The Albanese Government must intervene and shut down the circumvention of the new social-media ban designed to protect children by radical LGBTIQA+ lobby group Minus18.
“The whole point of the social-media minimum age law is to protect kids under 16 from unfiltered access to online platforms. It is deeply irresponsible that Minus18 is advertising a private ‘Discord server’ for youth aged 12 to 19 as a ‘safe space’ for LGBTQIA+ children,” Family First National Director Lyle Shelton said.
“Worse still, this is not merely a chat room, but a dedicated space where vulnerable children can be exposed to pressure and persuasion around gender identity — including encouragement to explore ideas like puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, or even surgery. These are interventions that can permanently sterilise, mutilate, and impair healthy brain and sexual development. That is far more harmful than simply banning a social media app.”
“If the Government is serious about protecting children, it should not tolerate organisations that effectively dodge the social media ban by migrating to unregulated forums. We call on Ministers and the eSafety Commissioner to intervene immediately, and shut down any ‘Discord’ or other online channels directed at under-16s by activist groups.
“Parents deserve the right to protect their children from coercive and ideological pressure masquerading as peer support. The Government should not allow this subversion of its online-safety laws to stand.”
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