Mac Holdsworth’s dad, family and friends join Unplug24 to save lives on first anniversary of his death
Written by admin on October 13, 2024
Mac Holdsworth took his life after he was “terrorised” on social media by an evil predator, but his dad hopes the tragedy will be a catalyst for change.
To mark the first anniversary of the 17-year-old’s death on October 24, his father Wayne wants people to boycott social media, as a way of starting a conversation about the dangers that lurk online and the benefits of switching off.
He first broached the idea with Mac’s basketball mates and it really resonated, with them admitting they all spend a bit too long on their devices.
Mac’s sister Daisy, 15, also backed it saying the campaign could make a difference and said she was proud of her dad, for “doing something to help others”.
News Corp Australia has also got onboard, sparking pledges of support from well known faces from the world of celebrity, politics, business and sport.
Mr Holdsworth, 65, who has called the campaign Unplug24, explained how Mac’s life disintegrated after he fell victim to a sextortion plot – a form of online blackmail where someone tricks you into sending sexual photos of yourself and then threatens to share the images unless you agree to their demands, often money.
In Mac’s case, a 45-year-old-man pretending to be a 15-year-old girl, made contact with him on Snapchat before asking him to connect on Instagram. He sent Mac a near naked picture of his niece and tricked him into sending a similar photo back.
Then came the heart-stopping moment for Mac, when the man revealed it was a scam, threatening to send the photo to all his contacts, unless he paid $500.
He paid it, but the man demanded more money. He later published the intimate photo.
“Mac was sexually extorted and he was never the same after that,” Mr Holdsworth, from Melbourne, said.
“He became withdrawn and introverted. He relinquished roles he loved such as captain of his local footy team.”
Mr Holdsworth said Mac’s death changed the trajectory of his own life.
He now gives talks in schools about the dangers of social media and has set up a website called SmackTalk – which is also the name given to sledges used against opponents on the basketball court.
He said the latest research shows kids are on their phones for up to six hours a day, often alone in their bedrooms.
He’s also a cheerleader of News Corp Australia’s campaign Let Them Be Kids, to raise the age of when children can access social media to 16.
“Somehow kids are allowed to be on social media sites inhabited by terrorists. I don’t say that lightly because these people have only one aim in life and that is to take money from their victims and to terrorise them and Mac was one of those and he paid the ultimate price,” Mr Holdsworth said.
“As adults and role models we need to set an example to our kids, while also ensuring that there’s a message sent to organisations like Meta that, ‘We’re in control of our social media and you’re not’,” he said.
“We would be saying, ‘You don’t control us with your algorithms and all that sort of stuff, we can stop tomorrow if you like’.
“And perhaps mum and dad sitting around the dinner table with the kids in the run up to Unplug24 could say, ‘OK on the 24th we are going to switch off our phones and this is why. Let’s all put our hands in and commit’.”
While thousands across Australia will be abstaining from social media on October 24 and thinking about Mac, it will be an incredibly painful day for those closest to him, who will visit his grave and perhaps play some backyard cricket, something Mac used to love.
“It will be a really tough day because it will bring back all those memories we had of him prior to him taking his life, but then the terrible memories that we have from that day,” Mr Holdsworth said.
“When I found him in his bedroom that morning, I remember I was crying so much it was like a fountain, or you know a shower, and all the tears were hitting his face and he wasn’t waking up. You know in normal circumstances if you get water on your face when you’re asleep, you’ll wake up. And he never did.”
More Coverage
He said his “kind” son would approve of what they were trying to do.
“Mac backed us in everything that we did and he would back us with this campaign as well,” Mr Holdsworth said.
Anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts or needing help should contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Originally published as Mac Holdsworth’s dad, family and friends join Unplug24 to save lives on first anniversary of his death
