Social Media Revolution Series
'Virtual influencers' are here, but should Meta really be setting the ethical ground rules?
Feb 02, 2022 09:29 am UTC| Technology
Earlier this month, Meta announced it is working on a set of ethical guidelines for virtual influencers animated, typically computer-generated, characters designed to attract attention on social media. When Facebook...
Social Media Revolution Series
Twitter's algorithm favours the political right, a recent study finds
Feb 02, 2022 09:00 am UTC| Politics Technology
If youre a Twitter user, youll know that when scrolling through your home feed, in between posts from accounts you follow, youll sometimes see tweets tagged you might like. In other words, Twitter is recommending content...
Social Media Revolution Series
Spotify's response to Rogan-gate falls short of its ethical and editorial obligations
Feb 02, 2022 08:41 am UTC| Insights & Views Technology
Audio streaming giant Spotify is getting a crash course in the tension between free speech and the need to protect the public from harmful misinformation. The Swedish-founded platform, which has 400 million active...
Social Media Revolution Series
How social media can crush your self-esteem
Jan 10, 2022 13:05 pm UTC| Insights & Views Life
We all have a natural tendency to compare ourselves to others, whether intentionally or not, online or offline. Such comparisons help us evaluate our own achievements, skills, personality and our emotions. This, in turn,...
Social Media Revolution Series
Metaverse: how Facebook rebrand reflects a dangerous trend in growing power of tech monopolies
Nov 06, 2021 08:04 am UTC| Technology
Facebooks rebranding as Meta has been seen by many as the companys latest attempt at corporate crisis control. The social media giant has been publicly attacked for creating an environment that fosters far-right extremism...
Social Media Revolution Series
Young Nigerians turned to Twitter on the night of the Lekki shootings: what that tells us
Oct 31, 2021 23:26 pm UTC| Technology
Mobile messaging services have become influential in recent times in reshaping social movements. They make it cheaper and quicker for protesters to mobilise resources. They also circumvent conventional communication...
Social Media Revolution Series
Instagram can make teens feel bad about their body, but parents can help. Here's how
Sep 24, 2021 01:17 am UTC| Insights & Views Technology
Last week Facebooks internal research revealed Instagrams toxic effects on some young peoples body image particularly girls. One study by Facebook of teen Instagram users in the US and UK found more than 40% of those...
South Africa’s plan to move away from coal: 8 steps to make it succeed
Germany lowers voting age to 16 for the European elections
IceCube researchers detect a rare type of energetic neutrino sent from powerful astronomical objects