As we enter the final straight of the Australian election campaign, we ask you: how much of your information about the issues and the candidates comes from social media?

Today’s Media Files podcast examines the role of social media in election campaigns, including the spread of “fake news” and foreign political interference.

Joining us is Facebook’s policy director Mia Garlick to help us understand the scale of traffic on social media.

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Podcasts are often best enjoyed using a podcast app. All iPhones come with the Apple Podcasts app already installed, or you may want to listen and subscribe on another app such as Pocket Casts (click here to listen to Media Files on Pocket Casts).

You can also hear us on any of the apps below. Just pick a service from one of those listed below and click on the icon to find Media Files.

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Additional credits

Producers: Andy Hazel and Marg Purdam.

Theme music: Susie Wilkins.

Image

Mick Tsikas/AAP

Andrea Carson receives funding from The Australian Research Council for a discovery on the role of big data in public policy decision-making. She has previously researched digital newsrooms on a Facebook-funded research project in 2017.

Andrew Dodd does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.