epicentre of a social media pile on.

In 2016 she was publicly shamed on a teammate’s social media after she went to a dress up party as her idol Kanye West, blacking her face and arms. She said she had no idea that ‘blackface’ – the practice of darkening your skin for entertainment – was an offensive act.

Her claims of innocence did not protect her from the global online backlash, including death threats.

WNBL and Opals players Bec Cole and Alice Kunek at the State Basketball Centre in Melbourne. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Former cricket captain Adam Gilchrist is supporting Unplug24. Picture: Tony McDonough

“I wouldn’t wish that experience on anyone,” Kunek said. “I put my hand up, I made a mistake and I learnt from that. But I genuinely had to come off social media for a while for my own wellbeing.”

More recently, Kunek deleted Instagram to protect her mental health after being cut from the Olympics team.

Her teammate Bec Cole, 32, said during the basketball season she can receive one abusive comment on every post and has been “slut-shamed” by strangers. She is backing the campaign in support of everyone who has gone through these “emotional battles” and will be starting conversations about the topic on October 24 to raise awareness.

Mac’s story “hit” Juliet Godwin’s heart. The Home & Away star is backing Unplug 24. Picture: Jeremy Greive

Home & Away star Juliet Godwin, like many females online, often gets inappropriate comments made about her body, because she suffers from bloating. She said seeing comments like, ‘Has she gained weight?’ or ‘Is she pregnant?’ can be hurtful.

“I guess, the negative experiences that I’ve had, does impact your headspace,” Godwin said.

She said she often takes a break from social networks to get “rid of the fog and the mist that social media can create”.

She added that “Mac’s story really, really hit my heart”.

”Let’s start working together to look after each other in the present moment and not through our phones,” Godwin said.

Jacqui Lambie, plus other politicians including Independent MPs Dai Le and Zoe Daniel and Liberal David Coleman, are looking forward to escaping some of the nastier elements of social media for the day.

“Stories like Mac’s are all too common,” Sen Lambie said. “It doesn’t matter whether you’re a public figure or not; trolls or online bullies seem to be everywhere.

Originally published as Celebrities lend support to Unplug24, boycotting social media for mental health