Wellbeing

Social media and gendered violence

Sadly, many young people are the hidden victims of family violence. Family violence affects mental health and the ability to enjoy life and stops young people from making the most of their educational opportunities or even from coming to school. Most often, this is violence perpetrated against their females, and sometimes against the young person, by their males. Some female students may also experience gendered violence from boyfriends. Family violence and abuse come in many forms – physical, sexual, psychological, emotional, financial, coercive control behaviours such as gaslighting and limiting connections to extended family and others.

But all begins with gendered disrespect. I will now quote the Australian Government Violence Against Women Let's Stop It at The Start campaign – RESPECT.GOV.AU

"Stop it at the Start is a primary prevention campaign that looks at how we, as adults, can help break the cycle of violence against women. There are new and powerful influences online and in the real world impacting young people and their attitudes towards gendered disrespect. Young people's exposure to online disrespect is one of the many ways in which a violence-supportive attitude can start to develop. As parents, carers, and family members, we all have a role to play in breaking the cycle of disrespect and, ultimately, violence against women.

Many adults need to be made aware of young people's online interactions and experiences. Our children form their beliefs from the world around them – what they hear, see and talk about at school, amongst friends and online. Social media algorithms tailor the content they show us based on what we interact with the most. The more a young person engages with content by liking, commenting or sharing, the more likely they are to see similar posts in their feed. While it can be difficult to moderate or censor the disrespect young people may be exposed to online, we can take steps to better understand what they are seeing and hearing and have conversations with them about it.

Not all disrespect towards women results in violence, but all violence against women starts with disrespect.

Do you know what is influencing your kids?

Learn the hidden trends of disrespect before they lead to violence at respect.gov.au

Violence against women. Let's stop it at the Start."

This topic takes work to approach. However, this should not stop us from raising the issue as a real and serious threat to our young people's wellbeing. All students, male and female, deserve to know that gendered disrespect is not OK in any shape or form. I am sure many know this, but without the adults around them calling it out and acting to prevent it, young people are at the mercy of whatever their media feeds are showing them.

Jo Webb Student and Family Wellbeing Counsellor