Hello everyone,

Last night, I took a bold step and directly confronted the Heads Up Alliance (HUA) on Instagram. I left a comment on one of their posts, voicing what so many of us are thinking but may not have had the courage to say out loud. I said, "Leave us teens alone, won't ya? If Aussie parents are ending the phone-based childhood, then the moon must be made of cheese. Also, we know you are funded by News Corp."

It seems my comment struck a nerve because they quickly responded with an indirect but unmistakable callout. They posted, "Social media is no place for kids, and we don't care about other parents' parenting choices. Much of the content on social media, in any other place, would be restricted to adults only. So why do we think it's okay to let 13-year-olds on there?"

How amusing that they believe they can dictate how parents should raise their children. It's even more laughable that they lump all teens together as if we don't have minds of our own. Newsflash, HUA: I'm 15, not some clueless kid you can dismiss with your scare tactics. Get it right out of the horse’s mouth—teens like me are more aware of the world than you give us credit for. We probably are more aware of the world then you are.

This interaction only reinforces what we've known all along: HUA, backed by News Corp, is on a mission to control how other people parent their kids. They claim they "don't care" about other parents' choices, yet they are the loudest voices in the room, demanding sweeping changes that would take away our right to access the internet and social media. They dress up their agenda in the guise of 'protecting children,' but it's clear they have no respect for our autonomy or the diverse ways in which families operate.

Let me be clear—teens deserve a voice in this conversation. We are the ones living in this digital age, and we are the ones who will be most affected by these draconian measures. By pushing this narrative that social media is some inherently evil force, HUA and News Corp are stripping us of our agency and ability to navigate the world around us. They’re out of touch with the reality that social media is a tool, and like any tool, it can be used for good or ill. It’s up to us, with guidance from responsible adults, to learn how to use it wisely—not to be cut off from it entirely.

So, I’m asking you all to keep spreading the word. Share this petition with your friends, family, and anyone who believes in the right of young people to have a say in their own lives. The more voices we have, the stronger our message will be: We won’t let HUA and News Corp dictate our future. We’re smarter, stronger, and more resilient than they think. Together, we can push back against this attempt to control how we grow up.

A little effort goes a long way. Keep promoting the petition—it’s amazing how much we can achieve when we stand together.

Thanks for your continued support!