VCE ENGLISH
📱Social Media – A Year 12 Student’s Perspective
As part of the VCE English course at both Year 11 and 12, students are required to deliver an oral presentation on a current issue of their choice.
Earlier this term, Ella Berry from 12C presented a thoughtful and engaging speech on the topic of social media. Below is the transcript of her presentation, offering valuable insights into this ever-relevant subject.
Kelly Farrell
Head of English
Australia’s social media ban is necessary for building positive futures for youth.
Nation-wide guidelines from the Australian Department of Health recommend no more than one hour per day of screen time for preschoolers, and just two hours per day for children over the age of 5. However, the reality is very different. Your children are spending countless hours locked away in their room, consuming all sorts of media that does more harm than good. Excessive screen time is already showing destructive effects on youth - including declining mental health and serious behavioural and social issues. Hence, the Australian social media ban for under 16s is the necessary solution to this nation-wide concern. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, stated that: social media is doing social harm to our young Australians, and he is “calling time on it”. He wants “Australian parents” - like you - “to know that (he has) your back”. This ban is the change our youth/young people need.
Even if your child seems okay, social media use is doing damage that you can’t see. Young brains are still developing, making them especially vulnerable to the addictive design and emotional impact of all social media sites. Platforms like Tiktok, Instagram and Snapchat are closely linked with alarming mental health issues including anxiety, depression and low self-esteem. Even if your child says “I’m fine” - many young people often feel the connection between their screen time and their struggles, even if they don’t speak about it. The National Youth Mental Health Survey released by headspace in 2022 found more than half of young people believe their mental health is getting worse, with 42% pointing to/blaming? social media as the main cause for this decrease. At the Government’s announcement of the proposed legislation in November 2024, The Prime Minister stated that "The safety and mental health of our young people has to be a priority" - and he’s right. By implementing a law to limit under 16s online media usage, Australian children will have the chance to grow up with stronger minds, more confidence, and better overall mental wellbeing.
Social media is changing how children learn to interact - and not for the better. Instead of learning empathy, communication, and respect; young people are learning to compare themselves to others, chase likes and seek validation online. This fuels aggression, disrespect, and constant fear of missing out. Australian youth are losing the ability to regulate their emotions and form healthy relationships in the real world. It’s not just sad - but also dangerous. Studies have found that children with excessive screen time are at worryingly high odds of developmental and behavioural problems. These include developmental delays, speech disorders, learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, and ADHD. The more time spent on screens, the stronger the link. This isn’t just a theory - it’s playing out in classrooms across the country, in both primary and secondary schools. Your child’s screen usage is affecting their performance in every area, especially their education. It is fuelling aggressive behaviour, poor focus, and social withdrawal. Limiting access is the only way to protect our children from long-term harm.
Would you let your child walk through a dark alley alone? Then why hand them a phone and hope for the best? Even if you think you're monitoring your child, you have no control over what the algorithm is really showing them. Ange Lavoipierre, from ABC news revealed that children are being exposed to things online that they shouldn't be exposed to, like violent content, sexually explicit content, predatory behaviour from adults and exploitative behaviour. In 2021, Dr Faith Gordon from the Australian National University’s College of Law discovered that over 70 percent of ‘some of society’s most vulnerable children and youth’ have seen content online that they described as concerning. Similarly, a 2022 eSafety report stated that 62 per cent of teens had been exposed to harmful content online. These aren’t just numbers - they reflect the reality your child could be living. Meta recently announced a shocking 12 million pieces of suicide and self-harm content being identified and taken down in just 3 months. This content runs deep - within the platforms themselves and the lasting impact it has on your child. Being exposed to self-harm trends, unrealistic body images, violent graphics, grooming, hate speeches - all while their young minds are developing. Children and adolescents are especially vulnerable. Exposure to violent images can disrupt normal psychological development and increase aggression. Exposure to sexual content can blur healthy boundaries and desensitize them to risky behaviours and increase the risk of problematic sexual behaviour. The social media ban is a vital step to shield young minds from content they are not able to process/escape.
The social media ban for under 16s isn't about controlling them - it is about protecting them. There are limits on when they can drive, drink and vote for a reason: they’re not ready yet. Social media platforms aren’t made for children - and their mental health and behaviour are already paying the price of being online. Now, the line is finally being drawn for the safety of Australian youth.
Ella Berry 12C
Humanities Captain