INTERVIEW: Digital Expert Nrupesh Soni on Influencers and Elections

INTERVIEW: Digital Expert Nrupesh Soni on Influencers and Elections

Nov 20, 2024, 8:45 AM In an age where digital platforms dominate, influencers and content creators are emerging as critical players in shaping political discourse, especially among younger voters. Digital expert Nrupesh Soni recently shared his insights into this growing phenomenon, particularly its impact on elections in Namibia. Soni highlighted a notable shift in how young people consume information. "The way information is consumed currently by most of the youth […]

November 20, 2024 7

Science & Technology

Instagram introduces new rules for teens

Social media platform, Instagram, will automatically make teenagers' accounts private and give parents more control, under revamped rules. It's the company's most significant move yet to manage how minors use Instagram as the U.S. Congress seeks to impose regulations on the industry. Kate Fisher reports.

September 18, 2024 23

World

Social media platforms are blocked in Iran. Candidates in this week’s presidential election are embracing them anyway

By Amin Naeni, Deakin University After Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi was killed in a helicopter crash on May 20, the Iranian government had to schedule an early election to choose a new president. The regime has approved six presidential candidates to run in the election on June 28. The pool includes four hardliners, one centrist and one reformist. The main competition is expected […]

June 26, 2024 22

Africa

What’s next after Kenya’s deadly protests?

By Rose TROUP BUCHANAN, Simon VALMARY After an unprecedented day of chaos and deadly violence, Kenya finds itself plunged into uncertainty on Wednesday, with lawmakers due to vote this week on deeply unpopular tax hikes that have sparked widespread protests. How did East Africa's economic powerhouse get to this point and what happens now? Tuesday's national strike against proposed tax hikes began peacefully, with […]

June 26, 2024 15

Entertainment

Quiet on Set highlights how we don’t keep child stars safe – in Hollywood or online

Adonis Page/Shutterstock By Edith Jennifer Hill, Flinders University The new documentary Quiet on Set investigates children’s television station Nickelodeon from the late 1990s to the early 2000s. The five-part series highlights the abuse many child actors faced while working for the station. The child stars on these shows – now adults in their 30s – share their experiences working on the Nickelodeon sets. The series raises questions about […]

April 15, 2024 47

Business / Economics

Social media influence audiences worldwide

By Bank Windhoek’s Digital Marketing Specialist, Julian Mentzel Social media is present in almost every part of our everyday lives. It is a universal platform for entertainment, communication, and information sharing. With billions of users globally, social media sites like WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), Threads, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn provide various features to appeal to different audiences in the rapidly changing digital communication landscape. The […]

March 14, 2024 47

World

NYC sues social media companies over ‘youth mental health crisis

The city of New York is suing several major social media platforms, accusing them of fueling a 'youth mental health crisis'. Mayor Eric Adams says the lawsuit will hold TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and YouTube accountable for 'endangering the mental health of children'. The social media companies involved deny the allegations and say they are working hard to keep young people safe. Sally Patterson reports.

February 16, 2024 12

World

Zuckerberg apologises to families over social media impact on children

Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg has apologised to families who say their children had been harmed by social media, during a fiery hearing in the US Senate. Zuckerberg - who runs Instagram and Facebook - turned to them and said "No one should go through" what they had. Lawmakers wanted to know what they are doing to protect children online. It was a rare opportunity for the US senators to question […]

February 1, 2024 8

Opinion Pieces

Social media content in times of war: an expert guide on how to keep violence off your feeds

There are some practical ways to filter the amount of violent and graphic content you see on social media. Megan Knight, University of Hertfordshire Social media platforms are a great source of information and entertainment. They also help us to maintain contact with friends and family. But social media can also – and has, often – become a toxic environment for spreading disinformation, hatred and conflict. Most people can’t or […]

November 3, 2023 10