Russia blocks WhatsApp for 100 million users

Russia blocks WhatsApp for 100 million users

In a move that effectively isolates a massive portion of its population from Western communication, Russian authorities have blocked WhatsApp, the Financial Times reports. By removing the app from the nation’s official online directory, the government has essentially wiped the platform from the Russian internet, impacting an estimated 100 million users. Read: Pony AI and…

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eMedia’s eVOD streaming platform racks up 2.2m users

eMedia’s eVOD streaming platform racks up 2.2m users

Watch time on the eVOD platform increased by 56%. (Image: Supplied) Local video-on-demand platform eVOD reached 2.2 million registered users in the third quarter of 2025, says the company. eVOD is owned by eMedia, the parent company of e.tv and Openview. In a statement, eVOD reveals it recorded a 22% year-on-year increase in registrations, which…

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YouTube Music paywalls lyrics with limit for free users

YouTube Music paywalls lyrics with limit for free users

In a move that mirrors past controversial shifts in the streaming industry, YouTube Music has begun moving its lyrics feature behind its Premium paywall. Previously available for free since its introduction in 2020, the “Lyrics” tab now presents free-tier users with a stark warning: “Unlock lyrics with Premium.” Read: iPhone 17e to retain $599 entry…

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Google’s work in schools aims to create a ‘pipeline of future users,’ internal documents say

Google’s work in schools aims to create a ‘pipeline of future users,’ internal documents say

Newly filed internal documents show how Google viewed its work with schools as a way of turning children into lifelong customers — while the company simultaneously acknowledged research suggesting that YouTube, one of Google’s main platforms, can be unsafe and distracting. In a 2018 presentation, one slide noted that the public sees YouTube as problematic…

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Capitec reaches 14.5m active app users

Capitec reaches 14.5m active app users

Francois Viviers, Capitec group executive of marketing and communications. Capitec Bank has seen rapid growth in mobile banking adoption, with more than half of its 25 million clients now actively using the Capitec app every month. Speaking in an interview with ITWeb on the side-lines of the Capitec Innovation Exchange event yesterday, Francois Viviers, Capitec…

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Microsoft extends protection for Windows 10 users

Microsoft extends protection for Windows 10 users

Windows 10 has been a trusted operating system for nearly a decade, says Microsoft SA. Microsoft South Africa has urged consumers and businesses still running Windows 10 to begin planning their system transition, as the company prepares to end support for the operating system on 14 October. After that date, Microsoft will no longer provide…

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