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Australia doubles brutal fines on big tech for not complying with social media ban
// Interesting article about the fact Australia has implement a widespread social media ban for children
The Australian government has revealed a doubling of the fine for big tech companies that do not comply with the country's social media ban
Sociologists in the news in 2025
British sociologist Michael Burawoy was killed in a hit-and-run on 3 February 2025. In his final interview, he says public sociology remains relevant on key global issues, such as the Israeli genocide in Palestine. He says:
“I’ve been particularly in awe of Sociologists for Palestine, most of whom are assistant or associate professors, who have come together to work out how to defend the Palestinian struggle as members of the US academic community. They have been very successful, efficiently organised. They achieved what has never happened: an ASA Resolution for Justice in Palestine. Those doing this know that it may lead to sanctions. But if we recognise that public sociology is a form of education, speaking out beyond the university also performs an educative function.”
American sociologist, Associate Professor Zachary Levenson, reflects on Michael Burawoy’s public sociology:
“Public sociology was an orientation to the world. It wasn’t about dropping scientific findings and just leaving them there, hoping that research alone could change the world. No, for Michael, research was certainly part of the approach, but it was equally about all of things I have described in this essay. It was about sharpening our collective thinking and understanding the power of working in the institutions in which we’re situated, but always going beyond them.”
In March, Israel’s Education Minister did not allow the Israel Prize to be awarded to Moroccan French sociologist, Professor Eva Illouz, because she signed a 2021 petition urging the International Criminal Court not to trust Israel to investigate its own war crimes.
In July, for the centennial celebration of Orlando Fals Borda – the father of Colombian sociology – Borda is remembered as a “community-oriented, and critical actor.” He co-developed the methodology of Participatory Action Research, alongside his wife, María Cristina Salazar.
“Today, his legacy extends beyond grand academic halls. His principal enduring lessons are: a Sociology of Commitment, in the sense of understanding that science is not neutral, and the researcher can—and must—ally with the populations they document without losing rigor.”
In August, another centennial celebration, this time for Frantz Fanon. Tunisian sociologist, Frej Stambouli’s recollection of his experience being Fanon’s student has been republished:
“In particular, he [Fanon] made you realise the ferocity of the colonial system and the necessity to fight against barbarity, violence, and injustice. As first-year students of sociology, it was for us an unsurpassable introduction to our future specialisation.”
At the end of September, Turkish sociologist, Dr. İsmail Beşikci, who spent 19 years in Turkish prisons for his analysis of the colonisation of Kurdish people, was hospitalised after suffering a cerebral haemorrhage. (No further update as of 3 January 2026).
On 1 October, German sociologist, Steffen Mau, was appointed Director to the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Religious and Ethnic Diversity in Göttingen – Institute. His strategic focus will be issues of social inequality, conflicts, and the transformation of democracy.
On 3 November, two sociologists were arrested in Iran without reason or charges: “Mahsa Asadollahnejad, a sociologist and researcher, and Shirin Karimi, a sociologist and translator, were arrested by security forces and taken to an undisclosed location.” Less than a week earlier, on 27 October, Asadollahnejad gave an interview on a report criticising how the Iranian legal system handles rape victim cases. She said that the “humiliation [of rape] is ‘the deepest wound’ and that indifference allows it to spread.” For further context on this arrest, see the Letter to Iranian authorities regarding arrests and harassment of independent scholars, and for other writers and scholars in detention, see the Centre for Human Rights in Iran. Scholars at Risk reports that Asadollahnejad was released on bail on 12 November, after serving ten days in detention.
On 22 December, Polish sociologist, Marcin Zarzecki, was appointed to Poland’s Monetary Policy Council, which sets the central bank’s interest-rate.
Read more on Sociology at Work.
FEDA EYLEMLERİ TOPLUMSAL-KİTLESEL EYLEMLERİ SABOTE EDER
Kitlesel eylemler genellikle ilk görseldeki gibi başlıyor, silah yok, sapan yok, havai fişek yok, taş yok ama eylemciler polisin er ya da geç müdahale edeceğine daha önceki deneyimlerinden alıştığı ve gözaltı sonrası burjuva hukukun sopasını yememek için yüzlerini kapatıyor (tabi artık bu da suç), polisin ilk olarak gazla ya da jopla müdahale yapacağı anlaşıldığında genellikle bir grup fedakar öncü olarak eylemi sürdürüyor ve eylem ikinci görseldeki gibi devam ediyor, müdahale sonrası silahsız kitle dağılmazsa kaldırımlardan söktükleri taşlarla üçüncü görseldeki gibi polise karşılık veriyor, kitle dağılırsa dördüncü görseldeki gibi bir grup fedakar öncü billboardlarla ve çöp konteynerlarıyla barikat kuruyor ve taşlar atarak çatışıyor ama polis plastik mermiler ve akrepler kullanmaya başladığında beşinci görseldeki gibi işin seyri değişiyor, bazı sekter ve dar grupçu örgütlerin istediği oluyor, stereo-tip küçük burjuva devrimcileri fedakar öncüleri silahlandırarak kazanamayacağı bir savaşa zorluyor, gecenin karanlığındaki kitlesel eylem aynı pankartın altında bir avuç devrimci fedainin boy göstererek örgüt propagandalarını yaptığı bir şova dönüşüyor. Sonuçta, yasal eyleme müdahale ederek suç işleyen polis, burjuva hukuk karşısında, eylem kitlesel ve barışçıl olarak başlasa da bir avuç dar grupçunun silahlı eylemiyle sonuçlandığı için haksızken haklı duruma geçiyor, toplumsal-kitlesel, barışçıl ve yasal olarak başından beri eyleme katılan tüm eylemciler ise haklıyken haksız duruma düşüyor. Bu durum Gezi eylemlerini hatırlatıyor.
Cool security advice if you have children:-
never ever put your child's name on your child's bag, as strangers will know your child's name.
This goes for either gender. It does matter if your child is male or female. Protect your children.
Social Action:
Youth from Lyari, installed tap water for the community who wants water for life.
I should explain something about my personal views regarding free speech. Most of my life (a good 3/4). I have self-sensored. I have done so for many reasons.
I'm an introvert, a woman in science, a woman of color, I was brought up to anticipate the needs of others neglecting my own. Most importantly the bombast and spectacle of others has always seemed too escalatory and WRONG to me. It consumes all the air in a room and lacks nuance.
Around 2016. That changed with civil discourse being crushed and censorship run amok. Having to listen to idiots espouse every bit of verbal diarrhea that comes to mind is not conducive to a peaceful life or nation. These are NOT the adults in the room, they are the children.
You have lived your life in peace guaranteed by our collective sense of responsibility. My discomfort is my normal. You should also know what that feels like not out of revenge, but because as petulant children it's the only way you learn to respect the boundaries of others.
It was never ever fear based. But based on mutual respect, dignity and privacy.
Many women in the world don't have this luxury.
This is still true today.
Cooking Workshop / Youth Food Project
Filmed & edited by @Julianne
