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From cheeky thrill to grande dame – the Moulin Rouge celebrates 135 years of scandal and success

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/will-visconti-805914">Will Visconti</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> When the Moulin Rouge first opened on October 6 1889, it drew audiences from across classes and countries. The Moulin offered an array of fin-de-siècle (end-of-the-century) entertainments to Paris locals and visitors. Located in <a href="https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/mont/hd_mont.htm">Montmartre</a>, its name, the “red windmill”, alluded to Montmartre’s history as a rural idyll. The neighbourhood was also associated with artistic bohemia, crime, and revolutionary spirit. This setting added a certain thrill for bourgeois audiences. From irreverent newcomer to a French institution, the Moulin Rouge has survived scandal, an inferno and found new ways to connect with audiences. <h2>Red and electric</h2> In 1889, the Moulin Rouge was not the only red landmark to open in Paris. The <a href="https://www.toureiffel.paris/en/news/history-and-culture/133-years-and-1083-feet#:%7E:text=The%20Tower%20would%20open%20to,Eiffel%20workshop%20in%20Levallois%2DPerret.">Eiffel Tower</a>, built as part of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/worlds-fair#ref1122093">Universal Exhibition</a> and originally painted red, had opened earlier that same year. What set them apart, however, was their popularity. The Moulin Rouge was an instant hit, capitalising on the global popularity of a dance called <a href="https://www.moulinrouge.fr/en/french-cancan-2/">the cancan</a>. Dancers like Moulin Rouge headliner <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Portrait_de_la_danseuse_de_cancan_Louise_Weber_(1866-1929)_dite_la_Goulue_(%C3%A0_gauche)_et_de_Grille_d%27%C3%A9gout_(%C3%A0_droite),_da,_PH41845.jpg">La Goulue </a>(“The Glutton”, real name Louise Weber) were seen as more appropriate emblems for the city than the Tower, which many <a href="https://www.toureiffel.paris/en/news/130-years/artists-who-protested-eiffel-tower">considered an eyesore</a>. In an illustration from Le Courrier Français newspaper, a dancer modelled on a photograph of La Goulue holds her leg aloft, flashing her underwear with the caption “<a href="https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k1070090h/f1.image">Greetings to the provinces and abroad!</a>”. Every aspect of the Moulin spoke to the zeitgeist, from its design to the performances, the use of electric lights that adorned its façade, and its advertising. Its managers, the impresario team of <a href="https://www.moulinrouge.fr/en/the-great-periods/#:%7E:text=The%20masters%20of%20the%20place%20were%20Joseph%20Oller%20and%20Charles%20Zidler">Joseph Oller and Charles Harold Zidler</a>, had a string of successful venues and businesses to their names. They recognised the importance of modern marketing, using print media, publicity photographs, and <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cheret_Bal_au_moulin_rouge.jpg">posters</a> to spark public interest. Among the most iconic images of the Moulin is <a href="http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.339766">Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec’s 1891 poster</a>. At its centre is La Goulue, kicking her legs amid swirling petticoats. <h2>She certainly can cancan</h2> Found primarily in working-class dance halls from as early as the 1820s, the cancan became a staple of popular entertainment the world over. Part of the dance’s thrill lay in the dancers’ <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:La_Goulue_y_Valentin_le_D%C3%A9soss%C3%A9_bailando_en_el_Moulin_Rouge,_Th%C3%A9ophile_Steinlen.jpg">freedom of movement</a> and titillation of spectators, as well as its anti-establishment energy. Women used the cancan to thumb their nose at authority via steps like the coup de cul (“arse flash”) or coup du chapeau (removing men’s hats with a high kick). The cancan was not the only attraction at the Moulin. There were themed spaces, sideshows, and variety performances ranging from belly dancers and conjoined twins to <a href="https://www.weirdhistorian.com/le-petomane/">Le Pétomane</a> (“The Fartomaniac”) who was a flatulist and the highest-paid performer. People watching was equally popular. <h2>Scandals, riots, and royalty</h2> Over the years, the Moulin has been no stranger to controversy. In its early years, it cultivated an air of misbehaviour and featured in pleasure guides for visiting sex tourists. In 1893 it hosted the <a href="https://read.dukeupress.edu/french-historical-studies/article-abstract/33/1/69/9638/The-Art-of-Posing-Nude-Models-Moralists-and-the?redirectedFrom=PDF">Bal des Quat’z’Arts</a> (Four-Arts Ball) held by students from local studios. Accusations of public indecency were made against the models and dancers in attendance, and violent protests followed after the women were arrested. In 1907 the writer Colette appeared onstage at the Moulin in an Egyptian-inspired pantomime with her then-lover, <a href="https://daily.jstor.org/the-cross-dressing-superstar-of-the-belle-epoque/">Missy, the Marquise de Belbeuf</a>. When the act culminated in a passionate kiss, a riot broke out. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7N_dvUptKX8?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe><figcaption>Historical footage shows the Moulin Rouge as it was.</figcaption></figure> <h2>Kicking on and on</h2> Over time, the Moulin Rouge shows changed their format to keep pace with public taste, though the cancan remained. The venue hosted revues and operettas, and various stars including Edith Piaf, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and Liza Minnelli. Famous guests have included British royalty: from Edward VII (while Prince of Wales) to his great-granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II, and her son, Prince Edward. Since its opening, the Moulin’s fortunes have waxed and waned. In 1915 the Moulin Rouge <a href="https://archive.nytimes.com/iht-retrospective.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/02/27/1915-fire-destroys-moulin-rouge/">burned down</a> but was rebuilt in 1921. Its famous windmill sails <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68895836">fell off overnight</a> earlier this year but were swiftly repaired. In the 1930s, it survived the Depression and rise of cinema (also <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0019186/?ref_=fn_al_tt_4">capturing the attention</a> of <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0025520/?ref_=fn_al_tt_3">several filmakers</a>). It also survived the <a href="https://www.thetimes.com/article/i-took-nazis-to-the-moulin-rouge-they-sent-me-to-auschwitz-s3lzxcwwn8q">Nazi occupation</a> of Paris in the 1940s. By the early 1960s, <a href="https://www.moulinrouge.fr/en/the-moulin-rouge/history/the-great-periods/#:%7E:text=Charles%20Trenet-,F%20FOR%20FORMIDABLE,-In%201962%2C%20Jacki">Jacki Clerico</a> was managing the Moulin’s show after his father had revamped the venue as a dinner theatre destination. The younger Clérico oversaw additions like a giant aquarium where dancers swam with snakes, and its now-famous “nude line” – a chorus of topless dancers – in its shows. In 1963, the Moulin Rouge struck upon a winning formula: revues, all named by Clérico with titles beginning with the letter “F” – from Frou Frou to Fantastique and Formidable. Since 1999, the revue Féerie (“Fairy”, also a <a href="https://dspace.library.uu.nl/bitstream/handle/1874/383977/Feeries.pdf?sequence=1">French genre</a> of stage extravaganza) has been performed almost without interruption. Ticket sales were boosted thanks to Baz Luhrmann’s 2001 film <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0203009/">Moulin Rouge!</a> and more recently <a href="https://moulinrougemusical.com/new-york/home/">Moulin Rouge! The Musical</a>. Since COVID, the Moulin Rouge management have diversified. The windmill’s interior has been <a href="https://news.airbnb.com/the-iconic-moulin-rouge-windmill-reveals-a-secret-room-for-an-overnight-stay-with-airbnb/">rented out via AirBnB</a> and the Moulin’s <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/tv-series/moulin-rouge-yes-we-can-can">dance troupe</a> has performed on France’s televised New Year’s Eve celebrations. This year, the Moulin Rouge and its dancers were part of the <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@saskyacnn/video/7398138810984320288?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7384693687676749320">Paris Olympics celebrations</a>, dancing in heavy rain. Though people have come to appreciate the Eiffel Tower too, the Moulin Rouge can still argue its status as the pinnacle of live entertainment in the French capital: immediately recognisable, internationally visible, and quintessentially Parisian.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/239849/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/will-visconti-805914">Will Visconti</a>, Teacher and researcher, Art History, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/from-cheeky-thrill-to-grande-dame-the-moulin-rouge-celebrates-135-years-of-scandal-and-success-239849">original article</a>. </div>

International Travel

“Absolutely livid”: Woman discovers she’s been fired via text on her wedding day

A woman has recalled the moment she discovered she had lost her job after her boss delivered the news via text on the woman’s wedding day. The bride shared that she got the message from her boss just 30 minutes after she walked down the aisle. The woman shared the story with Ben Askins, who regularly shares stories online of toxic employers, as she read out the messages she received on what was supposed to be the happiest day of her life. “On my wedding day, half an hour after the ceremony, I got a text from my boss to let me know I had been fired,” she said. The message from her boss read, “Hey, I hope your wedding went well and that you had a nice time away. I just wanted to let you know that the decision has been made to unfortunately let you go.” “An email has been sent to your personal email address detailing this. I'm really sorry that it didn't work out and wish you all the best moving forward x.” As she was surrounded by loved ones, the bride struggled to contain her emotions as she quickly checked her emails. “I hope your wedding went well and you had a good time. This email is to inform you that your employment will be terminated effective the 20th of May,” the email read. “Your employment has been terminated as we unfortunately feel your performance doesn't meet the expectations that we require for the role.” The woman explained how she felt her manager's email was a “coward's way” of letting her go while she wasn't at work, and was unable to defend herself. “I wasn't going to let it go but what they did... I was really angry at them,” she said. “They had the opportunity to do it in person. Everyone was let go in person except for me.” Askins said the woman’s story was one of the “worst things” he's ever heard a boss do to an employee. “It's meant to be one of the best, most amazing days ever and they've done that to you,” he told the woman. “You have every right to be absolutely livid with them.” Askins' video of the woman’s story has been viewed more than 600,000 times, with many taking particular issue on the bride's boss for being “petty” and “inappropriate”. “This person could have waited a day. It's done on purpose to ruin your special day. Only narcissists would do that,” one said. Another added, “The fact that she texted her to let her know about the email is so petty. She wanted her to know on her wedding day.” Image credits: Shutterstock

Legal

Singapore airline passenger's emotional text mid-turbulence

A mum has revealed the terrifying text she received from her son while he was on board Singapore Airlines flight that <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/travel-trouble/victim-identified-after-plane-hits-deadly-turbulence" target="_blank" rel="noopener">plunged 6,000 feet</a> in a matter of minutes. As turbulence hit the plane 11 hours into its journey from London to Singapore, Josh Barker sent what he thought would be his final text to his mum at 9.10am on May 21. “I don’t want to scare you, but I’m on a crazy flight. The plane is making an emergency landing… I love you all," his text read. His mother, Alison recalled the most "terrifying" two hours of her life after receiving the text, as she waited to hear from her son who was en route to Bali. “It was terrifying. I didn’t know what was going on,” she told BBC. "We didn't know whether he'd survived, it was so nerve wracking. It was the longest two hours of my life. "It was awful; it was petrifying." She said that while her son was lucky to have survived the incident, he was still in “a lot of pain” having sustained minor injuries to his teeth. The aircraft was hit by "severe turbulence" 11 hours into the 13-hour flight to Singapore and was forced to make an emergency landing in Bangkok, Thailand. 71 people were left injured, and one man, British grandfather Geoffrey Kitchen passed away after suffering a heart attack when the turbulence hit. Of the 211 passengers on board, 56 were Australians and 23 were from New Zealand. Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong has issued a public apology for the incident in a video message saying that the airline is cooperating with investigations. "We are deeply saddened by this incident. It has resulted in one confirmed fatality, and multiple injuries," he said. "On behalf of Singapore Airlines, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased. "We are very sorry for the traumatic experience that everyone on board SQ321 went through... our deepest apologies to everyone affected by this incident." He also said that 143 people who had been on the flight had been taken to Singapore this morning, while the remaining 85 - including six crew members - were still in the Thai capital. "Singapore Airlines swiftly dispatched a team to Bangkok last night, and they have been helping our colleagues with the support on the ground," he said. "A relief flight with 143 of the SQ321 passengers and crew members who were able to travel landed in Singapore this morning at 5.05am. "Another 79 passengers and six crew members are still in Bangkok. "This includes the injured who are receiving medical treatment, as well as their families and loved ones who were on the flight. "Singapore Airlines will continue to extend all possible support to them." Images: X/ news.com.au

Travel Trouble

"I was shocked": Lisa Wilkinson's text messages shown in court

A series of explosive texts revealed in court have shown how Lisa Wilkinson's controversial Logies speech led to her untimely dismissal from The Project. The texts are contained in an affidavit that Wilkinson and her lawyers have submitted to the Federal Court in relation to a dispute over who will pay her million-dollar legal fees after being sued by Bruce Lehrmann for defamation. In an affidavit to the Federal Court, Wilkinson said she was shocked when she found out she was being let go from The Project, after she discovered her agent Nick Fordham had a meeting with Network Ten CEO Beverley McGarvey. “I was shocked, embarrassed and deeply disappointed by Ms McGarvey’s decision to remove me from The Project,” she said. “At that time, my most recent contract as co-host of The Project had only been signed 11 months before and still had more than two years to run.” Speaking of her agent's meeting, she said, “He told me that Ms McGarvey had informed him that Ten was doing a ‘rebrand’ of The Project with a number of hosting changes. He told me that she had said that those hosting changes included me." “He also told me that she had said that, because there had been too much heat on me in the months since the Logies speech – and, as a result, too much ‘brand damage’ – it was best that I be removed from my hosting role on The Project.” When she said farewell to The Project in 2022, Wilkinson blamed the “targeted toxicity” of sections of the media. “The last six months have not been easy,” Wilkinson told viewers of the panel show when she announced she would be leaving the show. “And the relentless, targeted toxicity by some sections of the media has taken a toll not just on me but on people I love." “I have had a ball,” she said. “But for me right now it’s time for a change. To be clear. I’m not leaving Ten and we’re looking at some very exciting work ideas ahead.” In the affidavit, she says that Ms McGarvey approved Wilkinson’s on-air explanation for her departure and suggested that they “sound very authentic”. “I said to her that this decision to remove me from The Project would result in yet more negative publicity for me, for The Project, and for Ten, particularly if my sudden departure was without explanation,” Wilkinson said. Ms McGarvey told Wilkinson in texts “Perfect delivery, you spoke from the heart.” “It was a beautiful sentiment and you are so generous to your colleagues. Thank you. The media should all be kind, you deserve it.” Image credits: Getty Images

Legal

Text messages reveal accused mushroom killer’s “horrible upbringing”

Texts that alleged triple murderer Erin Patterson sent to a friend have emerged revealing her "horrible upbringing". The texts were sent shortly after the death of Patterson's mum Heather Scutter in 2019, where she described her mother as "cold" and "weird". “My mum was ultra weird her whole life,” she wrote. “We had a horrible upbringing. Mum was essentially a cold robot. It was like being brought up in a Russian orphanage where they don’t touch babies. "That's what my psych reckons. She said she wishes she could have studied my mum lol." The messages, obtained by the Herald Sun, also revealed Patterson's lack of connection with her late father Eitan Scutter, who she called "a doormat." “Dad wanted to be warm and loving to us but mum wouldn’t let him because it would spoil us so he did as he was told,” she said. “She would shout at him if he did the wrong thing so he became very meek and compliant. “My sister and I would hide in our room most of the time so we couldn’t do anything wrong.” These texts have emerged after a former colleague of Patterson described her as “eccentric” and “abrasive”, during her time as an air traffic controller in the early 2000s. The former colleague also told the Herald Sun that Patterson was highly intelligent and capable as she was able to graduate from the challenging training course and work independently in the field. “She was rated in the field and was actually responsible for running airspace for a while,” the former colleague told the publication. “She’s very bright and much brighter than people might think. She managed to get guys wrapped around her little finger although she was very unkempt … and she was abrasive.” A spokesperson from Airservices Australia had also confirmed that Patterson was employed as an air traffic controller from 12 February 2001 until 28 November 2002. Patterson has been <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/erin-patterson-charged-with-eight-counts-of-murder-and-attempted-murder" target="_blank" rel="noopener">charged</a> with three counts of murder and four counts of attempted murder, after being accused of serving up a beef Wellington pie that contained death cap mushrooms which resulted in the tragic deaths of Heather Wilkinson, Gail Patterson and Don Patterson. The attempted murder charges relate to her estranged husband Simon Patterson, and Heather's husband and Baptist church pastor, Ian Wilkinson who miraculously survived but was hospitalised in critical conditions for nearly two months. Patterson's two children were also in attendance, but did not consume the same meal. Ian has since been released and attended his wife's memorial in October. Image: News.com.au <em style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #323338; font-family: Figtree, Roboto, 'Noto Sans Hebrew', 'Noto Kufi Arabic', 'Noto Sans JP', sans-serif; background-color: #ffffff; outline: none !important;">/ A Current Affair

Legal

Chilling text sent to Lilie James' father moments after her death

Heart-wrenching new details have emerged surrounding the tragic murder of 21-year-old water polo coach Lilie James on a school campus in Sydney. As students at St. Andrew's Cathedral School returned to their classrooms for the first time since the incident, the shocking revelation of a disturbing text message sent from the victim's phone has sent shockwaves throughout the community. On the night of Wednesday, October 25, Lilie James was found dead with horrific head injuries inside the campus gymnasium toilets. The incident left the entire community in shock and disbelief. Paul Thijssen, a 24-year-old sports coach at the same school, quickly became a person of interest in the investigation. He had been wanted for questioning in connection with the gruesome discovery. What adds to the chilling narrative is the use of James' phone by her suspected killer. Thijssen sent a text message to the victim's father, asking him to come to the school to collect her. The contents of the message remain undisclosed, but the mere fact that the perpetrator used the victim's phone to communicate with her family has sent shivers down the spines of many. Two days later, on Friday, a male body was discovered near the base of cliffs in Vaucluse, located in Sydney's east. Paul Thijssen was caught on CCTV in the vicinity just hours before he informed the police about the water polo coach's tragic fate. James and Thijssen were known to have been in a relationship for several weeks leading up to her untimely death. Detectives investigating the case had initially considered the possibility that Thijssen might have taken his own life following James' murder, and as a result, they were not actively seeking other suspects. As students returned to St. Andrew's Cathedral School, floral tributes began to pile up outside the institution. The community came together for an assembly to remember and honour Lilie James. Head of School Julie McGonigle expressed the grief and confusion that has enveloped the school community. The tragedy has left them grappling with the stark contrast between the individuals they thought they knew and the horrifying reality that unfolded. In the face of such a traumatic event, counsellors have been made available to both teachers and students to provide emotional support and guidance. Lilie James was described as "a ray of light", a young woman who was "so full of life" by those who knew her best. She was a dedicated student, a hardworking employee, and an enthusiastic coach in both swimming and water polo. Her grandmother, Barbara, shared her heartache, saying, "Some people come into this world, I think they're so special, and they don't stay long. That was my granddaughter." As the community tries to make sense of this devastating loss, a GoFundMe campaign has been set up on behalf of Lilie James' family, raising more than $18,000 to support them during this difficult time. Images: Facebook

Legal

Rebecca Loos claims Beckham is "playing the victim" over affair scandal

Rebecca Loos, the woman at the centre of the alleged <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/woman-at-the-centre-of-alleged-beckham-affair-breaks-silence" target="_blank" rel="noopener">affair scandal</a> with iconic football legend David Beckham, has recently shared her thoughts on the new Beckham docuseries, which was released on Netflix. Loos, now 47 and residing in Norway with her husband and two children, expressed her concerns regarding the way the affair was handled in the docuseries, which was produced in collaboration with Beckham's production company. In the early 2000s, Loos gained notoriety for her claims of a romantic involvement with David Beckham during his time as a football superstar. In the docuseries, the Beckhams primarily discussed the media frenzy that ensued following Loos' revelations in 2003, but skirted around the specifics of the affair itself. It was during that tumultuous period that Loos had declared her connection with the football player while working as his personal assistant, even suggesting that the Beckhams had been dealing with marital issues before her involvement came to light. At the time, the celebrity couple vehemently denied any wrongdoing and even considered legal action against Loos. Victoria Beckham, 49, revealed in the docuseries, "It was the most unhappy I have ever been in my entire life," while David Beckham, 48, tearfully stated, "Victoria is everything to me. To see her hurt was incredibly difficult… what we had was worth fighting for." Loos, however, took issue with David's statement. In a <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-12657157/rebecca-loos-affair-david-beckham-netflix.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">candid interview with the Daily Mail</a>, she expressed her frustration: "The [worst] bit for me is that he says he didn't like seeing his wife suffer. That bothered me. Because he's the one that's caused the suffering. He can say whatever he likes, of course, and I understand he has an image to preserve, but he is portraying himself as the victim and he's making me look like a liar, like I've made up these stories. He is indirectly suggesting that I'm the one who has made Victoria suffer." Loos also argued that the docuseries had thrust the affair back into the spotlight, an issue that many had forgotten about since the news first broke 20 years ago, thereby further impacting her reputation. She emphasised, "Yes, the stories were horrible, but they're true. He talks in the documentary about this ultimately being his private life, shutting it down. I think it's one thing to keep your private life to yourself. It's another thing to mislead the public." She suggested that David could have chosen to acknowledge that it was not one of his proudest moments or characterised it as a challenging period and moved on from the subject. However, she felt that he continued to phrase his statements in a way that indirectly shifted the blame onto her. "If you don't want to take responsibility for things because of your family and your children, that's absolutely fine," Loos commented, "But he specifically made it look like… my fault, that he had nothing to do with this." Loos, after the 2003 allegations, embarked on a path as a media personality, participating in various English and Dutch TV shows. In 2008, while filming the Dutch TV show 71 Graden Noord, she crossed paths with her future husband, Norwegian doctor Sven Christjar Skaiaa. After becoming pregnant, the couple decided to relocate to Norway in 2009. Today, she works as a yoga teacher and a massage therapist in Norway while raising her two sons and only occasionally making media appearances. Images: Instagram

Wayne Carey's flippant comment on past cheating scandal

Wayne Carey has made a series of astonishing remarks about the high profile affair that ended his career, as he engaged with cheeky fans on X, formerly known as Twitter. The exchange began when the former AFL player made a seemingly innocent statement about AFL teams trading players. “If your club gets a player that plays your position? That should always be used as motivation to have the best preseason you have ever had,” the former Kangaroos star wrote. “Difference between being good and great? Absolutely nothing beats hard work #tradeshow.” But fans were quick to recall Carey changing clubs back in 2002, as one person cheekily asked, “How come you traded clubs?” to which Carey replied, “Really?” “Didn’t work hard enough?” another added to the banter. Many others added to the virtual pile on, until one fan recalled the reason why he had to change clubs 21 years ago. “He slept with his teammate's wife!” the account wrote, to which the footy star responded with “3 times”. The rogue posts didn't stop there, as the same fan then jokingly asked if the footy star was “back on the bags”, referring to Carey's <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/it-s-not-a-great-look-afl-legend-caught-with-mysterious-substance-at-crown-casino" target="_blank" rel="noopener">incident at Perth Crown Casino</a>when a suspicious looking bag of white powder fell out of his pocket while he was gambling. On last year’s season of SAS Australia, Carey spoke candidly about the affair scandal. “I slept with a teammate’s wife. It’s haunted me for 20 years,” he said at the time. “My integrity will always be questioned. I’m not trying to prove anything to the public — it’s to myself." “People can change. They evolve. Hopefully this can help me.” Image credits: Getty Images

Relationships

Chris Dawson's daughter reveals the emotional last texts from her father

Chris Dawson's daughter has revealed the final messages she sent to her dad as the investigation into his wife's murder made mainstream news. In August 2022, Chris Dawson was found guilty of murdering his wife Lynette in January 1982, and is now serving 24 years for the murder, and a three-year sentence for the unlawful carnal knowledge of a 16-year-old pupil. Now, Shanelle has opened up about the conflicting feels she holds for her father in an emotional interview with <a href="https://www.womensweekly.com.au/news/shanelle-dawson-tells-her-story/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Australian Women's Weekly</a>. Shanelle spoke candidly about how her life changed when the investigation into her others murder gained so much traction on the award-winning podcast Teacher's Pet. “My inner world [was] playing out for the masses. [I] couldn’t pretend anymore,” the mother-of-one told the publication. In a text to her father, Shanelle told Dawson she loved him, “but I won’t live a life based on lies, nor will I keep subjecting myself to emotional manipulation and control”. “You have dishonoured our mother so terribly,” her message read. “One day, I will forgive you for removing her so selfishly from our lives.” To which Dawson responded, “You’re clearly very lonely and depressed in the life you’ve chosen … It is your adult life, now 41 with a child and without a partner, that has clearly caused this terrible depression.” That same month, she received what would be his final text to her, reading: “Hi Shanelle, hope you and Kialah are both well. Thinking of you constantly xx.” She also recalled in the interview her father telling her when she was 13 that he “wished he had tried harder” to make his marriage with Lynette “work”. It was a throw-away comment that Shanelle said was “possibly” prompted by “the realisation that he’d murdered our mum for no good reason”. Now, she added, “I honestly believe that he’s got some kind of split personality disorder and he doesn’t remember [killing her]”. Image credits: 60 Minutes

Family & Pets

Surprise! Scientists find falls likely when texting and walking

It seems obvious that texting while walking is <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/people/behaviour/millennials-most-likely-to-text-and-drive/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">risky</a> business. But while there has been plenty of research showing it’s a dangerous distraction, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0966636217309670" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">some</a> <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0179802" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">studies</a> have suggested that younger people are better at negotiating obstacles while on their phones. <div class="copy"> A study <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18366" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">published</a> in Heliyon has refuted this, finding that university students are more likely to fall if they walk while texting. It also found they’re less accurate texters while walking. “On any day it seems as many as 80% of people, both younger and older, may be head down and texting. I wondered: is this safe?” said senior author Dr Matthew Brodie, a neuroscientist and engineer at the University of New South Wales. “This has made me want to investigate the dangers of texting while walking. I wanted to know if these dangers are real or imagined and to measure the risk in a repeatable way.” Brodie and colleagues recruited 50 undergraduate students from UNSW to take part in the study. Participants walked across a specially built tiled surface, fitted with a tile that could slip out halfway through. They were asked to either walk across the surface normally, or walk across it while texting “the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog”. The students were strapped to safety harnesses so they couldn’t fall, and told they may or may not slip. <div style="position: relative; display: block; max-width: 100%;"> <div style="padding-top: 56.25%;"><iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0px; right: 0px; bottom: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%;" src="https://players.brightcove.net/5483960636001/HJH3i8Guf_default/index.html?videoId=6332776122112" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> </div> The methods used in the experiment. Credit: Heliyon Brodie et al. “What surprised me is how differently people responded to the threat of slipping,” says Brodie. “Some slowed down and took a more cautious approach. Others sped up in anticipation of slipping. Such different approaches reinforce how no two people are the same, and to better prevent accidents from texting while walking, multiple strategies may be needed.” The researchers recorded motion data from the students as they moved and slipped, analysing how stable they were. They found that texting while walking made the students significantly less stable. Specifically, the students “trunk angle” – the angle of their torsos – varied more when they were slipping while texting. This means they were less stable. Participants were also less accurate texters when they did it while walking as opposed to sitting down, and least accurate when they did slip over. “Pedestrians should therefore be discouraged through new educational and technology-based initiatives (for example a ‘texting lock’ on detection of walking) from texting while walking on roadside footpaths and other environments where substantial hazards to safety exist,” conclude the researchers in their paper. Image credits: Shutterstock <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/body-and-mind/texting-walking-falls/">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/ellen-phiddian/">Ellen Phiddian</a>. </div>

Body

Major twist in BBC presenter scandal

A damning scandal surrounding a high-profile BBC presenter has grown after a second victim has come forward against the anonymous personality. Just days after an exclusive report from The Sun claimed a well-known presenter for the public broadcaster had paid a teenager for explicit images, another woman has now claimed she was contacted online by the star. She said the presenter sent “abusive and menacing” messages online, and “felt threatened” when she refused to meet up with the presenter in person. They recognised the presenter after connecting on a dating app and, the BBC reported, “hinted they might name” them which led to a number of “abusive expletive filled messages”. “The young person said they had been scared by the power the presenter held,” BBC News reported. “They said the threats made in the messages … had frightened them, and they remain scared.” The person, in their early twenties, has no connection to the first person who came forward with the allegations. The presenter, who has yet to be named, has not commented on the allegations. These new allegations come just days after the first victim's family <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/bbc-presenter-suspended-over-deeply-concerning-allegations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">came forward</a> and accused the anonymous presenter for sending their teenager a total of £35,000 ($67,000AUD) for explicit pictures over a three year period. The correspondence with the presenter allegedly began when the first person was just 17 years old, with the mother of the person, now in their twenties, saying the money was funding a dangerous drug habit. The mother said of the BBC presenter, “When I see him on telly, I feel sick. I blame this BBC man for destroying my child’s life.” In a statement on Sunday, the BBC confirmed that it "first became aware of a complaint in May". "New allegations were put to us on Thursday of a different nature and in addition to our own enquiries we have also been in touch with external authorities, in line with our protocols," it added. The statement said that "a male member of staff has been suspended". "This is a complex and fast moving set of circumstances and the BBC is working as quickly as possible to establish the facts in order to properly inform appropriate next steps," the BBC added. London's Metropolitan Police released a statement later on Sunday confirming the BBC contacted it over the matter, "but no formal referral or allegation has been made". Image credits: Getty Images

Legal

Pop star discovered tragically dead at 33 in the wake of scandal

South Korean pop star Choi Sung-bong, who was caught running a notorious cancer scam has passed away at age 33. The Korean Times reported that Choi was found by police at his Seoul home on the morning of June 20. He was pronounced dead soon after. Authorities have reportedly ruled the singer’s cause of death as a suicide. According to the Hollywood Reporter, after years of online fame stemming from a 2011 performance on Korea’s Got Talent, Choi confessed he had tricked his fans into donating money to him after claiming he needed funds for cancer treatment. Choi had claimed he had been battling multiple forms of cancer to obtain the donations, however, his claims were later exposed as a hoax. He also claimed he had returned all donated funds from a false fundraiser. Choi later issued a grovelling apology and vowed to return all of the donations sent by his fans. One day before his alleged suicide, Choi posted a note on his YouTube channel apologising for “foolish mistakes” in the past, according to The Mirror. The chilling letter said he needed to "repay for his sins with his life” and showed the address of where his body would be after taking his life. “My body can be found at [his home location]. I don’t know how to write a final message, so I will just write it in my own style. Even though my breath may have stopped now, I have no regrets about the brilliant journey of my life. I have lived my life to the fullest and made efforts to find happiness every day. Age thirty-four," (as per Korean age system), he said. Choi was best known for competing in Korea’s Got Talent in 2011, coming in at second place. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIy99OT2BAQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vIy99OT2BAQ"></iframe></a> A clip of him singing a cover of Nella Fantasia by Ennio Morricone quickly went viral online, thrusting him into the spotlight – with singing sensation Justin Bieber even acknowledging his talent. Image credit: YouTube

Caring

"The audacity": Mum spots man sending vile texts about her and her son midflight

A Qantas passenger has been left stunned after seeing a man writing “racist” texts about her and her son after claiming the toddler kicked the back of his chair. The woman and her one-year-old had been aboard Qantas flight QF158 from Auckland to Melbourne when she saw the disgruntled passenger describe her as a “fat Islander woman” and her son as a “black kid kicking me”. She took to Facebook to share her story, saying the ordeal brought her to tears and had her questioning if she could ever fly without her husband again. The mother said the tension between her and the man seated in front of her son began when he turned around and shook his head at the one-year-old. She asked the man if anything was wrong, whom she claims responded, “I just hope he doesn't kick my seat the whole way”. She said she felt confused because, from her son’s position, his legs could barely dangle off his chair, let alone kick the seat in front. The mother told the passenger in front that her son’s legs were too short to do so and added that if he was so concerned about sitting in front of a child, then he should have flown business class. Mid-air, the mother spotted the man venting his anger to a friend via text, referring to her as a “fat Islander woman” and her son as a “black kid”. “I feel as though the whole interaction had nothing to do with my son 'kicking' his chair but merely something to do of how we looked with his racial comments or simply because I had a child who was sitting right behind him,” she wrote. The woman claimed when she confronted the man about the nasty texts, he appeared “shocked” and immediately started to delete the message. At this point, the mother said that she and her son were both “tired, frustrated and mad”. The mother eventually moved to the back of the plane after a flight attendant was made aware of the ordeal. In her Facebook post, she thanked a man and his teenage son who volunteered to sit in their original seats behind the disgruntled man. “I'm not one to share anything or write statuses but this one I was prompted to in the hopes that if you see anything like that I hope you are not a bystander like the many people on that flight who didn't bother to help or do anything.” Despite the incident, she and her son are doing well, but she will “definitely” not be travelling without her husband ever again. Facebook users flocked to the comments and were quick to sympathise with the woman. “Your so brave, even in tears you still the bigger person who stood up for yourself against such bullying and racism,” one comment read. “Traveling with a toddler is hard and that punk made it worst for you!” another said. “I'm so sorry you had to go through that sis, my gosh the audacity this man has,” a third wrote. Image credit: Facebook

Travel Trouble

Pip Edwards breaks silence on Michael Clarke scandal

The woman at the centre of Michael Clarke's alleged cheating scandal has spoken candidly about the dramatic events in Noosa. The P.E. Nation fashion designer made a stunning appearance at the Australian Open on Saturday ahead of the women's final, where she was grilled about the now-viral fight. Edwards told <a href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/pip-edwards-hits-out-at-the-carnival-of-the-michael-clarke-scandal-and-says-she-is-focused-on-business-pe-nation/news-story/8d91cfabae96e43b78b24e3414775dbb" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Telegraph</a>, “It is definitely not my circus and I would like to say the carnival is over.” “The carnival is over and, to be honest, the focus for me is on the global expansion of P.E. Nation." “The carnival is done.” A video of Clarke fighting with his girlfriend Jade Yarbrough went viral, in which Yarbrough accused the cricketer of cheating on her with his ex-girlfriend Edwards. After the scandal made headlines, photos emerged of Edwards at the pool, and some media outlets published them with a headline reading, “revenge body”. Pip quickly dispelled the sexist headlines, stating, “I have had this body for a very long time.” “I work on my body. It is part of my mental health. It is part of my stability. It is part of how I conquer my day. I live and breathe what I do. I thought that (headline) was a very interesting take." “As a woman in business, as a single mother, as someone who has worked very hard her whole life, the aesthetics of me are literally the cherry on top. It is the iceberg underneath that is what I am doing." “First and foremost I am a mother and a businesswoman, I just come with a body." “It is not out of revenge, it is not out of anything other than being healthy, fit and active.” Image credits: Getty Images

News

Meghan and Kate’s fiery text exchange revealed

An explosive text exchange between Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle has been aired by Prince Harry, detailing how the women clashed over Princess Charlotte’s dress for Harry and Meghan’s wedding. In the Duke of Sussex’s memoir Spare, he shared exactly what was said between Kate and Meghan which led to him finding his wife “on the floor sobbing”. Harry wrote that the week of his 2018 wedding to Meghan, Kate texted his soon-to-be wife about a “problem” with Princess Charlotte’s bridesmaid dress. “The French haute couture dresses had been hand-sewn based solely on [the bridesmaids’] measurements, so it was not surprising that they needed alterations,” Harry explained of the dresses, which were custom-made by Givenchy’s then-creative director Clare Waight Keller, who also created Meghan’s wedding dress. “Meg didn’t reply to Kate straight away. Yes, she had endless wedding-related texts, but mostly she was dealing with the chaos surrounding her father. So the next morning she texted Kate that our tailor was standing by,” Harry wrote. Meghan added that the tailor’s name was “Ajay” and he was “at the Palace”. But Harry claims “this wasn’t sufficient”. He explained that Kate wrote back, complaining, “Charlotte’s dress is too big, too long, too baggy. She cried when she tried it on at home.” According to Harry, Meghan replied, “Right, and I told you the tailor has been standing by since 8am. Here. At KP. Can you take Charlotte to have it altered, as the other mums are doing?” Harry claimed Kate rejected the offer, demanding that “all the dresses need to be remade,” and that her own wedding dress designer, Sarah Burton, had agreed with her. “Meg asked if Kate was aware of what was going on right now. With her father. Kate said she was well aware, but the dresses. And the wedding is in four days!” Harry wrote, to which his wife reportedly replied sharply, “Yes, Kate, I know.” Harry went on to explain that his wife eventually replied to Kate with, “I’m not sure what else to say. If the dress doesn’t fit, then please take Charlotte to see Ajay. He’s been waiting all day.” “Fine,” he says Kate responded. In his memoir, Harry says that while he came home to find Meghan “on the floor sobbing”, he hadn’t considered Kate’s behaviour to be malicious, telling his bride that she “hadn’t meant any harm.” Image credits: Getty Images

Beauty & Style

Cop sent farewell texts to loved ones during shootout

One of the police officers that survived the shootout which killed two of her colleagues has shared her final texts she sent to loved ones in the event she didn’t make it. Constable Rachel McCrow, 29, and Constable Matthew Arnold, 26, were fatally shot at a property in Wieambilla, three hours outside of Brisbane as they carried out a missing persons call. Constable Keeley Brough and Constable Randall Kirk, both aged 28, were also at the property with Constable Kirk suffering a gunshot wound. Nathaniel and Gareth Train were identified as the two brothers who killed the officers, with Stacey Train identified as the third shooter. Constable Brough thought these would be her final moments and that she would either be shot at or burned alive. So she sent farewell texts to her loved ones. "Constable Brough grabbed her phone to seek assistance for her colleagues," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told Parliament House. "And then, she texted her loved ones, what she imagined would be her final goodbyes. "Even then, surrounded by danger and death, her first thought was for her fellow officers." Mr Albanese said it was a “miracle” that Constable Brough survived the terrifying ordeal. "[Constable Brough] did not know whether she was going to be shot, or she was going to burnt alive," Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers told the ABC on Tuesday. "'I do know she was sending messages to loved ones saying she almost thought it was her time. What was going through her mind, one cannot comprehend. "She was in contact with her other colleagues trying to assure them we could get support to go and assist their fallen colleagues at that point in time." Constable McCrow and Constable Arnold will be farewelled at a funeral service at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre at 10am on December 21. Details on how the public can offer their condolences will be available in the next few days. Images: Facebook

News

Do you use predictive text? Chances are it’s not saving you time – and could even be slowing you down

Typing is one of the most common things we do on our mobile phones. A recent survey suggests that millenials spend <a href="https://www.provisionliving.com/blog/smartphone-screen-time-baby-boomers-and-millennials/">48 minutes</a> each day texting, while boomers spend 30 minutes. Since the advent of mobile phones, the way we text has changed. We’ve seen the introduction of autocorrect, which corrects errors as we type, and word prediction (often called predictive text), which predicts the next word we want to type and allows us to select it above the keyboard. Functions such as autocorrect and predictive text are designed to make typing faster and more efficient. But research shows this isn’t necessarily true of predictive text. A <a href="https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/2858036.2858305">study</a> published in 2016 found predictive text wasn’t associated with any overall improvement in typing speed. But this study only had 17 participants – and all used the same type of mobile device. In 2019, my colleagues and I published <a href="https://doi.org/10.1145/3338286.3340120">a study</a> in which we looked at mobile typing data from more than 37,000 volunteers, all using their own mobile phones. Participants were asked to copy sentences as quickly and accurately as possible. Participants who used predictive text typed an average of 33 words per minute. This was slower than those who didn’t use an intelligent text entry method (35 words per minute) and significantly slower than participants who used autocorrect (43 words per minute). <h2>Breaking it down</h2> It’s interesting to consider the poor correlation between predictive text and typing performance. The idea seems to make sense: if the system can predict your intended word before you type it, this should save you time. In my most <a href="https://doi.org/10.1145/3411764.3445566">recent study</a> on this topic, a colleague and I explored the conditions that determine whether predictive text is effective. We combined some of these conditions, or parameters, to simulate a large number of different scenarios and therefore determine when predictive text is effective – and when it’s not. We built a couple of fundamental parameters associated with predictive text performance into our simulation. The first is the average time it takes a user to hit a key on the keyboard (essentially a measure of their typing speed). We estimated this at 0.26 seconds, based on <a href="https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/2470654.2466180">earlier research</a>. The second fundamental parameter is the average time it takes a user to look at a predictive text suggestion and select it. We fixed this at 0.45 seconds, again based on <a href="https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/1240624.1240723">existing data</a>. Beyond these, there’s a set of parameters which are less clear. These reflect the way the user engages with predictive text – or their strategies, if you like. In our research, we looked at how different approaches to two of these strategies influence the usefulness of predictive text. The first is minimum word length. This means the user will tend to only look at predictions for words beyond a certain length. You might only look at predictions if you’re typing longer words, beyond, say, six letters – because these words require more effort to spell and type out. The horizontal axis in the visualisation below shows the effect of varying the minimum length of a word before the user seeks a word prediction, from two letters to ten. The second strategy, “type-then-look”, governs how many letters the user will type before looking at word predictions. You might only look at the suggestions after typing the first three letters of a word, for example. The intuition here is that the more letters you type, the more likely the prediction will be correct. The vertical axis shows the effect of the user varying the type-then-look strategy from looking at word predictions even before typing (zero) to looking at predictions after one letter, two letters, and so on. A final latent strategy, perseverance, captures how long the user will type and check word predictions for before giving up and just typing out the word in full. While it would have been insightful to see how variation in perseverance affects the speed of typing with predictive text, even with a computer model, there were limitations to the amount of changeable data points we could include. So we fixed perseverance at five, meaning if there are no suitable suggestions after the user has typed five letters, they will complete the word without consulting predictive text further. Although we don’t have data on the average perseverance, this seems like a reasonable estimate. <h2>What did we find?</h2> <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/12/graph-text.jpg" alt="" />Above the dashed line there’s an increase in net entry rate while below it, predictive text slows the user down. The deep red shows when predictive text is most effective; an improvement of two words per minute compared to not using predictive text. The blue is when it’s least effective. Under certain conditions in our simulation, predictive text could slow a user down by as much as eight words per minute. The blue circle shows the optimal operating point, where you get the best results from predictive text. This occurs when word predictions are only sought for words with at least six letters and the user looks at a word prediction after typing three letters. So, for the average user, predictive text is unlikely to improve performance. And even when it does, it doesn’t seem to save much time. The potential gain of a couple of words per minute is much smaller than the potential time lost. It would be interesting to study long-term predictive text use and look at users’ strategies to verify that our assumptions from the model hold in practice. But our simulation reinforces the findings of previous human research: predictive text probably isn’t saving you time – and could be slowing you down. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/do-you-use-predictive-text-chances-are-its-not-saving-you-time-and-could-even-be-slowing-you-down-170163" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Technology

Melissa Caddick's husband's deleted text messages discovered

Deleted text messages have been discovered from Melissa Caddick’s husbands phone, in attempts to hide from police that he was out smoking a joint with a friend the night his wife disappeared, as per her inquest. Anthony Koletti told the court he drove to a friend's house on the evening of November 12, to get an “e-cigarette". "Was it in fact to smoke a joint?" counsel assisting Jason Downing SC asked. "I don't know ... it's possible," Koletti said. "You must remember," Downing said. "Let's just say I did, what's your point?" Koletti said. "On a night you told us you were conducting searches throughout the day ... you in fact went to smoke a joint with a friend," Downing said. Koletti said he was concerned about his wife and accepted if he did, it was to calm himself down. The text messages exchanged with that friend were later deleted by Koletti before he handed his phone over to police to assist with their inquiries. He said doing that must of had "something to do with marijuana”. His wife was formally reported missing the following day on November 13 and was questioned if he had been out the night before. Koletti's evidence resumed today after he was asked to step down due to his distress and confusion. Overnight he had been allegedly receiving ongoing abusive messages including one via LinkedIn, his lawyer Judy Swan said. "Dodgy prick, I hope you get locked up," it read. The day Koletti says his wife left their Dover Heights, Sydney, house and never returned he texted her at 7:30 am on November 12. Image: 60 Mins

News

Long-awaited feature FINALLY available for iPhones

iPhone users rejoice! The latest iOS update has brought with it a long-awaited feature: editing and unsending text messages. The new iOS 16 update, available for iPhone released after 2017, now allows users to unsend and edit iMessages, but there are some caveats. A message can only be unsent within two minutes of it being sent, while editing can occur within 15 minutes. How to unsend To unsend a message, open the Messages app, press and hold down the text you want to unsend. This will bring up the Tapback reactions and a quick action menu, which includes the option to undo send or edit, and then tap Undo Send. The text will then disappear from both your phone and from the recipient’s, though it will be replaced by a notification saying that a message has been unsent. But, this function won’t work if the recipient doesn’t have the new update, even if your phone says it has unsent the message. How to edit If you’ve sent an unfortunate typo or some other details, editing messages is now a simple affair. To edit, simply open the Messages app, go into any thread that is using iMessage (also known as blue text), and hold down the message you want to edit. When the reactions and menu appear, tap on Edit. This will allow you to delete the entire message, fix mistakes or add more text. Once you’re happy, tap the blue checkmark on the right side to save your edits. A single message can only be edited a maximum of five times, and an “edited” button will appear under your text, which the recipient can tap on to view previous versions. Image: Getty Images

Technology

Why do people overshare online? 5 expert tips for avoiding social media scandal

Social media are increasingly blurring the lines between our personal and professional lives, leaving us at risk of posting sensitive information that could have ramifications far beyond our “friends” list. Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin recently found this out the hard way after a video of her <a href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/leaders/finnish-pm-sanna-marin-seen-partying-in-leaked-video/news-story/ee2c1b2a86add23a7d693598a20d2631" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dancing and drinking</a> with friends, first posted to a private Instagram account, was leaked to the press. Marin was forced to apologise, and even volunteered for a drug test, after enduring a worldwide media storm. Other kinds of oversharing can have consequences, too. In 2020, police in Australia shared photos of <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/thirteen-victoria-police-employees-suspended-or-transferred-over-dean-laidley-photos-20200717-p55d39.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">arrested ex-footballer Dani Laidley</a> in a private WhatsApp group, and the photos were then made public. Thirteen officers were suspended or transferred, with some facing charges for privacy and human rights breaches. Many employers are <a href="https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7877807/parliament-house-crackdown-on-public-servants-social-media/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">introducing policies</a> to reduce this kind of risk. <a href="https://aisel.aisnet.org/icis2021/user_behaivors/user_behaivors/5/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Our research</a> shows what drives much online oversharing – and we can offer some tips to keep yourself clear of social media scandal. The personal and professional risks of oversharing People have different preferences for boundaries between their professional and personal lives. Some prefer to keep their work relationships formal, while others treat colleagues as friends. However, even if we choose to maintain strong boundaries between our professional and personal lives, we may still find details of our lives divulged on social media by others. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> 'I am a human ... But I have not missed a single day of work, a single task, and I never will' — Finnish PM Sanna Marin continued to defend herself from the fallout of several leaked videos showing her drinking and partying with personal friends <a href="https://t.co/sA82YnpNxJ">pic.twitter.com/sA82YnpNxJ</a> — NowThis (@nowthisnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/nowthisnews/status/1562835718195630080?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 25, 2022</a></blockquote> <a href="https://www.webroot.com/gb/en/resources/tips-articles/hey-teens-chances-are-youll-regret-oversharing-information-online" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Research</a> has reported more than half of us feel anxious about family, friends and colleagues sharing information, photos or videos we do not want to be shared publicly. Yet many of us also reveal an inappropriate amount of detail about our own lives (“oversharing”) on social media, and regret it later. Beyond the potential for embarrassment, indiscriminate sharing on social media can have significant negative consequences for your professional life. Many employers actively use social media to <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/more-than-half-of-employers-have-found-content-on-social-media-that-caused-them-not-to-hire-a-candidate-according-to-recent-careerbuilder-survey-300694437.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">research job candidates</a>, while some employees have <a href="https://careers.workopolis.com/advice/6-people-who-were-fired-for-social-media-posts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lost their jobs</a> due to social media posts. Emotions drive oversharing Why are so many of us prone to oversharing? <a href="https://aisel.aisnet.org/icis2021/user_behaivors/user_behaivors/5/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Our research</a> suggests emotions are central. When we feel strong emotions, we often use social media to communicate with and get support from friends, family and colleagues. We might share good news when we feel happy or excited, or anger and frustration might drive us to vent about our employers. When emotional, it is easy for us to cross the boundary between work and social life, underestimating the consequences of social media posts that can quickly go viral. We have five simple tips for people to avoid oversharing and creating a social media scandal for themselves or others. 1. Set clear boundaries between personal life and work Be clear about the boundaries between your social life and work. Set rules, limits and acceptable behaviours to protect these boundaries. Let your friends, colleagues and family know your expectations. If someone oversteps your boundaries, raise your concerns. Consider your relationship with individuals who do not respect your boundaries. You can also establish boundaries by maintaining separate professional and social accounts on different social media platforms, and only sharing things relevant to work on your professional account. 2. Respect the boundaries of others Be aware of and respect the boundaries of others. Don’t share photos or videos of others without their permission. If someone doesn’t want their photo to be taken, video to be recorded or their name to be tagged, respect their wishes. Treat others on social media the same way you would like to be treated. 3. Lock down your social media accounts Adjust your privacy settings to control who can view your profile and posts. Most social media platforms provide features to help users protect their privacy online. Facebook’s “<a href="https://www.facebook.com/help/443357099140264" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Privacy Checkup tool</a>”, for example, lets you see what you’re sharing and with whom. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Facebook revamps "privacy checkup" to help manage data settings<a href="https://t.co/nUMsnB7ACk">https://t.co/nUMsnB7ACk</a> <a href="https://t.co/jd1NAWdWkU">pic.twitter.com/jd1NAWdWkU</a> — Mashable (@mashable) <a href="https://twitter.com/mashable/status/1214232258963488769?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2020</a></blockquote> Also consider what information you place in your profile. If you don’t want your personal social media profile associated with your employer, do not list your employer in your profile. 4. Share consciously to avoid mistakes Do not use social media when you feel emotional. Especially if you are feeling strong emotions like hurt, anger or excitement, give yourself time to process your feelings before posting. Ask yourself: How many people will see this post? Would anyone be hurt? Does anyone benefit? Would I feel comfortable if my colleagues or supervisors saw this? Assume what you share can be seen by your friends, enemies, colleagues, boss and another 5,000 people. Stop if you don’t want any of them to see what you’re thinking about posting. 5. If you do overshare, try to remove unwanted content Oversharing and accidental posting are not uncommon. If you have posted unwanted content, remove it immediately. If you are concerned about information about yourself on someone else’s social media, raise your concerns and ask the person who posted to remove it. If the information has spread through multiple sources, it is a bit tricky, but it is worth trying to contact the website or service that hosts the information or image to remove the content. If you need further assistance with removing online content, you can also try a <a href="https://www.contentremoval.com/about" target="_blank" rel="noopener">content removal service</a>. Posting is forever Be aware that nothing shared over social media is private. Even “private” messages can easily be forwarded, screenshotted, posted and shared elsewhere. You should treat social media content like your personal brand. If you wouldn’t say it to your colleagues and managers, don’t post it online. Social media can enrich our professional and personal lives, but ill-considered posts and oversharing can be damaging to yourself and others. Being smart on social media is something we need to get better at in our professional lives, just as much as our personal lives.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/189528/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/van-hau-trieu-1372977" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Van-Hau Trieu</a>, Senior Lecturer in Information Systems, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Deakin University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/vanessa-cooper-1374731" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vanessa Cooper</a>, Professor, Information Systems, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063" target="_blank" rel="noopener">RMIT University</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-do-people-overshare-online-5-expert-tips-for-avoiding-social-media-scandal-189528" target="_blank" rel="noopener">original article</a>. Image: Getty Images

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