A national crackdown on social media is just one step in addressing the influence it has on our children, and enforceable laws are still a long way off.
So what can parents do in the meantime to make sure their kids have a positive and safe experience online?
“Even as adults, it’s hard for us to get off social media and put down our phones,” said mom Melissa Stradito.
“How can we expect our children to have the same mental capacity…
“I wish we were without him to be honest with you.”
Another Adelaide mother, whose 10-year-old daughter fell victim to online grooming and bullying leading to a loss of self-esteem, said she did not know how to deal with social media.
“It’s heartbreaking,” she said.
“She doesn’t see the reflection of life in the mirror and it’s terrifying.
She’s not the only one struggling to deal with the dangers of social media.
“You don’t want to cut them off from their friends and social groups, but you’re a little concerned about some of the things they’re exposed to,” said parent Brett Koschel.
As changes to the law banning under-16s from accessing social media remain more than a year after they came into effect, experts have offered advice for parents to take back control.
Famous author Johan Hari suggested locking phones in a safe for part of the day.
“Start by taking 15 minutes a day where you all put your phone in jail and you have to look each other in the eye like people did in the 19th century,” he said.
Meanwhile, clinical psychologist Daniel Einstein recommends practicing “device discipline.”
“When people between the ages of 17-25 reduced their use of social media, reduced it to an hour a day, they had a reduction in anxiety, depression in their fear of missing out on sleep, so we can do that,” said he.
Parents can also use the tools provided by social media platforms.
TikTok’s Family Pairing lets parents set limits on screen time and pause notifications, while Snapchat lets parents monitor their kids’ chats.
The Meta Family Center offers additional safety information.
Engaging with children and understanding their online world is also crucial.
“Get involved, not just police,” said Dolly’s Dream Executive Director Sarah Davis.
“So actually talk to your child, play with them, go online with them, partner with them and walk alongside them in their digital worlds so we understand, learn the language, see what they’re doing.
“Build trust and then talk to your kids.”
Parents can seek guidance from resources such as the eSafety Commissioner website and the Carly Ryan Foundation.
Despite the challenges, experts remain optimistic that online dangers can be managed.
“The whole internet has been around for less than 10,000, we can fix these things if we want to, we can fix them,” Harry said.
Support is available from the Children’s Helpline on 1800 55 1800.