Category Archives: headline

How tech is stopping creeps from sliding into your DMs

How you slide into DMs – and how others can slide into yours – is changing for good. 

In the coming weeks, Facebook and Instagram will roll out two new features to combat bullying and sexual harassment. 

Blocking unsolicited approaches from a person will now block messages from every Instagram or Facebook account linked to that profile. 

Second, and most importantly, Direct Message controls will automatically filter out requests containing offensive words, phrases and emojis, so you never have to see them. 

You have to turn the feature on to use it and you'll have the option to create a custom list of words, phrases or emojis that you find offensive. 

It's a feature hoped to help protect everyone from abuse, particularly those with higher profiles like sports stars.

Tayla Harris

The AFL's Tanya Hosch has been working with Facebook for the past year. 

"We feel like they've listened and taken a valuable step in the right direction," said Hosch, the league's Executive General Manager for Inclusion and Social Policy. 

"This is also an valuable update in supporting the safety and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players, and any other person who faces discrimination and hate speech, to have a safer and more positive experience online."

Carlton's Tayla Harris has spoken publicly about how she was targeted online after her iconic kick. 

But Hawthorn's Jonathon Patton – who retired this week after being accused of sending unwanted lewd messages to women online – speaks to a broader problem. 

Filtered messages will be stored away in a separate, "hidden requests" folder. 

If you choose to open the folder, the offensive text will be hidden until you tap to uncover it. 

Only messages from people you don't follow will be filtered – Facebook Australia says most abuse isn't coming from friends. 

Managing Director Will Easton hopes "these new features are a positive step towards combating bullying and online abuse".

"We are grateful for the valuable input from sports leagues, anti-discrimination organisations, and public figures in developing these tools… and we'll continue to evolve our policies and develop technology to protect our community."

All the rules for attending and watching Anzac Day services this year

Crowds will return to this Sunday's Anzac Day ceremonies and marches around the country after 2020's unattended commemorations.

But there are still strict limits in place and plenty for would-be attendees to be aware of.

And for those who are unable to attend a parade or dawn service in person, there are other options available.

Here's what you need to know.

Anzac Day March on April 25, 2017 in Brisbane, Australia.

READ MORE: Will you get a public holiday for Anzac Day this year?

Canberra

The Australian War Memorial's dawn service normally draws up to 40,000 people in the nation's capital.

This year, crowd numbers have been limited to 4200 people for the dawn service, and 3000 for the national ceremony, which includes the veterans' march.

Those tickets have already been allocated, but people around Australia will be able to watch the service on Weekend Today on Nine from 4.45am (AEDT).

Nine.com.au's live blog will also provide rolling coverage of the ceremonies.

The dawn service itself will run from 5.30am to 6am, followed by the National Ceremony from 10.30am to 12pm.

Sydney

Sydney's main dawn service will be held at the Martin Place Cenotaph at 4.30am, followed by the march at 9am at the intersection of Martin Place and Elizabeth St, in the CBD.

There has been a limit imposed on 10,000 participants for the main march, who can register up until the day of April 25 itself.

Spectators are asked to wear masks, sanitise their hands and socially distance during the event.

Last year, people paid their respects in their driveways after Anzac Day services were cancelled.

Melbourne

A dawn service will be held at the Shrine of Remembrance from 5.40am.

All tickets have been allocated, but the ceremony will be streamed online at the Shrine's website. Victorians are also invited to take part by holding a dawn vigil in their driveway.

There is a limit of 8000 people on the state's main Anzac Day march – recently increased from 5500 – but veterans earlier this month expressed frustration at the low take-up, with fewer than 1000 people registered as of April 13.

READ MORE: Defence Minister hits out at cap on Melbourne Anzac Day march

Marchers – that is, veterans and descendants – will be able to book a ticket up until noon on April 24.

They can also march, if the limit has not been reached, if they show up and register on the morning of April 25.

Spectators have been urged to attend one of the local ceremonies, rather than the main one.

Brisbane

Brisbane will hold its traditional dawn service in Anzac Square from 4.28am, opening with the sounding of the Last Post.

The Anzac Day march will take place along its traditional route, starting on George St, from 10am-12pm.

Spectator guidelines will be reviewed up until the event but currently the events only need to comply with the state's existing COVID-19 guidelines.

Adelaide

There will be 2500 people permitted to attend Adelaide's dawn service, with tickets available here.

The ceremony at the SA National War Memorial on North Terrace will run from 5.30am-7am.

The Anzac Day march will take place from 9.30am, starting at the same location.

No descendants are invited to march this year, and the only spectators permitted will be families of marchers and non-marching veterans, due to the increased amount of space needed to mitigate COVID-19 risks.

Perth

Even Western Australia is limiting its participants at the state's major dawn service, with an upper cap of 10,000 attendees at the State War Memorial in Kings Park, Perth.

The event will start at 6am, though people are advised to arrive from 4am on. Face masks are encouraged and social distancing will be observed.

This will be followed by the Gunfire Breakfast at Government House Gardens from 7am-9am, with a limit of 2000 people. A gold coin donation is required.

The march will begin on St Georges Terrace from 9am.

Hobart

The Apple Isle's dawn service and Anzac Day march do not have attendance limits, but everybody taking part is required to register online here.

The dawn service will start at 6am at the Hobart Cenotaph.

The march will begin at 11am down Macquarie St, followed by a commemorative service at the cenotaph at 11.40am.

Darwin

Attendees at Darwin's Anzac Day events in the Northern Territory will also be required to register online for COVID-19 tracing purposes.

The dawn service will be held at 6am at the Darwin Cenotaph, followed by the march at 9am from the Esplanade end of Kentucky St.

People are asked to wear masks, sanitise their hands and practise social distancing.