A year ago, I wrote an article for City AM, raising alarm bells about how children would be used to justify increasing online control under the pretence of protection. I warned that while laws like the Online Safety Bill may seem noble, they pave the way for overreach and the erosion of our freedoms. Now, with the Australian PM stepping in on similar issues, it’s clear the trend is accelerating. The more we surrender control, under the pretence of convenience or safety, the more we lose—and it's not just affecting us, it's shaping the world our kids are growing up in. As a parent, I’m struggling with the reality that I’ve handed my kids a dangerous device—a smartphone—one that society has normalised. It weighs heavily on me. The world is so focused on COVID, yet seems blind to the real epidemic: the pervasive influence of smartphones on all aspects of our lives. I fully appreciate the need for decentralised social media. In fact, when I shared my thoughts on the harms of social media on X, the post appeared to be shadow-banned. I know Nostr plays a key role in the fight against censorship, but how do we protect children from the darker sides of social media on platforms like Nostr? If it’s solely the responsibility of parents, the next generation of children could be at serious risk. I’m reminded of how our freedoms are being eroded when I’m forced to use a cash till at the supermarket, realising how we trade away freedom for convenience in every corner of life. We’re slowly surrendering control, and it’s no different with our kids. We say it’s for protecting children, but our children are far from safe. The dangers are real, and we turn a blind eye. If we stop them from participating in what’s “normal,” they face social isolation. Yes, parents should take responsibility. But let’s be honest: it’s not happening. So, now what? Governments claim they’re stepping in to stop misinformation, but we all know who the biggest culprits are—the ones with power. From the moment my kids were born, my instinct has been to protect them. But how can we say no when homework is assigned through apps and phones becomes essential? It’s a trap. I left my old career because I couldn’t turn a blind eye to what I saw happening, and now I find myself reluctantly accepting the evil of this tech-dominated world. Even adults struggle to regulate themselves with this tech. How can we expect kids to manage? Parents don’t seem to grasp the magnitude of what’s happening. We’ve normalised a tech designed to be addictive, bombarding our kids with violence, porn, and unrealistic expectations. Billionaires who design these tools keep their kids away from them—what does that tell us? This generation is drowning—sad, depressed, and lost. What are we going to do about it? Parents need to step up. We’re the adults here. The government can’t fix this for us, and expecting them to will only strip away more of our freedoms. I’m genuinely terrified for our kids, and it feels like no one else sees what’s really happening. From food to information, our entire world is poisoned. Bitcoin might be part of the solution, but that’s a conversation for another day. How do we protect our children without sacrificing our freedoms? The current system isn’t working—parents are overwhelmed, governments are overreaching, and tech giants are exploiting the very tools that shape our kids' lives. We need to find a solution, we’re leaving the next generation to navigate a dangerous and addictive digital world alone. The question I’m asking myself is: ‘How do we ensure our kids grow up safe, informed, and free?’

City AM

I see the Online Safety Bill as a digital double-edged sword

Susie Violet Ward asks if the Online Safety Bill is nudging us closer to a digital dystopia like Orwell