What we see online can have real world effects, for good or ill
s Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has played out, the ubiquity of social media in the conflict has been striking. Alongside the information wars being fought by the governments, militaries and authorities involved, and the reporting from accredited journalists, there is now almost unlimited potential for ordinary people caught up in events to share their own experiences.
Sign up to our Inside Saturday newsletter for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the making of the magazine’s biggest features, as well as a curated list of our weekly highlights. Social media users do not just watch these events unfold in real time; they react to and interact with them. Gestures such as incorporating a Ukrainian flag into one’s username may be merely symbolic, but when users lobby politicians online, donate money, or even offer up their own homes to refugees, their engagement with the war begins to have real-world consequences.
During the first world war, cinema provided a new medium. In August 1916, the British War Office released a feature-length film,, mixing documentary footage with staged recreations. It was an extraordinary success: 20 million people saw it during its first few weeks of release. There was widespread anxiety, though, about graphic images of casualties, and whether exhibiting them turned war into a gruesome form of entertainment.
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.
Lawn envy: Social media and the pandemic create a turf war for the best on streetThe grass is always greener in the neighbour’s frontyard: lockdown and a rise of social media pages pitched at lawn fanatics have contributed to a new zeal for the perfect lawn, and an interest in new grass types.
Read more »
This ‘influencer-free’ social media app is taking on Instagram - can BeReal make it big?BeReal’s user base has grown by 315% since January, promising an authentic social media experience. But in a crowded digital environment, can this new type of network have an impact?
Read more »
Lawn envy: Social media and the pandemic create a turf war for the best on streetThe grass is always greener in the neighbour’s frontyard: lockdown and a rise of social media pages pitched at lawn fanatics have contributed to a new zeal for the perfect lawn, and an interest in new grass types.
Read more »
Power shots: The photographs more potent than wordsWar, COVID-19, climate change: The turbulent times we live in, as captured by these highlights from the 2022 World Press Photo Contest.
Read more »
Controversial Liberal candidate breaks silence over offensive social media posts, reveals she's received death threatsThe Sydney Northern Beaches candidate, who likened her stance against transgender inclusion in sports to standing up against Nazis, says the social media platform was not the place to have the 'complex, nuanced' debate.
Read more »
How are politicians using social media to campaign?Labor leader Anthony Albanese’s absence from the campaign trail has made clear how crucial social media will be to deciding who forms the next government.
Read more »