Keeping Our Online Communities Safe:
Combating Misinformation in Mums of the Hills and the Yarra Ranges
On January 15, the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report was released, identifying misinformation and disinformation as the top global risk for 2027. This is the second consecutive year it has held this position. While this may seem like an abstract, large-scale issue, its impact is deeply personal, particularly for communities like Mums of the Hills Inc’s online group and the wider Yarra Ranges community. Given our region’s unique vulnerabilities—including geographic isolation, higher exposure to disasters in nature, and limited access to essential services—the rapid spread of false or misleading information presents a direct threat to the well-being and resilience of local families.
This is our personal account of a global issue and its impact on individuals and families within our community. Misinformation and disinformation are not just broad societal concerns; they affect real people, real conversations, and real decisions made in groups like Mums of the Hills Inc.
So, here’s a little insight into how these risks manifest at the local level and, more importantly, why MotHs needs funding to continue its unique online/place-based model. Ensuring our online group remains safe, reliable, and a force for good is not just beneficial—it is essential.
Our first day in Sassafras. So incredibly beautiful, but I was suprised how isolating it was.
Why This Matters to Mums of the Hills Inc
In June 2015 we’d just moved to the Dandenong Ranges. I didn’t know a soul, felt completed isolated from friends and family and had no spare cash to join a group, sports club, gym (ANYTHING) that might help me find connections. But, Facebook is free and that’s how I was able to first build connections. Those connections became friends that grew to become a beautiful community of mums (or moths) and the rest, as they say, is history. For all the problems and fear that social media has created, I’d like to think that Mums of the Hills is an example of something good that has come from it too.
Mums of the Hills’s private Facebook group has over 7,700 members, providing a platform that offers essential support, advice, and connection for mums navigating parenting, health, and community challenges. The role of this online space extends far beyond casual conversation; it is a lifeline for many mums who may not have immediate physical access to the help they need.
While the MotHs private Facebook group is a lifeline to so many, we know that online groups can tear communities apart and we’re not immune to social media’s problems and risks. Discussions that include well-intentioned but ultimately false or misleading information can spread fast in online communities.
Problems occurring can range from causing embarrassment and frustration, to actually being life-threatening, especially when it comes to health. For example, many young people have turned to TikTok for information on mental health conditions such as ADHD, Tourette's syndrome, and dissociative identity disorder (DID). This trend has led to self-diagnoses without professional evaluation, resulting in potential misdiagnosis and inappropriate self-treatment.
What keeps me up at night is the growing impact of misinformation that makes it increasingly difficult to know what—and who—to trust. Misinformation and disinformation have the power to erode the very foundation of community trust, tearing apart the connections that bind us. Too often, I’ve read about online disputes escalating into real-world conflicts, fracturing relationships and undermining the strength of local communities (read article as an example). For mums seeking support, misinformation creates additional barriers, making it harder to access the help they need when they need it most. This is unacceptable in any circumstance, but for a community like ours—one that is both independent and deeply reliant on its social networks, especially in times of crisis—allowing misinformation to go unchecked could have devastating, irreversible consequences.
Yarra Ranges: A Region at Higher Risk
The Yarra Ranges community faces distinct challenges that heighten its susceptibility to misinformation and disinformation. Unlike metropolitan areas where healthcare and emergency services are readily available, many Yarra Ranges residents experience long travel times to reach essential medical, mental health, and family services. Access to healthcare services in the Yarra Ranges is notably impacted by geographic isolation, leading to extended travel times for residents.
A study focusing on Melbourne's outer suburban areas, which include regions like the Yarra Ranges, found that individuals living in these areas face significantly longer travel durations to access health services (in the case study, diabetic health services) compared to those in inner-city locations. Specifically, the median travel time by private vehicle was up to 23.24 minutes longer, and by public transport up to 43.15 minutes longer. This disparity highlights the challenges residents face in reaching essential medical, mental health, and family services. This potentially leads to delays in seeking care and increased reliance on potentially misleading online information sources (source: PubMed Central).
The spread of health misinformation has been shown to adversely affect public health behaviours. A systematic review by the World Health Organization (WHO) found that exposure to false or misleading health information can lead to confusion, mistrust in health authorities, and the adoption of harmful health practices (source: World Health Organisation). In communities like the Yarra Ranges where healthcare access is already compromised, ensuring access to accurate health information is especially important.
In the context of the Mums of the Hills Inc online community, the proliferation of misinformation can have profound effects. Given the limited access to in-person services, many members may turn to online platforms for guidance on parenting, health, and well-being. However, without proper moderation and access to evidence-based information, there's a risk of misinformation spreading, which can lead to poor health outcomes and increased social isolation.
To counter these risks, we need collaborative solutions—not just within our group but from the wider community and policymakers who can help provide support, resources, and protective measures for online groups like ours. Communities, local councils, state and federal government all need to be involved to develop digital protections, improve access to fact-checked information, and recognise the role of online groups in mitigating misinformation.
The Unsung Heroes of Online Communities: Why Moderators Deserve More Credit
In an era where online communities serve as lifelines for support, information, and social connection, Facebook group moderators play a crucial yet often unrecognised role. These unpaid individuals work tirelessly to keep online spaces safe, reliable, and welcoming, ensuring that misinformation, scams, and harmful content don’t overrun the very platforms people rely on for help. With social media platforms reducing their own fact-checking efforts, the responsibility has fallen largely on moderators to ensure their communities are not misled.
Moderators must fact-check posts, remove misleading claims, and direct members to credible sources. Whether it’s false information about parenting, health, or local services, their vigilance ensures members receive accurate and evidence-based guidance rather than dangerous misinformation. In a world where misinformation is ranked among the top global risks, moderators play a key role in fostering digital literacy. By encouraging critical thinking, fact-checking, and respectful discourse, they help members develop the skills to evaluate online information responsibly. This not only benefits their immediate community but also contributes to a more informed and engaged society. While reducing misinformation and disinformation is a crucial role, there are many other aspects that a given little consideration.
Moderators screen new member requests, flag suspicious activity, and remove fake profiles and scammers before they can take advantage of group members. When discussions become heated, moderators step in to de-escalate tensions, enforce community guidelines, and ensure that disagreements remain respectful rather than toxic. Without these interventions, group members could feel unsafe and unsupported, leading them to withdraw from vital online spaces. This ongoing battle is largely invisible to the public, yet it’s one of the most essential aspects of keeping online communities safe.
Online groups, including Mums of the Hills Inc, can act as critical support systems, particularly in regions where access to healthcare, mental health support, and local services is limited. In these cases, moderators take on an unofficial but essential role in helping members connect with resources, navigate challenges, and access support that may not be readily available elsewhere. Their work fills a gap that formal services often fail to address, making their contributions even more valuable.
Moderating a Facebook group is not just about removing inappropriate posts—it requires emotional labour, patience, and resilience. Moderators frequently deal with difficult conversations with members who may be upset or frustrated and unfair criticism or backlash from those who disagree with moderation decisions. The emotional burden of reading distressing content or moderating disputes is an aspect that few people consider. This work is often mentally exhausting and unpaid, yet moderators continue to dedicate their time and effort for the betterment of their communities.
A Call for Recognition and Support
Mums of the Hills Inc plays a critical role in supporting mums in the Yarra Ranges, a region with unique challenges, including geographic isolation, limited access to healthcare, and a heightened risk of disasters. Unlike traditional support services, Mums of the Hills offers an integrated model combining an active online community with real-world support through in-person gatherings, local resources, and advocacy.
State and federal government funding is essential to sustain and expand this model, ensuring that thousands of mums continue to receive vital peer support, access to trusted resources, events and workshops. Without adequate funding, the MotHs faces limitations in moderation capacity, event coordination, and the ability to respond to crises, all of which are essential in maintaining a safe and supportive environment.
Let’s also not forget moderators. Despite the essential work moderators do, they rarely receive formal recognition or institutional support. It’s time to advocate for:
Better tools from social media platforms to assist moderators in detecting misinformation and managing conflicts.
Government and community recognition of the role online groups play in public health, safety, and support networks.
More training opportunities for moderators to improve their skills in digital literacy, mental health first aid, and conflict resolution.
Investing in Mums of the Hills and online moderators is an investment in community mental health and well-being, and local resilience. With proper funding, this model could be strengthened and expanded, helping more families across Australia access the support networks they desperately need.
Addressing misinformation requires commitment from individuals, communities, and policymakers alike. Local councils and federal agencies must support online community leaders by providing resources, fact-checking assistance, and digital literacy programs. Social media platforms also bear responsibility in ensuring that their algorithms do not favor misinformation over factual content.
For communities like Mums of the Hills Inc, the importance of maintaining a safe, inclusive, and informed space cannot be overstated. By recognising, appreciating and supporting the moderators who dedicate themselves to creating and maintaining the digital communities we all depend on, we continue to have safe online groups free from false or misleading information. With better moderation tools, community-driven solutions, and increased awareness, we can protect vulnerable individuals from misinformation while fostering a sense of trust and support within our networks. If we act now, we can make a real difference in ensuring that Mums of the Hills Inc and other online support networks remain safe, credible, and a force for good in our society.
This is not just a problem for our group—it is a problem that affects every online space, every community, and every level of government. The fight against misinformation is an ongoing challenge, but with collective action, we can create safer and more reliable digital environments.
References
World Economic Forum (2025). Global Risks Report 2025. Retrieved from: www.weforum.org
PubMed Central. Travel Times for Diabetic Health Services in Outer Suburban Areas. Retrieved from: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc
Madill R, Badland H, Mavoa S, Giles-Corti B. (2018) Comparing private and public transport access to diabetic health services across inner, middle, and outer suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. BMC Health Serv Res. Apr 13;18(1):286. doi: 10.1186/s12913-018-3079-9. PMID: 29653533; PMCID: PMC5899403.
World Health Organization (2022). Infodemics and Misinformation Impact on Public Health. Retrieved from: www.who.int
Liebert Publishing. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking: The Effects of Online Aggression. Retrieved from: www.liebertpub.com
Frontiers in Psychology. The Psychological Effects of Hostile Online Interactions. Retrieved from: www.frontiersin.org