My Youth Advisory group, made up of year 11s from across Curtin, each presented a 90 second statement on an issue they cared about. The standard was high and the issues were varied, but the group selected this speech, from Anna Mackie of St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School, as the most compelling:

According to social media, I should obey men and I am the property of men.

Across Australia, social media algorithms are amplifying misogynistic content and directing it towards men and boys.

These online spaces foster sexist attitudes and ideas, ultimately normalising behaviour that can lead to gender-based violence.

In Australia, 1 in 4 women have experienced violence from an intimate partner since the age of 15.

Urgent reform is needed and we must utilise the power of education.

By incorporating targeted social media education into our curriculum, we can empower our young people to take control over their social media experience.

Australia needs to establish a framework to provide children with strategies for the identification and removal of harmful content from their feeds.

When our children are able to effectively navigate online spaces, we can turn passive content consumers into thoughtful users.

When we take these steps, we can begin to tackle the pervasive issue of misogyny and help prevent violence against women.

People across Australia are calling for change, and it's time for us to act.

I congratulate and thank Anna for her advocacy on this important topic.