Northern suburbs kids have some advice for the government

Is there a better alternative to a social media ban? Should period products be free? Is the government letting AI and data centres spin out of control?

These are questions occupying the minds of some young locals, who last week gathered for a “Youth Voices” event at Mosman High School, discussing their views on national issues with the local Federal MP Zali Steggall. 

Instead of knocking all kids under 16 off social media, one student argued, the government should be working to improve the standards of social media and the internet as a whole: “We implore the government to … enforce higher standards of moral principles, transparency and verified information to create a safer environment online.”

The event brought together around 60 year 11 and 12 students from North Shore and Northern Beaches schools. Local environmental issues were also among topics discussed, including recent figures on microplastic pollution in Dee Why Lagoon and Middle Harbour.

“If we continue to let this pollution into our waterways and into our community, we are risking the Australian national identity by risking our wildlife and our natural wonders,” a student said.

These students are growing up in a world of ChatGPT and other LLMs, and the impact of artificial intelligence was a key topic. Students raised concerns about the immense water and energy usage of data centres, whether AI could “unintentionally reinforce patterns of discrimination”, and where unregulated AI use could lead society. 

“The government needs to reclaim the power to AI,” said one student. “Because if multiple companies control it, then who knows what information will become.”