Social media
Alternative labels
Online social networks
Report
Designing for disorder: Instagram's pro-eating disorder bubble in Australia
This report describes findings from a survey of 16 to 17-year-old Australians, finding widespread exposure to content promoting extreme weight loss and unhealthy diets on Instagram. It highlights the algorithmic amplification of eating disorder content on Instagram, and how it profits from this practice.
Journal article
Threats to valuing diverse voices in public debates about disability. A case study from social media
This study aimed to highlight the threats that use of social media poses to valuing diverse voices and different kinds of expertise about disability in public debates by exploring how disability advocates responded on social media to the evidence presented by researchers to the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with...
Briefing paper
Understanding global disinformation and information operations
ASPI’s International Cyber Policy Centre has launched the Understanding Global Disinformation and Information Operations website, alongside this companion paper. The site provides a visual breakdown of the publicly-available data from state-linked information operations on social media.
Report
WhatsApp in government: how ministers and officials should use messaging apps – and how they shouldn’t
This report looks at the increasing use of WhatsApp and other messaging apps in government, and their associated risks and benefits. These apps are useful but need to be used carefully to ensure the downsides – including a lack of transparency, poor communication and poor record keeping – do not outweigh the positives.
Report
COVID-19: Australian news and misinformation longitudinal study
This study examines how and where Australians are getting information about COVID-19, which sources they find trustworthy and their experiences with misinformation. The report extends the understanding around the access, consumption and critical engagement with news and misinformation during the ongoing global pandemic.