Category: Social Media
What both families and businesses should know about TikTok
Even if you've never used TikTok, you've probably heard of it, perhaps through a teenage relative or friend who seems obsessed with it. After all, this social networking app has grown hugely in popularity since it was launched back in 2016 by the Chinese company ByteDance. Today, TikTok has 500 million monthly active users, as…
Half of people get news from social media, Ofcom claims
Half of UK adults get their news from social media, according to research. But social media platforms tend to be rated least favourably for quality, accuracy, trustworthiness and impartiality, Ofcom found. The regulator’s annual news consumption report said that TV remains the most popular platform for accessing news, at 75%, but usage has decreased from 79%…
US launches antitrust investigation into tech giants
The US government is to examine if big technology firms have hurt competition or suppressed innovation as part of a new antitrust investigation. The Department of Justice announced it had opened an investigation into unnamed “digital platforms”, believed to include the likes of Facebook, Google and Amazon. It said the probe would look at “widespread…
Snapchat reports improved user numbers and revenue rise
Snapchat added 13 million daily active users in the last quarter, as the messaging app reported its latest financial results. The multimedia message platform’s parent company Snap Inc said users rose in the last three months to 203 million. This is an 8% increase on the 190 million daily users reported in the last quarter…
French Teenager creates Emoji Mashup Bot
A new bot Twitter account has quickly earned a large following after tweeting mashup emojis every hour. The Emoji Mashup Bot was created by Louan Bengmah, an 18-year-old student from Nantes, France. It brings two different emojis together and combines them to create a new face. “I wanted to discover new ways of coding and…
MPs consider probe into Facebook Libra cryptocurrency
A probe into Facebook’s Libra digital currency plans is being considered by MPs, it has been reported. Concerns have been raised over the social network’s intentions to start a cryptocurrency called Libra, which will be run by a number of firms including Mastercard, Visa and PayPal. Facebook will incorporate the currency into its digital wallet…
Increased screen time ‘linked to growth in teenage depression’
Increased social media use and television viewing are linked to worsening teenage depression, researchers say. The more time adolescents spend on social media and in front of the television, the more severe their symptoms of depression become, it is suggested. The study of 1,786 girls and 2,028 boys aged 12 to 16 found that if…
Removing extremist groups from social media limits impact, report shows
Tommy Robinson was banned from Facebook (Aaron Chown/PA) Removing extremist groups from major social media platforms such as Facebook is an effective way to limit their impact and reach, new research suggests. A report by the Global Research Network on Terrorism and Technology says the example of far-right group Britain First…
Call for ‘urgent legislation’ against online electoral interference
The white paper is designed to make tech giants more accountable for content on their platforms (Nick Ansell/PA) MPs have accused the Government of ignoring urgent calls to protect future elections, in the face of growing fears around online interference from foreign players and the way campaigns are funded in…
Tech firms should protect us online, say 90% of children in NSPCC survey
Nine out of 10 children think tech firms should be responsible for protecting them from violent, sexual and inappropriate online content, according to an NSPCC survey. The charity’s research, which polled more than 2,000 children aged 11 to 16, also suggests youngsters overwhelmingly think social media platforms should have tools to help them remove posts…