The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) is seriously looking into the influence of bloggers, podcasters and other popular personalities on the outcome of the 2025 federal election.
It turns out that likes and reposts have become such a serious political tool that the commission has issued a special guide on how politicians should interact with influencers.
The reason for such unusual attention was the recent episodes of Abbie Chatfield’s podcast “It’s a Lot”, which featured Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Greens leader Adam Bandt. The podcasts caused quite a stir in political circles and even became the subject of discussion in the Senate. However, the host herself, not being a politician and not receiving money for invitations, avoided the need to place official authorizations on her materials.
However, now the AEC warns: if politicians share such interviews or videos on their social networks, they are required to add a special authorization mark. The commission’s motto is simple: “When in doubt, authorize!” The penalties for mistakes are soft for now – violators quickly correct the shortcomings, but as the voting date approaches, the requirements will become stricter.
Interestingly, the commission openly admits that it cannot actually control the veracity of information in political posts and videos. Instead, it appeals directly to voters with a call to “stop and think” before believing information from social networks.
The phenomenon of social networks seems to have finally changed the rules of the game in Australian politics. Now bloggers and podcast stars do not just comment on elections – they actively shape public opinion, becoming full-fledged participants in the political process.
