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Sydney Morning Herald
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Why isn't there a single social media-savvy MP in Parliament?
Chandler-Mather is in some ways a poor messenger, given his loss, but he insists there are longer-term risks from politicians' lack of engagement with voters on social media platforms. 'Australia's going down the pathway of this sort of slow disengagement,' says Chandler-Mather. 'Like, the number of people disengaging from politics increases every year. The number of people who feel sort of distrustful of politics increases every year.' Tim Doyle, a marketing savant who has done contract work for Labor in the past and now leads telehealth company Eucalyptus, says Australian political parties are behind much of the Western world. 'They also only fire up the engine, which needs to be always on, about six weeks before an election,' Doyle says. Where an American politician like Mamdani might throw himself into the ocean fully clothed in midwinter as he declares 'I'm freezing… your rent', Australian MPs play it safe, Doyle says. 'Politicians are terrified of being vulnerable and that's the essential thing for social media,' he says. 'They have no idea what engagement matters. They preach to their true believers, who like and share their content, but that does nothing to convince the undecided voters they need.' Good social posts, he says, 'should make your true believers a little bit uncomfortable.' Only a handful of politicians tiptoe into the stunts and trends that might distinguish them online from the parade of slick brand videos and AI-generated slop. Dan Repacholi, the MP for the Hunter in NSW, has, for example, posted videos with fake wounds to promote safety in the mining industry and tells men to 'watch your nuts' as part of his role as a men's health envoy. One Nation's Please Explain cartoon has flourished online, but is between seasons. And Keith Wolahan, a Liberal MP who did extensive social media directed at Chinese-Australian voters, lost his Melbourne seat at the election. Loading But most MPs have only a few thousand followers, far fewer than niche hobby influencers, and fill their feed with screenshots of press releases, clips from television interviews and awkward, unedited speeches about the opening of local facilities. One Labor MP, speaking on condition of anonymity, says the government has no unified social media strategy outside of elections. 'People just do their own social media,' the MP says. 'After coming to government, I just don't have the time.' Former Labor campaign strategist Megan Lane says Australia's compulsory and preferential voting system means that politicians here can use social media differently than other countries. There is no need to persuade voters to back a candidate in a primary, to bring disengaged people to a booth on polling day, or to tack to extremes because preferential voting tends to bring those ballots back to the parties in the centre. Politics is also less polarised, making it less likely to be picked up by an algorithm online. 'Instead of exciting rusted-on supporters to drive up voter turnout, Australian politicians are essentially focused on persuading punters that they are the least bad option,' Lane says. Mainstream media too still has huge influence. Seven's Sunrise breakfast television program, for example, had a national average audience of 399,000 people as of July 16, according to figures from industry measurement provider Virtual Australia. Morning interviews often draw further reporting from outlets, as do scoops in newspapers, multiplying their audience throughout the day. But another dynamic is staffing. Political staffers on both sides of politics, who were not authorised to speak publicly, said social media was typically the responsibility of the most junior person in an MPs office. Career progression required going into policy development or traditional public relations. 'They all think about traditional media all the time and never social,' Doyle says of politicians, who are in their mid-40s on average when elected, according to data from the Parliamentary Library. Jenrick's approach is different. The MP employs a 21-year-old called Dov Forman to film his videos. Uniquely among political staffers, Forman is a social star in his own right who racked up millions of views filming the stories of his great-grandmother, a Holocaust survivor, during the pandemic. His expertise is evident in his style. Where most Australian MPs talk straight into the camera, Forman's videos for Jenrick are frenetic. His 58-second clip on fare evasion has 33 jump cuts. There is a risk in getting social media wrong, though. 'It's a personal choice,' says the Labor MP. 'How do you get people to focus on your message without turning yourself into a clown?' 'Some people in the crossbench are happy to veer towards silly stuff but if you want to be serious in government I don't think it's worthwhile.' Loading Chandler-Mather, the former Greens MP who developed a huge social media following, disagrees. 'The idea that 'We're a party of government, and so we can't propose anything other than tinker around the edges' is a completely self-serving argument,' Chandler-Mather says. He argues that politicians from the major parties lack the charisma and appealing messages that work online. 'To be honest, the calibre of Australian politician isn't fantastic,' Chandler-Mather concludes. His loss, he says, was a result of major party preferences and being outspent.
The Age
18-07-2025
- Politics
- The Age
Why isn't there a single social media-savvy MP in Parliament?
Chandler-Mather is in some ways a poor messenger, given his loss, but he insists there are longer-term risks from politicians' lack of engagement with voters on social media platforms. 'Australia's going down the pathway of this sort of slow disengagement,' says Chandler-Mather. 'Like, the number of people disengaging from politics increases every year. The number of people who feel sort of distrustful of politics increases every year.' Tim Doyle, a marketing savant who has done contract work for Labor in the past and now leads telehealth company Eucalyptus, says Australian political parties are behind much of the Western world. 'They also only fire up the engine, which needs to be always on, about six weeks before an election,' Doyle says. Where an American politician like Mamdani might throw himself into the ocean fully clothed in midwinter as he declares 'I'm freezing… your rent', Australian MPs play it safe, Doyle says. 'Politicians are terrified of being vulnerable and that's the essential thing for social media,' he says. 'They have no idea what engagement matters. They preach to their true believers, who like and share their content, but that does nothing to convince the undecided voters they need.' Good social posts, he says, 'should make your true believers a little bit uncomfortable.' Only a handful of politicians tiptoe into the stunts and trends that might distinguish them online from the parade of slick brand videos and AI-generated slop. Dan Repacholi, the MP for the Hunter in NSW, has, for example, posted videos with fake wounds to promote safety in the mining industry and tells men to 'watch your nuts' as part of his role as a men's health envoy. One Nation's Please Explain cartoon has flourished online, but is between seasons. And Keith Wolahan, a Liberal MP who did extensive social media directed at Chinese-Australian voters, lost his Melbourne seat at the election. Loading But most MPs have only a few thousand followers, far fewer than niche hobby influencers, and fill their feed with screenshots of press releases, clips from television interviews and awkward, unedited speeches about the opening of local facilities. One Labor MP, speaking on condition of anonymity, says the government has no unified social media strategy outside of elections. 'People just do their own social media,' the MP says. 'After coming to government, I just don't have the time.' Former Labor campaign strategist Megan Lane says Australia's compulsory and preferential voting system means that politicians here can use social media differently than other countries. There is no need to persuade voters to back a candidate in a primary, to bring disengaged people to a booth on polling day, or to tack to extremes because preferential voting tends to bring those ballots back to the parties in the centre. Politics is also less polarised, making it less likely to be picked up by an algorithm online. 'Instead of exciting rusted-on supporters to drive up voter turnout, Australian politicians are essentially focused on persuading punters that they are the least bad option,' Lane says. Mainstream media too still has huge influence. Seven's Sunrise breakfast television program, for example, had a national average audience of 399,000 people as of July 16, according to figures from industry measurement provider Virtual Australia. Morning interviews often draw further reporting from outlets, as do scoops in newspapers, multiplying their audience throughout the day. But another dynamic is staffing. Political staffers on both sides of politics, who were not authorised to speak publicly, said social media was typically the responsibility of the most junior person in an MPs office. Career progression required going into policy development or traditional public relations. 'They all think about traditional media all the time and never social,' Doyle says of politicians, who are in their mid-40s on average when elected, according to data from the Parliamentary Library. Jenrick's approach is different. The MP employs a 21-year-old called Dov Forman to film his videos. Uniquely among political staffers, Forman is a social star in his own right who racked up millions of views filming the stories of his great-grandmother, a Holocaust survivor, during the pandemic. His expertise is evident in his style. Where most Australian MPs talk straight into the camera, Forman's videos for Jenrick are frenetic. His 58-second clip on fare evasion has 33 jump cuts. There is a risk in getting social media wrong, though. 'It's a personal choice,' says the Labor MP. 'How do you get people to focus on your message without turning yourself into a clown?' 'Some people in the crossbench are happy to veer towards silly stuff but if you want to be serious in government I don't think it's worthwhile.' Loading Chandler-Mather, the former Greens MP who developed a huge social media following, disagrees. 'The idea that 'We're a party of government, and so we can't propose anything other than tinker around the edges' is a completely self-serving argument,' Chandler-Mather says. He argues that politicians from the major parties lack the charisma and appealing messages that work online. 'To be honest, the calibre of Australian politician isn't fantastic,' Chandler-Mather concludes. His loss, he says, was a result of major party preferences and being outspent.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Benson Boone Teases Thoughts on Attending Tom Holland and Zendaya's Wedding 1 Week After Being Spotted with Holland
At the American Music Awards on May 26, Benson Boone said that it would be an "immediate yes" if he was asked to sing at Tom Holland and Zendaya's wedding, and wouldn't pass up the opportunity to attend if invited Boone's comments come about a week after he was spotted spending time with Holland Holland and Zendaya have not publicly set a wedding date, with a source previously telling PEOPLE that they "won't rush a wedding"Benson Boone is hoping to score an invite to a highly anticipated celebrity wedding. During a red carpet interview with E! News at the American Music Awards on Monday, May 26, the singer-songwriter, 22, spoke about his budding friendship with Tom Holland, whom he was photographed with in West Hollywood last week. He credits their new bond to "word of mouth," and says that if their relationship continues to grow, he'd be happy to attend his and Zendaya's wedding — either as a guest or a performer. If he was asked by the couple to sing at their nuptials, Boone said it would be an "immediate yes." "Of course, of course!" he added. "I'm not going to pass that up." The "Beautiful Things" singer didn't reveal anything else about his somewhat unexpected friendship with Holland but did gush that "he's a great, great human being." Boone isn't the only one hoping to snag an invite to the Spider-Man costars' wedding. Earlier this month, Euphoria alum Storm Reid, 21, exclusively told PEOPLE that she'll "hopefully" be invited to the wedding and "would love to be the flower girl." "I don't know when that's happening," she said of the couple's big day, later adding,"Whenever it happens, I'm so happy for her, and I'll be there to support." It might be a while before Holland and Zendaya, both 28, tie the knot. "They will just enjoy things for now and won't rush a wedding," an insider told PEOPLE in January. "They are both busy with work projects." Zendaya's longtime stylist, Law Roach, recently suggested that the couple will keep mum about the big day when it happens, despite all the buzz. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "She and Tom are super private about their relationship," Roach explained on the May 8 episode of Complex's "Please Explain" series. "They're trying to be as private as possible." He continued, "There won't be a Vogue spread or there won't be pictures of the wedding and the people who she will invite will be really respectful of their privacy, so it will be a really beautiful dress that no one gets to see." Read the original article on People
Time of India
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'No one will ever see Zendaya's beautiful wedding dress,' says the 28-year-old's stylist, Law Roach
No one shall ever see the customised, highly crafted wedding dress of Zendaya . The heartwrenching words were expressed by her stylist, Law Roach, especially when there is likely to be a 'no photo' policy at the wedding. What did Law Roach say? In an interview with Complex's Please Explain, Law said Zendaya's wedding dress will be the one 'nobody will ever see.' 'She and Tom are super private about their relationship. Operation Sindoor Amid flare-up hours after thaw, officials say things will settle down with time Ceasefire on, but pressure stays: Key decisions by India against Pak that still stand 'Will work with India & Pakistan to seek solution on Kashmir': Trump They're trying to be as private as possible. There won't be a Vogue spread, or there won't be pictures of the wedding, and the people who she will invite will be really respectful of their privacy, so it will be a really beautiful dress that no one gets to see,' Law added. Additionally, when Law was asked whether he had dreamt of one such dress for the nuptials, the 46-year-old disagreed, citing that his hands are full creating looks for the upcoming projects and their press tours. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Your Finger Shape Says a Lot About Your Personality, Read Now Tips and Tricks Undo Wedding is 'far away' Previously, Roach was asked about his involvement in Zendaya and Tom's big day. While the stylist indeed says yes, he also mentioned that the special day is 'far away' as both the actors have upcoming projects in 2026. This year will be his breather for all the red carpets and tours Zendaya has to do next year. The debut of the engagement ring The super-private couple never really announced their engagement, but they definitely teased it. Zendaya wore a massive diamond ring on her left hand on the red carpet of the Golden Globes 2025. Zendaya debuted the 't' tattoo as well, which she got a couple of days before the alleged engagement, while Tom also got a 'z' tattoo, according to People. Holland got on one knee to pop the question during the holidays at one of Zendaya's family's homes, as per TMZ. Following the report, the source added that everyone close to the couple knew that the engagement was happening while Tom was keen to ask her the question for a while. However, the wedding won't be rushed, and of course, it will be a secret. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . And don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Zendaya and Tom Holland Wedding Update Leaves Fans Devastated
Fans will likely not get a glimpse of 's wedding dress when she and Tom Holland finally tie the knot. In an interview on Complex's Please Explain series, the 28-year-old actress' stylist and close friend confirmed that "it'll be a beautiful dress," but the world would probably "never see" it on her. "She and Tom are super private about their relationship," Roach explained. "They try to be as private as possible so I don't think there [would be] a Vogue spread or pictures of the wedding." Roach added that the people the couple invite "will be really respectful of their privacy. The stylist also added that the wedding will likely not be happening anytime soon since "Zendaya's working on six movies" and his focus is more on the press tour outfits rather than the wedding. 🎬SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox🎬 Zendaya first flaunted her stunning engagement ring at the red carpet for the 82nd Golden Globe Awards back on Jan. 5. TMZ were the first reported the pair's engagement on Jan. 6 and confirmed the Spider Man actor popped the question "between Christmas and New Year's" in the U.S. A source also told PEOPLE Magazine back on Jan. 6 that "everyone close to them knew an engagement was happening" and that Holland wanted to proposed "for a while." "He's always been crazy about her," the source said. "He always knew she was the one. They have something very special." The source also confirmed that the couple "won't rush a wedding" since they're "both busy with work projects" and plan to "enjoy things for now."
