BLOCK aims to explore how the social media ban is being experienced by children, parents and carers associated with Mackillop Family Services. It is informed by the research question: How are MacKillop parents, carers and children experiencing the social media ban? 

The objectives of the project are to: 

1. Explore how families and residential care households are managing the ban 

2. Ascertain if the ban is impacting children’s access to pornographies 

3. Explore any impacts on bullying, especially online bullying 

4. Understand shifts in problematic or harmful sexual behaviours, including in children’s intimate relationships and peer contexts 

5. Investigate if the ban is affecting patterns of potential grooming by persons of interest and child sexual exploitation. 

Researchers:

Gemma McKibbin

Dilshad Zarine

Funding:

This project is funded by MacKillop Family Services.

Contact: Dr Gemma McKibbin
T: 0437 281 543
E: gemma.mckibbin@unimelb.edu.au