Social media users must choose what kind of world we want to see

This column was contributed by Simone Bailey, and is the author’s personal opinion.

Politics has never been easy, but now the pressures are magnified by social media.

Every decision, every comment, every photograph can be dissected, debated, and sometimes deliberately distorted.

For those of us in public life, it can be disheartening when your tireless efforts and positive outcomes are overshadowed by negativity.

Through the Pathways to Politics Program for Women, I’ve had the chance to build skills in e-safety, media and stress management.

These sessions have been invaluable, but it’s sobering that they are even needed.

The reality is that every politician, no matter their role or tier of politics, faces a level of online commentary that can be confronting.

I’ve had plenty said to and about me that bears little resemblance to the truth; yet I remain committed to giving my best for our community, because the positive outcomes matter more than the noise.

This reality was brought home again when I read of the resignation of our Deputy Premier, Dr Susan Close.

The words written about her by some social media users were not only unfair but, at times, downright vicious.

It’s troubling that in 2025, when we speak so often about respect and wellbeing, we still tolerate public servants, especially women, being torn down in this way.

I want to share a different side of Dr Close.

To me, she represents the best of politics.

One of my constituents once told me how he invited her to see his flood-affected home in Swan Reach.

She arrived the very next day, gumboots on, climbed into a dinghy, ready to see, listen, and understand his situation firsthand.

That is leadership.

I also carry my own memory of her kindness.

Last year, I was having a particularly flat day.

She saw me, asked how I was doing, and when I brushed her off with “you probably don’t want to know,” she stopped, invited me into her office, and simply listened.

Here was the Deputy Premier of South Australia, with endless responsibilities, yet she found time for me.

That simple act reminded me that compassion and empathy still belongs in politics.

I share these stories because behind every politician is a human being, carrying the weight of responsibility, navigating pressures, and, in most cases, driven by a genuine desire to make life better for their community.

I wish Dr Close all the best for life beyond politics.

She has given so much to our state, as has the outgoing Treasurer, Stephen Mulligan.

Next time you see someone being abused online, don’t just scroll past.

Be an upstander: show your support, call the abuse out, express solidarity, or report the content.

Even a small act can reduce the impact of isolation for the person being targeted.

Social media isn’t going away, but we can choose how we use it: we can allow it to be a space that tears people down, or we can make it a place for healthy debate, where achievements are celebrated and humanity is acknowledged.

I hope as a community we strive for the latter, because politics, at its heart, is about people.

When we remember that, we all benefit.

Simone Bailey is the Mayor of the Mid Murray Council.