insert_link Africa TikTok in Kenya: the government wants to restrict it, but my study shows it can be useful and empowering By Stephen Mutie, Kenyatta University Every day, 750 million people around the world engage with Tiktok – the short-video sharing app. Kenyans are among its top users. According to a Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2023, 54% of Kenyans sampled used TikTok for general purposes, the highest proportion among the countries in the survey. They also use TikTok to express themselves and connect with others. The app, […] todayMay 17, 2024 10
insert_link World Social media seen as more influential than voting booths among young Hungarians Young Hungarians are showing a lack of interest in voting in the EU elections in June. That's according to a recent EU Commission survey. Separately, a new Eurobarometer survey has found that 70% of Hungarians say they are likely to vote in the June European Parliament elections. Altogether 65% of Hungarians say they are interested in voting on June 9, which is 15% more than those who said so ahead of the […] todayMay 15, 2024 10
insert_link Science & Technology Is AI a Blessing or a Curse? Ronald Sangunji Weighs In By Dilia Mazula As the tech industry progresses, it triggers questions and debates regarding the potential risks, particularly concerning AI. Fears mount over the potential harm that could arise if AI falls into the wrong hands and is wielded for malicious purposes. Numerous online reports have investigated AI's capacity to manipulate and potentially deceive humans, with Deepfakes emerging as a concerning trend. Governments are increasingly apprehensive about […] todayMay 15, 2024 36
insert_link Science & Technology Science journalism in South Africa: social media is helping connect with new readers Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images, CC BY By Sisanda Nkoala, University of the Western Cape Science journalism is about taking complex academic research and turning it into easy-to-read content that is still accurate. Aside from informing readers through evidence-based journalism, it aims to make the wider public curious about scientific research. This article is an example of science journalism. As a media professor I conducted a study on […] todayMay 10, 2024 6
insert_link Business / Economics ByteDance given nine months to divest TikTok amid data concerns US President Joe Biden has signed into law a 95 billion dollar package to provide weapons and funding to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan - as well as a possible ban on the social media app TikTok. It comes after months of political wrangling and delays over sending aid to overseas conflicts. Kate Fisher reports from Washington. Separately, the BBC reports that TikTok says it will challenge in court an "unconstitutional" […] todayApril 24, 2024 29
insert_link Science & Technology TikTok fears point to larger problem: Poor media literacy in the social media age Tiktok is not the only social media app to pose the threats it’s been accused of. picture alliance via Getty Images By Nir Eisikovits, UMass Boston The U.S. government moved closer to banning the video social media app TikTok after the House of Representatives attached the measure to an emergency spending bill on Apr. 17, 2024. The House voted on each of the four components of the bill, […] todayApril 22, 2024 11
South Africa Social media for sex education: South African teens explain how it would help them Social media platforms can provide safe, accurate and confidential information about sex to teens. Nattrass/Getty Images By Ayobami Precious Adekola, University of South Africa Most teenagers dread talking about sex with their parents. Their parents feel the same way. In some societies it’s considered taboo to even broach the subject. And, even where sexuality education is taught at schools, research has shown that effective communication between young […] todayApril 18, 2024 11
insert_link Lifestyle In the age of cancel culture, shaming can be healthy for online communities – a political scientist explains when and how Public shaming can help uphold online community norms. bo feng/iStock via Getty Images By Jennifer Forestal, Loyola University Chicago “Cancel culture” has a bad reputation. There is growing anxiety over this practice of publicly shaming people online for violating social norms ranging from inappropriate jokes to controversial business practices. Online shaming can be a wildly disproportionate response that violates the privacy of the shamed while offering them no […] todayApril 17, 2024 9
insert_link Lifestyle Exploring the roots of stupidity: first understand the psychology of what lies behind irrational opinions By Manfred Kets de Vries, INSEAD Most people, at one time or another, act foolishly. However, truly ignorant individuals exhibit a lack of introspection and stubbornly cling to their opinions, regardless of how irrational they may be. These people demonstrate unwavering self-assurance and are often oblivious to their own inadequacies. They craft retrospective justifications to validate their beliefs and hold onto them. Even when presented with opportunities […] todayMarch 27, 2024 5
Paying it forward: Kenyan coastal doctor Bashrahil Mohammed Mafudh has made it his life’s work to care for the most vulnerable in his community, at no cost.
