It’s a love story: how Taylor Swift bested Donald Trump
The personalities, topics and major news events that dominated Australian internet searches in 2024 have been revealed by Google.
internet
Half of remote communities cut off from mobile services
While internet access in remote areas is improving, half of Indigenous communities still lack mobile phone services.
Labor notches win as time runs out on political year
Labor has chalked up a last-minute legislative victory, with the Greens backing its housing scheme, as several MPs bid Canberra farewell.
New routes to secure internet for Australia, Pacific
New cables will entrench Australia's role as a state-of-the-art connection point for large volumes of data in a global digital ecosystem, project partners say.
Social media ban ‘significant risk’ to child’s rights
A blanket social media ban for Australians under 16 has been criticised for limiting rights and not having enough privacy safeguards for all users.
Price-conscious Aussies spend up on record Black Friday
The cost-of-living crisis is driving more and more people towards sales, delivering retailers a bonanza on the increasingly popular Black Friday.
Social media age ban coming ‘as soon as possible’: PM
A push to ban children younger than 16 from using social media platforms is likely to secure cross-party support and pass parliament as soon as next week.
Social media ban passes the test for school principals
Banning under 16s from social media would be critical for the wellbeing of young people, a peak body for school principals says.
Social media duty of care to users ‘a game changer’
Social media giants will need to take proactive steps to protect users and improve safety features under a digital duty of care introduced by the government.
Get off the internet: more dates, chats to go offline
It is not just governments considering social media bans: a study shows more Australians plan to disconnect and spend less time online.
Social media ban ‘unenforceable’, experts say
Keeping Australian children under 16 off social media will be unenforceable and tech giants should not be tasked with age verification, experts say.
Baby Shark won’t bite: YouTube entertainers issue plea
Prominent Australian children's entertainers are urging the federal government to pardon YouTube from its proposed social media ban to save an industry.
Youth advocates poke holes in teen social media curbs
A lack of detail about proposed social media curbs is causing teens anxiety, young online safety and mental health representatives have told an inquiry.
What the US election tells us about deepfake politics
Australian MPs are weighing how to curtail deepfake election advertisements, but a prominent artificial intelligence expert says a ban might be unnecessary.
Adults only: online codes to limit porn, gaming access
Australian internet users will have their age tested before they can access some gaming and pornographic websites under wide-ranging online safety proposals.
Protect children from online hellholes, spy chief urges
Children are at risk online from "adult strangers in alleyways" and the community must play a role in identifying warning signs, the nation's spy chief says.
Hands off: Labor eyes privatisation fight over NBN
The federal opposition has been challenged to reveal its position on the future of the $51 billion NBN after Labor introduced laws to keep it publicly-owned.
‘He made a sandwich on TikTok’: will voters be swayed?
From the UK, France and now to Queensland, political parties are using the popular social media platform to try and sway voters before the polls.
X Corp’s failed court bid avoids ‘concerning precedent’
A court dismissing X Corp's case against the eSafety Commissioner, finding it must respond to a $610,500 fine issued to Twitter, is a warning for tech giants.
Banning kids from social media could cause greater harm
Mental health experts don't support proposals to ban children from accessing social media and are warning it could have unintended consequences.
Children would lie about their age to evade YouTube ban
A teenage media proprietor says young Australians need to know more about a proposed social media ban as it could impact their education.
Parent groups urge total ban on child social media use
No child should be allowed to access social media networks in Australia, an inquiry has heard, and parents would also benefit from a blanket ban.
Google reveals plans to add AI to Aussie search results
Google's generative AI tool will explain search results in Australia as part of a technology trial but experts warn to watch for serious or funny mistakes.
Red flag over Russian operation targeting Aust media
Evidence has been uncovered to show a disinformation campaign targeting the Australian media is being operated from inside Russia.
X doesn’t mark the spot when it comes to Twitter fine
X Corp should not be responsible for fines issued to Twitter by the Australian eSafety Commissioner, its lawyers argued, as they are different companies.
Australia a step closer to social media bans for kids
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is unveiling plans to introduce age limits for social media as new research highlights its negative impact on life satisfaction.
Social media ban poses barrier to mental health support
Mental health services and youth advocacy groups say they will find it harder to connect with young people if the government goes ahead with a social media ban.
X Corp says Twitter does not exist, fines should vanish
American legal experts have taken the stand in Federal Court as lawyers for the social network known as X argue it should not have to pay Twitter's fines.
Children promised a say on social media age ban plans
Some young people will get around an age limit on social media but a ban is still needed to protect children, the prime minister says.
Privacy law calls as Meta admits farming Aussie photos
Experts are calling for changes to privacy laws after Meta revealed Australian photos from Facebook and Instagram were being used to train AI tools.
Social media misinformation to be policed by watchdog
The communications watchdog will be given new powers to crack down on misinformation on digital platforms under proposed federal laws.