Government calls on principals to support social media and anti-bullying reforms

Education Minister Jason Clare has written to every Australian school principal seeking support for sweeping social media bans and anti-bullying reforms that start next month.

The Albanese government has written to every school principal in the country asking for their support in rolling out landmark social media and anti-bullying reforms.

In the letter to principals, seen by News Corp, Education Minister Jason Clare and Communications Minister Anika Wells call on schools to support the delivery of the government’s social media age ban – which comes into effect next month – as well as the recommendations of the Anti-Bullying Rapid Review, which were handed to Mr Clare last month.

“We are writing to update you on the Social Media Minimum Age Restrictions and the Anti Bullying Rapid Review”, the letter reads.

“These recent commitments by the Australian government seek to promote the safety and wellbeing of young Australians and we seek your support to deliver these commitments within your school community.”

Federal education minister Jason Clare.

The government’s world-leading social media age ban – which requires social media companies including Meta, Snapchat and TikTok to take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under 16 years of age from having an account – will come into effect from December 10th.

The letter from Mr Clare and Ms Wells – which refers teachers to the Social Media Minimum Age Information Kit on the eSafety website – says schools “play an important role in ongoing conversations about preventing online harms”.

Mr Clare told The Saturday Telegraph social media has “supercharged” bullying in schools.

“Getting children off social media is a crucial part of our anti-bullying work”, Mr Clare said.

“A couple of years ago we banned mobile phones in schools and we’ve seen the impact. but when three o’clock comes, the phone comes out and too many kids dive back into the cesspit of social media.”

“We’re putting the onus on social media companies to take responsibility. And we’re letting teachers know we back them in the work they do each and every day to keep kids safe.”

Federal Communications Minister Anika Wells.

Mr Clare commissioned the Anti-Bullying Rapid Review following The Sunday Telegraph’s landmark documentary Charlotte’s Wish, which told the heartbreaking story of twelve-year-old Charlotte O’Brien who committed suicide last year following vicious bullying.

The Review – led by clinical psychologist Charlotte Keating and suicide prevention expert Jo Robinson – made eight recommendations to make schools safer and more inclusive, including the establishment of a National Standard on Bullying in Australian Schools.

The letter to principals notes the National Standard includes an expectation schools make “reasonable efforts to initiate a response to bullying and other harmful behaviours within two school days of becoming aware of them”.

The letter also sets out steps schools could take to respond to bullying which include contacting parents and students to communicate next steps, initiating “immediate safety action” to prevent further harm, providing initial wellbeing support, and making reports to police or other authorities where required.

Originally published as Government calls on principals to support social media and anti-bullying reforms