Category: Social Media
Hootsuite reveals 5 Social Media Trends for 2020
Social media management tool Hootsuite has released its Social Media Trends 2020 report. The company’s fourth annual report on global trends in social media reveals the biggest opportunities for brands delivering social marketing strategies in the coming year. “The new year is a time to refocus and energise your strategies for the year ahead,” says Hootsuite…
Sacha Baron Cohen: social media is ‘propaganda machine’
Speaking after accepting a leadership award from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) in New York, Ali G actor Sacha Baron Cohen accused internet companies of placing business success above the safety of their users. He claimed platforms such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter were allowing hateful content on their sites because it provoked a response and…
Hillary Clinton worried about young women on social media
Hillary and Chelsea Clinton with Fearne Cotton (Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place) Hillary Clinton has said the idea of perfection that is often portrayed on social media is “insidious” and undermines the confidence of young women. The former US secretary of state said that people in the public eye should talk more…
How do I clean up social media for future employers?
A number of General Election candidates have already landed themselves in hot water due to hidden nasties found on their social media accounts, while several celebrities have previously come unstuck because of prior posts. Even ordinary members of the public can now expect future employers to scrutinise their online presence. So how do you clean…
WhatsApp adds fingerprint unlock feature for Android users
WhatsApp users on Android can now lock the messaging app using their fingerprint. The Facebook-owned messaging service announced it will allow users to add the extra layer of security, which will require the device owner’s fingerprint to be confirmed before the app opens fully. A similar feature was added to Apple’s iOS platform earlier this…
Social media platforms can be forced to remove illegal comments, rules court
Social media platforms such as Facebook can be ordered to remove defamatory posts declared as illegal, the EU’s top court has ruled. The Court of Justice of the European Union’s (CJEU) landmark decision means any individual country in the EU can restrict global access to the offending material. Facebook said the ruling raises “critical questions…
Warning over ‘sadfishing’ as children seek solace online
Schoolchildren seeking solace online are being affected by the latest toxic social media trend – “sadfishing”, warns a new report. Youngsters are being accused of attention-seeking after sharing details about personal issues online in search of support, it says. “Sadfishing” has been used to describe when someone posts about an emotional problem in an attempt…
China now a ‘global disinformation superpower’, say researchers
China has become a major player in global social media manipulation campaigns, researchers say, amid an overall increase in the number of countries sharing misinformation online. According to the Oxford Internet Institute, organised social media manipulation has more than doubled since 2017, with 70 countries using computational propaganda to manipulate public opinion. The report says…
Twitter tests ability to hide replies to tweets
Twitter is testing a feature which allows users to hide replies to their tweets that they find abusive or irrelevant. The social media platform said early trials had shown that handing more control over a conversation to those starting them had improved interactions on the platform. The feature has been in testing in Canada since…
How can social media users deal with online trolls?
Social media users are being encouraged to ignore and report abusive messages they receive from online trolls as part of a new campaign to stop the spread of hateful content. A new charity – the Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) – has published advice on how to best to deal with abuse that has…