Majority of Germans want Aussie-style social media ban Posted on 30/11/2024 Australia passed a law banning social media for those under 16 yesterday. (AFP pic) BERLIN: A large majority of Germans would support a law similar to what the Australian parliament passed today, restricting access to social media to those below 16, a survey published today showed, according to the German news agency dpa. Some 77% of the nearly 2,000 respondents in the YouGov poll, seen by dpa, indicated that they would either “fully” or “somewhat” support such a law in Germany. In contrast, 13% said they would either “fully” or “somewhat” oppose it. The remaining said they didn’t know. The Australian ban, approved by the senate on Thursday and passed by the House of Representatives yesterday, will take effect in one year. It will impact platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit, and X. Exemptions will apply to health and education services, including YouTube, Messenger Kids, and WhatsApp. It remains unclear how the measures will be implemented, but verification is set to be the tech companies’ responsibility – not parents. There are no penalties for users, but companies could face fines in the millions for violations. Most see social media as a negative for children, youth Additionally, the survey showed that 82% are either “absolutely certain” or “somewhat certain” that social media has negative effects on children and adolescents, while 9% were either “certain” that platforms like TikTok, Instagram and Facebook do not have negative effects on children and teenagers, or answered the influence question with “rather no”. The rest stated that they did not know enough about social media to be able to assess this or they responded with “don’t know”. News
Bursa bucks regional trend to end higher, blue chips keep KLCI above 1,600 Posted on 26/11/2024 KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia bucked the mostly weaker regional trend at the close today, with a stellar performance by heavyweights supporting the key index to stay above the psychologically 1,600 level. UOB Kay Hian Wealth Advisors head of investment research Sedek Jantan attributed the better performance to persistent bargain-hunting in… Read More
Mum, friend jailed three years for locking three-and-a-half-year-old boy in cat cage at Taman Danau Desa apartment Posted on 13/11/2024 KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 13 — A mother and her friend were sentenced to three years in prison by the Sessions Court today for confining a young boy in a cat cage in February. Judge Siti Shakirah Mohtarudin imposed the sentence on the 20-year-old fast food worker, who is also the… Read More
Trump gears up for round two with media Posted on 08/11/2024 Britain’s newspapers cover the news of Donald Trump winning the US presidential election on their front pages. (AP pic) NEW YORK: Donald Trump’s election has raised fears he will double down on his notorious animosity toward the media, which he has repeatedly attacked with vitriol and lawsuits. Following his victory Trump… Read More