A university professor tells a royal commission that rising antisemitism is linked to an increasingly polarised society shaped by social media. The professor says social media-driven political debate makes it harder for universities to teach students how to hold difficult conversations while remaining respectful. The testimony focuses on the broader classroom challenge, arguing that heightened online tensions can carry into campus discussions and affect how students engage with sensitive topics. According to the professor, universities face increasing pressure as students encounter more extreme or confrontational viewpoints outside formal education, which can narrow the space for respectful dialogue in academic settings. The commission hearing uses the issue of antisemitism as an example of how polarisation can influence attitudes and behaviour. The professor’s remarks centre on the perceived relationship between online influence, political division, and the capacity of educational institutions to foster constructive engagement on controversial subjects.