Social Media
False rumours of Trump’s untimely ‘death’ spread on social media
Millions of people made or watched videos on TikTok speculating that Trump had died or suffered a stroke or another serious medical emergency, with hashtags #trumpisdead and #whereistrump trending on X. However, the president is not dead. Trump spoke live at the White House on Tuesday, and his Truth Social posts racked up thousands of […]
Australia cracks down on ‘Nudify’, stalking Apps towards a safer online environment
The Australian government has taken a significant step towards creating a safer online environment by announcing plans to ban apps used for stalking and creating deepfake nudes. Minister for Communications Anika Wells emphasized the need for a proactive approach to harm prevention, stating that “abusive technologies are widely and easily accessible and are causing real […]
Trump threatens tariffs on countries targeting US tech
Donald Trump has threatened to impose tariffs and export restrictions on countries whose taxes, legislation, and regulations target US big tech companies such as Google, Meta, Amazon, and Apple. In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump said “digital taxes, legislation, rules or regulations are all designed to harm, or discriminate against, […]
Chioma Adeleke back on social media, Davido reacts
Nigerian singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, and his wife, Chioma Adeleke, have moved fans with a touching social media exchange following Chioma’s heartfelt return online. Chioma Adeleke, who had remained largely absent from public platforms since the tragic loss of their son, Ifeanyi, in 2022, broke her silence on Thursday with a poignant […]
French prosecutors investigate death of man during live stream
French prosecutors are investigating the death of a 46-year-old man who died during a live streaming event showing him being mistreated. The man, known online as Jean Pormanove or JP, had built a following by putting on live internet shows in which he was abused or humiliated. The investigation is being led by prosecutors in […]
Mali’s Former Prime Minister Charged Over Social Media Post
Moussa Mara, Mali‘s former prime minister(PM), has been charged with “undermining the credibility of the state” following a social media post about his visits to political prisoners. Mara held the post of prime minister for eight months from 2014 to 2015. He was previously summoned for questioning after a July 4 post on X, where […]
Russia’s Ultranationalist Movement: A New Era of Xenophobia
The Russian Community, or Russkaya Obshchina (RO), has emerged as the largest and most influential ultranationalist organization in Russia since the invasion of Ukraine. With 1.2 million subscribers to its official YouTube page and over 660,000 readers on its main Telegram channel, RO has become a significant force in promoting ethnic Russian interests and targeting […]
#GazaIsStarving Trends on Social Media
A severe hunger crisis is gripping Gaza, with Palestinians facing dire conditions due to Israel‘s relentless bombardment and limited aid. The hashtag #GazaIsStarving has been trending on social media, highlighting the devastating impact of the crisis on civilians, particularly children. The Arabic version of the hashtag appeared in over 227,000 posts on X and over […]
92-Year-Old President Struggles to Connect with Young Voters
Cameroon’s President Paul Biya, 92, has ramped up his online presence in recent months, posting daily updates on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) in a bid to win over young voters ahead of the October election. However, analysts say his attempts may be falling flat, with many young Cameroonians expressing skepticism and sarcasm online. Biya’s […]
JD Vance Joins Bluesky in a Subtle Shift of Allegiance to Musk
US Vice President JD Vance has joined Bluesky, a social media platform rivaling X (formerly Twitter), and invited his over four million followers to join him. Vance signed up for Bluesky on Wednesday and shared screenshots of his post on X, writing, “Just set up my page on @bluesky, hope to see you guys there!” […]