Safeguarding youth mental health, technology social enterprise Chatstat wins 2024 National Social Enterprise Pioneer Award
Safeguarding youth mental health, Chatstat, a certified social enterprise using advanced AI technology, has won the 2024 Social Enterprise Pioneer Award from Social Traders. Unlike traditional monitoring tools, Chatstat’s approach focuses exclusively on publicly available social media content, eliminating the need for invasive apps on children’s devices.
This nonintrusive method respects privacy while providing real-time alerts on risks like cyberbullying, self-harm, and inappropriate content. “We leverage the latest advancements in AI and machine learning to enhance our detection capabilities. By collaborating with leading social media safety consultants, we ensure that our algorithms are constantly refined and relevant. Offering actionable advice and support strategies to parents and schools empower communities to proactively address online dangers,” said Lawrence Kusz, Founder and Managing Director of Chatstat.
According to the Australian Psychological Society, more than four in 10 Australian teens suffer from mental health distress, a figure linked to increased social media use. Reports to the e-Safety Commissioner highlight that one in six teens experienced online threat or abuse, and nearly one in three teens cited school-related bullying as a key issue.
Chatstat’s platform is transforming digital safety for young Australians. The AI-driven system has already safeguarded over 28,000 young by identifying and flagging at-risk content such as cyberbullying and self-harm signals. By providing parents and schools with actionable insights, Chatstat enables early intervention and fosters a community of engaged caregivers. Partnerships with educational institutions have led to a 25% increase in timely interventions, demonstrating the platform's effectiveness.
"We are honoured to receive the 2024 National Social Enterprise Pioneer Award from Social Traders," said Lawrence Kusz. "This recognition reflects the hard work, dedication, and passion of everyone who has supported Chatstat’s journey. Achieving certification with Social Traders validates our commitment to delivering on our purpose and creating a positive impact for society."
The Social Traders National Trailblazer Awards has been running for 11 years, with over 180 submissions received this year - spotlighting the wonderful work social enterprises are doing across the country, in making a positive impact to people and planet.
“Congratulations to Chatstat on this award and thank you for their tireless efforts in finding better solutions to safeguard youth mental health. Social enterprises blend the commercial acumen of the corporate sector, with the impact acumen of the not-for-profit sector. It’s a demonstration model for the future economy that we’re proud to be supporting – creating a more inclusive and sustainable Australia,” said Tara Anderson, CEO Social Traders.
“Chatstat’s achievement reflects the growing importance of social enterprises in creating lasting change. As a leading social enterprise industry body for over 15 years, Social Traders has been collecting and verifying impact data for the sector and social procurement – holding the largest and deepest database in Australia.
Over the last 6 years, $843m has been spent with certified social enterprises by business and government members of Social Traders, and this figure continues to rise with a 36% annual growth rate in social procurement. The time is now, for organisations to diversify their supply chain with social benefit suppliers like certified social enterprises. It’s time to make business for good, business as usual.”