NT Chief Minister accuses Meta of contributing to youth crime crisis

Eva Lawler has demanded an urgent meeting with social media giant Meta, accusing the company of encouraging youth crime among vulnerable young Territorians seeking social media fame.

Eva Lawler says Meta must examine its role in youth crime, as young Territorians brag about their alleged offending by sharing videos and photos on social media.

Chief Minister Eva Lawler has written to Meta accusing the tech giant of “encouraging and re­inforcing” youth crime among vulnerable young Territorians seeking social media clout and fame.

Ms Lawler requested an urgent meeting with Meta, parent company of Facebook and Instagram, saying she was considering following other states in introducing “post and boast” laws that could lead to jail time for anyone sharing videos of committing a crime online.

“The impact of social media on youth crime in the Northern Territory needs to be examined,” Ms Lawler said in her letter to Meta Australia Managing Director William Easton on Thursday.

Meta Australia boss William Easton.

She said police enforcing the current youth curfew in Alice Springs had made a direct link between fewer opportunities to capture social media content, and quieter streets.

“They (police) have said that the young people in the town who were engaged in illegal behaviour and posting it to social media have stopped coming into the CBD because there is no central place where people can commit crime, share it on social media and receive online infamy from their friends and peers.”

“This anecdote suggests there is immense power that social media platforms have in encouraging and reinforcing this illegal behaviour in our streets.

“It is critical that criminal and anti-social behaviour are not amplified and given a platform on social media.

“Social media algorithms are poorly understood in the community but they can have powerful impacts on influencing what young people view and engage with.”

A member of Peppimenarti's notorious Jovi Boys gang poses with an illegal crossbow weapon in a social media post. Picture: Supplied

The Northern Territory Government is currently reviewing post and boast legislation recently introduced in New South Wales, and existing laws in Queensland.

Federally, the coalition wants to see Commonwealth offences for those who brag about criminal activity online, and has pushed for powers to take down harmful online content to be extended to social media posts glamorising offending.

“Social media companies need to step up and do more to protect young Territorians,” Ms Lawler told the NT News.

“There needs to be strong systems put in place to prevent criminal behaviour being shared and then going viral.

“There’s no doubt that at least some of the youth offenders in the Territory continue to commit crimes because of the online infamy and notoriety it brings them.”

Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro said the Chief Minister continued to “blame anyone other than Labor for youths having total disregard for the law”.

“When is Eva Lawler going to take responsibility for her own lack of action and walk into parliament and make immediate changes to the law?” Ms Finocchiaro said.

“The CLP has already drafted ‘boasting and posting’ legislation and if elected, will pass it in the first week of parliament.”