Talkin’ bout my generation

Social media is negatively impacting the life satisfaction of Australian high school students, according to the latest findings from Australia’s largest survey of young people.

The death – and rebirth – of local journalism

Local newspapers are dying out across Australia, as advertising and consumer attention moves online, but they still have a vital role to play in fostering social connection and a sense of community.

Saving kids from social media?

In response to growing public concern about the social affects of social media, the Albanese government will introduce legislation to enforce a minimum age for children to access major social platforms.

Defending democracy against disinformation

Australia needs an integrated approach to fighting disinformation from hostile foreign states.

Combating misinformation

The federal government’s proposed laws to curb rampant mis- and disinformation on social media need to have clearer definitions – and include the growing menace of mass produced, AI generated lies.

Could a tech tax save journalism?

Could a new tax make technology giants like Google and Meta pay for the news they distribute and profit from?

The men who killed the news

A new book examines the way modern media and technology moguls have dismantled journalistic ethics in pursuit of personal profit and undermined democracy itself.

No anarchy in the UK

A combination of better AI generated images, complicit social media platforms, hostile state actors and ‘post-truth’ politics threatens democracies around the world, but had little influence on Britain’s recent election.

If you can’t beat ’em…

Australian government departments should develop an engagement strategy with online influencers and invite them to join the press in attending international and security events.

The downside of doomscrolling

In a world first study on the impact of doomscrolling from an existential perspective, Flinders University researchers warn that habitual checking of disturbing stories on social media is linked with changes to how we view humankind and the meaning of life.

What the experts say…on social media bans for young people

Opposition leader Peter Dutton announced that he would like to implement a social media ban for children, and the Prime Minister followed suit by noting that technology restricting children’s social media access is still being developed but a ban would be a ‘good way to go’. What do Australia’s experts say on the situation?

Keeping track of new technology

The Australian Internet Observatory (AIO) is a major new research infrastructure initiative that will open up the ‘black box’ of digital platforms and their algorithms.