In the first half of 2024, one-third of Australians accessed Facebook for news, a new study reveals. The finding contradicts Meta’s long-standing assertion that news content is a minor part of the Facebook experience for most Australian users.

Country Press Australia’s Andrew Schreyer recently addressed the Joint Select Committee on Social Media and Australian Society and called for Meta to be held to account for its recent actions and treatment of news publishers.

Read Mr Schreyer’s opinion piece.

A decision by a large, faceless US based company miles away in their corporate offices may not seem to have much impact here, out in Hay, or in Balranald or Ivanhoe. Our local newspaper – YOUR newspaper – surely feels no impact from Facebook or Instagram. Or does it?