I just take it for granted now that when I buy anything online, I will miraculously have appear on my Facebook or Instagram feeds, numerous similar or like products.  How does my Social Media feed know what I buy?  We all just live with that ‘invasion of our space’ now and accept it.  I was pleased to see last week that Governments have announced that they will ban children under 16 years of age, getting on Social Media.  That is a good thing but like all things ‘banned’, it will be easier said than done.  We ban those under 18s on Licensed premises but that still seems to occur.  There are some profoundly damaging aspects of Social Media for young people.  We have all seen the carnage done by bullies online.

Banning children being on Social Media is a good thing but if those Social Media giants know when I’ve purchased a lawn hose online and then send me links to better ones or accessories, surely they can recognise much of the poor language and behaviour that occurs from one person to another on their platforms?  Why aren’t they being called to do more about that?  Surely it is just not good enough for them to hide behind ‘the right to free speech’ on this topic?  Some Social Media apps are just evil.  I would welcome anyone pointing out to me the positive purpose of Snapchat – which most Shalom students are on – where any content disappears after 60 seconds.  It is designed to be a forum for harmful commentary.  Shalom staff, along with staff from every school I know, spend an inordinate amount of time tracking down poor online behaviour.  The vast majority of this has occurred while a child is in the care of his or her parents.  I would strongly encourage every parent to take a much more active interest in their child’s online presence.  It is not an invasion of their privacy to take steps to protect your child from serious harm.  Rebecca Sparrow is an author, columnist and podcaster.  In a rage of frustration, she posted the following last week when news emerged of the death of a young girl in Brisbane after a bout of online bullying –

“I have no words.

I was not aware of Ella’s story nor her passing when I posted about ‘catfishing’ last night.

Let me say this.

This is NOT on schools.

It is on you and me.

It’s on PARENTS.

Handing over those (expletive) devices and social media and having no idea the harm our kids are causing others.

Stop telling me you trust your kids.

Stop telling me they can handle social media.

They CANNOT.

Stop telling me “I trust my child.  I don’t need their password to check what they’re doing online.  That would be an invasion of their privacy.

PLEASE.

Ella was just 12

TWELVE.

Our kids are harming each other.  They are wrecking havoc because they are kids with NO judgement and on understanding of consequences.  This is not on the kids – it’s on US, the adults in the room."

Remembrance Day – if you’ve driven through the north and west of France, it is impossible to miss the countless grave yards with row after row of white headstones for the young men who lost their lives in the ‘War to end all Wars’.  It is a stark reminder of the madness of war.  We remember them and the so many other innocent victims of war today.  As we do that, we’re conscious of the growing threats in our region and others of the conflicts raging now and the ones that are threatening to come.  If we want peace, let’s all work very hard for justice.

Parking & Pick Up – parents please remember that the only places you can collect your child in the afternoons is from the main carpark and the Eggmolesse Car park.  No student pick up from the Sports Centre carpark or the Tennis court car park or the edges of Br Hogan Drive.  I appreciate this means queuing to collect your child.  If you leave it 20 minutes, there is no queue. 

Mr Dan McMahon
Principal
mcmahond@shalomcollege.com