Media Files: Facebook’s Mia Garlick on #Ausvotes2019 and how Australian MPs use social media

Facebook’s Mia Garlick says, ‘we’re frequently seeing politicians use the Facebook Live tool to augment a press conference or to directly speak to voters about the issues of importance of the day.’ AAP/MICK TSIKAS

Andrea Carson, La Trobe University, Andrew Dodd, The University of Melbourne

Authors

Andrea Carson
Associate Professor at La Trobe University. Department of Politics, Media and Philosophy, La Trobe University
Andrew Dodd
Director of the Centre for Advancing Journalism, The University of Melbourne

Disclosure statement

Andrea Carson receives funding from The Australian Research Council for a discovery on the role of big data in public policy decision-making. She has previously researched digital newsrooms on a Facebook-funded research project in 2017.

Andrew Dodd does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Partners

University of Melbourne provides funding as a founding partner of The Conversation AU.

La Trobe University provides funding as a member of The Conversation AU.

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Facebook’s Mia Garlick on how Australian politicians are using social media The Conversation44.8 MB (download)

As we enter the final straight of the Australian election campaign, we ask you: how much of your information about the issues and the candidates comes from social media?

Today’s Media Files podcast examines the role of social media in election campaigns, including the spread of “fake news” and foreign political interference.

Joining us is Facebook’s policy director Mia Garlick to help us understand the scale of traffic on social media.

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Podcasts are often best enjoyed using a podcast app. All iPhones come with the Apple Podcasts app already installed, or you may want to listen and subscribe on another app such as Pocket Casts (click here to listen to Media Files on Pocket Casts).

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Additional credits

Producers: Andy Hazel and Marg Purdam.

Theme music: Susie Wilkins.

Image

Mick Tsikas/AAP

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