Centre for Digital Wellbeing welcomes social media inquiry

Australian policy research centre the Centre for Digital Wellbeing has welcomed the federal government’s decision to launch a parliamentary inquiry into social media and online safety.

Carla Wilshire OAM from the Centre argued that the inquiry is necessary to better understand the influence and impact of social media on people’s lives and Australian society.

“We believe this inquiry is an essential step in protecting people’s wellbeing and safety and enhancing social cohesion,” she said.

Wilshire said there is growing evidence to suggest that social media can have a detrimental impact on mental health and wellbeing. Research has in particular identified a strong correlation between extensive, habitual use of social media and increased anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation, she said.

According to the Centre, these findings are particularly disturbing considering the dramatic increase in social media use among young Australians.

The Centre also urged the committee to evaluate the role of social media platforms in facilitating online abuse and harassment, particularly in the context of gender-based violence.

The focus must be on the ways social media may be contributing to the spread of misinformation and disinformation online, and the impact this is having on trust in government as well as institutions including the media, Wilshire added.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/ultramansk