Australia fires starting gun on global social media reform

Australia fires starting gun on global social media reform

Australia on Wednesday will become the world’s first country to ban social media for children under 16, blocking them from platforms including TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook. The ban is being closely watched by other countries considering similar age-based measures as concerns mount over the effects of social media on children’s health and safety. Below…

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Africa: News Influencers Are Reshaping the Media – Insights From Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa

Africa: News Influencers Are Reshaping the Media – Insights From Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa

News creators and influencers have become increasingly important sources of news as more people turn to social media and video networks like Facebook and YouTube to inform themselves. By news creators, we mean individuals who create and distribute content mainly through social and video networks and have some impact on public debates around news and…

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Meta gives Australian kids 2-week warning to delete accounts as world-first social media age restrictions loom

Meta gives Australian kids 2-week warning to delete accounts as world-first social media age restrictions loom

Melbourne, Australia — Technology giant Meta on Thursday began sending thousands of young Australians a two-week warning to downland their digital histories and delete their accounts from Facebook, Instagram and Threads before a world-first social media ban on accounts of children younger than 16 takes effect. The Australian government announced two weeks ago that the three…

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Social media becomes new storefront

Social media becomes new storefront

Most connected African consumers browse for products online through search engines, retailer websites, or social media platforms. Social media now rivals traditional word-of-mouth as top purchase driver, and is shaping African consumers’ buying decisions. This is according to the Boston Consulting Group’s (BCG’s) “119 million reasons for optimism: How young consumers are reshaping Africa’s retail…

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Google agrees to major funding package for South African media

Google agrees to major funding package for South African media

Carlos Barria/Reuters Google has committed R688-million to support South Africa’s under-pressure media industry, alongside a separate initiative aimed at fostering its long-term growth. This follows the release of the media and digital platforms market inquiry final report by the Competition Commission on Thursday. It marks an about-turn from earlier this year, when the US search…

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