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The latest news, analysis and opinion on Apps. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
The Cyberspace Administration of China says it has removed some 49,000 accounts during its latest enforcement drive. Photo: Reuters
Artificial intelligence

‘Slop’ purge: Chinese watchdog scrubs millions of harmful AI posts

Clampdown sweeps across 2,400 websites and apps as cyberspace watchdog escalates fight against generative tech abuse.

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China-Latin America relations

Brazil fines TikTok record US$30 million for profiting from children’s data

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US-China relations

TikTok, ByteDance agree to US$400 million settlement with US government

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United States

Meta accused at trial of targeting kids to boost Facebook and Instagram use

A bipartisan group of 29 states is suing the company, seeking potentially tens or hundreds of billions of dollars in penalties.

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People hold photos of children and young adults whose deaths were related to social media use, as Meta faces a landmark trial in Oakland, California, on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters
Artificial intelligence

24 hours with Tencent’s WeChat AI agent: successes and stumbles

The new Xiaowei agent promises hands-free control across WeChat’s vast digital ecosystem. I set out to see whether it delivers.

Honor

Robot in a pocket: Honor’s new phone camera nods back at users

The Chinese smartphone maker has integrated embodied AI to control camera movement, along with other features to boost interest amid a cooling market.

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US-China relations

US lifts TikTok ban on government devices after ByteDance restructuring

Justice Department says the app’s new US joint venture is no longer covered by the 2022 prohibition targeting app’s Chinese parent company.

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The restructuring saved TikTok from a US ban imposed over concerns about American user data and its ties to China. Photo: AFP
United States

US court rules tech firms must face lawsuits over social media addiction

The lawsuits allege that companies including TikTok and Meta intentionally addicted young users, contributing to a ⁠mental health crisis.

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United States

Meta ordered in US to pay US$567 million to address child safety harms

Company says it will appeal after a New Mexico judge directs funds to youth mental health programmes and orders app changes.

Artificial intelligence

AI | Will AI healthcare be China’s new global growth engine?

Artificial intelligence models and apps that help doctors in China diagnose disease and patients understand their health could be an export gold mine.

Will AI healthcare be China’s new global growth engine?
Good Schools Guide

Are Hong Kong schools equipped to tackle deepfake sexual abuse?

Deepfake apps can produce sexualised fake images within minutes, and child-protection experts are urging schools and families to take this seriously.

Image-based abuse can be much more than a prank, experts say. Photo: Getty Images
US-China relations

Trump nominee vows to sharpen US media challenge to China

Sarah Rogers says Asia would remain a priority for US-funded broadcasters, despite continuing turmoil and reduced operations at the agency.

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Ant Group

Ant Group spin-offs pursue independent growth with strategic capital moves

The Chinese fintech giant’s three spin-off units are accelerating their capital-raising efforts after gaining operational autonomy in 2024.

Russia

Russia charges Telegram founder with aiding terror, issues wanted alert

FSB accuses app administration of enabling acts of sabotage and cyberfraud by Ukrainian forces.

Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov. Photo: AFP
Trending in China

China teen wins praise for developing app to remind grandpa to take daily medication

With plans to relocate to another city for university in September, Ma worries about his grandfather managing alone, especially as he lives independently.

Ma Kai's app aims to ensure his grandfather takes his medications on time and avoids expired drugs. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/QQ.com
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?

Singapore-based astrologer Sean Chan trained Tian Qi on over 9,000 of his own consultations. But not all his peers are so keen on using AI.

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France

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

The bill also includes a ban on mobile phones in high schools, expected to take effect from the beginning of the next school year.

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Teenagers look at their mobile phones during an interview about France’s proposed social media ban in Paris on Monday. Photo: Reuters
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?

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.

Tencent Holdings-backed StepFun introduced the StepX Neo in Shanghai on Monday, which it claims to be the world's first agentic smartphone. Photo: Weibo
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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