Social Media ~ what every parent needs to know ~ with cybersafety expert Brett Lee

Social media was sold as a groundbreaking way to stay connected but there’s growing concern globally about what impact it’s having on young people. Many health experts say social media is fuelling rising levels of anxiety, depression, self-harm, cyberbullying, sextortion cases and eating disorders. Parents are also worried, joining calls for the Federal Government to enforce a minimum age of 16 to join social media platforms. Cybersafety educator and former detective Brett Lee, founder of Internet Safe Education, has long called for the user age to be lifted. He says children and teens are being bombarded with content and some of it is leaving them in a vulnerable head space. Brett says in the same way that parents insist on their kids wearing a seatbelt in the real world, they need to empower themselves to tackle social media and the risks presented by the online world. Hear the latest on the social media debate and Brett's advice on the simple measures you can put in place right now to keep your kids safe from online harm, particularly when it comes to cyberbullying. [This disclaimer informs listeners and readers that the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this podcast belong solely to the interviewee, and not necessarily Life Education.]