Barefoot investor Scott Pape has encouraged a worried mother to disconnect from social media as an example to her teenage son who was struggling with his mental health.
Pape received a letter last week from Leonie, who “lives in constant fear” that her 13-year-old son is being exposed to bad things on social media.
The mother wrote that her son has been having “serious mental health issues” after being exposed to “bad things” on his phone after his friend was pranked.
“Last semester, one of his friends was at school and someone took a photo and it made its way all over the school,” Leonie wrote.
“As a result, he has serious mental health problems and the police have been contacted because the photograph could end up in the wrong hands.”
Leonie explained that she wants to teach her son the dangers of social media, but feels that he is not setting a good example with his phone use.
“I’m trying to teach him the dangers of social media,” Leonie wrote.
“But I feel like a hypocrite because I am constantly glued to my mobile phone, setting a very bad example.” I really hate myself.’
The Barefoot Investor’s Scott Pape advised a mother to “disconnect” from social media after she shared concerns that her teenage son was being exposed to harmful content online.
Pape referenced a column he wrote earlier this year about Wayne Holdsworth (right), whose teenage son Mackenzie (left) took his own life after being the target of a cruel sextortion scam.
In his response to the mother, Pape referred to “the saddest column” he has ever written, published earlier this year, about 16-year-old Mackenzie ‘Mac’ Holdsworth.
Mac took his own life on October 24 last year after he was tricked into sending an intimate photo to a person he thought was a teenage girl on Instagram.
Instead, she gave it to a 45-year-old pervert from New South Wales, who used it as part of a cruel sextortion scam, threatening to send the photo to her friends and family if she didn’t transfer a total of $1,000. .
Pape assured the worried mother that she was not alone and that parents around the world were dealing with the same problems.
He also added that Mackenzie’s father Wayne created a grassroots campaign called ‘Unplug24’, which encouraged Australians to disconnect from social media for 24 hours.
The campaign, which marked the first anniversary of the teenager’s death, aimed to raise awareness about the harm that social media can cause.
Pape stated that it was up to the mother to make a difference, explaining that she had “unplugged” from social media a few years ago and was better for it.
“Personally, I disconnected from social media a few years ago, with the intention of returning to it (after all, I was told that to be successful I needed to post multiple times a day),” Pape wrote.
‘However, I forgot to log back in: I liked the freedom so much that I never turned back.
‘And you know what? I can tell you that I am actually happier for it… and so are my children.”
It comes as the parents of a 12-year-old girl who took her own life after two years of relentless bullying are pushing for reform of anti-bullying policies in schools and campaigning to raise the legal age for entry to schools. social networks.
Charlotte O’Brien, a year 7 student at Santa Sabina College in Strathfield, in Sydney’s inner west, took her own life on September 9.
In the weeks after her death, Charlotte’s parents, Matthew and Kelly, met with the NSW government’s top political advisers, Premier Chris Minns and his office, and also held a conversation with the premier. Anthony Albanese on anti-bullying reforms.
Pape said he and his children have been happier since he disconnected from social media a few years ago.
It comes after the parents of 12-year-old Charlotte O’Brien (pictured) pushed to reform anti-bullying policies and change the age at which children can access social media after their daughter took his life after two years of relentless harassment.
The couple have also backed the 36 Months campaign, which aims to change legislation to delay social media for teenagers until they are 16.
“Overuse of social media is rewiring young brains within a critical window of psychological development, causing an epidemic of mental illness,” the petition reads.
‘It has been linked to mental health problems, cyberbullying, anxiety, depression, self-harm and even suicide in Australian teenagers.
‘At 13 years old, children are not yet ready to safely navigate online social networks. These years are crucial for them to develop a sense of self-assurance along with social confidence.
“36 Months aims to create a support platform for teens to cultivate a confident identity and navigate the digital landscape with resilience and mindfulness.”
Help is available at LIFELINE AUSTRALIA 13 11 14 BEYOND BLUE 1300 22 46 36