Australian mother Emma Mason brought world leaders to their feet at the United Nations, urging countries to follow Australia’s lead in banning social media for children under 16.
Mason, who spearheads News Corp Australia’s Let Them Be Kids campaign, shared the devastating story of her 15-year-old daughter, Matilda “Tilly” Rosewarne, who died after relentless online bullying. “Social media played a direct role in her death – Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, they all had their dirty part,” Mason told a hushed audience.
Her address was met with tears and applause. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hailed Australia’s approach as “bold and necessary,” while Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis embraced Mason after his speech, saying Greece must consider similar restrictions.
From December 10, Australia will lift the social media age threshold from 13 to 16. Mason called the reform a “lifesaving step,” warning that unless tech companies face tougher rules, “children’s lives will remain at risk.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese praised Mason and other parents for turning grief into advocacy. “We want children to have a childhood,” he said. “To live lives lit up not by the glow of a screen but by sport, music, and friendships.”
Mitsotakis went further, warning the world was conducting “the biggest uncontrolled experiment with our children’s brains.” He also flagged concerns about AI chatbots, asking: “Do we really want our kids to have digital friends that may lead them toward unacceptable or even catastrophic behaviours?”
What began as a mother’s personal tragedy is now echoing across the globe, as Emma Mason’s call resonates: protect children before social media harms claim more young lives.
