’He was lifeless’: Dad’s social media plea

A father has welcomed the government’s proposed ban on children using social media after his teenage son took his own after a cruel online scam.

A heartbroken father has welcomed the government’s proposed ban on social media for children after his teenage son died by suicide after falling victim to a cruel online scam.

Wayne Holdsworth’s life has never been the same after discovering the body of his 17-year-old son Mac just hours after he took his own life.

The Melbourne dad-of-two is now campaigning for change and supports the Australian government’s proposal to ban social media for children and younger teenagers.

In doing so, he hopes to spare other families from going through similar heartache.

Speaking on The Project on Tuesday night, he said he believes the ban would certainly be a “start” in making young people safer.

“Had Mac had this comfort two years ago, I am sure it would have made a massive difference in his life, I really do,” he said on the program.

Wayne Holdsworth with son Mac, who died by suicide last year. Picture: Supplied

“I would think 16 as a minimum. But I believe people should only get a smartphone when they turn 18.

“That would then control what is out of control overnight. The announcement last night is a fantastic announcement, but it is just the start.

“We have to keep campaigning because we need to do something to save our children.

“I believe that currently, the instances of young people being negatively impacted by social media is absolutely sickening.”

Host Waleed Aly asked the dad his thoughts regarding the waves of criticism from people who believe the ban simply “won’t work” or that children will find their way around it.

“We have to start somewhere, we have got to do something. It’s a really good start,” Mr Holdsworth said.

“I believe it is a significant time in our country’s history.

“At least we are doing something. We have to try and protect our children.”

A parent’s worst nightmare

Mr Holdsworth said he never suspected his “happy and upbeat” boy was struggling, with the teen joking with his sister and making plans for the next morning before he died in October 2023.

Mac was targeted in a cruel sextortion plot. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

“I thought everything was fine,’ Mr Holdsworth told the Courier Mail back in May.

“The last thing he said to me was: ‘Dad can I drive the car to work tomorrow’?

“His brother had given him this old, beat-up car and he loved it. He used to turn the radio up loud and sing with the window down.

“He was so happy that night but I know now that’s a sign. Because he knew.

“He had planned it. He knew what he was going to do.’’

The teenager had been caught up in an abhorrent sextortion scam after he was tricked into sending an intimate picture to a person he thought was a teenage girl on Instagram.

However it was actually delivered to a 45-year-old man who used the image to extort money from Mac by threatening to send the photo to his family and friends.

He demanded $500, which the teen quickly sent, but it was not long before the scammer demanded more.

The criminal told Mac that his family would “hate him” and that he would want to take his own life if the picture was ever published.

The teenager confided in his father about the situation, with the pair then going to the police who attempted to track the man down.

Wayne Holdsworth is advocating for change. Picture: Supplied

However, the perpetrator hacked Mac’s Instagram account and sent the private photo to his inner circle.

While the teen “laughed it off”, the incident left him deeply hurt and humiliated, his family have said.

Authorities were able to charge the man over the sextortion scam and Mac was asked to prepare a victim impact statement to read in court.

However, the teenager sadly took his own life before ever being able to confront his abuser.

The next morning, his dad assumed he was having a lie-in.

“I just thought he was having a bit of a 10 minute sleep in because he knew he was getting to drive the car to work in the morning which is quicker than riding his bike,’’ he said.

“I was in the kitchen and my wife had just gone to work and my daughter was getting ready to go to school and I thought ‘hang on, this is a bit odd’.

“So I got up and knocked on his door. There was no answer.

“So I opened his door and he wasn’t in his bed and I looked to the right and there he was.

“I knew he was dead. He was lifeless.’’

After the tragedy, the dad started a non-for-profit called Smacktalk where he shares his story with groups and teaches them how to spot the signs that a person may be struggling.

The government is calling on a social media ban for kids. Picture: iStock

The dad said he had no idea his son was struggling. Picture: Supplied

Government’s plan

The Albanese government has announced it will introduce new legislation banning children and young teenagers from using social media before the next election in May.

However, there is still some debate over what age social media access should be restricted to and Mr Albanese said that his government was carrying out age assurance trials between the ages of 14 and 16.

“We know there are mental health consequences for what many of the young people have had to deal with – the bullying that can occur online, the access to material which causes social harm – and parents are wanting a response,” the Prime Minister told the ABC.

“We’re looking at the range between 14 and 16.”

He stated that the government was looking at how best to enforce age restrictions nationally.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said the Coalition was committed to introducing age limits on social media and had already vowed to introduce a law within 100 days if it wins the next election.

“We would support the Albanese government introducing an age limit today to deal with this important issue,” Mr Dutton posted on X.

“Every day of delay leaves young kids vulnerable to the harms of social media, and the time for relying on tech companies to enforce age limits is over.”

Originally published as ’He was lifeless’: Dad’s social media plea