1
00:00:03,440 --> 00:00:07,000
Speaker 1: It's the Happy Families Podcast. It's the podcast for.

2
00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:11,000
Speaker 2: The time poor parent who just wants answers Now. Hello,

3
00:00:11,039 --> 00:00:12,799
Speaker 2: this is doctor Justin coll Something, the found of Happy

4
00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:15,760
Speaker 2: Families dot com dot a u and the parenting expert

5
00:00:15,800 --> 00:00:18,560
Speaker 2: and co host on Channel linees hit TV show Parental Guidance.

6
00:00:18,920 --> 00:00:21,520
Speaker 2: This is the Happy Families podcast where we talk about

7
00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:23,919
Speaker 2: how we can make your family happier. Podcast for the

8
00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:28,080
Speaker 2: time poor parent who just wants answers Now. There's an

9
00:00:28,240 --> 00:00:30,639
Speaker 2: endearing term that I use every now and again. It's

10
00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:33,440
Speaker 2: the car park mafia. I'm talking about you know, those

11
00:00:33,479 --> 00:00:36,040
Speaker 2: parents at the school. Maybe you are one. I'm saying

12
00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:37,720
Speaker 2: it with fun, I promise there's a big smile on

13
00:00:37,760 --> 00:00:39,720
Speaker 2: my face. But the car park mafia are those parents

14
00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:42,040
Speaker 2: that hang out in the car park after school or

15
00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:44,680
Speaker 2: before school or before the kids get picked up, and

16
00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:47,120
Speaker 2: they talk about all of the all the things that

17
00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:48,920
Speaker 2: are going wrong, who they'd like to execute, who's going

18
00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:51,240
Speaker 2: to get buried in cement from now. I'm just kidding.

19
00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:54,040
Speaker 2: It's not like that, but certainly there's a group of

20
00:00:54,080 --> 00:00:56,160
Speaker 2: parents at every school who are very invested in what's

21
00:00:56,160 --> 00:00:59,560
Speaker 2: happening in the school, and typically that car park mafia

22
00:01:00,040 --> 00:01:04,120
Speaker 2: as hung out in the car park and had these conversations. Well,

23
00:01:04,160 --> 00:01:07,040
Speaker 2: it seems that the car park Mafia has moved online

24
00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:10,560
Speaker 2: to WhatsApp. Now, I'm sure Shonah Henley may not agree

25
00:01:10,600 --> 00:01:12,640
Speaker 2: with my term car park mafia, and I am saying

26
00:01:12,680 --> 00:01:15,440
Speaker 2: it in jest. But Shona Henley is a freelance journal

27
00:01:15,480 --> 00:01:18,640
Speaker 2: She's a contributor to the ABC, This Cinemony, Herald, the Age,

28
00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:22,080
Speaker 2: Harp is Bizarre, the Herald son pretty much everywhere, and

29
00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:25,480
Speaker 2: she writes about a whole lot of things. You write about, education,

30
00:01:25,600 --> 00:01:28,480
Speaker 2: mental health, well being, anything you just like sharing opinions

31
00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:30,880
Speaker 2: and ideas and doing some research on it. Is that correct?

32
00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:33,240
Speaker 1: Yeah? I think just anything that you know people can

33
00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:36,120
Speaker 1: relate to and you know they can think about or

34
00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:39,960
Speaker 1: contribute to, even in you know, like nodding along or

35
00:01:39,959 --> 00:01:42,520
Speaker 1: the other way, like disagreeing.

36
00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:43,640
Speaker 2: Like the car park mafia.

37
00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:44,960
Speaker 1: Yes, like that one. Yeah.

38
00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:46,560
Speaker 2: So I want to get to your article in a second,

39
00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:47,000
Speaker 2: just quickly.

40
00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:47,160
Speaker 1: Though.

41
00:01:47,160 --> 00:01:50,160
Speaker 2: You're a mom of two kids, three goats. Hopefully you're

42
00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:53,200
Speaker 2: not getting them confused, the kids and the goat. Sometimes

43
00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:57,400
Speaker 2: kids goats. I say I was playing with anyway, terrible planwards,

44
00:01:57,600 --> 00:01:59,520
Speaker 2: A couple of cats, but you've written this article that

45
00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:03,200
Speaker 2: appeared in the The Agent Sitting morn In Herald just recently,

46
00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:08,600
Speaker 2: and it caught my attention because you've essentially said WhatsApp

47
00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:13,000
Speaker 2: groups when it comes to parents at the school as

48
00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:16,800
Speaker 2: starting to become a little bit, I don't know, toxic

49
00:02:16,880 --> 00:02:18,840
Speaker 2: perhaps Now. I speak at a lot of schools and

50
00:02:18,919 --> 00:02:22,800
Speaker 2: unfortunately I hear some school leaders bemoaning the parent WhatsApp group.

51
00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:25,960
Speaker 2: The car park mafia has moved online. What did you

52
00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:29,160
Speaker 2: discover as you wrote this article and investigated school parent

53
00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:30,160
Speaker 2: WhatsApp groups.

54
00:02:30,760 --> 00:02:36,120
Speaker 1: Well, they're definitely rampant there like everywhere. So yeah, I

55
00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:39,280
Speaker 1: that might go along with your mafia word, but I

56
00:02:39,320 --> 00:02:42,920
Speaker 1: think they're used a lot, so you know, whether good

57
00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:47,200
Speaker 1: or bad. Most people that I spoke with, so friends, family,

58
00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:52,400
Speaker 1: random strangers, anyone that had thoughts on it had either

59
00:02:52,680 --> 00:02:55,560
Speaker 1: belonged to a WhatsApp group at some point. Do you

60
00:02:55,639 --> 00:02:59,240
Speaker 1: currently or an equivalent sort of group chat related to

61
00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:00,440
Speaker 1: their children school?

62
00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:03,200
Speaker 2: That's so interesting because like Kylie and I are not

63
00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:05,080
Speaker 2: involved in any WhatsApp groups. I don't even know if

64
00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:07,200
Speaker 2: there is one. I've stayed away from it.

65
00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:11,800
Speaker 1: Right, Yeah, that's probably a good idea. That's my general attitude.

66
00:03:12,200 --> 00:03:14,680
Speaker 2: So what are the pros and cons to the parent

67
00:03:14,720 --> 00:03:15,440
Speaker 2: WhatsApp group.

68
00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:19,520
Speaker 1: So they definitely are pro, so my article focused a

69
00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:21,640
Speaker 1: lot on the cons. But you know, I think if

70
00:03:21,639 --> 00:03:24,839
Speaker 1: they use well, like they have a good moderator, which

71
00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:27,680
Speaker 1: I think is really essential, and they've got really good

72
00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:32,320
Speaker 1: terms and guidelines that people are following, they can be

73
00:03:32,360 --> 00:03:35,280
Speaker 1: a really great way for parents to communicate about school

74
00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:39,200
Speaker 1: admin type of things, so you know, car pooling, pick

75
00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:44,000
Speaker 1: up strop offs, school uniform sales. And another thing that

76
00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:46,400
Speaker 1: I thought was really positive, which I hadn't really thought of,

77
00:03:46,600 --> 00:03:49,040
Speaker 1: was that some parents find it a great way to

78
00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:52,160
Speaker 1: sort of connect with other parents and be involved in

79
00:03:52,320 --> 00:03:54,640
Speaker 1: the school life a bit, so you know, like they

80
00:03:54,680 --> 00:03:57,880
Speaker 1: are members of the school as well community, and I

81
00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:00,640
Speaker 1: think sometimes they might get a bit neglected in that front.

82
00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:04,080
Speaker 1: So people that find it positive and find it a

83
00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:07,560
Speaker 1: good thing, find that they can establish sort of a

84
00:04:07,560 --> 00:04:10,440
Speaker 1: good rapport and almost like a school spirit, you know,

85
00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:12,480
Speaker 1: And I think that's like, that's a really good thing.

86
00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:14,320
Speaker 2: So when I hear you say that, I think about

87
00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:18,479
Speaker 2: a whole lot of research that very sophisticated scholars have

88
00:04:18,520 --> 00:04:21,239
Speaker 2: done over the last few years looking at social media generally,

89
00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:23,760
Speaker 2: and there are a lot of negatives to social media,

90
00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:26,400
Speaker 2: but the overwhelming positive is that when it is used

91
00:04:26,440 --> 00:04:29,440
Speaker 2: pro socially, it promotes a sense of community, a sense

92
00:04:29,440 --> 00:04:31,320
Speaker 2: of belonging, a sense of connection, all the things that

93
00:04:31,360 --> 00:04:36,040
Speaker 2: you've just outlined. It's a really, really big plus. Yes. Unfortunately,

94
00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:38,520
Speaker 2: social media comes with a whole lot of negatives, and

95
00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:41,040
Speaker 2: your article focused on several of those negatives. So we've

96
00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:44,800
Speaker 2: talked pros what are the cons? What did you discover

97
00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:46,640
Speaker 2: as you ask these questions? And I'm going to guess

98
00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:49,360
Speaker 2: most of this comes from a lack of effective moderation

99
00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:50,760
Speaker 2: and guidelines around the group.

100
00:04:51,120 --> 00:04:55,640
Speaker 1: Yeah, I think it does, and maybe having an understanding

101
00:04:55,720 --> 00:04:58,640
Speaker 1: that isn't quite correct about what the platform.

102
00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:02,039
Speaker 2: Is group existing. Yeah, so what are you seeing?

103
00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:04,800
Speaker 1: Quite a lot and things that I hadn't necessarily thought of.

104
00:05:04,880 --> 00:05:08,479
Speaker 1: So there were things quite minor and for me, like

105
00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:11,160
Speaker 1: that was something that I'd noticed as well, is that

106
00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:15,359
Speaker 1: people like to share a lot. Some people so you know,

107
00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:19,440
Speaker 1: a bit frequent sharers or contributors to the chat, you

108
00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:22,200
Speaker 1: know that little top contributor badge for them on WhatsApp.

109
00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:27,239
Speaker 1: It's not always necessary, and they also like to share

110
00:05:27,279 --> 00:05:29,640
Speaker 1: it at whatever time suits them, so you know, it

111
00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:31,520
Speaker 1: could be late to the evening, trying to go to

112
00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:34,719
Speaker 1: bed and ping. You know, it's like something unnecessary that

113
00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:36,840
Speaker 1: you don't need to read, which can just be frustrating,

114
00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:39,960
Speaker 1: or you know, if it's something that's serious, it's like

115
00:05:40,040 --> 00:05:42,760
Speaker 1: it causes a bit of a sleepless night potentially. You know,

116
00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:45,040
Speaker 1: you're a parent trying to relax and then you get

117
00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:48,080
Speaker 1: this message about something to do with school, and then

118
00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:52,080
Speaker 1: you start thinking about that. But I think in the

119
00:05:52,120 --> 00:05:55,520
Speaker 1: more serious side of things, one thing that I hadn't

120
00:05:55,560 --> 00:05:59,200
Speaker 1: thought of until I spoke with a social media expert

121
00:05:59,520 --> 00:06:04,640
Speaker 1: was sort of the privacy concerns around students. So for example,

122
00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:06,760
Speaker 1: you know, we all tick the yes or no about

123
00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:11,320
Speaker 1: sharing our kids like name and image for the school,

124
00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:13,640
Speaker 1: whether it's in like a school yearbook or for their

125
00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:18,040
Speaker 1: Facebook page or website, but that's not passed on all

126
00:06:18,080 --> 00:06:21,799
Speaker 1: the time to parents. It's not really passed on to parents.

127
00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:24,240
Speaker 1: So you know, you might be snapping pictures of your

128
00:06:24,320 --> 00:06:27,760
Speaker 1: child at athletics and then share it in this WhatsApp

129
00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:30,760
Speaker 1: group behind them some other kids, and these kids have

130
00:06:30,839 --> 00:06:33,440
Speaker 1: ticked no, and that no is for a good reason.

131
00:06:33,920 --> 00:06:36,400
Speaker 1: You know, potentially they're in a custody about all domestic

132
00:06:36,480 --> 00:06:40,000
Speaker 1: violence situation. You know, there's a range of reasons and

133
00:06:40,040 --> 00:06:43,839
Speaker 1: it's potentially putting those children at harm and at risk

134
00:06:43,920 --> 00:06:46,840
Speaker 1: as well. So that was something I hadn't really thought of.

135
00:06:46,960 --> 00:06:49,680
Speaker 1: You're thinking, you're sharing this just as something fun or

136
00:06:50,040 --> 00:06:52,200
Speaker 1: you know, to give it to a photo to someone

137
00:06:52,200 --> 00:06:55,360
Speaker 1: else for them to keep. But you're putting this information

138
00:06:55,480 --> 00:06:58,560
Speaker 1: out there that you know it could be hurtful harmful

139
00:06:58,600 --> 00:07:01,840
Speaker 1: to someone else. But outside all that, I think whether

140
00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:05,240
Speaker 1: mafia thing comes into it is like it's definitely clicky

141
00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:07,960
Speaker 1: like parents, whether we want to admit it or not,

142
00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:11,520
Speaker 1: I think there are definitely some social clicks among school parents,

143
00:07:12,480 --> 00:07:16,640
Speaker 1: and I think on social media, the idea that we

144
00:07:16,720 --> 00:07:21,560
Speaker 1: can just share things without any repercussions really heightens that.

145
00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:25,280
Speaker 1: It can make it really nasty really quickly. You know,

146
00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:27,600
Speaker 1: names can get mentioned, you might even say things you

147
00:07:27,640 --> 00:07:30,640
Speaker 1: don't necessarily you don't mean that much. You know, you

148
00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:34,120
Speaker 1: get caught up in it, I think, quite quite easily.

149
00:07:34,960 --> 00:07:38,360
Speaker 1: But it people usually will find out about it, which

150
00:07:38,520 --> 00:07:41,480
Speaker 1: obviously is going to cause more ongoing issues as well.

151
00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:45,480
Speaker 1: And there's also things like exclusion, Like there were people

152
00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:48,880
Speaker 1: I spoke to that said, some parents were left out

153
00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:52,360
Speaker 1: purposely of groups, or they started an entirely new group

154
00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:54,960
Speaker 1: just because they didn't want a particular parent to be

155
00:07:55,640 --> 00:07:58,559
Speaker 1: in it because they did not like them. And again,

156
00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:01,240
Speaker 1: usually these people will find out, you know, and that's

157
00:08:01,240 --> 00:08:04,120
Speaker 1: really hurtful, Like, you know, no one wants to be

158
00:08:04,240 --> 00:08:06,440
Speaker 1: that parent that's left out of a group because no

159
00:08:06,480 --> 00:08:10,080
Speaker 1: one likes them, you know, like it's horrible situation, especially

160
00:08:10,080 --> 00:08:12,320
Speaker 1: when you're probably going to have to be around these

161
00:08:12,360 --> 00:08:16,640
Speaker 1: parents for your child's old school life, you know. So

162
00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:20,160
Speaker 1: I think there's things like that you just don't think about.

163
00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:23,760
Speaker 1: Even more than that, there's like sort of legal ramifications

164
00:08:23,800 --> 00:08:25,800
Speaker 1: as well, Like you know, there are a lot of

165
00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:29,000
Speaker 1: teachers are often at the heart of some of the

166
00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:35,319
Speaker 1: not so kind comments in these groups, and that can

167
00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:40,040
Speaker 1: lead to like an abundance of issues. So yeah, Kira Pandagas,

168
00:08:40,080 --> 00:08:42,480
Speaker 1: who I spoke to you from Safer Social, said she

169
00:08:42,559 --> 00:08:47,400
Speaker 1: often works with schools when they have these issues and

170
00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:52,520
Speaker 1: that it's really quite murky and basically nonyone knows how

171
00:08:52,520 --> 00:08:55,320
Speaker 1: to deal with it. The schools don't know, you know,

172
00:08:55,480 --> 00:08:59,520
Speaker 1: legal on the legal front, it's tricky as well. But ultimately,

173
00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:03,240
Speaker 1: you know, these teachers, You're not going to end up

174
00:09:03,280 --> 00:09:07,480
Speaker 1: out of work because they're you know, for their own

175
00:09:07,520 --> 00:09:12,200
Speaker 1: mental health, because they've been defamed, harassed, bleed on these

176
00:09:12,240 --> 00:09:15,680
Speaker 1: groups so badly that they can no longer work. So

177
00:09:15,720 --> 00:09:18,160
Speaker 1: it can be quite serious.

178
00:09:20,559 --> 00:09:23,480
Speaker 2: Several different angles that I want to take with what

179
00:09:23,520 --> 00:09:26,680
Speaker 2: you said, because those like the negatives. Yet it's great

180
00:09:26,720 --> 00:09:35,360
Speaker 2: because it can promote society and belonging. The first thing

181
00:09:35,400 --> 00:09:39,720
Speaker 2: that strikes me is just the issue of being pro social,

182
00:09:39,760 --> 00:09:41,880
Speaker 2: being civil to one another. I find it fascinating that

183
00:09:41,920 --> 00:09:43,920
Speaker 2: parents are convinced that their kids need to be taught

184
00:09:43,920 --> 00:09:46,880
Speaker 2: to be appropriate with digital media, but it seems that

185
00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:50,479
Speaker 2: many parents forget that the same rules apply to them

186
00:09:50,760 --> 00:09:52,240
Speaker 2: in so many ways. I actually want to join the

187
00:09:52,240 --> 00:09:54,200
Speaker 2: gospel and find out what you found out as you

188
00:09:54,200 --> 00:09:55,960
Speaker 2: are researching for this, but I don't think that that's

189
00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:58,040
Speaker 2: constructive as much as I would love to know what

190
00:09:58,080 --> 00:10:02,480
Speaker 2: people are saying. But shown up, you talked about legal ramifications.

191
00:10:02,600 --> 00:10:05,880
Speaker 2: As you were saying that, it reminded me of early

192
00:10:05,920 --> 00:10:07,800
Speaker 2: twenty twenty. I think it was just before COVID. There

193
00:10:07,800 --> 00:10:10,600
Speaker 2: was a Mount Tambourine in Queensland. Mount Tambourine Principle who

194
00:10:10,679 --> 00:10:14,280
Speaker 2: won a defamation case after parents were alleged to have

195
00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:19,640
Speaker 2: made derogatory remarks on Facebook. So there are very real

196
00:10:20,080 --> 00:10:24,600
Speaker 2: legal issues involved in what's being said in public forums,

197
00:10:24,679 --> 00:10:26,959
Speaker 2: even if it's in a private WhatsApp group. Once somebody

198
00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:30,200
Speaker 2: takes a screenshot, once that gets leaked, once the person

199
00:10:30,240 --> 00:10:35,080
Speaker 2: being defamed finds out, this is almost certain to end

200
00:10:35,160 --> 00:10:36,960
Speaker 2: up in court if a person wants to take it

201
00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:37,880
Speaker 2: down that route, right.

202
00:10:38,840 --> 00:10:41,840
Speaker 1: Well, yeah, I mean I'm not a lawyer, but I did.

203
00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:42,120
Speaker 2: Yeah.

204
00:10:42,120 --> 00:10:44,920
Speaker 1: I spoke with Hira Panda guest and she had really

205
00:10:45,120 --> 00:10:49,640
Speaker 1: like insightful comments about a lot of issues that can

206
00:10:49,679 --> 00:10:53,160
Speaker 1: come from you know, even just like one comment about someone.

207
00:10:53,280 --> 00:10:57,520
Speaker 1: So as you mentioned things like defamation, if those that

208
00:10:57,600 --> 00:11:00,839
Speaker 1: information's found out, which more often and they're not it

209
00:11:00,920 --> 00:11:05,720
Speaker 1: is found out via screenshots, talking emails, you know, people

210
00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:11,120
Speaker 1: like to share. Doesn't stay on WhatsApp. So I actually

211
00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:14,040
Speaker 1: read earlier this year there were a few communication reforms

212
00:11:14,080 --> 00:11:18,800
Speaker 1: past regarding social media, so sort of covered things on TikTok,

213
00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:25,240
Speaker 1: but these group chats weren't included. Yeah, so, and it's

214
00:11:25,280 --> 00:11:28,800
Speaker 1: sort of I think remainder to be to be looked

215
00:11:28,840 --> 00:11:30,760
Speaker 1: at component for the government.

216
00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:33,120
Speaker 2: I'm sure I'm sure somebody's going to say something stupid

217
00:11:33,120 --> 00:11:34,640
Speaker 2: and we're going to find out soon enough.

218
00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:37,000
Speaker 1: Yeah, well, that's it exactly right. I think they know

219
00:11:37,240 --> 00:11:39,360
Speaker 1: that they're going to have to do that quick smart.

220
00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:43,040
Speaker 1: But you know, because it happens all the time, and

221
00:11:44,120 --> 00:11:46,880
Speaker 1: like the case I mentioned before, there's you know, like

222
00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:51,840
Speaker 1: a teacher that's like it happens a lot where the

223
00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:54,880
Speaker 1: teachers will find out about these comments and depending on

224
00:11:54,960 --> 00:11:58,560
Speaker 1: how serious they are or I guess the teacher in particular,

225
00:11:58,679 --> 00:12:01,600
Speaker 1: that can have ramification. It's not just legally, but you know,

226
00:12:01,679 --> 00:12:04,839
Speaker 1: for their own health well being, their professional life as well.

227
00:12:05,760 --> 00:12:09,040
Speaker 1: So I think like you just need to remember that

228
00:12:09,280 --> 00:12:13,880
Speaker 1: what you're saying, if it's not kind and it's not private.

229
00:12:14,960 --> 00:12:17,480
Speaker 2: Just I have a question for you. Are you in

230
00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:19,160
Speaker 2: a parent's WhatsApp group with your kids school?

231
00:12:19,480 --> 00:12:20,760
Speaker 1: I am? I am.

232
00:12:21,040 --> 00:12:24,200
Speaker 2: How has reporting this story made you approach that differently?

233
00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:27,480
Speaker 1: Well? I was not really a very active member anyway.

234
00:12:27,559 --> 00:12:30,240
Speaker 1: I was sort of like I always found I've belonged

235
00:12:30,280 --> 00:12:32,559
Speaker 1: to a few different groups, you know, over the years

236
00:12:32,880 --> 00:12:36,079
Speaker 1: as my kids have grown up, and there's been occasions

237
00:12:36,080 --> 00:12:40,120
Speaker 1: where they've got a bit untoward. So I think from

238
00:12:40,160 --> 00:12:43,080
Speaker 1: seeing that I've sort of I belonged to them for

239
00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:47,800
Speaker 1: the sake of belonging, but I don't get notifications and often,

240
00:12:47,920 --> 00:12:50,480
Speaker 1: like you know, i'd even delete the entire app for

241
00:12:50,520 --> 00:12:52,200
Speaker 1: a while, like if I need a break.

242
00:12:52,280 --> 00:12:54,679
Speaker 2: So so you're not an you're not an active car

243
00:12:54,720 --> 00:12:56,600
Speaker 2: P like mafia participant. Is that what you're saying?

244
00:12:56,920 --> 00:12:58,440
Speaker 1: No, No, it's just too much.

245
00:12:58,960 --> 00:13:00,720
Speaker 2: Too much, probably a good way to be.

246
00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:01,840
Speaker 1: Yes, that's it.

247
00:13:02,400 --> 00:13:04,600
Speaker 2: We will link to the article that you've written in

248
00:13:04,640 --> 00:13:06,240
Speaker 2: the show notes so people can go and read it

249
00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:08,040
Speaker 2: and really get their head around the things that you've described,

250
00:13:08,080 --> 00:13:09,680
Speaker 2: although I think there's been a great summary of it

251
00:13:09,720 --> 00:13:14,640
Speaker 2: in this conversation. Show parting words. Final advice. If parents

252
00:13:14,679 --> 00:13:18,360
Speaker 2: are using these social media platforms to stay on top

253
00:13:18,360 --> 00:13:21,000
Speaker 2: of what's happening in the school and create that community

254
00:13:21,040 --> 00:13:25,160
Speaker 2: with other parents, what would be your biggest take home message,

255
00:13:25,640 --> 00:13:27,760
Speaker 2: the central thing that you'd want people to hang on to.

256
00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:31,160
Speaker 2: Based on what you've written, based on what we've discussed today.

257
00:13:31,280 --> 00:13:34,679
Speaker 1: I think, yeah, to st just to be kind and respectful,

258
00:13:34,960 --> 00:13:37,719
Speaker 1: you know, the whole treat other people how you want

259
00:13:37,760 --> 00:13:40,199
Speaker 1: to be treated, sort of manchu. I think you know

260
00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:44,679
Speaker 1: you need to remember that that you know everyone is

261
00:13:44,720 --> 00:13:49,520
Speaker 1: a person, like teachers, other parents, kids, the gardener, like everyone.

262
00:13:50,240 --> 00:13:54,920
Speaker 1: So if you say something about them, you know, especially

263
00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:57,959
Speaker 1: on WhatsApp, potentially they're going to find out about it.

264
00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:00,280
Speaker 1: So if you wouldn't say it to them, don't write

265
00:14:00,280 --> 00:14:03,600
Speaker 1: it on WhatsApp. But I think remember as well your kids.

266
00:14:04,080 --> 00:14:06,080
Speaker 1: You know, you're a role model to your kids, So

267
00:14:06,400 --> 00:14:09,120
Speaker 1: don't do anything on there that you wouldn't want them doing.

268
00:14:10,240 --> 00:14:13,120
Speaker 1: Remember that it's not private. It really isn't. And there's

269
00:14:13,160 --> 00:14:16,160
Speaker 1: like definitely an illusion that it's like this like cone

270
00:14:16,160 --> 00:14:19,840
Speaker 1: of silence, which it's really not at all. And I

271
00:14:19,880 --> 00:14:22,320
Speaker 1: think just if you've got an issue, raise it me

272
00:14:22,400 --> 00:14:26,480
Speaker 1: for school, because nothing's going to get solved on what'sapp.

273
00:14:26,680 --> 00:14:29,800
Speaker 1: Like let's just be honest, like it's just you might

274
00:14:29,840 --> 00:14:32,720
Speaker 1: get some people supporting you for a while not feeling nice,

275
00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:37,160
Speaker 1: but nothing really positive is going to come from airing

276
00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:38,880
Speaker 1: grievances on there.

277
00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:41,400
Speaker 2: Yeah, great stuff showing a Shanna Henley is a freelance

278
00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:44,440
Speaker 2: journalist contribute to the agencitting on he Herald, ABC Had

279
00:14:44,480 --> 00:14:46,640
Speaker 2: a Whole Lot More, mum of a couple of kids,

280
00:14:46,760 --> 00:14:52,480
Speaker 2: and investigative journalist looking at parents WhatsApp groups in school

281
00:14:52,520 --> 00:14:54,560
Speaker 2: car parks. Thanks for joining me on the podcast.

282
00:14:54,920 --> 00:14:55,320
Speaker 1: Thank you.

283
00:14:55,840 --> 00:14:58,080
Speaker 2: The Happy Family's podcast is produced by Justin Roland for

284
00:14:58,160 --> 00:15:00,680
Speaker 2: Bridge Media. Craig Bruce is our executive produce and if

285
00:15:00,680 --> 00:15:03,200
Speaker 2: you would like more information about making your family happier

286
00:15:03,200 --> 00:15:06,280
Speaker 2: and staying safe online, even for you as a grown up,

287
00:15:06,640 --> 00:15:09,120
Speaker 2: check out all of our resources in our Happy Families membership.

288
00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:11,200
Speaker 2: We can find the details at happy families dot com

289
00:15:11,200 --> 00:15:11,560
Speaker 2: dot u