Latest news with #KristynSommer
ABC News
14-05-2025
- ABC News
Kristyn's TikTok videos with her toddler had millions of views. She chose to delete them
Kristyn Sommer vividly remembers when she began to feel uneasy about her children being so prominent on her social media platforms. Dr Sommer, from the Gold Coast/Yugambeh language region, has a PhD in developmental psychology and currently conducts research into the topic at Griffith University's School of Applied Psychology. She has more than half a million followers on TikTok and Instagram. Her Reels and TikToks include practical advice and "hacks" to help parents deal with behavioural challenges, boundary setting and helping kids build emotional regulation skills. One of her posts about travelling more than 24 hours from Brisbane to Scotland with a toddler even amassed more than 18 million views. But as an "online expert", she says, people were looking at her to set an example and she "felt the weight of that immensely". We spoke to Dr Sommer about her decision to remove her children from her socials, and why she deleted old content that had amassed millions of views. These are her words. I have been phasing my children — aged five and one — out of my content online over the last few years. As my first child approached school age last year, she felt like a distinctly separate person from me with her own life and I started to discriminate between what was my story to share versus what was hers. She was less present in my content, but my younger child was a baby, and it felt like we were the same person and had the same stories to tell. This meant that I didn't quite discriminate between their stories and my own the same way I did for my older child. [When it came to removing my children from social media entirely], a few things happened all at once. A criminal case involving an infant and an influencer flipped a switch in me. This was the biggest catalyst for my very public change in sharing of my children. I started deleting historical content and started very loudly sharing about this choice I had begun to make almost two years ago on my social media platforms. At the same time as the initial trigger, one of my children started at a new childcare service, and I recognised a child I had never met. They were the child of an influencer. I knew their [child's] name. I knew what they had for breakfast. I knew their most embarrassing stories. They were three years old, playing with their educators and they had no idea a stranger knew this much about them. It shook me that people could have similar relationships with my own children [as a result of my posting]. I have always been recognised in public [from my social media content], whether it be in Scotland, or by the midwife admitting me for preterm labour. It was normal to me and didn't often feel disconcerting. Have you changed your approach to posting your kids on social media? We'd love to hear at what age and why. Email lifestyle@ But on several occasions, I received messages from kind and well-meaning followers saying they saw my children today. Not me. Just my children. Out with a grandparent or playing at child care. The cumulative effects of these occurrences emphasised my need to bring my children's privacy to the forefront of my parenting and professional roles. Call it the rigid black and white thinking of my autistic brain, but I felt positively towards removing this content [even those with 18 million views]. Removing it brought me in line with my internal values. It felt right to do. My online community has been endlessly supportive and celebratory. For me, this change has been entirely positive. I was always interesting on my own [due to my educational background and style of content] and my platform originally went viral with just my face and not that of my children's. Furthermore, social media was never my main source of income. I had a research career, and social media was a hobby and a space for outreach, engagement and social connection. I had no ambitions for growth or extraordinary monetisation. The culmination of these factors meant that it was not a hard choice or action for me to take my children offline. I am happier, more connected, more patient and more understanding now that I'm not constantly considering what could be content, what could be educational, what is the next developmental milestone I could film and share. I never used to be without my phone. I always knew exactly where it was. It was almost always a moment away from recording. Now I lose it more often than not. My camera roll is full of happy snaps of moments I don't want to forget, but it's also missing moments because I didn't capture them in my phone. Instead, they are imprinted in my memory and my child's without the big black brick in my hand.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Yahoo
Secret airport feature for Aussies with 'hidden' issue
Most people will agree that navigating an airport, whether it's for domestic or International travel, can be a stressful experience. But for those travellers who require extra support, time or understanding, it can be especially challenging – particularly when staff can't easily identify that fact. One Aussie mum has heaped praise on a local airport for adopting a little-known feature to help those in need. Dr Kristyn Sommer recently travelled from her home on Queensland's Gold Coast to Sydney wearing a green lanyard featuring daisies on it. The simple and subtle item sent a message to staff that she has a hidden disability that meant she required extra support. It's something that airports around the country have quietly adopted. "I've had an autism diagnosis for a couple of years," Kristyn, a developmental psychology academic at Griffith University told Yahoo News, adding that busy airports can be a "trigger point" for her. She was keen to give the lanyard "a go" to see if it was beneficial for her while travelling after first noticing posters for the program last November. "I saw big sunflower signs last time I was walking through the airport," she explained, adding she thought it was a "really cool" initiative. The night before her most recent trip in February, she applied through the Gold Coast Airport website to receive a pack before she travelled. While checking in, she let staff know she was looking to receive a pack and was able to get her green lanyard as well as a few extra informational tools. She said the process was simple and the experience with staff at Gold Coast airport was "phenomenal". While she said it sometimes makes her feel "more self-conscious" to identify herself as someone with a hidden disability, she's keen to use the lanyard again when she travels internationally later this year to effortlessly communicate her needs. A spokesperson from Gold Coast airport said the program was introduced in 2019 to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all travellers. The lanyards are available for free in the terminal or can be requested ahead of arrival. Other tools include a terminal sensory map, communication boards and an airport activity book. The airport also has a therapy dog initiative which sees trained volunteer therapy dogs visit the terminal. Staff at the airport have undergone specialised training to better understand hidden disabilities and to recognise the sunflower symbol and offer the appropriate support when required. "The response from the community on our extensive Hidden Disabilities program has been overwhelmingly positive," the spokesperson said. "The program has also played an important role in raising awareness and encouraging open conversations about accessibility in travel." After sharing a video of the experience online, which has been viewed by millions, Kristyn believes that most people "don't know" that the program exists. While some accused Kristyn of trying to "skip lines", she said that's "not what it's for". "It's not about skipping lines or getting through the airport faster, it just puts us on an equal footing and [is] a signal to others," she said. She added that despite some criticism, it's "really nice" to see the hidden disabilities message reaching people. ✈️ Calls for Jetstar to change policy to resolve 'ridiculous' problem 🚨 Aussie couple urge travellers to avoid airport mistake after home ransacked 🛫 Couple 'traumatised' over horrifying seating request on flight from Australia The idea for the green sunflower lanyard came about in 2016 when the accessibility team at Gatwick Airport in the UK were looking for a way for those with non-obvious disabilities to gain extra support. After several consultations with relevant charities, the idea of the sunflower was created to reflect the idea of confidence, growth and strength by those who have hidden disabilities. The sunflower can be voluntarily worn to discreetly make others aware that you have a condition or disability that may not be apparent, but you may need an extra helping hand, understanding or time not only in airports but shopping centres, public transport and at work. You can learn more about the initiative here. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
