Social media

THINKING ALOUD

The rose-tinted inevitability of smart glasses

I laughed at them in 2013; I might buy a pair in 2026

TikTok was told that it risks a fine of up to 6% of owner ByteDance’s global turnover if it continues to flout the rules under the Digital Services Act.

TikTok accused of breaching EU online content rules

EU tech regulators say the app may have to change its ‘addictive design’ featuring infinite scroll and autoplay

While some tech companies are trying to harness the wisdom of crowds to improve their design choices, these initiatives are unlikely to work in isolation, says the writer.
THE BROAD VIEW

Want to solve deepfakes? Ask citizens what to do

Assemblies can bridge the gap between people being treated as voters and consumers

TikTok has been fined 880 million dong; VNG, the operator of messaging app Zalo, has been dealt a penalty of 810 million dong.

Vietnam fines TikTok, Zalo operators over data consent practices

The social media apps have been hit with a combined 1.69 billion dong fine for breaching user data collection rules

A consortium that includes Oracle, Silver Lake and Emirati investment firm MGX will acquire a 50% stake in a TikTok US joint venture, while the platform’s Chinese parent company ByteDance keeps a 19.9% stake.
THINKING ALOUD

The US’ American-ish TikTok awaits

Even as platforms splinter further for users, corporations remain bound by geopolitical ties

RedNote's rapid growth in South-east Asia is shaping local shopping behaviours and driving the digital agency market's expansion in the region, says the writer.

What RedNote’s rise means for Beijing’s soft power in South-east Asia

The firm must address concerns about the social media app’s potential security risks in its No 2 market

British ministers will visit Australia, which last month became the first country to ban social media for children under 16, to learn from their approach.

UK mulls Australia-style ban on social media for children

[LONDON] Britain is considering a range of measures to better protect children online, including an Australian-style ban on social media for those below a certain age and tougher guidance for use of m...

Despite the speed and strength with which anger can spread through social media through rage bait, there is emerging research which suggests people can be nudged into reflecting on media content designed to provoke anger before they respond.

Rage bait: How to stop getting triggered

Understanding the psychology behind social media’s angriest posts

The lawsuit makes a second High Court challenge to Australia's ban.

Reddit files lawsuit against Australia’s social media ban

[SYDNEY] Message board website Reddit on Friday filed a lawsuit asking the High Court to overturn Australia’s social media ban for people under 16 as well as its inclusion in it, calling the law an in...

There are early signs that young users in Australia, faced with the ban, are adopting rival services.

World watches first teen social media ban kick off in Australia

Policymakers in Indonesia, Denmark, Brazil and other nations are also moving to rein in Big Tech