Deepfakes now a political weapon in the Ukrainian war
The use of deepfakes in politics has insofar been rare. But in the last week, two deepfakes related to the war in Ukraine have emerged online. Just days ago, a doctored video of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy began making rounds on social media. It also found its way onto a...
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BeReal is encouraging us to stop curating ourselves online
In the age of social media fatigue, the app is a refreshingly unglamorous antidote to the relentless pursuit of perfection we can’t seem to escape on our heavily filtered Instagram feeds. When Instagram initially burst onto the scene over a decade ago, the happy-snappers among us were enticed by the...
How to optimise Facebook to better your mental health
Prolonged Facebook use can cause unwanted stress and anxiety, but there are ways to change the experience to better suit your needs. Facebook has become a social media dinosaur over the last five years or so. Where once it was at the cutting edge of teenage and twenty-something online interaction, it...
Bots are now hijacking users’ collaborative Spotify playlists
Just when you thought Spotify was the last peaceful place left on the Internet, bots have begun taking over the platform. Remember the days when we exchanged music by carefully curating tracks and burning them onto blank CDs, with track names, doodles, or handwritten notes on the surface of them...
Twitter’s new ‘Tor’ service can circumvent state internet censorship
In regions where Twitter is partially or completely restricted, a new ‘Tor’ service could soon allow people to circumvent censorship measures. This won’t be well received by certain government figures, but is a big win for online democracy. Twitter claims this move had been in the works since 2014, but...
TikTok suspends video uploads & livestreaming in Russia
If social media platforms spread ‘false information’ about the Russian military, Putin’s newly passed ‘fake news’ law threatens fines and lengthy prison sentences. TikTok has responded by suspending all new video uploads throughout the region. The standoff between Big Tech and Russia is becoming more involved by the week. A widespread...
Facebook’s new ad regulations freeze out climate groups
In its efforts to limit online abuse, Facebook removed ‘sensitive’ categories from its Detailed Targeting advertising tool. Climate groups now say the new policy is limiting their ability to connect with audiences.
Has Facebook ever been on good terms with climate groups at this point?
Last month, Facebook decided to escalate its response against online abuse by re-evaluating its policies on targeted ads. Previously, its tools had been used to 
Big Tech goes up against Russian state media
Google, Meta, and Twitter are blocking Kremlin owned channels from selling ads and pushing propaganda as part of ongoing sanctions against Russia. It’s been four days since Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine, and Big Tech is starting to respond. Sanctions against Russia from EU nations and members of NATO continue to come to light, and self-governed social media websites are now making their respective stances clear. Something of a joint digital...
Is age verification on UK pornography viewing a good idea?
The UK is once again attempting to pass age verification checks for porn viewers. The bill asks all upload-based websites to act with a ‘duty of care’ and remove harmful or illegal content. It may sound like a good idea in theory, but the parameters are also worryingly vague. Pornography could be seeing a major overhaul in the UK soon. The Online Safety Bill, first introduced in 2021, would require...
How AI can lead to verbal abuse and unhealthy attachments
Smartphone app Replika is enabling users to find companionship in artificially intelligent chatbots. But what happens when the human emotion of users gets in the way of keeping things casual? It’s getting a little too real in the world of tech right now. The recent and rapid expansion of the metaverse, together with advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality (VR), have brought forward serious questions about human behaviour and...
