Community encouraged to have their say ahead of Social Media Summit

The two-day summit, a joint initiative between the NSW Government and Government of South Australia, will take place in Sydney on October 10 and in Adelaide on October 11.

The "Have Your Say" survey invites all NSW residents to offer insights and feedback which will directly inform the discussions at the summit and help the government formulate practical solutions to address the issues posed by social media, particularly for young people.

By engaging with the community through this consultation, the NSW Government is committed to making informed decisions that reflect the needs and concerns of its citizens.

The Social Media Summit will bring together a diverse group of experts, policymakers, academics, young people, and the wider community to explore key areas including the impacts of social media on children, online safety, social media's role in disinformation and misinformation, addressing online hate and extremism, and how social media is changing the way government delivers services.

It comes in response to increasing concerns about the harmful effects of social media on young people, including exposure to inappropriate and illegal content, cyberbullying, and negative impacts on their mental health and development.

Day one of the summit in Sydney will explore key themes including:

• Formulating a public health response to social media harm minimisation
• Opportunities to address social media harms within educational settings
• Understanding the role of social media in identity, belonging and worldviews
• Unpacking links between extremism, misogyny and social media
• Reclaiming the digital town square - creating positive digital communities

Frances Haugen, prominent whistleblower and advocate for transparency in social media, will be a keynote speaker on day one.

Ms Haugen is internationally recognised for her courageous efforts to expose the inner workings of social media companies and her advocacy for accountability and ethical practices by the digital giants.

Further information about additional speakers, panellists and detailed event schedules will be made available later in the year.

The "Have Your Say" online consultation survey is now live and accessible at https://www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/social-media-usage-and-impacts

For more information about the Social Media Summit, please visit www.nsw.gov.au/socialmediasummit

NSW Premier Chris Minns said:

"Social media presents serious risks. We need to ensure that our policies keep pace with the rapid changes in technology.

"We are committed to listening to particularly young people about their experiences online and creating a safer and more positive online environment for everyone.

"The insights gathered from the 'Have Your Say' survey will help us shape effective policies and programs to support the community.

"I'm pleased that Frances Haugen has accepted our invitation to deliver an address at the summit.

"I enjoyed meeting with her recently to discuss the critical issues surrounding social media's impact on our society. Her insights and expertise will be invaluable at the summit."

Frances Haugen said:

"We have stood by, for more than a decade, as unaccountable American social media companies have experimented on Australian children. The time has come for us to demand more from our online public squares for children and ourselves.

"We can have social media that brings out the best in us - but only if we fight for it."