Safe on Social

On February 19, 2026, Roblox announced its inaugural Global Parent Council. Eighty parents from thirty-two countries, hand-selected, meeting quarterly to "share insights and perspectives" and "advise on products, policies, and partnerships." There is a Head of Parental Advocacy with a doctorate. There is a companion programme called Parent Champions. The press release uses words like committed, empowered, co-creating, safe. If you are a parent who has been worried about Roblo

Confusion has a way of spreading faster than truth, and right now, confusion is spreading through our school communities about Australia’s "ban" on social media for children under 16 years. I can hear it in the voices of parents who are worried their child has done something illegal. I can see it in students who believe they are one login away from punishment. I can feel it among staff who are unsure where their legal responsibilities begin and end. Australia did not ban chi

If you work in a school as a principal, in advancement or marketing, board member, wellbeing lead, ICT manager or educator, you may already know this feeling. That quiet pause before approving a photo for social media and the moment of unease that didn’t exist five years ago. The sense that something has shifted, even if the policies haven’t yet caught up. You’re not imagining it. The risk environment has changed, and with the amount of coverage now appearing across Australia

For the past two days, I began each student's talk with these questions: “Who here is still able to access all the apps?” And for the older students: “Who has a younger sibling still with access?” In the first session, Yrs 9/10, there was hesitation. A few brave hands. I could feel the uncertainty in the room, maybe even shame or fear from those still under 16 years that they might get in trouble. I broke it open and spoke as I have become known for on LinkedIn and in inte

If you’ve ever posted a photo of your child with a smiley face or heart emoji over their face, you’re not alone. It’s become a kind of digital parenting ritual. A signal that says, I love them, but I’m protecting them too. That instinct, to protect while still sharing, is deeply human. But here’s what most of us haven’t been told: the tools we’ve been using to protect our kids online haven’t kept up with the technology, which is now learning from them. It’s time to gently, b