Emma Mason, a Bathurst, NSW, mother of seven and grandmother of five, won over the audience with her deeply personal tale at the UN General Assembly side event. She underscored the real and urgent threats of social media, calling for a united front to address these issues. Her advocacy comes from the tragic loss of her 15-year-old daughter Tilly. Tilly ended her life after experiencing terrifying and abusive cyberbullying on social media platforms. Mason described her daughter’s suicide as “death by bullying enabled by social media,” highlighting the urgent need for reform in how these platforms operate.
In her emotional testimonial, Mason described the bullying and harassment that Tilly endured in the months before her tragic death. She remembered that on the day Tilly passed, the teen sounded just like a person who was engulfed in hopelessness and loneliness. The online harassment she had experienced had really worn down on her. During the event, a heartwarming photo of Tilly went viral, as many fans began calling her Matilda Rosewarne. This very powerful visual served as a poignant backdrop, reminding all of the human impact everyday behind these statistics.
A Call for Action
Mason’s speech struck a chord, and by the time she had concluded, she was receiving a standing ovation from conference-goers. In testimony, she told her family’s tragic story. Passionately, she implored legislators and tech companies to do a better job protecting young users on social media platforms. The Australian government appears set to make a major shift. Beginning December 10, they will prevent kids under age 16 from using social media. This new law shifts the onus to tech companies to implement age restrictions and verify that kids are kept away from harmful material.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised Mason’s courage and advocacy efforts, stating, “The truth is that our legislation is where the world is going.” His support is a key, and we are now working to make children’s online safety discussion vibrant and robust.
Global Support for Reform
Despite largely starting in Australia, the movement for social media reform is resonating across the world. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed her support for the new age limit, stating, “It is obvious this is plain common sense.” She loved hearing Mason’s earnest declaration of love. She emphasized that she is not the only one raising alarm about social media’s effects on kids.
As the mother of seven and grandmother of five, I cherished my role in shaping their lives. I firmly fully endorse the urgent call to protect children from this harmful online bullying and harassment.
The Future of Social Media Regulation
As Australia gears up to implement this historic legislation, it lays the groundwork for what might drive similar efforts at home and abroad. Putting children’s safety at the forefront and tech companies on notice is an important move in the right direction to finally making the online world a safer place. Emma Mason’s advocacy is a powerful testament to the very real human costs of failure to act.
