Assistant Principal's 

Report

Online Bullying and Social Media: Supporting Our Young People

As educators and parents, we all share a common goal — ensuring our young people feel safe, supported and connected. Unfortunately, one of the growing challenges facing schools across Australia is the increasing impact of online bullying and inappropriate social media use among students.

At Wedderburn College, we are seeing more incidents where student conflict begins online and then spills into the classroom and schoolyard. Hurtful comments, exclusion from group chats, rumours shared online, fake accounts, and the sharing of images or screenshots without consent can cause significant emotional distress for students and families alike.

Of particular concern is the number of students under 16 years of age who continue to access social media platforms despite the new laws around social media. Many popular platforms expose young people to content and interactions they may not yet have the emotional maturity to manage safely.

While social media can provide opportunities for communication and creativity, it also comes with serious risks when not carefully monitored. Research and experience continue to show links between excessive or unsupervised social media use and:

• Anxiety and emotional stress 
• Sleep disruption and fatigue 
• Friendship breakdowns and social conflict 
• Exposure to cyberbullying and harmful content 
• Reduced concentration and academic engagement 

Importantly, online behaviour does not stay online. The emotional impact often follows students into school, affecting friendships, wellbeing, learning and the overall culture of our community.

As a college, we continue to educate students about respectful relationships, responsible digital citizenship and online safety. However, schools cannot address this issue alone. Families play an essential role in guiding and supporting young people to make safe and respectful choices online.

We encourage parents and carers to:

• Regularly monitor the apps and platforms their children are using 
• Discuss privacy settings, online behaviour and digital footprints 
• Set clear expectations around screen time and respectful communication 
• Delay access to social media for younger children where possible 
• Encourage open conversations about online experiences 
• Remind students to report bullying or concerning behaviour to a trusted adult 

It is also important for students to understand that online actions can have real-world consequences. Behaviour occurring outside school hours may still require school involvement if it impacts the safety, wellbeing or learning of students at school.