Naming names won’t stop abuse on social media

Anonymity sometimes cloaks abusive behaviour online, but social media users aren’t necessarily less abusive under their real names, or mandating identification may not resolve the problem.

Protecting ‘cognitive security’

Australia and other democratic nations must do more to protect their societies from foreign propaganda designed to foment conflict and conspiracies.

Instahelp with body image

New data on the ways Instagram makes teens feel worse about their bodies is an opportunity for parents to start a conversation with their children about their online lives and encourage positive habits.

Local outlets at risk as the way we pay for news changes

A New Zealand media researcher has mapped the digital news subscription market in nine countries and says local news outlets are at risk, as they are generally excluded from the platform payments.

A nation of digital users or leaders?

Australia risks becoming a laggard among the world’s top technologically driven nations without a stronger investment in digital technology-based research, innovation and workers, according to a new report.

Face to face

In these times of remote communication – and connection problems – how do we empathise with each other through the curtain of technology when non-verbal cues are missing?

A little bird told me…

Twitter has a reputation for ill tempered interactions, but changes in its design could help moderate the heat of debate and reduce the incidence of personal targeting and abuse.

Influence for hire in the Asia-Pacific

Social media platforms across the region are being exploited by anti-democratic forces to spread disinformation and undermine support for freely elected governments and democracy itself.

News Corp walks a delicate line on COVID politics

Decision makers within News Corporation are now fighting among themselves over how its platforms should position themselves in response to the worsening COVID crisis in New South Wales.

Your face belongs to TikTok

TikTok is hugely popular but its latest decision to capture unique digital copies of users faces and voices poses a cybersecurity threat to our identities and privacy.

Time to cancel cancel culture?

Banishing people from public discourse for personal transgressions or political incorrectness can do more harm than good.

WhatsApp and the right to encrypt

Encrypted messaging has become a very difficult business. Despite their reach, it’s hard to make money from messaging apps and their key service – encryption – is under constant attack from actors across the political spectrum.