According to new analysis, screen time could damage children more than being born into poverty. The findings from the University of Calgary say higher doses of screen exposure are associated with lower overall academic achievement, poorer language development and emotional and peer problems.

So what’s it actually like to be a 17-year-old on social media? What material are you fed – and how quickly?

Crime and justice reporter Amber Schultz found out after she created new accounts posing first as a teenage boy, and then as a girl.

Today, Schultztalks about her descent into the algorithm and what surprised her.

 

Further reading:
Posing as a 17-year-old girl online, I expected body image content. I got gender division
I posed as a 17-year-old boy on social media. It took 13 minutes to be shown the manosphere



The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris, from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more, rate, review and subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or whichever platform you find your podcasts.

According to new analysis, screen time could damage children more than being born into poverty. The findings from the University of Calgary say higher doses of screen exposure are associated with lower overall academic achievement, poorer language development and emotional and peer problems.
So what&rsquo;s it actually like to be a 17-year-old on social media? What material are you fed &ndash; and how quickly?
Crime and justice reporter Amber Schultz found out after she&nbsp;<a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/posing-as-a-17-year-old-girl-online-i-expected-body-image-content-i-got-gender-division-20260910-p60wef.html?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=the_morning_edition&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">created new accounts posing first as a teenage boy, and then as a girl.</a>
Today, Schultz talks about her descent into the algorithm and what surprised her.
&nbsp;
Further reading:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/posing-as-a-17-year-old-girl-online-i-expected-body-image-content-i-got-gender-division-20260910-p60wef.html?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=the_morning_edition&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">Posing as a 17-year-old girl online, I expected body image content. I got gender division</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/i-posed-as-a-17-year-old-boy-on-social-media-it-took-13-minutes-to-be-shown-the-manosphere-20260903-p60u1b.html?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=the_morning_edition&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">I posed as a 17-year-old boy on social media. It took 13 minutes to be shown the manosphere</a></li>
</ul>
 The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris, from the newsrooms of<a href="https://www.smh.com.au/"> The Sydney Morning Herald</a> and<a href="https://www.theage.com.au/"> The Age</a>, weekdays from 5am.
If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more, rate, review and subscribe on<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/channel/smh-the-age/id6442611511"> Apple</a>,<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1v0tWOA2mdi5WU9hvjJ3da?si=f4b8d7fafdf5495d"> Spotify</a>,<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrLulycax3584BxKI1ZqSySsouknCWiUa"> YouTube</a> or whichever platform you find your podcasts.

I was a teenage boy online. It took 13 minutes for the manosphere to come

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/b3dc1f97-7e6c-4bae-b836-b4d700540605/transcript

It's not too much of an overstatement to say that for over 30 years, Michael Pollan's books have helped reshape conversations about industrial food systems, animal consciousness and our obligations to other living things.

His new book, A World Appears, is about plant sentience – an immersive exploration of how plants exhibit thinking and memory-like behaviours, respond to physical threats, favour their own species and supply nutrients to struggling neighbouring plants.

In this episode, Pollan discusses compelling new research that argues humans are far from the only living entities exhibiting sentience and indeed, "exquisite" awareness of their environment.

Today’s conversation is hosted by Good Weekend senior writer Greg Callaghan.

It's not too much of an overstatement to say that for over 30 years, Michael Pollan's books have helped reshape conversations about industrial food systems, animal consciousness and our obligations to other living things.
His new book,&nbsp;A World Appears, is about plant sentience &ndash; an immersive exploration of how plants exhibit thinking and memory-like behaviours, respond to physical threats, favour their own species and supply nutrients to struggling neighbouring plants.
In this episode, Pollan discusses compelling new research that argues humans are far from the only living entities exhibiting sentience and indeed, "exquisite" awareness of their environment.
Today&rsquo;s conversation is hosted by Good Weekend senior writer Greg Callaghan.

Plants remember and react, but do they mind being eaten? Michael Pollan on sentience in the natural world

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/7422d2d5-eb95-4062-85f0-b4d700069f82/transcript

Anthony Albanese is back from the United Nations in New York to a slump in his approval rating and more economic pain.

On Tuesday, the Reserve Bank raised interest rates to a 15-year-high due to continued inflation pressure. So what's driving inflation? How much is government spending contributing to this issue?

Also this week, the Greens elected a new leader. NSW senator David Shoebridge is far more confrontational than former leader Larissa Waters and comes from the party's hard-left faction.

His election may signal a shift in strategy from the party, which wants to replicate the success of left-wing figures such as New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

Chief political correspondent Paul Sakkal hosts today's conversation with senior economics correspondent Matt Wade and federal political correspondent Natassia Chrysanthos.

 

Further reading
To avoid another rate rise, things might have to get worse
The Greens need to let the sunshine in or risk stagnation 

Anthony Albanese is back from the United Nations in New York to a slump in his approval rating and more economic pain.
On Tuesday, the Reserve Bank raised interest rates to a 15-year-high due to continued inflation pressure. So what's driving inflation? How much is <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/rba-hikes-interest-rates-to-4-6-per-cent-in-15-year-high-20260929-p6119t.html?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=the_morning_edition&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">government spending contributing to this issue?</a>
Also this week, the Greens elected a new leader. NSW senator David Shoebridge is far more confrontational than former leader Larissa Waters and comes from the party's hard-left faction.
His election may <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/the-greens-need-to-let-the-sunshine-in-or-risk-stagnation-20261001-p611xe.html?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=the_morning_edition&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">signal a shift in strategy from the party, </a>which wants to replicate the success of left-wing figures such as New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Chief political correspondent Paul Sakkal hosts today's conversation with senior economics correspondent Matt Wade and federal political correspondent Natassia Chrysanthos.
&nbsp;
Further reading
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/to-avoid-another-rate-rise-things-might-have-to-get-worse-20260929-p6119y.html?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=the_morning_edition&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">To avoid another rate rise, things might have to get worse</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/the-greens-need-to-let-the-sunshine-in-or-risk-stagnation-20261001-p611xe.html?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=the_morning_edition&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">The Greens need to let the sunshine in or risk stagnation&nbsp;</a></li>
</ul>

Interest rates and Labor's spending, and the Greens look to Mamdani

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/8791238f-ca4d-44b3-9771-b4d600cc5fb9/transcript

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/a2c36883-09bb-4be4-bd5b-b4d600c4b969/transcript

After an unpredictable season, the stage is now set for a David versus Goliath battle as the Sydney Roosters and the Newcastle Knights prepare to face off in this Sunday's NRL grand final. Will it be a fairytale finish for the Knights who collected the wooden spoon last season or will Sydney’s silvertail club prevail to claim another premiership?

And at the NRL’s best and fairest awards – The Dally M awards – Panthers superstar and wheelchair-bound Nathan Cleary was named the NRL’s best player of 2026, while Knights coach Justin Holbrook was beaten to the coach of the year award by the Warriors’ Andrew Webster.

Plus, Brisbane NRLW fullback and three-time Dally M Medal winner Tamika Upton will be chasing an unprecedented sixth premiership when the Broncos take on the Roosters in the NRLW grand final on Sunday, with the Broncos also looking to send NRLW great Ali Brigginshaw out a champion.

This week rugby league journalist Christian Nicolussi and national head of sport Neil Breen join sport deputy editor Billie Eder to break down the Dally M awards and grand final week.

After an unpredictable season, the stage is now set for a David versus Goliath battle as the Sydney Roosters and the Newcastle Knights prepare to face off in this Sunday's NRL grand final. Will it be a fairytale finish for the Knights who collected the wooden spoon last season or will Sydney&rsquo;s silvertail club prevail to claim another premiership? And at the NRL&rsquo;s best and fairest awards &ndash; The Dally M awards &ndash; Panthers superstar and wheelchair-bound Nathan Cleary was named the NRL&rsquo;s best player of 2026, while Knights coach Justin Holbrook was beaten to the coach of the year award by the Warriors&rsquo; Andrew Webster. Plus, Brisbane NRLW fullback and three-time Dally M Medal winner Tamika Upton will be chasing an unprecedented sixth premiership when the Broncos take on the Roosters in the NRLW grand final on Sunday, with the Broncos also looking to send NRLW great Ali Brigginshaw out a champion. This week rugby league journalist Christian Nicolussi and national head of sport Neil Breen join sport deputy editor Billie Eder to break down the Dally M awards and grand final week.

Fairytale or silvertail finish? This is a grand final for the ages

When the competing leaders of the world's two biggest economies gather for a summit, there's usually a lot to tussle over – military build-up, trade, critical minerals or AI. But that's not what happened when Donald Trump and Xi Jinping met last week.

Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher discusses the moments that could signal a startling break with decades of American policy.

 

Background reading: 
How Trump’s grovelling emboldens China and imperils the Asia Pacific

 

The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris, from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more, rate, review and subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or whichever platform you find your podcasts.

 

When the competing leaders of the world's two biggest economies gather for a summit, there's usually a lot to tussle over &ndash; military build-up, trade, critical minerals or AI. But that's not what happened when Donald Trump and Xi Jinping met last week.
Today, international and political editor Peter Hartcher discusses the moments that could signal a startling break with decades of American policy.
&nbsp;
Background reading:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/how-trump-s-grovelling-emboldens-china-and-imperils-the-asia-pacific-20260929-p6114z.html">How Trump&rsquo;s grovelling emboldens China and imperils the Asia Pacific</a></li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris, from the newsrooms of<a href="https://www.smh.com.au/"> The Sydney Morning Herald</a> and<a href="https://www.theage.com.au/"> The Age</a>, weekdays from 5am. If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more, rate, review and subscribe on<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/channel/smh-the-age/id6442611511"> Apple</a>,<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1v0tWOA2mdi5WU9hvjJ3da?si=f4b8d7fafdf5495d"> Spotify</a>,<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrLulycax3584BxKI1ZqSySsouknCWiUa"> YouTube</a> or whichever platform you find your podcasts.
&nbsp;

Did Trump offer arms to Xi Jinping? What happened on the White House tour

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/0b21ccdb-0f95-4924-9bbb-b4d5005cf488/transcript

If you live in a certain part of Australia, you have probably noticed them – big moths flying around, clinging to glass doors and gathering around lights in massive numbers.

But for all the freak-outs across the east coast, naturalists are rejoicing.

Today, national environment and climate editor Nick O’Malley talks about the return of the bogong moth after a near-total population collapse, and why they’re so important for our landscape.

 

Background reading: 
After a catastrophic decline bogong moths are back, and naturalists are celebrating 

 

The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris, from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more, rate, review and subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or whichever platform you find your podcasts.

If you live in a certain part of Australia, you have probably noticed them &ndash; big moths flying around, clinging to glass doors and gathering around lights in massive numbers.
But for all the freak-outs across the east coast, naturalists are rejoicing.
Today, national environment and climate editor Nick O&rsquo;Malley talks about the return of the bogong moth after a near-total population collapse, and why they&rsquo;re so important for our landscape.
&nbsp;
Background reading:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.smh.com.au/environment/conservation/after-a-catastrophic-decline-bogong-moths-are-back-and-naturalists-are-celebrating-20260928-p610z7.html">After a catastrophic decline bogong moths are back, and naturalists are celebrating&nbsp;</a></li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris, from the newsrooms of<a href="https://www.smh.com.au/"> The Sydney Morning Herald</a> and<a href="https://www.theage.com.au/"> The Age</a>, weekdays from 5am. If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more, rate, review and subscribe on<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/channel/smh-the-age/id6442611511"> Apple</a>,<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1v0tWOA2mdi5WU9hvjJ3da?si=f4b8d7fafdf5495d"> Spotify</a>,<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrLulycax3584BxKI1ZqSySsouknCWiUa"> YouTube</a> or whichever platform you find your podcasts.

Bogong moths are swarming homes, and their story is miraculous

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/32917cb7-4335-4a4f-971f-b4d4005e51df/transcript

Interest rate hikes are stressing Australian mortgage holders across the country.

But are higher rates the only way to get inflation down? Or are there alternatives to the Reserve Bank’s go-to, blunt-force measure?

Today, senior economics writer Matt Wade, on the potential – and challenges – of four alternatives to help keep inflation in check, newly floated by an Australian think tank.

The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris, from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more, rate, review and subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or whichever platform you find your podcasts.

Interest rate hikes are stressing Australian mortgage holders across the country. But are higher rates the only way to get inflation down? Or are there alternatives to the Reserve Bank&rsquo;s go-to, blunt-force measure? Today, senior economics writer Matt Wade, on the potential &ndash; and challenges &ndash; of four alternatives to help keep inflation in check, newly floated by an Australian think tank. The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris, from the newsrooms of<a href="https://www.smh.com.au/"> The Sydney Morning Herald</a> and<a href="https://www.theage.com.au/"> The Age</a>, weekdays from 5am. If you enjoyed this episode and want to hear more, rate, review and subscribe on<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/channel/smh-the-age/id6442611511"> Apple</a>,<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1v0tWOA2mdi5WU9hvjJ3da?si=f4b8d7fafdf5495d"> Spotify</a>,<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrLulycax3584BxKI1ZqSySsouknCWiUa"> YouTube</a> or whichever platform you find your podcasts.

Another interest rate hike? Experts say there are other ways to curb inflation

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/988e2d76-2986-4173-af4e-b4d3006e0e30/transcript

The past five decades have witnessed immigration on a scale the globe has never seen before, and countries around the world are convulsing with anti-immigration sentiment. Australia might be an island, but it's no different.

This is a dangerous moment, investigative journalist Eryk Bagshaw argues. Immigration has become a scapegoat because successive governments have lost control of policy levers, and infrastructure has failed to keep up. At the same time, whole swaths of the economy are dependent on temporary migrants.

Bagshaw visited migrant communities both old and new to work out what has gone wrong and what Australia must get right.

 

Further reading
‘You can’t put everything on immigration’: The suburbs at breaking point 
The moment Australia’s immigration program went off the rails

The past five decades have witnessed immigration on a scale the globe has never seen before, and countries around the world are convulsing with anti-immigration sentiment. Australia might be an island, but it's no different.
This is a dangerous moment, investigative journalist Eryk Bagshaw argues. Immigration has become a scapegoat because successive governments have lost control of policy levers, and infrastructure has failed to keep up. At the same time, whole swaths of the economy are dependent on temporary migrants.
Bagshaw visited migrant communities both old and new to work out <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/the-moment-australia-s-immigration-program-went-off-the-rails-20260925-p60zhs.html?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=the_morning_edition&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">what has gone wrong and what Australia must get right.</a>
&nbsp;
Further reading
<ul>
<li>&lsquo;<a href="&lsquo;You%20can&rsquo;t%20put%20everything%20on%20immigration&rsquo;:%20The%20suburbs%20at%20breaking%20point">You can&rsquo;t put everything on immigration&rsquo;: The suburbs at breaking point&nbsp;</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/the-moment-australia-s-immigration-program-went-off-the-rails-20260925-p60zhs.html?utm_source=omny&amp;utm_medium=podcast_notes&amp;utm_campaign=the_morning_edition&amp;utm_content=&amp;utm_term=newsroom">The moment Australia&rsquo;s immigration program went off the rails</a></li>
</ul>

How real is Australia's immigration problem?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/88b564ea-a9a6-4751-910a-a5d800019396/clips/cf1106af-fda7-4285-8c71-b4d20082dcaf/transcript

A four-minute frenzy flipped the 2026 grand final on its head when the Brisbane Lions surged late to destroy Fremantle’s dreams of a maiden AFL premiership. Michael Gleeson, Jake Niall and Peter Ryan were among the 100,023 awestruck footy fans who witnessed it. Hours later, they gather in our studio to analyse the pivotal moments, discuss the future of Lions coach Chris Fagan, rate Kylie Minogue’s pre-match show and tell us who really was the best player on the ground. And we ask what’s next; can the Lions make it four flags in a row and how will the Dockers respond to their traumatic loss?

A four-minute frenzy flipped the 2026 grand final on its head when the Brisbane Lions surged late to destroy Fremantle&rsquo;s dreams of a maiden AFL premiership. Michael Gleeson, Jake Niall and Peter Ryan were among the 100,023 awestruck footy fans who witnessed it. Hours later, they gather in our studio to analyse the pivotal moments, discuss the future of Lions coach Chris Fagan, rate Kylie Minogue&rsquo;s pre-match show and tell us who really was the best player on the ground. And we ask what&rsquo;s next; can the Lions make it four flags in a row and how will the Dockers respond to their traumatic loss?

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