The Heads Up Alliance

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The Heads Up Alliance

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A growing community of Australian families delaying social media and smartphones for their children

31/10/2026

This week, the High Court will hear a challenge to the social media minimum age law, brought by Reddit and the Libertarian Party. The Free Speech Union is also involved as amicus curiae (a friend of the Court).

Heads Up Alliance founder Dany Elachi debated Dr Reuben Kirkham of the Free Speech Union on similar issues earlier in the year.

You can catch the full debate on the Heads Up Alliance YouTube page.

29/10/2026

No one cuts through the noise quite like neuroscientist Dr Mark Williams.

26/10/2026

“Dear ChatGPT, I think it’s time I set myself free"

- Blake McKenzie, 12 years
Winner of this year’s youth prize at the 2026 Australian Poetry Slam

25/10/2026

Under the tireless stewardship of Dr Danielle Einstein, the 4th Annual AGASA Symposium is shaping up to be the best yet - bringing together some of Australia's leading experts on children, screens, gaming and education!

Essential viewing for health professionals and educators, and invaluable for parents navigating the digital world with their children.

The outstanding lineup includes 2026 Western Australian of the Year Dr Daniela Vecchio, internationally renowned paediatrician Professor Frank Oberklaid AM, internationally award-winning media psychologist Professor Wayne Warburton, and Dr Mary Brushe, whose groundbreaking research into screen use and early language development has attracted international attention.

They'll be joined by Dr Philip Tam, Associate Professor David Dossetor AO, Dr Mark Williams OAM, Angela Falkenberg (President of the Australian Primary Principals Association), Associate Professor Michael Nagel, and many more.

In Session Four, Heads Up Alliance founder Dany Elachi will help advance the long-overdue conversation about one of the biggest questions facing Australian schools: How much technology belongs in the classroom, and when does it do more harm than good?

For the first time, the symposium will be held entirely online, across two extended lunchtime sessions on 26 and 27 November. No travel required, and recordings will be available to registered attendees.

🎟️ Early Bird tickets: $105 - offer ends 31 October. Register now!

Link in comments and bio.

23/10/2026

Judges in the state of New Mexico must be built different.

It seems they've taken it upon themselves to bankrupt Meta on behalf of the world.

It all started in March, when Meta was penalised over $500 million for misleading consumers about child safety.

Then in August, New Mexico hit Meta with another $808 million fine.

Later that month, dozens of other US states signed on to a record (well, we thought it was) $24 BILLION settlement. New Mexico sat it out.

On Wednesday, we learnt that was just the entree. Meta has now been hit by New Mexico with a new, whopping $36 BILLION judgement for misleading consumers about data privacy and content moderation.

The world thanks you, judges of New Mexico.

And may you long continue on this path.

22/10/2026

The Digital Duty of Care law was supposed to be about protecting children but we are concerned it has lost its way. To the extent that it seeks to improve the online world for adults, it should do so by making fully transparent the algorithm that we all suspect rewards outrage and extreme viewpoints - not by limiting the subjects that grown adults are free to express online. In fact, we asked for this algorithmic transparency at the senate committee hearing on 14 August. It remains a mystery as to why the government refuses to legislate full algorithmic transparency, preferring instead to make the algorithm available only to a small group of “approved experts”. Our demand is heightened after the horrific attack against Helen Haines: algorithmic choice and algorithmic transparency (and for our under 18's, a feed that is only made up of friends and pages they have specifically chosen to follow).

21/10/2026

"Get 'em writing in schools".

Yes!

We've been hitting the streets - and over 30,000 everyday Aussie parents and teachers have now signed our Fewer Screens, More Learning petition.

Have you?

Petition link in bio and comments.

19/10/2026

As we have in previous years, we will again be participating in Smacktalk's Unplug 24 this Saturday.

That's 24 hours without social media to reconnect with a loved one, a hobby - or even yourself - instead.

Register using the link in comments below.

18/10/2026

WA is aiming to get K-2 back to pen and paper, and only using screens when there is a clear reason to do so. Neuroscientist Dr Mark Williams questions why we don’t do this right up to Year 12. We agree!

Our Fewer Screens, More Learning petition closes soon - please sign it if you agree with Dr Mark!

17/10/2026

Petition link in bio and comments.

Address

Canberra, ACT

Website

http://www.change.org/FewerScreensMoreLearning, https://linktr.ee/TheHeadsUpAlliance, https://www.agasa.org.au/news-even

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