Australia is facing the aftermath of a terror attack, the impact of international conflicts, rising Islamophobia and antisemitism, and a cost of living crisis.
Our sense of belonging has dropped – from 64 per cent in early 2020 to 46 per cent in 2025, according to the Scanlon Foundation’s Mapping Social Cohesion report.
In an SBS special forum, guests told host Janice Petersen there are many reasons our social fabric is under strain.
Co-chair of Reconciliation Australia Kirstie Parker said: "I feel there’s sense of permission having been given to people to be terrible."
Ms Parker recounted the "awful commentary on social media" during her work on the Yes campaign during The Voice campaign back in 2023.
CEO of Cheek Media Co. Hannah Ferguson said social media is a big factor driving social division.
Social media is a binary place. It celebrates silos, it creates echo chambers.Hannah Ferguson
While Adam Creighton, Chief Economist at the Institute of Public Affairs, said many people blame immigration for cost of living pressures and the housing crisis.
"No wonder people are angry," he said.
Race Discrimination Commissioner Giridharan Savaraman said economic inequality is often a trigger for racism.
"It's much easier to blame communities or individuals, rather than actually do the hard work of systemic change," he told Janice.
In this episode of SBS Examines, we look at the factors influencing social cohesion in Australia.
Stream free On Demand
The Social Schism
