social

Australia bans social media for under-16s, ordering platforms to block access or face multimillion-dollar fines, in a first-of-its-kind move the government says will help families “take back control.” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the landmark law, calling it a decisive step against the influence of powerful technology companies and an overdue safeguard for children. “This is Australia showing enough is enough,” he said, describing the measure as “one of the biggest social and cultural changes that our nation has…

Australia on Wednesday became the first country to enforce a nationwide minimum age for social media, ordering platforms including Instagram, TikTok and YouTube to block users under 16 or face fines of up to A$49.5 million (€28 million). The mandate, which took effect at midnight local time (1 p.m. Irish time), could see more than a million accounts shuttered and marks a potential turning point in how governments regulate Big Tech. The rules initially cover 10 major platforms, with the government saying the list will evolve…

Australia will become the first country to implement a nationwide social media ban for children under 16 when new rules take effect on Dec. 10, the government said, aiming to shield young people from the negative effects of online platforms. The Australian government announced the move as part of a wider child-safety push. Officials said the measure is intended to reduce young people’s exposure to harmful material and the mental-health risks associated with heavy social media use. Earlier this year Canberra…

Ireland is weighing whether to bar children and young people from social media — a so-called "digital age of majority" — as governments worldwide watch Australia’s landmark under-16 ban for lessons on enforcement, rights and technical feasibility. Officials in Dublin told reporters the country prefers a coordinated European Union approach, noting the issue should be considered “by the EU and EU member states together” and that any move must respect the rights of children and young people. The European Commission has…

Somalia’s space ambitions meet environmental realities Somalia’s coastline and equatorial latitude have thrust Bashaqle, in Middle Shabelle, into conversations about an African launch site. The prospect promises strategic access to orbit and a pathway into the global space economy. It also brings complex environmental, health, and governance questions that must be addressed before ignition. Equatorial launches reduce fuel needs and enable heavier payloads to orbit, making Bashaqle geographically attractive. Turkey’s…

Morocco's Bold Investment in Health and Education: A Hopeful Path for Reform In a significant stride towards modernization, Morocco has unveiled plans to invest 140 billion dirhams—approximately $14 billion—into its education and health sectors in the coming year. Announced at a ministerial meeting chaired by King Mohammed VI in Rabat, this initiative aims to address long-standing issues in these critical areas, marking a substantial commitment to improving the nation's infrastructure and workforce. A Boost to Health…

Egypt’s campaign against online creators exposes a new front in the fight over free expression In the last weeks Egyptian authorities have detained and charged dozens of people who make videos, run social accounts or otherwise produce content for the internet, according to Human Rights Watch. The accusations are striking not for their specificity but for their vagueness — a range of crimes from “public morals” violations to “undermining family values” — and for whom they appear to be aimed at: a generation that came of age…

Somalia moves against online defamation. The bigger story is who decides what’s dangerous speech—and when In Mogadishu’s humming tea stalls and on the diaspora’s WhatsApp groups from Minneapolis to Mombasa, politics is now a permanent scroll. Somalia’s Office of the Attorney General stepped squarely into that stream this week, announcing a legal push against what it called online insults, defamation, social incitement, offensive images, immoral content, false information, and posts that “promote societal division.” Some…

Facebook Crackdown in Somalia Draws Heat Amid Political Friction MOGADISHU, Somalia — In an eyebrow-raising move, Somalia's political air gets thicker as Facebook suspends accounts of local political mavens and vocal scribes who've been blowing raspberries at the Federal Government. This social media surge coincides with simmering political strains in the country. Word on the street, delivered by Axadle, points to a curious exemption: supporters of the Federal Government, including those yapping for Villa Somalia, didn't…

Jubaland Accuses Villa Somalia of Launching an Online Assault on its Leader MOGADISHU, Somalia - The spokesperson for Jubaland's leadership, Mohamed Hassan Hiis, has made serious assertions against Villa Somalia, the official residence of the President of Somalia. He claims they are bankrolling an online smear campaign to tarnish President Ahmed Madobe's image. It's a bold accusation that brings drama into the political theatrics of the region. Hiis pointed his finger directly at Abdulkadir Ali Dige, who holds the reins as…