In our atomised society, we don’t just reject ideas and identities, we dehumanise those who hold them. There is a way out
he Bondi Junction attacker and the teen who allegedly stabbed the bishop used knives, but judging from the online reaction to both events, many of us have a different weapon in our hands: our smartphones.
Fifty hours later, after the knife attack in a Wakeley church, a crowd of about 2,000 supporters of the injured bishop allegedly injured police officers and damaged property. Several reports confirmed that social media was used to inflame the tensions. Both incidents were followed by uncensored videos and misinformationBoth post-attack escalations had telling similarities. A disregard for truth. An elevation of pre-existing prejudice. The inflammatory power of social media.
We self-checkout at supermarkets, work from home, shop online and have fingertip access to limitless entertainment. This virtualisation of life can blur the humanity of those outside our circles, fuelling our prejudices and enabling misinformation to flow. As New South Wales premier, Chris Minns, commented after the Wakeley church attacks: “It’s very difficult to maintain community cohesion when outright lies are spread within the community.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
As Facebook turns 20, news is out, fun is inSocial media are more popular than ever, but social networks are dying.
Read more »
The demise of Twitter: How a ‘utopian vision’ for social media became a ‘toxic mess’In the early days it was seen as a place for ‘genuine public discourse’, but users have fled since Elon Musk took over. What went wrong?
Read more »
Elon Musk-X-Surge of violence tests policy tolerance of social mediaThe Coalition in particular has to ask tricky questions of when enough is enough on social media platforms.
Read more »
X tells Aus govt it can’t dictate what the social media platform does overseasSocial media platform X has hit back at calls from the eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant to remove videos of the alleged Wakeley stabbing, arguing it has “complied with the notice” by restricting the posts in Australia.
Read more »
NRL forced to fix Anzac Day blunder on social media7NEWS brings you the latest local news from Australia and around the world. Stay up to date with all of the breaking sport, politics, entertainment, finance, weather and business headlines. Today's news, live updates & all the latest breaking stories from 7NEWS.
Read more »
The charts that prove social media has bigger dangers than Elon Musk’s egoThe argument about the violent terror attack video is urgent and important. But what if the greater danger is slow and insidious?
Read more »