Belinda Barnet
@manjusrii.bsky.social
Snr Lecturer digital media Swinburne Uni, chicken whisperer, researcher. Smells books. Maybe we can build a new thing here 🌱
The Upside Down: https://twitter.com/manjusrii
The Upside Down: https://twitter.com/manjusrii
Pinned
Belinda Barnet
@manjusrii.bsky.social
· May 3
Canada: it was a close fight, but even the conservative leader lost his seat
Australia: hold my beer
Australia: hold my beer
They’ve installed a conservative white guy who went to Kings college. It’s a factory reset.
February 13, 2026 at 12:51 AM
They’ve installed a conservative white guy who went to Kings college. It’s a factory reset.
Does anyone else spend at least a few precious seconds every hour exclaiming “FFS I don’t **ing want copilot right now”?
February 12, 2026 at 1:51 AM
Does anyone else spend at least a few precious seconds every hour exclaiming “FFS I don’t **ing want copilot right now”?
Reposted by Belinda Barnet
Latest figures show that Australians still hate the thought of travelling to the USA - me in #PointLive
live.thepoint.com.au
live.thepoint.com.au
February 12, 2026 at 1:35 AM
Latest figures show that Australians still hate the thought of travelling to the USA - me in #PointLive
live.thepoint.com.au
live.thepoint.com.au
I wonder if all this self-destruction over the last six months is because they just can’t handle being led by a woman
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Angus Taylor resigns from shadow cabinet before expected Liberal leadership challenge
Taylor says party in ‘worst position’ since formation and says he does not believe Sussan Ley is in position to lead
www.theguardian.com
February 11, 2026 at 7:49 PM
I wonder if all this self-destruction over the last six months is because they just can’t handle being led by a woman
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Trump is of course busy sowing mistrust in the electoral system on Truth Social again. He did this on Twitter in the leadup up to the Capitol attack. He does this when he’s worried about losing something.
Can you not see this is an attempt to undermine democracy? Look after your democracy America.
Can you not see this is an attempt to undermine democracy? Look after your democracy America.
February 9, 2026 at 10:08 PM
Trump is of course busy sowing mistrust in the electoral system on Truth Social again. He did this on Twitter in the leadup up to the Capitol attack. He does this when he’s worried about losing something.
Can you not see this is an attempt to undermine democracy? Look after your democracy America.
Can you not see this is an attempt to undermine democracy? Look after your democracy America.
Reposted by Belinda Barnet
Absolutely perfect dog to have found that stick
This pup found a stick shaped like an old timey pipe earlier today and has already solved three mysteries. 13/10
February 4, 2026 at 10:03 PM
Absolutely perfect dog to have found that stick
Reposted by Belinda Barnet
‘The People vs Robodebt’ won Best Documentary at the AACTA Awards
February 5, 2026 at 9:04 AM
‘The People vs Robodebt’ won Best Documentary at the AACTA Awards
One of my deepest fears with the breakup/breakdown of the LNP was that One Nation would step into the void and scoop up voters. Please can this not be happening
February 5, 2026 at 1:45 AM
One of my deepest fears with the breakup/breakdown of the LNP was that One Nation would step into the void and scoop up voters. Please can this not be happening
Some of the early reactions seem to say it’s a cheap shot, etc. But I’m here for it if it gets the wider public to question the ethics and motivation of AI
February 4, 2026 at 7:26 PM
Some of the early reactions seem to say it’s a cheap shot, etc. But I’m here for it if it gets the wider public to question the ethics and motivation of AI
Anthropic is running some Super Bowl ads that hit ChatGPT where it hurts (and borrow heavily from a season 7 black mirror episode).
But they are brilliant.
But they are brilliant.
Ads are coming to AI. But not to Claude. Keep thinking.
February 4, 2026 at 7:21 PM
Anthropic is running some Super Bowl ads that hit ChatGPT where it hurts (and borrow heavily from a season 7 black mirror episode).
But they are brilliant.
But they are brilliant.
Reposted by Belinda Barnet
Before, Big Tech algorithms decided what you saw.
Now you can opt out of the 'personalised' feed or make it chronological!
Ads must be transparent, and deceptive design is banned.
All because of our Digital Services Act.
Your digital life, your rules.
Now you can opt out of the 'personalised' feed or make it chronological!
Ads must be transparent, and deceptive design is banned.
All because of our Digital Services Act.
Your digital life, your rules.
February 3, 2026 at 9:24 AM
Before, Big Tech algorithms decided what you saw.
Now you can opt out of the 'personalised' feed or make it chronological!
Ads must be transparent, and deceptive design is banned.
All because of our Digital Services Act.
Your digital life, your rules.
Now you can opt out of the 'personalised' feed or make it chronological!
Ads must be transparent, and deceptive design is banned.
All because of our Digital Services Act.
Your digital life, your rules.
This is an insane invasion of data privacy. From The Intercept:
“…a judge gave the FBI permission to attempt to bypass biometrics: the convenient shortcuts that let you unlock your phone by scanning your fingerprint or face.
theintercept.com/2026/01/30/w...
“…a judge gave the FBI permission to attempt to bypass biometrics: the convenient shortcuts that let you unlock your phone by scanning your fingerprint or face.
theintercept.com/2026/01/30/w...
February 3, 2026 at 8:26 AM
This is an insane invasion of data privacy. From The Intercept:
“…a judge gave the FBI permission to attempt to bypass biometrics: the convenient shortcuts that let you unlock your phone by scanning your fingerprint or face.
theintercept.com/2026/01/30/w...
“…a judge gave the FBI permission to attempt to bypass biometrics: the convenient shortcuts that let you unlock your phone by scanning your fingerprint or face.
theintercept.com/2026/01/30/w...
For once in my life I actually believe Meta here. It’s very unlikely WhatsApp is reading your private messages.
Aside from everything else, Meta don’t need this data. They already get reams of data on you and know you better than your friends know you.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Aside from everything else, Meta don’t need this data. They already get reams of data on you and know you better than your friends know you.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
US authorities reportedly investigate claims that Meta can read encrypted WhatsApp messages
A lawsuit filed last week alleges tech firm ‘can access virtually all’ private communications, a claim the company has denied
www.theguardian.com
January 31, 2026 at 11:55 PM
For once in my life I actually believe Meta here. It’s very unlikely WhatsApp is reading your private messages.
Aside from everything else, Meta don’t need this data. They already get reams of data on you and know you better than your friends know you.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Aside from everything else, Meta don’t need this data. They already get reams of data on you and know you better than your friends know you.
www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Maybe European leaders should invent a World Peace Prize and give it to him in a lavish ceremony with bits of gold everywhere.
I’m not joking.
I’m not joking.
January 19, 2026 at 9:51 PM
Maybe European leaders should invent a World Peace Prize and give it to him in a lavish ceremony with bits of gold everywhere.
I’m not joking.
I’m not joking.
Did Trump really just say he’s going to invade Greenland because he didn’t get the Nobel prize? This is like an episode of South Park.
January 19, 2026 at 9:46 PM
Did Trump really just say he’s going to invade Greenland because he didn’t get the Nobel prize? This is like an episode of South Park.
They make it next to impossible to contact a human to ask what the charge is for. Also, this is a kid
January 18, 2026 at 7:24 AM
They make it next to impossible to contact a human to ask what the charge is for. Also, this is a kid
I’m not even sure which product they are charging for
January 18, 2026 at 7:11 AM
I’m not even sure which product they are charging for
Yes have done this. Can’t find it
January 18, 2026 at 7:05 AM
Yes have done this. Can’t find it
He is punishing the NATO countries who sent troops to Greenland. He is punishing his own allies. This is just gobsmacking (and spiteful)
January 17, 2026 at 7:38 PM
He is punishing the NATO countries who sent troops to Greenland. He is punishing his own allies. This is just gobsmacking (and spiteful)
This is why we need to rally behind our own eSafety Commission as it tries to make the platforms take *responsibility* for the content they publish. That’s what most of these new pieces of social media regulation are about.
January 15, 2026 at 7:41 PM
This is why we need to rally behind our own eSafety Commission as it tries to make the platforms take *responsibility* for the content they publish. That’s what most of these new pieces of social media regulation are about.
“In 2026 the trolls have crawled out from under the bridge and they’re running the joint, like orcs in Mordor.
Couldn’t agree more.
Story by Michelle Griffin www.theage.com.au/politics/fed...
Couldn’t agree more.
Story by Michelle Griffin www.theage.com.au/politics/fed...
Time to get off X, prime minister. It’s repulsive
Now would be a great time for the federal government and the opposition to review their use of the platform they condemn.
www.theage.com.au
January 15, 2026 at 7:34 PM
“In 2026 the trolls have crawled out from under the bridge and they’re running the joint, like orcs in Mordor.
Couldn’t agree more.
Story by Michelle Griffin www.theage.com.au/politics/fed...
Couldn’t agree more.
Story by Michelle Griffin www.theage.com.au/politics/fed...
They’ve just lost Zadie Smith. It doesn’t get more serious really.
January 9, 2026 at 6:15 AM
They’ve just lost Zadie Smith. It doesn’t get more serious really.
It is apparently ‘culturally insensitive’ to include a Palestinian-Australian who had nothing to do with Bondi in the lineup. This is insane.
www.theage.com.au/culture/book...
www.theage.com.au/culture/book...
Adelaide Festival pulls Palestinian-Australian writer from Writers’ Week program
The festival board said, “it would not be culturally sensitive” for her to appear “so soon after Bondi”.
www.theage.com.au
January 8, 2026 at 8:09 AM
It is apparently ‘culturally insensitive’ to include a Palestinian-Australian who had nothing to do with Bondi in the lineup. This is insane.
www.theage.com.au/culture/book...
www.theage.com.au/culture/book...