In a troubling incident at Bacchus Marsh Grammar in Victoria, roughly 50 female students stumbled upon AI-manufactured explicit images of themselves circulating on social media. This led to the arrest and subsequent release of a teenage boy associated with the creation of these images. In response, the school has provided psychological support and counseling to those impacted.

Emily, who withheld her surname, said her daughter was among the students affected. She expressed her views on the situation: “Social media isn’t the real issue; it’s about educating our young men and boys to show respect,” she stated firmly. Emily is opposed to the idea that banning social media for girls under 16 would solve the problem, arguing that it could strip them of a vital platform for developing and expressing their voices.

She also criticized the recent initiatives by the South Australian government to restrict social media access for children under 14. “The key lies in trusting your children and teaching them how to use social media responsibly,” she remarked.

Echoing Emily’s sentiments, Susan McLean, founder of Cyber Safety Solutions, criticized the proposed ban as “ill-conceived and impossible to enforce.” She argued that the government should instead focus on educating parents and empowering them to guide their children’s social media use. McLean pointed out a prevalent issue: more than 80% of children under 13 on social media do so with their parents’ consent, often involving deceit about their age to set up accounts. “Simply raising the age limit to 16 won’t solve this, as parents often help their kids circumvent these rules,” she explained.

Despite opposition, the national cabinet has endorsed the federal government’s proposal.

Offering a different perspective, Andrew Neal, principal of Bacchus Marsh Grammar, supports the idea of banning social media for younger users, comparing it to restrictions on alcohol and cigarettes. He discussed the long-term repercussions for the girls involved and noted the negative impact on male students who felt unjustly stereotyped in the aftermath on social media.

Neal highlighted that the incident underscores the problems with social media, especially how it allows individuals to misrepresent their understanding and involvement in sensitive issues.

The ongoing debate continues to unfold, highlighting the challenge of balancing the protection of young internet users with their rights to digital participation.