‘Out of control’: 60% of Australian parents and carers surveyed say social media is their biggest concern for kids

Almost 60% of Australian parents and carers are worried about the effect of social media on young people’s mental health and wellbeing, compared with 34% of young people, according to the mental health group ReachOut. Photograph: Maskot/Getty Images

Jane’s* 14-year-old daughter, Grace*, used to be able to sit through a movie with her but her addiction to social media and online games has meant her daughter no longer has the focus.

“We were watching Romeo and Juliet, the Baz Lurhmann one, and she really wanted to sit and watch that with me but she couldn’t watch it to the end,” Jane said.