Federal Inquiry to Examine Impact of Social Media

Social media platforms will be under the microscope as part of a parliamentary probe into their influence and impact on Australian society. The federal government will create a committee to investigate content people are exposed to online. The joint standing committee is set to examine algorithms on social media platforms and how they determine what users see, as well as their impact on mental health. Harmful content online such as extremist material and scams will be at the centre of the inquiry. The decision of Facebook’s parent company Meta to abandon deals with media companies to support public interest journalism will also be in focus....