Pollies plot social media’s sequel as world farewells Star Wars great

Which is the tougher gig these days? Being a kid growing up in this challenging world or being a parent bringing up a kid in this challenging world? Hmmm? Let’s call it a draw!

We live in a pretty good country – no, a brilliant country, in fact – and life here compared to other parts of the world is a joy. But that’s not to say that we can’t do things better, especially in helping our younger Australians.

That’s you.

One of the biggest revolutions* to hit this planet has been the internet and how it has changed how we live, communicate, disseminate* information and seek entertainment. It is the second Industrial Revolution*.

With the rise of the internet, we saw the arrival of social media: Facebook (Meta), Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, etc, which were new ways to connect and share our experiences. For you guys, born into the online world, it was as natural as the air we breathe. It is how you communicate with friends and with the world.

I have three kids, all in their 20s now, and I have seen the good aspects of connectivity for young people. But with all things, there is a downside and we are seeing its effects now. Online abuse and bullying, trolling*, the spreading of vile* and violent imagery, and now AI* creating deep fake images of people. Phew, what a list.

Parents try to police their children’s use of their phones and screen time, but these days we are all permanently attached to our devices, so it can be very hard at times to prevent harmful things getting through. Not to mention the time lost to “doom scrolling*”. So now governments are stepping up to try to help parents by restricting children below the age of 16 from having social media accounts.

How will they do this? Who knows? If you ask me, the chance of the Boomer generation* blocking social media use for kids raised on cyber technology is a snowflake’s chance in hell. You guys will outsmart adults every time.

The reality is, though, that some controls have to be imposed on this new technology, this new dimension (social media) which is affecting our lives. And to let children grow without their development being damaged by social media. So my contribution was to draw a cartoon on the challenges.

Where to start?

The image of a parent barging into their child’s bedroom and demanding they hand over the mobile phone is a modern day trope* and one we all know very well.

I thought of drawing Prime Minister Anthony Albanese walking into a surprised child’s bedroom and demanding the phone on behalf of the parent, but my idea quickly changed when I heard a news report. The voice of Darth Vader, the Sith Lord from Star Wars, actor James Earl Jones had died in the US.

We all know that Darth Vader became the most famous “father” in cinematic history when he said to Jedi good guy Luke Skywalker in that famous scene, “Luke, I am your father.”

I imagined Vader walking into his son’s bedroom, with his leather gloved hand reaching out to his son to hand over the mobile phone with all its harmful social media applications.

He may be Darth Vader, but he is still a concerned parent, protective of his child and at his wits’ end on how to limit exposure to harmful material.

May the Force be with him and with all parents battling this challenge.

And you will note, when Vader asks his son in this case to hand over his phone, the reply from a young Luke Skywalker is just like in the movie The Empire Strikes Back: “NOOOOOO!”

WHERE TO GET HELP
Please call triple-0 in an emergency.

There are a number of professional organisations who help kids and teenagers.

If you need someone to talk to, call or visit:

• Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800
• Beyond Blue counsellor on 1300 22 4636 (available 24/7) or chat to a counsellor online at https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support
• ReachOut at au.reachout.com
• Headspace at headspace.org.au

If you’re not physically safe, a responsible adult in your life can help you report the incident to police.

POLL

GLOSSARY

• revolutions: very big, sudden and sometimes complete changes
• disseminate: to spread or distribute something – particularly information – so it reaches a large number of people
• Industrial Revolution: the monumental mid-18th century change from people working the land and making goods by hand to industrial and machine-led manufacturing
• trolling: posting or commenting online to “bait” or upset people by deliberately provoking an argument or emotional response
• vile: offensive, unacceptable, repulsive, disgusting, base or evil
• AI: artificial intelligence, using computer systems to do tasks normally performed by people
• doom scrolling: spending a lot of time on your phone or computer reading and watching negative things
• Boomers: generation born between 1945-1965, so named because there was a big baby boom after World War II ended
• trope: an idea, phrase or image that is often used

EXTRA READING

Australia moves on social media

‘Social’ habits harming kids of Oz

Down the rabbit hole … to where?

QUICK QUIZ

1. Cartoonist Mark Knight said the internet is the second revolution of a particular type – what was the first?
2. What are the downsides to connectivity that Mark lists?
3. Who did Mark nearly include in the cartoon instead of Darth Vader?
4. What happened to change his mind?
5. What is the new age minimum for social media being discussed by state and federal governments?

LISTEN TO THIS STORY

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. What’s going on?
What’s going on in this Mark Knight cartoon? Outline the following:

Issue –

Why is it newsworthy?

What’s the humour?

Which side of the issue are they representing?

What do you see that makes you say that?

–

–

–

Time: allow 15 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

2. Extension
If you could turn this cartoon into a joke to tell a friend, how would you phrase it? Is it funny? Could they guess the answer?

Time: allow 10 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Personal and social, Critical and Creative Thinking

VCOP ACTIVITY
What happens next?
Imagine this story is part of an animated series made up of three cartoons. The three cartoons tell the complete story and this cartoon is only Part One. Think about what the rest of the story could be and draw the next two cartoons that tell the story.

Time: allow 30 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Visual Arts, Visual Communication Design, Critical and Creative Thinking