Zuckerberg apologises to families over social media impact on children

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

Teens on social media need both protection and privacy – AI could help get the balance right

Social media can be both dangerous and a lifeline for teens. The Good Brigade/DigitalVision via Getty Images Afsaneh Razi, Drexel University Meta announced on Jan. 9, 2024, that it will protect teen users by blocking them from viewing content on Instagram and Facebook that the company deems to be harmful, including content related to suicide and eating disorders. The move comes as federal and state governments have increased pressure on […]

February 1, 2024 24

Lifestyle

Disinformation is often blamed for swaying elections – the research says something else

Alexandru Nika/Shutterstock Magda Osman, Cambridge Judge Business School Many countries face general elections this year. Political campaigning will include misleading and even false information. Just days ago, it was reported that a robocall impersonating US president Joe Biden had told recipients not to vote in the presidential primary. But can disinformation significantly influence voting? There are two typical styles of election campaigning. One is positive, presenting favourable attributes of politicians […]

January 29, 2024 13

Africa

Uganda’s battle for the youth vote – how Museveni keeps Bobi Wine’s reach in check

By Rebecca Tapscott, University of York and Anna Macdonald, University of East Anglia Uganda is one of the youngest countries in the world, with an average age of 15.9 years. Young people aged below 30 make up about 77% of the country’s population of 47 million people. Young people have legitimate and wide-ranging grievances, from unemployment to disenfranchisement. Opportunities remain limited, with two-thirds of Ugandans working for themselves or […]

January 17, 2024 6

Business / Economics

The Importance of Business Planning for the Closing Seasons

By Josef Kefas Sheehama The holiday season is a particular instance when you might have a lot of different demands on your time, both professionally and personally. Before you know it, you’re halfway through December and the Christmas shut-down period is just around the corner. In order to really switch off from your business it pays to do a little forward planning first. Just because you’re taking a well-earned break […]

November 29, 2023 11

Health / Medical

Why a social media detox may not be as good for you as you think – new research

DimaBerlin/Shutterstock Niklas Ihssen, Durham University and Michael Wadsley, Durham University Whether you’re an influencer, an occasional poster, or just a lurker, you likely spend more time than you’d like on social media. Globally, working-age people with internet access now spend more than 2.5 hours per day on social platforms like Instagram, Facebook or X (Twitter). Social media use can become excessive and problematic when it interferes with school or work, […]

November 28, 2023 15

World

Fast-fashion giant Shein applies to go public in US: report

ATTENTION - ADDS Shein declined to comment /// Washington, Nov 28, 2023 (AFP) - Chinese-founded fast fashion giant Shein has confidentially applied to go public in the United States, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday, calling the move potentially one of the biggest IPOs in years. The offering could come next year, the newspaper said, citing people familiar with the matter and adding that Chinese media had also reported on […]

November 28, 2023 5

Africa

Concerns grow over unauthorised fuel licensing and pricing

The Ministry of Mines and Energy is concerned about the increasing number of advertisements on social media platforms where individuals and entities are offering wholesale and retail fuel licenses, marketing fuel at unofficially gazetted prices, often from unlicensed locations. Ministry spokesperson Ten Hasheela.

November 20, 2023 46

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 8