On Thursday, October 24, 2024, the Victorian basketball community and our supporters came together for Unplug24, a social media blackout campaign aimed at raising awareness around suicide prevention and funds for SmackTalk.
SmackTalk was founded by Wayne Holdsworth in memory of his son, Mac Holdsworth, who took his own life a year earlier after suffering from online sexual extortion. Unplug24 was launched as a symbolic gesture to encourage people to disconnect from social media for 24 hours, providing a much-needed break from the online avenues that can facilitate harmful interactions. As part of this initiative, Basketball Victoria showed its support by going dark on both our own and personal social media accounts for 24 hours, honoring Mac’s legacy and advocating for online safety.
Ben Pahl, Basketball Victoria’s COO took part in the initiative, “Unplug24 was an important movement for me to be involved in not only to support SmackTalk but also challenge myself to see how big an influence social media had on my life. Being offline for 24 hours was more challenging than I anticipated. It made me realise how many times a day I pick up my phone without any real purpose. The challenge of avoiding social media was heightened by the clear tactics employed by social media platforms with push notifications being sent to my phone throughout the day tempting me to log in. These notifications weren't due to any direct connection between myself and a friend, but driven by the platform to get me to engage. This was clear proof of the strategies they use to reel us in. I am proud that I managed to stay off social media for the day and as a result, am making a conscious effort to reduce my usage going forward. Basketball Victoria’s value statement says that ‘we connect our community to support the health, welfare and development of all Victorians’ and being aligned with initiatives like Unplug24 allows us to live this value. Social media is having a significant negative impact on the young people of Victoria and using our reach to help educate our community about the dangers is important.”
The success of Unplug24 lies not only in its powerful message but also in the collective participation. People across Australia and beyond joined in, turning off their social media notifications to highlight the importance of fostering safe digital spaces. Each hour was a statement, a moment to think about those who may be suffering in silence and to consider how we can collectively make a difference.
CEO Basketball Victoria Nick Honey said - “Being offline for 24 hours was easier than I thought. I was happy to leave my phone off when having dinner, walking the dog or talking to the family. Consciously removing a distraction was rewarding. I certainly felt more present and available.”
Basketball Victoria’s Communications Coordinator Kym West also felt the positives of disconnecting - “Being a part of Unplug24 for a full 24 hours was rewarding and made me challenge my own behavior. I was surprised how hard it was, it becomes such a habit to mindlessly scroll, so to be more conscious of being present and in the moment was refreshing and it gave me the opportunity to talk more to my teenage kids about being more their activities online.”
Much of the media that the basketball community consumes and engages with is via social media platforms and the increase in trolls, spam and fake accounts online in recent times is exponentially growing, making more and more young people vulnerable. Sarah Addis, General Manager – Marketing and Communications said it was a reminder that our basketball community is spending more and more time online and educating our audience on some of the threats that exist is key to helping them understand how they can enjoy these channels and engage in a safe way. The dynamic, fast pace nature of social media means we are constantly consuming content and social media provides a way to ‘keep up to date’ with what’s happening. Unplug24 was a positive initiative in demonstrating the opportunity we have to be present offline. To reconnect with the real world and see that there is much to be gained by putting the phone down and interacting with those around you.
SmackTalk’s Unplug24 campaign was a step forward in building a supportive community and spreading crucial information about the perils of online exploitation. The funds raised through this campaign will further SmackTalk’s efforts to provide resources for mental health support, online safety education, and suicide prevention. Currently, SmackTalk has raised over $50,000 and had over 100,000 unpluggers taking part in the 2024 challenge.
To support SmackTalk, you can still donate via Basketball Victoria's Unplug24 fundraising page, which remains open to continue supporting this cause.
Let’s keep the conversation going, extend our support, and work together to make our online world safer for everyone.
If you or someone you know is struggling, please seek help by contacting a mental health professional or a support line.
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
MensLine Australia: 1300 789 978
Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467
