Interesting idea, or nanny-state gone way too far? If babies weren’t born to doom scroll, why do we think grown-ups are? Don’t miss our hilarious annual battle of brains and bravado with two teams and Big Ideas’ host Natasha Mitchell at Beaker Street Festival 2026. Australia was the first country in the world to ban under-16s from social media. France just struck down a push for the same. Are adults immune to all the harms of these platforms? Should OVER-16s be banned too?
Speakers
TEAM AFFIRMATIVE: “THE VIRAL INFLUENZAS”
Dr Esmé Louise James, sex historian
Esmé is an internationally recognised academic, author, and award-winning digital creator who has garnered over 3.5 million followers on social media.
Saul Eslake, economist
Saul is an economist and consultant who has held chief economist roles at major financial institutions including ANZ and Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Based in Hobart, he now leads Corinna Economic Advisory and serves on a range of national boards and advisory panels.
Dr Meredith Castles, human-computer interaction researcher and lecturer
Meredith is a lecturer, science communicator, and content creator who blends curiosity, science, and storytelling to explore what makes us human and how we can make the world a little kinder.
TEAM NEGATIVE: “THE YAPPERS”
Professor Barbara Holland, statistician
Barbara has a long-standing love of “sadistics” (sorry, statistics), which she teaches at the University of Tasmania. A Professor of Mathematics, she translates biological problems into maths across ecology and evolution.
Dr Kirsten Banks
An astrophysicist and science communicator, Dr. Kirsten Banks (@AstroKirsten) has a passion for sharing the wonders of the cosmos. Self described as a “professional space yapper,” her work blends humour and expertise to bring the universe vividly within reach.
Dr Tim Nugent
Tim has a doctorate in mobile human computer interaction and urban informatics. A skill set he rarely uses as he now makes games and tools for games.
This episode of ABC Radio National’s Big Ideas was recorded live at Beaker Street Festival in Tasmania.
