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The latest news, analysis and opinion on Apps. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
The core mechanism of infinite scrolling is similar to slot machines, one expert says, and teens are often hit hardest because the “brake system” in their brains is still maturing. Photo: Fernando Gutierrez-Juarez/dpa
Wellness

How infinite scrolling hijacks the brain’s reward system like slot machines do

Two experts explain what infinite scrolling does to the brain, why teens are particularly affected, and how to beat the addiction.

Chinese culture

Can this AI-powered Chinese astrology platform shake up the industry?

France

France parliament approves social media ban for children under 15, in EU first

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Good Schools Guide

Hong Kong schools are using tech to reshape teen mental health support

Digital ‘third spaces’ are being tested to make mental health support feel more accessible for Gen Alpha – but what can and cannot be replaced by tech?

Digital tools like EmoCare AI are testing technology to lower barriers for Gen Alpha students seeking mental health help. Photo: EmoCare
South Korea

Beggar’s banquet: South Korea’s viral app helps youth find cheap meals

South Korea’s youth unemployment rate reached 7.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2026 – the highest since 2021.

Artificial intelligence

China’s StepFun beats Apple and OpenAI to ‘world’s first AI phone’

Tencent-backed firm launches the AI-native StepX Neo smartphone, challenging US tech giants amid Apple-OpenAI legal clashes.

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European Union

EU demands ‘youth mode’ to protect children from addictive social media features

The addictive features include infinite scroll, autoplay, push notifications and highly personalised recommender systems.

A teenager looks at a smartphone displaying the TikTok logo in Brussels on July 7. Photo: AFP
Indonesia

‘Grading own homework’: is Indonesia outsourcing online safety to tech giants?

Without a regulator, Indonesia’s child online safety rules require digital platforms to assess and remove underage accounts themselves.

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European Union

Apple loses challenges against EU rules to curb Big Tech

The EU Digital Markets Act has triggered legal challenges by Apple, Meta and ByteDance since it took effect in May 2023.

Wellness

What is ‘urge surfing’? How does it help with addiction and bad habits?

The technique manages cravings and compulsive behaviours like phone addiction by encouraging people to ride out their urges like waves.

Experts describe how to use mindfulness techniques such as “urge surfing” to overcome addiction urges and cravings and take back control. Photo: Shutterstock
South Korea

South Korea ‘fake news’ law triggers free speech, censorship fears

The scope extends beyond social media to malicious reviews and defamatory posts on online communities, delivery apps and shopping platforms.

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Men look at their smartphones while waiting in Seoul. Photo: AFP
Malaysia

Why Malaysia’s tourism boom lives and dies on a Chinese app

RedNote has made Malaysia a must-visit for Chinese tourists, but it can dismantle reputations just as fast as it builds them.

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Australia

Australia PM: ‘too many children on social media’, ban too easy to avoid

According to a British ‌study, 85 per cent of Australians aged 12 to 15 were still using social media three months after the ban took effect.

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The Future of Marketing in Asia

China’s digital platforms redefine global marketing strategies

The mainland’s app ecosystem integrates content, discovery and transaction into a single and seamless experience.

Social networking and e-commerce app RedNote is viewed by Chinese consumers as a search engine and trust-builder. Photo: AFP
The Future of Marketing in Asia

The art of persuasion enters the AI era

Content creators have risen to eclipse traditional ad formats, but now, as AI takes centre stage, the battle for authenticity is on.

Three quarters of Hong Kong consumers trust an influencer’s product recommendation even when they know it’s a paid partnership. Photo: VCG via Getty Images
Apple

Apple faces new antitrust complaint over ‘unfair’ App Store fees in China

The developers asked the antitrust regulator to investigate and penalise Apple for allegedly ‘abusing the company’s market dominance’.

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Central Asia

Afghan government workers face sack, jail after smartphone ban begins

Employees will be available only ‘via telephone calls and email’, an official says, citing an order from the supreme leader.

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Artificial intelligence

China’s Alipay gets AI-agent overhaul to challenge rivals Tencent and ByteDance

Fintech giant is seen leveraging its billion-user base to launch a conversational interface that coordinates 10,000 services, with safeguards.

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Ant Group is undertaking the biggest overhaul of its Alipay app in two decades. Photo: Shutterstock
Britain

UK bans under 16s from social media apps including TikTok, YouTube

The move makes the UK part of a growing global movement to tighten online safety for children.

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Japan

Is baby hungry, sleepy or just unhappy? These Japanese apps can interpret cries

The apps use AI-powered tools trained on baby cries to help parents decode their children’s needs.

Canada

Canada moves to ban under-16s from social media, regulate AI

The proposed plan could see companies fined up to 3 per cent of their global revenue or US$7.2 million if they do not comply.

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Australia and Indonesia have put in place social media bans for young users, while several European governments have announced their desire to make similar moves. Photo illustration: EPA
Alibaba

Ant International powers new e-wallet in cash-heavy Mexico

The e-wallet may assist small businesses in the Latin American country to build credit history and secure financing, according to Clip.

A consumer makes a payment using a mobile phone. Photo: Shutterstock
Artificial intelligence

ByteDance thinks its Doubao AI is worth paying for. Are China’s users buying it?

The tech giant’s paywall gamble may have backfired after teasing its paid-subscription options for flagship chatbot Doubao saw users bolt.

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Artificial intelligence

Tencent shares jump 10% on expectations of AI agent within WeChat

An AI agent would leverage the app’s ecosystem of mini-programs, payments, content and commerce for 1.4 billion users.

Indonesia

Indonesia bans Polymarket following bets on Prabowo presidency end date

The predictions market attracted ⁠attention on social media in Indonesia after a bet opened on when Prabowo would be ‘out as president’.

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Polymarket has come under scrutiny for crossing lines related to gambling as well as amplifying politically sensitive issues. Photo: Reuters
Artificial intelligence

Chinese tech giants race to dominate AI-powered digital gateways

The integration of agentic AI with sites like Taobao and JD.com is reshaping shopping, but the bigger promise is an agent within WeChat.

A Taobao and Tmall display is seen at the Alibaba office in Beijing on April 1. Photo: AFP
Artificial intelligence

How ByteDance plans to turn OpenClaw craze into a profitable AI business

ArkClaw’s subscription model and surging token demand mark ByteDance’s new approach to agent economics.

Artificial intelligence

Alibaba brings chat-style shopping to Taobao, Qwen amid AI gateway push: source

E-commerce giant is integrating Qwen with Taobao and Tmall, enabling shoppers to use natural-language commands instead of keyword searches.

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