05/11/2024
Tomorrow marks one year since we lost my nephew Logan. Just 20 years old. Gone. To su***de.
He would’ve turned 21 on October 1st—an age where he should’ve been stepping into life, not stepping out of it. Our family is still struggling with the pain of his absence, a pain that’s intensified by one brutal, undeniable truth: his death was completely avoidable.
When Logan died, I reached out to organizations like Gotcha4Life, R U OK?, and Top Blokes Foundation, and became an ambassador for each of them. My goal was simple: to do everything I could to fight the epidemic that is su***de. To stop others from going through this nightmare. To help change the course for young people who are struggling.
But here we are, still hearing about more young lives being lost—lives that should’ve had so much more time. Time to grow. Time to love. Time to be loved.
Take Ella Catley-Crawford. Just 12 years old. She died earlier this month after being targeted in a ruthless catfishing scheme on social media. That’s right, 12. She’s gone because of the online cruelty she faced. And tragically, Ella’s story isn’t unique.
Just in the past few months, Australia has lost more young people to su***de—su***des that are linked to online bullying:
12-year-old Charlotte O’Brien from Sydney
17-year-old Bailey Cooper from Perth
15-year-old Tilly Rosewarne from Bathurst
13-year-old Corrine Lee-Cheu from Far North QLD
12-year-old Ella Catley-Crawford from Brisbane
These are children. Children who were subjected to unimaginable pain—pain that led them to take their own lives. A pain that we, as a society, need to acknowledge. This is no longer just a tragic headline—it’s a crisis.
And the worst part? They could still be here. They should still be here. Were it not for the poison of social media—platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat—bullies behind screens who are allowed to torment them with impunity. These platforms were designed to keep kids hooked, at any cost. Even if that cost is a child’s life.
We’re told that social media is an inevitable part of kids’ lives now. It’s too hard for parents to regulate. But when we hear about children like Bailey, Charlotte, Corrine, and Ella—kids dying in part because of online bullying—shouldn’t we be asking: Why are we letting this happen?
The companies behind these platforms—Meta, Snapchat, and the rest—continue to profit from the very real pain they cause. They know exactly how addictive their platforms are. They know how easy it is for anonymous bullies to wreak havoc. But the rules are weak. And for too many families, it’s already too late.
Our children deserve better. They deserve to feel safe in their own skin, both online and offline.
So the question is: When will enough be enough?
Please, talk to your kids. Have these conversations. Don't let this be another issue we sweep under the rug.
Here are some things you can do:
* Monitor what they’re posting, who they’re posting it to, and how it’s being received.
* Talk consistently about respectful behavior, and about being an upstander, not a bystander.
* Ask questions: What are they seeing? How can they support friends who are struggling?
* Listen. Really listen.
* Make sure they know what’s acceptable online—and what’s not.
There are warning signs. And we need to recognize them:
> If their relationships are falling apart.
> If they feel incompetent, like they can’t get anything right.
> If they’re feeling totally out of control.
> If they’re talking about hurting themselves, or that they’re a burden to others, or that their life isn’t worth living—they need help. They need you.
And if your child is being bullied online? Be their advocate. Be their number one supporter. Demand change. Demand safety. Demand action.
If this has brought up anything for you, please don’t wait. Lifeline, Kids Helpline, Parentline, R U OK?, Beyond Blue—these resources are there for a reason. Talk to someone. And help your kids talk to someone too.
Let’s not lose another child to this.
