A recent surge in online racism is having a profound and detrimental impact on the mental health of First Nations people in Australia, with individuals likening the experience to 'carrying a bully in your pocket'. This escalating issue is being amplified by social media algorithms, which critics argue reward and promote divisive content, creating an increasingly hostile digital environment for Indigenous communities.
The problem has come into sharp focus following the widespread sharing of a video posted by a self-proclaimed Australian comedian. The video, featuring a white woman adopting a mock Indigenous identity and making an apparent reference to petrol sniffing, a serious issue in some Indigenous communities, has been widely condemned as racist and harmful. For many First Nations individuals, such content is not an isolated incident but part of a growing trend of online abuse.
In response to these concerns, the Australian Human Rights Commission has called for the introduction of a 'digital duty of care' for social media companies. In its submission to a federal parliamentary inquiry into racism, hate, and violence directed at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the Commission recommended that the government mandate platforms to "identify, assess and mitigate foreseeable risks arising from recommender systems and monetisation practices that incentivise the amplification and normalisation of racist narratives."
The parliamentary inquiry has received more than 420 submissions, many of which detail the increasingly toxic online landscape. Organisations like Helping Our Mob Everywhere (Home), established by Carl Lymburner and Irene Leard in Townsville, have highlighted a rise in offensive content targeting First Nations groups, organisations, and elders. Leard noted that individuals she works with face daily judgment and labelling online, leading to real-world harm, intimidation, and community division.
Sam Bennell, a content creator who shares Noongar culture and language, described how his posts, initially popular, began attracting racist comments after being pushed to a wider audience by platform algorithms. He stated that the constant negativity has taken a significant toll on his mental health, leading him to reduce his online activity. This sentiment is echoed by many who feel that platforms are not doing enough to curb the spread of racist content, despite policies ostensibly against it.