From the Principal

Dear BMGS Community,

As we have discussed over this year, the digital landscape is evolving rapidly, and with it, so are the challenges our young people face. Recent action by the Australian Government demonstrates a growing recognition of the need to protect our children in this space. Recently, legislation has been announced to set 16 as the minimum age for social media access, following endorsement by the National Cabinet.

Susan Templeman, Federal Member for Macquarie, recently shared a detailed communication about this necessary reform. She highlighted the social harm caused by unregulated social media use, including how it pulls children away from real friendships and meaningful experiences. Echoing feedback from parents, teachers, and students, she noted the positive impact of the NSW Government’s ban on mobile phones in schools, emphasising the potential benefits of extending such measures beyond school grounds.

The new legislation places greater responsibility on social media platforms - not just parents or young people - to take reasonable steps to protect children. For example, only platforms meeting the eSafety Commissioner’s strict standards will be accessible to those under 16. This law safeguards young Australians while ensuring continued access to critical services online.

Notably, the legislation will take effect after some time. After its introduction in the current parliamentary sitting, a 12-month period will allow industry, governments, and the eSafety Commissioner to develop robust systems. During this time, guidance will also be provided so parents, carers, and children can navigate the changes ahead.

Susan Templeman MP, has invited feedback from schools, P&Fs, and young people during this implementation phase. She has also offered to meet with our school community to discuss these reforms this year or early next year. We plan to organise an opportunity for her to hear directly from you.

At Blue Mountains Grammar School, this legislative development resonates with our ongoing discussions about the need for adults to take decisive action on the risks our young people face. It complements the steps we’ve taken within our school to promote digital wellness and healthy online habits.

We continue to be committed to supporting this effort and are looking to explore an initiative proposed by our P&F that will hopefully contribute meaningfully to this conversation. This proposal includes investigating an initiative called Wait Mate, designed to encourage families to delay introducing smartphones to children until they are developmentally ready.

Wait Mate has already garnered support from over 4,000 families across 700 schools in Australia. It features an evening presentation by experts, including a clinical psychologist, who discuss the psychological impacts of smartphones and social media on children’s developing brains. We will engage with our P&F on both campuses to explore the possibility of hosting an event at one of our campuses next year, with families from both campuses invited to attend.

We welcome this growing national effort and look forward to working with families and policymakers to create a safer and more balanced digital environment for our children.

Warm regards,

Steven Coote 

Principal