Grim revelations arise from two-year TikTok investigation
Previously redacted documents about TikTok’s practices have been mulled over by several news outlets. The grim revelations bring to question the platform’s duty of care and lax precautions, particularly when it comes to young users. Two years ago, TikTok discovered some truly disgusting things were taking place on their platform. Children...
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The dystopia of watching Hurricane Milton unfold online
On one side of the internet, content creators and clout chasers used the natural disaster to entertain and engage. On the other, it triggered a surge in misinformation and conspiracy theories. While social media platforms function as a go-to news source for many, is this proof that things have...
Why are men sabotaging the ‘she deserved the purse’ trend?
Men have been sabotaging women’s pay-it-forward scheme by wrecking baby aisles and taking money intended for young mothers. Is this a clap-back against the unnecessary spectacularisation of generosity or against women experiencing privileges men have excluded themselves from by unequally distributing parental responsibility? Across the US, women have been hiding...
WHO joins TikTok to deliver science-based health info
Since the pandemic, there has been a surge in people seeking health information online. This has led to an increase in misinformation, however, leaving many overwhelmed as they navigate online medical guidance. To help tackle this growing issue, the World Health Organization (WHO) have announced a collaboration with TikTok...
The life-threatening ‘Chroming’ challenge spreading on TikTok
The challenge involving inhaling toxic fumes has gained popularity among the younger generations, raising serious health concerns among health professionals and parents. Adolescents' use of social media has left older generations, including the oldest members of Generation Z, baffled. Although every generation has encountered unsettling trends, the rise of social media...
Sweden says children under 2 should have zero screen time
Swedish health authorities have issued new recommendations to restrict screen time for young people. Sweden has made a firm statement in the ongoing debate over children and screens: for kids under two, there should be no screen time. At all. Health authorities have issued new recommendations for parents regarding screen time...
TikTok seals deal with Amazon to make in-app shopping even easier
The popular video sharing app will now integrate shoppable ‘Buy with Prime’ ads directly in the TikTok app, complete with real-time delivery estimates. This new development comes as US lawmakers get closer to banning the platform. Have you ever bought something on TikTok Shop? If you haven’t, it’s likely you’ll be tempted to do so in the near future. Despite its reputation as a video-sharing app, it’s clear that users have...
Facebook algorithm under fire for blocking wildfire posts
The platform has faced criticism for blocking multiple emergency posts relating to United States wildfires. Facebook has recently found itself in the line of fire – and not for spreading misinformation or political propaganda, but for blocking emergency warnings. As wildfires spread across Northern California this month, individuals took to social media to share updates and concerned messages with friends and family. This kind of digital hand holding has become a common...
Is accessible news making Gen Z narrow-minded?
With young people getting most of their news from social media, their political interests are being swayed by algorithms and a limited exposure to diverse perspectives. In recent years, the number of people for whom social media is their go-to news source has soared, with 44 per cent of 16 to 24-year-olds using Instagram for this very reason. These platforms – originally intended to...
Are social media algorithms breeding misogyny and violence?
Amid mounting evidence to suggest that men and boys are being pushed violent and misogynistic content online – without deliberately searching for or engaging with it – many fear that this unregulated far-right radicalisation is increasingly turning them against women and girls. On Monday, BBC Panorama released a new documentary. Titled ‘Can We Live Without Our Phones?’, it investigates what happens when children lose access to their mobile...
