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
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
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...
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.
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)
“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...
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...
Reposted by Belinda Barnet
Can I really encourage people to try out the detach quote feature on BlueSky. I use it all the time. If you’re getting lots of nasty comments (or even unwelcome cheerful ones) because you’ve been quoted, you can just remove your quoted post. Louis, feel free to try it on this post. It’s a lifesaver.
Yes, blocking and muting aggressively does help, I agree. And for the daily trickle of trolls, it's even adequate.
But when you get a sudden deluge due to a QT from someone with a following, it's nowhere near enough.
But when you get a sudden deluge due to a QT from someone with a following, it's nowhere near enough.
January 7, 2026 at 7:40 PM
Can I really encourage people to try out the detach quote feature on BlueSky. I use it all the time. If you’re getting lots of nasty comments (or even unwelcome cheerful ones) because you’ve been quoted, you can just remove your quoted post. Louis, feel free to try it on this post. It’s a lifesaver.
I feel like Ahmed al Ahmed has done more to foster *unity* and decency in the wake of the Bondi attack than anyone else. Just kind of modeling how to be a good human being.
Over and above the actual act of bravery on the day.
Over and above the actual act of bravery on the day.
January 7, 2026 at 2:25 AM
I feel like Ahmed al Ahmed has done more to foster *unity* and decency in the wake of the Bondi attack than anyone else. Just kind of modeling how to be a good human being.
Over and above the actual act of bravery on the day.
Over and above the actual act of bravery on the day.
Melbournians: remember to put some cold water in a tray (or ice block water) out for chickens birds etc
January 6, 2026 at 10:23 PM
Melbournians: remember to put some cold water in a tray (or ice block water) out for chickens birds etc
We are 6 days into 2026 and trump has already abducted a foreign leader and is threatening to annex Greenland.
Also a portal to the upside down has appeared in Heidelberg
Also a portal to the upside down has appeared in Heidelberg
January 6, 2026 at 2:00 AM
We are 6 days into 2026 and trump has already abducted a foreign leader and is threatening to annex Greenland.
Also a portal to the upside down has appeared in Heidelberg
Also a portal to the upside down has appeared in Heidelberg
Reposted by Belinda Barnet
BBC journalists have been banned from describing the kidnapped Venezuelan leader as having been kidnapped.
The BBC News Editor has sent this to BBC journalists.
The BBC News Editor has sent this to BBC journalists.
January 5, 2026 at 1:19 PM
BBC journalists have been banned from describing the kidnapped Venezuelan leader as having been kidnapped.
The BBC News Editor has sent this to BBC journalists.
The BBC News Editor has sent this to BBC journalists.
The Long Bay prison inmate posting content from a contraband phone (including a cute “unboxing” vid of another contraband device) now has 11.3K followers.
January 5, 2026 at 1:00 AM
The Long Bay prison inmate posting content from a contraband phone (including a cute “unboxing” vid of another contraband device) now has 11.3K followers.
We are just four days into 2026. Is it now acceptable to abduct foreign leaders and “run” their country for them?
January 3, 2026 at 8:30 PM
We are just four days into 2026. Is it now acceptable to abduct foreign leaders and “run” their country for them?
Reposted by Belinda Barnet
Their sense of victimhood when any other country tries to assert its sovereignty within its own juristiction is quite something.
December 31, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Their sense of victimhood when any other country tries to assert its sovereignty within its own juristiction is quite something.
US Congress is coming after our eSafety Commissioner. This makes me so mad. It is not actually about what Americans can or cannot say.
We want the platforms take responsibility for the content they show *Australians*. Australian kids in this instance.
www.theage.com.au/politics/fed...
We want the platforms take responsibility for the content they show *Australians*. Australian kids in this instance.
www.theage.com.au/politics/fed...
US Congress threatens eSafety commissioner with contempt charges
Online safety tsar Julie Inman Grant has been accused of harassing American companies over Australia’s under-16 social media ban.
www.theage.com.au
December 31, 2025 at 7:46 AM
US Congress is coming after our eSafety Commissioner. This makes me so mad. It is not actually about what Americans can or cannot say.
We want the platforms take responsibility for the content they show *Australians*. Australian kids in this instance.
www.theage.com.au/politics/fed...
We want the platforms take responsibility for the content they show *Australians*. Australian kids in this instance.
www.theage.com.au/politics/fed...
Reposted by Belinda Barnet
Seasonal Australian fashion choice: cicada shells as brooches
December 24, 2025 at 5:37 AM
Seasonal Australian fashion choice: cicada shells as brooches
Reposted by Belinda Barnet
This is brilliantly done
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qF8_...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qF8_...
TCM Remembers 2025 | TCM
YouTube video by Turner Classic Movies
www.youtube.com
December 23, 2025 at 7:10 AM
This is brilliantly done
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qF8_...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qF8_...
What a gross performance. Slapping the table and shouting that Foreign Minister Penny Wong hasn’t “shed a single tear” in public isn’t going to win you votes. Or whatever you were trying to achieve there
December 22, 2025 at 9:20 AM
What a gross performance. Slapping the table and shouting that Foreign Minister Penny Wong hasn’t “shed a single tear” in public isn’t going to win you votes. Or whatever you were trying to achieve there
Lego Star Wars at Melb Museum
December 21, 2025 at 3:00 AM
Lego Star Wars at Melb Museum