Social media platforms provide an important service for Australian consumers to connect and communicate with friends and family, public figures, influencers, and businesses online. They are also important intermediaries for businesses and advertisers seeking to reach customers, as well as for community organisations seeking to share relevant information with their members. These connections have brought significant benefits to Australian society and to the economy.

The sixth interim report of the Digital Platform Services Inquiry examines competition and consumer issues associated with social media services in Australia. It analyses how social media is used by consumers, businesses, advertisers, and influencers, how this use has changed over time. The report has a key focus on assessing competition for consumers by social media platforms. It also considers the importance of display advertising as a key revenue source of the platforms, the rapidly growing influencer marketing industry, and the harms that can occur in relation to social media services.