Social Media Summit hopes to come up with plan for protecting young people online

One year after NSW banned mobiles in public schools, advocates are coming together to come up with another important plan for students.

Two Australian states are putting their thinking hats on to try to come up with a solution to improve the adverse impact of social media on children.

The Social Media Summit, jointly hosted by the NSW and South Australian governments, has kicked off in Sydney on Thursday.

Marking the one-year controversial “phone ban” in NSW state schools, Premier Chris Minns said despite initial backlash from students, the “natural experiment” of removing the distraction of a mobile phone had provided “overwhelming evidence” about the positive impact it was having on students.

NSW Premier Chris Minns is co-hosting the Social Media Summit in an effort to find solutions to improving the pressures of social media for young people. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

Speaking at the summit, Mr Minns said teachers had reported a reduction in behavioural issues among students, less bullying and higher attendance rates.

He said a school in Blacktown was also reporting an extra 50 minutes of learning each day.

Mr Minns said parents, teachers and the government were all committed to providing a safer environment for younger people online.

“If we think about the life they’re currently living, that fear is completely understandable,” he said.

“We can in a democracy take the best of technology while reserving space for other things, important things … like human connection.

“We cannot and we should not outsource these questions to unelected billionaires living in silicon valley.

“Our first responsibility should be to do no harm.”

The two state governments hope to find solutions to help protect young children online. Picture: NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

Mr Minns said the summit’s goal was to explore ideas about providing a safer space for kids online.

“It’s not about turning back the clock or recreating the world before smartphones and social media,” he said.

“The truth is we don’t want to do that.

“What we want to do is make sure this technology is working for us rather than us working for the technology.

“As individuals there’s only so much we can do.

“It’s up to us to decide what world we want to live in and the lives our children have in the next generation.

“If we assemble the best info, if we can formulate and articulate the right policies, then we can set a new course and take back some control and give our kids a chance for a full and happy life.”

Mr Minns said a phone ban in schools had been successful. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

SA Premier Peter Malinauskas remembered the teens who had taken their own lives in Australia, noting social media pressures had played a role in those young people experiencing depression and anxiety.

“Each story tells us the same thing, we know we simply must act,” he said.

“The results are in, the science has settled and we know social media has changed childhood and it’s doing harm.

“We have an opportunity here in Australia that is unique and that’s protect children from the harm of social media.”

Mr Malinauskas said the summit would provide a chance to create “something that’s powerful and meaningful”

“The minds are in this room to be able to cultivate the requirements for the change, not just in terms of legislation that can be passed through parliament but also the change through society,” he said.

“We have the capacity that young people and future generations have the power to harness social media.”

More to come

Originally published as Social Media Summit hopes to come up with plan for protecting young people online