Today
US presidential contender backs Australia’s social media ban
Democrat heavyweight Rahm Emanuel, considered a contender for the 2028 presidential race, says the US should follow Australia’s lead and ban social media for kids.
Yesterday
Inman Grant lifted the lid on big tech. She didn’t like what she found
As Australia’s world-first social media ban comes into effect, eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant is feeling the pressure.
Reddit prepares challenge to Albanese’s social media age ban in court
The online forum has hired a top barrister and formidable law firm ahead of an expected High Court challenge to the laws.
This Month
Pressure mounts on Wells as travel expense revelations roll on
Anika Wells also billed taxpayers $765 on a chauffeur-driven car on the day she attended the Magic Millions Race Day on the Gold Coast.
Australia’s social media experiment under global spotlight
Australia’s all-out ban on the use of common social media apps by children under 16 is a world first, but other countries have either tried or plan restrictions.
Trump warns $108b Netflix-Warner deal ‘could be a problem’
The US president says Netflix’s “very big market share” in streaming video might be an issue, as it seeks regulatory approval for its blockbuster deal.
The social media ban will test every parent in this country
A risk facing Australian families is the belief that technological restriction will solve the broader psychological burdens placed on young people. It will not.
Wells bills taxpayers $1800 to attend Melbourne F1 Grand Prix with husband
Anthony Albanese insists his rising star sports and communications minister followed taxpayer-funded travel rules, but integrity experts say the rules need to change.
The UK tech firm profiting from age bans on Meta and TikTok
Few people would have heard of British digital identity firm Yoti. But now it’s working with social media platforms to help them track down underage users.
Teens prepping for social media ban consider the unthinkable: phone calls
Under 16s are getting ready for the impending prohibition by downloading new apps, getting VPNs, fake IDs and even exchanging phone numbers.
This Japanese mayor told residents to limit screen time to two hours. Here’s what happened next
The mayor of Japan’s small city of Toyoake has introduced a rule limiting all residents’ use of digital devices. He explains his reasons and gives guidance.
Why 17-year-olds could be locked out of social media
Age-gate’s margin of error will leave some older than 16 locked out of social media apps (and let some 15-year-olds in).
TikTok to spend more than $56b on Brazilian data centre
The social media giant has been investing heavily in such infrastructure as its user base grows and the Brazil project is its first venture into Latin America.
The Australian Open gets a fresh young look (like it or not)
Golf Australia boss James Sutherland says young fans are now returning to a sport traditionally regarded as a middle-aged white man’s game.
These little-known platforms are soaring as teens brace for social ban
Yope, Lemon8, Coverstar and Locket Widget are not household names – yet. But these are just some of the alternative social platforms teenagers are sharing.
Big tech ‘sabotage’ a risk after social media ban
Michael “Wippa” Wipfli co-founded the group that successfully pushed to lift the minimum age to use social media. A week out, he fears deliberate derailment.
How Advent calendars got out of control
What began as a form of religious expression has morphed into a weeks-long festival of consumption and an orgy of unboxing.
OpenAI in Australian blitz as it woos start-ups, corporates
The Silicon Valley giant behind ChatGPT will offer free services to major venture capital-backed tech companies as it attempts to steal a march on rivals.
TikTok’s big Australian data centre dream hits Chalmers stonewall
The Chinese-owned social media giant has asked Australian operators for proposals to build capacity here but is struggling for foreign investment approvals.
November
Anika Wells faces her ‘defining moment’
In bringing home Labor’s world-first social media ban, the Millennial mum and minister’s meteoric political rise encounters its sternest test yet.