Indigenous leaders call social media racism a public-health crisis at federal inquiry

Indigenous advocates appeared before the Joint Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs in Cairns, describing online racism as a public-health emergency that threatens the mental health of First Nations people. Merissa Nona of Deadly Inspiring Youth Doing Good said hateful posts have driven community members to suicide, while Stacee Kethcell highlighted how fear of racist backlash limits the sharing of culture during events such as NAIDOC Week.

Elder Nicole Huxley recounted a recent video of children dancing that attracted vitriolic comments, illustrating the broader impact on young people’s self-esteem. The speakers criticised Meta’s claim of no Indigenous moderators and demanded that anti-racist measures be informed by those with lived experience. They called on social-media users, publishers and government agencies to take responsibility for harmful content. The inquiry will travel to the Torres Strait before holding further sessions in Hobart and Melbourne.