Fixing our social media feeds and planning a new city in space
From Life Matters - Full program podcast by ABC Australia
May 31, 2026 · 55 min
About this episode
The episode discusses the impact of Australia's social media ban and explores the future of living in space.
Australia's social media ban has been in place for six months — with mixed reports on its success. For teens managing to bypass the ban, they're still swimming in the same addictive stream of harmful content. But could we change the way these algorithms work, and make social media a better place for everyone? Consent campaigner Chanel Contos and AI tech reporter Cam Wilson explain what it would take to fix our feeds. NASA is planning to build a home base for astronauts on the Moon as part of the Artemis program. It raises some big questions: are we any closer to a scenario where everyday humans are living somewhere other than Earth? And if we are, what would the ideal space city look like? Futurist Bridgette Engeler and Craig McCormack, who researches the possibilities of architecture in space, dive into the unknown. If you're looking for inspiration on where to take your next hike, the internet is full of visually stunning recommendations. But some of the most beautiful treks can be seriously dangerous. So how do we encourage people to visit these pristine locations without obscuring the risks?
People in this episode
Guests: Chanel Contos, Cam Wilson, Bridgette Engeler, Craig McCormack
Topics covered
- social media
- space exploration
- algorithms
- urban planning
- youth culture
- safety in nature
Keywords
- social media ban
- algorithms
- space city
- Artemis program
- youth
- hiking safety
- content moderation
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: NASA
Places: Australia
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