Parents and experts across Australia are raising concerns about the role of social media algorithms in exposing adolescents to violent extremism and harmful content, a trend that has alarmed security agencies and prompted calls for greater vigilance. Over the past year, more than a dozen teenage boys have been charged with terrorism-related offences, highlighting the challenge of shielding vulnerable youth in an increasingly digital world.

Seventeen-year-old Larz Kaluri, a Year 12 student from Essendon, described encountering disturbing content on his social media feeds, including videos of young people wielding weapons and messaging that promotes violence and misogyny. Kaluri noted the algorithms often funnel young users toward such content without their awareness. “It’s a shock to me to know that boys around my age are being influenced to commit violence,” he said. Kaluri suggested that the emotional volatility characteristic of adolescence makes teenagers susceptible to these online influences.

Larz’s mother, Sacha Kaluri, a motivational speaker and author with extensive experience working with teenagers, echoed the challenges parents face in understanding the rapidly evolving digital landscape. Despite staying informed about current social media trends, she found it difficult to grasp the language and references her children and their peers use. “It’s like they were speaking another language,” she recalled from a recent family discussion involving boys aged 12 to 22. Sacha Kaluri has observed her youngest son repeating troubling content linked to controversial influencers like Andrew Tate, who has been charged with serious criminal offences.

Professional perspectives underscore the complexity of the issue. Kostas Constantino, a counsellor and father of two adolescent boys, highlighted how social, religious, and cultural factors interplay with online exposure to shape youths’ beliefs and behaviors. Referring to conversations with students from various Melbourne communities, Constantino observed that some youths express ideologies that seem to conflict with Australian laws, influenced by religious teachings and peer groups. He pointed to a rise in discriminatory attitudes, including antisemitism, illustrating broader societal challenges.

Chanel Dunn, a pediatric occupational therapist and mother, emphasized the pervasive risk of inappropriate or violent content infiltrating children’s digital experiences. She criticized technology companies for insufficient safeguards and advocated for default parental controls that prioritize child safety. Rather than enforcing outright bans on devices, Dunn employs close supervision, limiting her son’s interactions on platforms like Roblox and co-viewing YouTube content to manage exposure to harmful material. Despite these measures, she acknowledged it is difficult to completely prevent children from encountering troubling online influences.

As Australia navigates these digital risks, the government’s social media ban introduced earlier this year reflects a growing recognition of the dangers. Yet parents and experts agree that open communication, awareness of online trends, and vigilant monitoring remain essential tools in combating the insidious reach of extremist and harmful content targeting the nation’s youth.