The new Darth Vader: how tech execs became the film villains of our age

Jeremy Strong’s portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Reckoning shows how public opinion has changed around billionaire CEOs since The Social Network’s release When The Social Network came out, Mark Zuckerberg organised a staff viewing of a ... Read more film he described as “fun”.

The one change that worked: I deleted Instagram – and embraced the joys of a truly private life

I’d become obsessed with appealing to my invisible audience. But since I ditched the app a year ago, my quieter moments have taken on brilliant new meaning I first downloaded Instagram when I was 17 and became hooked ... Read more on it the way most people fall in love: slowly, and then all at once. For a long time, I never considered myself a social media addict. I self-righteously refused to download TikTok, declared Snapchat to be for “children”, and posted less regularly on Instagram than half of the people I followed. As I went through my university years, however, certain changes crept up on me.

‘My social life completely plummeted’: gen Z is fighting back against big tech

From apps that block distractions to stripped-down phones, young people are finding ways to unplug from platforms they say profit from their attention.

Will an AI-cloned free tool spell the end of expensive software?

The article describes how AI tools are being used to clone existing software, potentially disrupting the tech industry. The article also discusses the ethical implications of AI-generated software cloning, including concerns about copyright infringement and the potential devaluation ... Read more of developer work.

‘Meaningless as a laptop screensaver’: reviewers slate Musk’s AI-made Odyssey film

Tesla tycoon launched Grok project after criticising Christoper Nolan’s diverse casting for his Homeric blockbuster Elon Musk has released an AI-generated rival to Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey after pledging to make a version “true to the art of ... Read more Homer”.

‘Emotional intimacy’ from AI chatbots would be banned under Australia’s digital duty of care laws

Labor government under pressure to create social media watchdog as new online safety standards bill passes lower house.

Castle Walls review – Prime’s first fully AI-generated show is here, and it’s a Vaseline-smeared mess

Billed as the first end-to-end AI-created series on a major streaming service, this Turkish show looks like the result of the prompt ‘make it cinematic’ Just as the world reels from Elon Musk’s AI-powered The Odyssey remake – ... Read more though “remake” feels rather generous for a seven-minute splat of synthetic sludge – another bucket of AI gunk is dropped on to our faces.

Social media is full of weird video game mashups. Where are they all coming from?

AI tools are making it easier to modify and recreate games, raising questions about piracy, copyright and how far the technology could disrupt the industry.

Educators weighing pluses and minuses of a 'digital detox' in school

Jason Clare proposes a digital detox for Australian schools, citing PISA results. Sweden’s shift to analogue tools follows declining scores, while Estonia and China use varied approaches. Japan’s resistance highlights concerns over early device use.

‘If you can’t hold it, you don’t own it’: why media fans want to escape algorithms with CDs, DVDs and vinyl

People describe their return to physical media – whether to protect data, support artists, or retain control of one’s choices For some, it is the security of knowing they have a physical copy of their favourite films and ... Read more music, free from algorithms, interruptions and the vagaries of streaming. For others, it is the sound of needle on vinyl, the click of a cassette player and the ability to interact with a physical format.