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Internet

Internet
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Internet. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
Teenager Xanthe Maya Ganesan admits that social media influencers have become role models for many children. Photo: Jocelyn Tam
Good Schools Guide

How Hong Kong teens can be protected from appearance anxiety

Body image anxiety among young people is on the rise in the city and around the world – is social media solely to blame, and what can parents do?

United States

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

Get to Know

All about the parents of celebrity gossip blogger Perez Hilton

US-China relations

Why was a US Yale graduate hounded out of his job promoting Chinese culture?

His supposedly sky-high salary and internship at a conservative think tank sparked online fury and rumours he was a US spy.

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Edward Kuperman was one of three new hires at the Dunhuang Convergence Media Centre. Photo: Weibo
Spain

Deadly migrant rush to Spain’s Ceuta was sparked by runaway online rumours

Convinced by social media that Europe was within reach, some 72,000 people surged across the border from Morocco.

Hong Kong society

Opinion | How East Asia’s internet cafes became a cheap urban refuge

An informal safety net, these cafes offer gig workers and those between jobs crucial breathing space.

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Malaysia

Malaysia clamps down on social media-fuelled hiking risks

The rescue burden of searching for hikers in remote terrain often requires specialist teams, aircraft and days of searching.

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Mount Kinabalu in Sabah, Malaysia. Malaysia is mulling checks for high-altitude illness and acute mountain sickness, particularly for climbers attempting Mount Kinabalu. Photo: Shutterstock
United States

Tate brothers to remain in US jail as they fight extradition to UK

Influencers fight extradition over new rape and sex trafficking charges as their lawyer claims prosecution lacks evidence.

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Taiwan

Why is a film calling for Taiwan reunification drawing fire in mainland China?

Despite having official backing, the movie about a 17th century battle has faced surprising backlash from online nationalists.

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Tencent

Tencent fires WeChat manager after 7-figure bonus leaks online, sparks uproar

Screenshots of the executive’s eye-watering compensation went viral on social media, which Tencent said caused a ‘severe negative impact’.

Tencent Holdings has fired a manager whose seven-figure pay package leaked online, sparking heated discussion on social media. Photo: Shutterstock
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.

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
Cambodia

Asia-Pacific cyberscam victims lost up to US$114 billion last year: UN

The losses from online scams, mostly investment fraud, are at least triple that from 2023, reflecting a ‘dramatic scaling’, the report says.

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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.

Crime

Influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate arrested in Miami as UK seeks extradition

The brothers, who were arrested in Romania in 2022, face rape and human trafficking charges.

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Influencer Andrew Tate (right) and his brother Tristan arrive an event in Miami in April. Photo: AP
Japan

Video | Japanese company revs up Gen Z machismo with quirky antics

Business development firm Global Partners starts each workday with shouted mantras and motivational pep talks.

How one Japanese company is attracting unmotivated Gen Z workers
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Artificial intelligence

Is artificial intelligence causing a rise in natural human stupidity?

Recent studies suggest memory, decision-making and critical thinking are at risk if people rely too much on AI for cognitive tasks.

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.

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Social media

Video | Japan’s viral property agents get weird

A Tokyo estate agent in a green-screen bodysuit has gone viral – but are the gags stealing the show?

Japanese property agents are finding new ways to promote themselves through social media, using visual gags, stunts and innovative hooks to find new audiences.
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E-commerce

China fines 4 internet celebrities US$1.9m for tax evasion

In some cases, popular live-streamers with online stores and millions of fans paid taxes as low as a few hundred yuan, authorities say.

Pokemon

Video | Pokemon cards are fuelling a global crime spree

A burglary at a trading-card shop in Niigata, Japan, saw 5,000 cards worth 10 million yen (US$62,000) stolen on Monday.

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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Boys use their mobile phone in Jakarta on April 29. Photo: AP
Sex and relationships

How do you get a girl to fall in love with you? Ask Emily Lin

Emily Lin’s dating advice – such as saying ‘tell me more’, shutting up and listening – on social media has gone viral with men.

Emily Lin became a full-time content creator in 2024. Her “School of Women” series on social media teaches straight men emotional literacy and how to develop healthy, fulfilling relationships with women. Photo: Instagram/therealemilylin
Hong Kong politics

Opinion | Anti-drug video fiasco not a vote of confidence in Hong Kong’s AI goals

If the authorities can’t use the technology appropriately for one video, one wonders how they can address other concerns posed by artificial intelligence.

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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.

Scams and swindles

Fake Dubai prince scam: how AI deepfakes love-bomb victims to steal hearts and money

Fraudsters use real-time face-swapping tech and the likeness of royal ‘Fazza’ to ensnare vulnerable targets.

A manipulated image from a Change.org petition called the 'STOP FAZZA SCAM'. Photo: Change.org
The Philippines

Philippine senator links fatal school shooting to 764 online extremist network

There are signs that the 764 network is targeting vulnerable Filipino children online, Senator Risa Hontiveros says at a hearing.

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The logo of the 764 violent extremist network. Photo: YouTube
India

India orders WhatsApp to halt username feature over anonymity concerns

The stand-off forces WhatsApp to weigh compliance against mounting concerns about government interference in its biggest market.

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Australia

Video | Australia falls for rowdy Neil the Seal

The 5-year-old elephant seal is a viral sensation in towns in southern Tasmania.

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