Online bobbing: Does a social media ban for under 16-year-olds make sense?

Online bobbing: Does a social media ban for under 16-year-olds make sense?

Brisbane, Australia-Kirra Pendergast speaks every year with thousands of young people in their function as a cyber security teacher. She understands what the online behavior of young people looks like-from text messages to bullying to sex management and threats. But she had prepared nothing for hostility she experienced in a class of 12- and 13-year-olds this month.

unfiltered reactions of the students

pender guest had been booked to give three lectures at a high school in Australia . However, just a few minutes after the first session began, a group of young, insulting statements, which are often used by misogynic online influencers. These comments referred to the women who were shown on Pennergast's presentation films.

emotional effects

Although teachers tried to silence the students, a girl in the front row made the last, insulting comment, the pender guest broke and led to the fact that the speaker left the room crying.

reflection according to the incident

"I can't believe that I have to cry here in the car and that it is recorded on video," said Pender guest in a self-portrait video, which she recorded shortly after the incident. "I believe that the behavior that I experienced today is completely shaped by the things you saw online," she added. "In fact, I know that it is so, and that has to change."