The global disinformation order

We once hoped that social media would help bring down dictatorships, but the use of social media by authoritarian countries to spread their propaganda around the world is actually undermining democratic nations.

Are legal curbs coming for social media?

Defamation law reform may see social media companies held liable for what they publish, but while this would be good for lawyers, it might be chilling for free speech.

Face to face with Facebook

Beleaguered social network Facebook is charging ahead with plans for world domination despite falling public trust in its administration and multiple investigations by lawmakers in the US.

Is social media harming our kids?

Social media is a ubiquitous part of life, especially for our “digitally-native” children and adolescents, but is it causing more harm than good? 5 experts weigh in on the topic in this special feature article.

Who owns your content on social media?

Hardly anyone reads the contract terms when joining social media platforms, and so few users realise they are giving away their rights to their own material in the small print.

Snarky tweets and national security

The most common form of interference in democratic elections isn’t direct tampering with results but disinformation campaigns to undermine candidates, increase polarisation and reduce public trust in institutions.

That Instagram post may cost you more than you think

We don’t really know how social media posts are being used or evaluated by banks. We need greater transparency around exactly how our data will be used and the ability to challenge decisions.

Twitter and Facebook counter China’s information onslaught

The bans on Chinese propaganda accounts by Twitter and Facebook highlights how the Chinese government uses media power to shape the narrative and project its own interests.

The problems of policing the post-Christchurch internet

The Australian Parliament has passed legislation to punish social media platforms showing violent videos, but is the reaction to the Christchurch massacre right in principle and can it be effective in practice?

Facebook’s new crush on its users

The social media giant is entering the dating app market, but will it be seen as yet another invasion of privacy or a fun way to help shy people get together?

The social media “own goals” of young athletes

Social media offers budding and elite athletes a shortcut to celebrity, but the price of building a public persona can be all too high for rising stars still finding their feet in real life.

How second hand social media profiling can target you

A new study has found that people can be accurately profiled by using data from their friends’ accounts, even when they have deleted their own social media.