Treasurer Jim Chalmers has described social media as a “business model for hate”, blaming algorithmic rage-bait for toxic politics and abuse aimed at politicians, while a new survey shows half of young Australians now view the United States as a threat rather than a friend.
Speaking at the Political Book of the Year awards in Canberra, Chalmers reflected on the alleged attack against independent MP Helen Haines last week. He said hate had always been present in Australian society but now has “a business model, a formula, an assembly line for mass-production.”
He described a new kind of digital misogyny that follows women in public life wherever they go, making the current climate harshest for women. The climate is no accident, he said: hate is monetised and weaponised by algorithmic rage-bait, extremism is incentivised and nuance is penalised. He added that books inform views without hardening them, while social media hardens views without informing them.
Haines is recovering in hospital. Police have charged a 43-year-old man over the alleged attack outside her Wangaratta electorate office.
Separately, a YouGov survey commissioned by the Australia Institute found the United States is increasingly seen as a threat by Australians. Only half of those polled considered longtime ally the US a friend, while 42% perceived America as a threat, defined as a nation viewed with caution or suspicion.
The survey found two-thirds of One Nation voters see the US as a friend, with Coalition voters close behind. Labor voters are largely split, and only one-quarter of Greens voters view the US positively. Among young voters, only 4% labelled the US a “close friend” while over half considered it a threat. Just 21% of respondents had confidence in US President Donald Trump to “do the right thing” in world affairs, ahead of only the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, and the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un.
Indonesia, a close geographic neighbour, was rated a more trusted partner than the United States, leading by 14% in the friend category.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Chalmers’ remarks signal a growing official concern about how social media platforms amplify political hostility, especially toward women in public life, and could shape future regulation or platform accountability measures.
- The survey reflects a notable shift in Australian public opinion, with many citizens, particularly the young, moving away from traditional alliances and toward regional partners like Indonesia.
- Low confidence in President Trump and other global leaders may affect how Australians view international diplomacy and security cooperation.
Background
Chalmers’ comments come after an alleged attack on independent MP Helen Haines, who is recovering in hospital; police have charged a man over the incident. The survey was conducted by YouGov for the Australia Institute, a progressive think tank, and reported by AAP. It indicates a generational divide in attitudes toward the US, with younger Australians far more skeptical than older voters.
Key Perspectives
- Jim Chalmers (Treasurer): Calls social media a “business model for hate” and says algorithmic rage-bait monetises and weaponises hate, incentivising extremism and penalising nuance.
- YouGov/Australia Institute survey respondents: Only half view the US as a friend, 42% see it as a threat, and among young voters over half consider it a threat.
- Survey respondents by party: One Nation and Coalition voters largely see the US as a friend; Labor voters are split; only a quarter of Greens voters view it positively.
What to Watch
- Whether Chalmers’ remarks translate into new policy proposals or legislative action targeting social media platforms in Australia.
- Updates on Helen Haines’ recovery and any further legal proceedings in the attack case.
- Future polls to see if the decline in trust toward the US continues or stabilises, especially as the Australian government navigates its alliance with Washington.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedThe headline says Chalmers calls social media a “business model for hate”.Business | The Guardian: “Politics live: Chalmers calls social media a ‘business model for hate’; half of young Australians say US a ‘threat’.”
- SupportedThe headline says half of young Australians see the US as a threat.Business | The Guardian: “Only 4% of young voters labelled the US a “close friend” while over half considered it a threat.”
- Partly supportedThe summary says trust is shifting toward regional neighbours.Business | The Guardian: “Australia’s immediate neighbours are trusted more than historic allies, according to a new survey”
- Partly supportedThe opening says half of young Australians view the US as a threat rather than a friend.Business | The Guardian: “Only 4% of young voters labelled the US a “close friend” while over half considered it a threat.”
- SupportedChalmers said hate now has “a business model, a formula, an assembly line for mass-production.”Business | The Guardian: “He said hate had always been present in Australian society but it now has “a business model, a formula, an assembly line for mass-production.””
- SupportedChalmers linked social-media discourse to political toxicity, including threats and abuse aimed at politicians.Business | The Guardian: “The treasurer, Jim Chalmers, says overheated discourse on social media is in large part responsible for the toxicity in politics, including the threats and abuse being sprayed at politicians.”
- SupportedChalmers described digital misogyny as following women in public life and said the current climate is harshest for women.Business | The Guardian: “He described a new kind of digital misogyny that follows women in public life wherever they go, making the current climate harshest for women.”
- SupportedThe survey found half of Australians polled considered the US a friend and 42% considered it a threat.Business | The Guardian: “Only half of the Australians polled in a YouGov survey, commissioned by the Australia Institute, considered longtime ally the US a “friend”. Meanwhile 42% perceived America as a “threat””
- SupportedTwo-thirds of One Nation voters saw the US as a friend; Labor voters were largely split, and one-quarter of Greens voters viewed it positively.Business | The Guardian: “Two-thirds of One Nation voters perceive the US as a friend, with the Coalition close behind. Labor voters are largely split and only one-quarter of Greens voters view the global superpower positively.”
- SupportedOnly 21% had confidence in Trump to “do the right thing” in world affairs, ahead of only the Chinese, Russian and North Korean leaders.Business | The Guardian: “Only 21% of respondents had confidence in Donald Trump to “do the right thing” in world affairs, ahead of only the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, and the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un.”
- SupportedIndonesia was rated a more trusted partner than the US, leading by 14% in the friend category.Business | The Guardian: “Indonesia, a close geographic neighbour and emerging partner, has been rated a more trusted partner than the United States, leading by 14% in the friend category.”
- SupportedPolice charged a 43-year-old man over the alleged attack outside Haines’s Wangaratta electorate office, and Haines was recovering in hospital.Business | The Guardian: “Haines is recovering in hospital. Police have charged a 43-year-old man over the alleged attack outside her Wangaratta electorate office.”