Media, People, and the Power of Conversation

Conversation shapes how we understand the world. The screens we watch. The voices we listen to. The neighbours we talk with. This short essay looks at television, media and everyday talk in Australia. It explores how people use media to start, change, and deepen conversations. Simple language. Clear points. Real numbers where they help.

Television: still present, still powerful

Television feels older than many things. Yet it remains powerful. People still gather around it. They watch sports, news, and drama. Live events still bring viewers together. Australia watched an average of15.7 billion minutes of broadcast content each week in 2024, a reminder that broadcast remains a major shared experience.

But viewing is changing fast. Fewer adults now rely only on free-to-air TV. In 2017, 71% of adults watched free-to-air services; by 2024 that number fell to 46%. The move is toward streaming and on-demand video.

So: television is transforming. It is not dying. Instead, it is changing shape. It shares space with YouTube, Netflix and other streaming services. And that matters for conversation.

New screens, new conversations

Most people now watch videos online as well. Online services — paid and free — reached nearly nine in ten Australians in 2024. This means conversations often start from clips, short videos, and social posts as much as from a nightly TV bulletin.

Short clips create short bursts of conversation. Long dramas create long debates. Different formats create different kinds of conversation. A one-minute clip can be shared around the kitchen table. Moreover, sharing thoughts online is no longer a problem. Active internet users are increasingly choosing privacy-focused video platform like CallMeChat. It’s ideal for anonymous conversations with both loved ones and strangers. Minimal personal information is required, just frank conversation about anything.

Who leads the talk?

Who decides what people talk about? Many people. Journalists. Presenters. Influencers. Friends. Sometimes politicians. And sometimes an algorithm. Algorithms suggest what we see next. They nudge us toward certain topics. This raises questions. Who decides the agenda? How do we pause and think before we react? These are not small questions. They shape community life.

News, trust and short attention

What counts as “news” has widened. Social platforms are now a key route for news, especially for young people. A notable share of young Australians use social media as their main news source. For people aged 18–24, social media was reported as the main news source for a large portion of that group in recent research.

And around one in five Australians used social media as their main source of news in 2023. That number has been rising.

This raises two issues. First: speed. News arrives fast. Sometimes too fast. Second: trust. Not everything that spreads quickly is true. Conversation must include checks. Questions. Source checks. A healthy community asks: where did this come from? Who benefits from this version of the story?

Conversation in everyday life

Many conversations are small and local. At work. In the tram. Over a cup of tea. These small talks matter. They carry feelings, practical information, jokes and warnings. The media does not replace them. The media feeds them. A TV show can give a family a new topic to talk about at dinner. A short clip can make a friend laugh on the way to school. Small talk helps people learn what others care about.

Bridging divides

Conversation can bridge differences. It lets people share stories across age, class, region. Television programs, radio shows and community media can be places where voices are heard. But only if the conversation is open. If media platforms reward division and outrage, it becomes harder to listen. Public broadcasters and local outlets sometimes help by creating shared spaces for informed talk. Good journalism invites questions; it does not only push an answer.

The role of Australian media platforms

Australian media is diverse. Commercial networks, public broadcasters, independent outlets, podcasts, and social channels all do different work. Some reach very large audiences. Others are smaller but deeply trusted. The mix matters because it offers different ways for people to start conversations. Broadcasters still produce programs that act as common references. Meanwhile, streaming and social services create many small, parallel conversations.

Practical ways to strengthen conversation

We can take simple steps to keep talk healthy. First: slow down. Ask where a fact came from. Second: listen more than you speak. Third: choose sources that explain and show evidence. Fourth: share thoughtfully. If you pass something on, add why you think it matters.Schools and local groups can teach media skills. These skills include checking sources, spotting bias, and asking better questions. Media literacy is a civic skill. It helps young people and older people alike.

Why this matters for democracy

Conversation supports democracy. Informed dialogue helps citizens make choices, hold leaders to account and solve shared problems. When people only listen to people who already agree with them, the public square shrinks. When conversation includes different views, it grows. Media sets the terms of that growth. The shape of media — the balance between live TV, public radio, streaming platforms and social media — matters for the quality of public talk.

Final thoughts

The media does many things. It entertains. It informs. It angers. It calms. Most importantly, it invites people to talk. Conversation is a skill and a practice. Television still gives communities shared moments. New platforms create new sparks. If we teach media literacy, slow down, and listen, the power of conversation can be a force for understanding rather than division. Numbers show the media is changing fast in Australia, but numbers also show people still watch, talk and care. Use that. Talk. Ask. Listen.

A small example might help. Imagine a neighbourhood that hosts a weekly viewing of a local documentary. People come. They watch. They stay to talk. New relationships form. Ideas turn into local action. Such small rituals are practical proof that media can seed civic life. They remind us that the media alone does not make community; people do. Conversation completes the loop between what we watch and what we do. Act together.