Cabinet members met youth advocates, school counsellors, mental health professionals and experts in digital safety and technology to discuss the impact of social media on children.

David Burt hosted a “Chat and Chew” session, intended to help inform the direction of policy, to focus on youth mental health in the digital age.

The Premier was joined at the event by Kim Wilson, the Minister of Health, Crystal Caesar, the Minister of Education, and Diallo Rabain, the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Digital Innovation, along with experts and stakeholders.

Mr Burt acknowledged growing concerns about exposure to inappropriate and violent content online, the pressure for social validation and the impact that these have on the mental health of young people.

“This conversation is also part of our wider commitment to youth mental health,” he said.

“The youth mental health initiative, introduced as part of the $25 million midyear review last year, encompassed multiple ministries and provided investments in mental health.

“As a parent, I think about the world my children are growing up in.

“I am extremely concerned about the inappropriate and often violent content in online spaces, the constant need for approval that social media breeds and the impact that this can have on a young person’s mental health.”

Ms Wilson said that there was a need for continued investment in mental health services and emphasised the need for cross-sector collaboration.

“Our children are facing unprecedented challenges in the digital age,” she said.

“The pressures of social media, ranging from cyberbullying to the quest for validation, are impacting their mental health, reducing real-world interactions and fuelling negative feelings through unrealistic comparisons and stressful online dynamics.

“This isolation can worsen anxiety, depression and overall mental health.

“As a government, we are committed to providing the necessary support and resources to help our youth navigate these challenges.”