Written by Kotori Tayama-Gannon

AI search and digital distrust  

A new Australian media policy report by The University of Canberra’s News and Media Research Centre argues that algorithms now play a major role in shaping what people see online, with limited public accountability.  

It follows the News Futures: Media Policy Roundtable, which brought together 45 leaders across industry, government, not-for-profit organisations, digital platforms and academia, who raised concerns that the lack of regulation around AI poses a growing risk to journalism and public trust. 

The discussion comes as more Australians move away from traditional news and become more reliant on social feeds, influencers and AI-generated summaries to stay informed. At the same time, publishers are facing pressure from “zero-click” AI search experiences, where information is surfaced directly without users visiting the original source. 

Researchers say this is creating a significant imbalance, with platforms shaping what people see and understand without clearly explaining how content is prioritised, ranked or suppressed. The report calls for mandatory labelling of AI-generated content, stronger protections for journalism used in AI training, and greater investment in media literacy. 

As AI becomes increasingly embedded in everyday life, transparency is needed more than ever – and understanding not only what is seen online, but why and where it appears, is becoming a crucial digital skill. 

When creator content has consequences  

A Queensland couple behind a popular ‘vanlife’ YouTube channel have been ordered to pay more than $1 million in damages following a legal dispute with caravan manufacturer, Masterpiece Caravans. 

The case arose after the couple posted a negative video about their caravan and the company, despite having agreed not to do so under a settlement agreement between both parties. The court found the content contained misleading claims about the manufacturer that damaged its commercial reputation and contributed to a significant decline in sales. 

The ruling highlights that the more niche the community, the more likely followers are to trust creator voices for opinions and recommendations – which significantly influences brand perception. 

The growing attention deficit in advertising  

New Australian research from Amplified and Omnicom Media suggests advertisers could be losing significant value by overinvesting in low-attention media environments. 

The study analysed more than $5 billion in Australian video and cinema ad spend and found that 86% of investment sits in formats that struggle to hold attention long enough to build lasting brand memory.  

Premium, high-attention environments like those shown on the big screen performed significantly better than non-premium social placements, particularly for challenger brands building awareness. 

One of the key findings is that weak attention doesn’t just reduce effectiveness – it can actually benefit competitors. When audiences disengage before fully processing the brand, they may still remember the category, but forget which company name it was tied to. 

The research also shifts the conversation beyond creative itself. Despite Marketers having traditionally focused on reach and efficiency, it is clear the media environment may matter just as much in shaping how ads are noticed and retained. 

The takeaway? Visibility means very little if nobody is paying attention long enough to remember you. 

New Instagram feature to keep you swiping 

Instagram is testing a new feature that would allow users to add individual captions to each image or video within a carousel post. 

The update reflects Instagram’s continued focus on carousel content, which has become one of the platform’s strongest-performing formats for engagement and reach. Longer interaction times, multiple swipe opportunities and more layered storytelling have all contributed to carousel posts outperforming many static image formats. 

Giving users the ability to caption each frame individually creates more room for education-style content, product explainers, tutorials and narrative-driven posts. It also encourages audiences to spend more time actively engaging with content rather than scrolling past quickly. 

As platforms become increasingly crowded, social algorithms are rewarding content that keeps users engaged for longer periods rather than simply generating fast impressions. With the attention economy continuing to evolve, this is another sign that depth is starting to outperform immediacy.  

It is no longer just about stopping the scroll, but about giving audiences a reason to stay.