The nominee for the head of South Korea’s media commission, Kim Jong-cheol, has reportedly expressed his intention to prioritize the implementation of social media restrictions for teenagers.Teen Social Media Limits Key Priority, Kim SaysKim, during a parliamentary hearing on Tuesday, emphasized the necessity of imposing limitations on social media use by teenagers, citing it as a crucial step to safeguard the youth, reported Reuters. He stated that this initiative is a fundamental part of the commission’s ...

Australia’s social media ban for youths took effect Wednesday, a landmark move that’s drawn global attention at a time governments are increasingly enacting rules to shield minors from toxic content and cyberbullying.The law, passed last year, mandates services such as ByteDance Ltd.’s TikTok and Meta Platforms Inc.’s Instagram keep under-16s off their platforms or face fines of up to A$49.5 million ($33 million). Australia becomes the world’s first democracy to undertake such a crackdown in response to gro ...

Core Points - Australia has implemented a social media ban for users under 16, becoming the first democracy to do so, in response to concerns about the negative impacts of social media on minors [1][2] - The law mandates platforms like TikTok and Instagram to restrict access for under-16s or face significant fines, with penalties reaching A$49.5 million ($33 million) [2] - Other countries, including Indonesia, Denmark, and Brazil, are observing Australia's actions and considering similar regulations to protect young users [3][9] Industry Impact - Major social media platforms, including Snapchat, YouTube, and Reddit, are affected by the ban and have expressed intentions to comply, although some have raised concerns about the rushed nature of the legislation [3][4] - Following the ban, alternative platforms like Lemon8 and Yepo have seen a surge in popularity, indicating a shift in user behavior among young Australians [5][6] - The demand for virtual private networks (VPNs) has increased significantly, with a 103% rise in usage on the day of the ban, suggesting that some users may seek ways to bypass restrictions [7] User Reactions - Young users have expressed mixed feelings about the ban on platforms like TikTok, with some supporting the measure for its protective intentions, while others have voiced opposition [8] - The ban has prompted discussions among policymakers globally, with some countries already planning to implement similar measures to safeguard minors [9][10]

Core Insights - The scrutiny surrounding Smriti Mandhana's personal life has intensified following the postponement of her marriage, prompting brands to express moral support and call for social media regulation [1][6][7] - Mandhana, as India's highest-paid female cricketer, endorses nearly two dozen brands and charges an annual endorsement fee of ₹1.5-2.0 crore per brand [6][7] Brand Responses - About half a dozen brands have publicly supported Mandhana, emphasizing the need for protecting individual privacy and dignity in the face of intense scrutiny [1][7] - Executives from brands associated with Mandhana have criticized the insensitivity of public trolling, drawing parallels to the scrutiny faced by other public figures like Virat Kohli [2][7] Industry Perspectives - Experts suggest that without effective social media regulation, individuals should exercise sensitivity regarding public discourse [5][7] - Social commentator Santosh Desai noted that regulation on social media can only be marginally effective due to various influencing factors, including commercial interests and audience demand for content [5][7] Mandhana's Endorsement Deals - Since winning the Women's Cricket World Cup, Mandhana has secured at least two additional significant endorsement deals, including an energy drink and a jewelry label [6][7] - The brands she endorses include well-known names such as Rexona, Hyundai, Maggi, and Gulf Oil, highlighting her marketability and influence [1][6]