social media

Australia backs down on social media misinformation fines

Australia has decided not to go ahead with a plan to fine social media companies for failing to stop the spread of false information. The proposed law would have allowed fines of up to 5% of a company’s yearly earnings but was dropped because it didn’t have enough support in the country's Senate.

Australia launches 'landmark' bill to ban social media for children under 16

Australia plans to trial an age-verification system that may include biometrics or government identification to enforce a social media age cut-off, some of the toughest controls imposed by any country to date.

Australia plans to ban social media for users under 16

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that his government will introduce legislation to prevent users under 16 from accessing social media platforms, citing the risks of online harm.

We should rethink our approach to online political discussions

Political discussions today often devolve into verbal battlegrounds, where the goal seems less about understanding and more about winning. Social media, creating echo chambers and shrinking attention spans, amplifies this by rewarding outrage and oversimplification over nuance and depth.

Scrolling away your life? Maybe it's time to reclaim a little control

We are currently habituated to mindlessly scrolling on our phones without even realising that hours have passed since we picked up the device. The following pointers can help you take control of this harmful habit.

Our sense of right and wrong is eroding: Nusraat Faria

Bangladeshi film actress, singer, and model Nusraat Faria still finds herself in a difficult position — her name continues to be associated with a former prime minister across social media discussions, often with negative undertones.

#Perspective / Radio’s last stand: Can FM survive in a digital world?

Like many traditional media, FM radio has struggled to maintain its once-strong relevance in the face of rapid digitalisation, changing listener habits, and the rise of online streaming platforms.

A call to end the cycle of revenge politics

The tendency to humiliate and seek revenge through violence only deepens political distrust and perpetuates cycles of retribution with each change in the government.

Australia plans age limit to ban children from social media

The minimum age for children to log into sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok has not been decided but is expected to be between 14 and 16 years, Albanese said.

May 15, 2022

The perils of ghosting, as told by a ghoster

We’ve ghosted others, been ghosted ourselves.

April 17, 2022

Draft OTT regulations: They'll be threat to free speech, says speakers at webinar

The government’s draft regulation for digital, social media and OTT platforms will be a threat to freedom of speech and people’s basic rights, experts said yesterday.

April 16, 2022

Draft regulation for digital, social media, OTTs a threat to freedom of speech: Experts

The government’s draft regulation for digital, social media and OTT platforms will be a threat to freedom of speech and curb people’s basic rights, experts said today.

April 5, 2022

Sri Lanka bans social media; VPN use spikes

Sri Lanka's attempt to contain spiralling protests by blocking popular social media platforms led to an extraordinary spike in the use of censorship-dodging virtual private networks, a tracking firm said Monday. Demand for VPNs went up by a staggering 17,000 per cent on Sunday when the ban came into effect, Top10VPN.com said after tracking downloads by Sri Lankan users.

March 29, 2022