Momentum is growing for legislators to introduce measures that restrict children's use of smartphones in schools and their access to social media platforms in an effort to reduce their exposure to harmful content and improve mental wellbeing.
A private member's bill introduced at the start of the year by Labour MP for Whitehaven and Workington, Josh MacAlister, sparked a nationwide debate and calls for action from child welfare advocates. This intensified following the Netflix drama Adolescence about the impact of online toxic masculinity on boys and young men.
Although MacAlister's bill was adjourned during its second reading in March and will not proceed in its current form, it has brought the issue into the spotlight and seen schools develop their own initiatives to tackle the problem.
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