social media

#Women Empowerment / Meet the woman who’s shaping Bangladesh’s influencer economy

Breity Sabrin revolutionized Bangladesh's influencer marketing by founding "The Marvel – Be You" during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her platform, focused on authenticity and data-driven recognition, reshaped digital branding, offering creators guidance, fair compensation, and new monetisation opportunities.

#Perspective / How social media is distorting empathy and our mental health

Social media’s pop psychology fuels self-diagnosis and performative empathy, distorting genuine compassion. Counsellor Mariyam Sultana highlights class, culture, and privilege shaping empathy in Bangladesh, urging self-awareness, authentic connection, and mindful action beyond online validation for genuine emotional understanding and societal well-being.

World Mental Health Day / The pain we don’t see

In Bangla, terms related to mental illness are often reduced to one crude word: pagol (a mad person).

YouTube added to Australia’s under-16 social media ban

Australia will include YouTube in its upcoming ban on social media access for teenagers under 16, reversing an earlier exemption for the platform.

Beating brainrot in Dhaka

Brainrot essentially describes the withering of mental faculties from overexposure to low-value digital content.

#Perspective / How social media became the frontline of the July Uprising

The July Movement in Bangladesh fused protest with digital defiance, using social media to bypass media silence, mobilize voices, and challenge power. It reshaped activism, highlighting social media’s role in truth, trauma, and transformation.

#Perspective / Why ‘dumb’ phones are making a smart comeback in 2025

Dumb phones are making a comeback as people seek digital detox, improved focus, and nostalgia. With lower costs, longer battery life, and fewer distractions, ditching smartphones offers a mindful escape — despite missing out on modern conveniences.

Democracy in the digital age: Lessons from Bangladesh and beyond

The internet, once a mere repository of information, has evolved into the most formidable arena for political engagement.

US to monitor immigrants' social media for antisemitism

The US government announced Wednesday it will start reviewing the social media activity of visa applicants and immigrants for antisemitic content, according to a recent report by Reuters. The announcement has been heavily criticised by certain civil liberties groups as an overreach that threatens free expression.

May 29, 2025
May 29, 2025

Why ‘dumb’ phones are making a smart comeback in 2025

Dumb phones are making a comeback as people seek digital detox, improved focus, and nostalgia. With lower costs, longer battery life, and fewer distractions, ditching smartphones offers a mindful escape — despite missing out on modern conveniences.

April 24, 2025
April 24, 2025

Democracy in the digital age: Lessons from Bangladesh and beyond

The internet, once a mere repository of information, has evolved into the most formidable arena for political engagement.

April 10, 2025
April 10, 2025

US to monitor immigrants' social media for antisemitism

The US government announced Wednesday it will start reviewing the social media activity of visa applicants and immigrants for antisemitic content, according to a recent report by Reuters. The announcement has been heavily criticised by certain civil liberties groups as an overreach that threatens free expression.

April 7, 2025
April 7, 2025

Memes: The unofficial voice of Bangladesh’s digital generation

What started as a niche form of entertainment, in recent years, has grown into a medium for storytelling, political satire, and everyday connection. Memes now serve as a mirror of society, and as Bangladesh continues to embrace digitalisation, they are now contributing to online conversations and sparking social change.

February 17, 2025
February 17, 2025

Online grooming and the fight to protect our children

Grooming of minors by paedophilic adults seems to be an overlooked yet pressing societal anomaly

January 29, 2025
January 29, 2025

Building a knowledge-based society

Do we question the information that floods our social media feeds or passively consume and share without critical evaluation?

January 25, 2025
January 25, 2025

Bangladesh’s digital transformation: How social media is shaping politics and society

Social media has become a crucial part of this transformation, influencing everything from politics to social movements.

January 21, 2025
January 21, 2025

EU strengthens hate speech rules on Facebook, YouTube, X

The European Union (EU) has updated its code of conduct on online hate speech, requiring social media platforms like Meta’s Facebook, Elon Musk’s X, and Google’s YouTube to step up efforts to tackle harmful content. The European Commission announced the changes on Monday, integrating the code into the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA).

December 1, 2024
December 1, 2024

Bluesky tightens safety rules as user numbers ramp up

Bluesky, the decentralised social media platform, has seen a recent surge in new users and is taking steps to improve security and combat impersonation. With more people joining the platform, the company is introducing stricter measures to ensure accounts are authentic and trustworthy, as per an official post by the platform.

November 25, 2024
November 25, 2024

Australia backs down on social media misinformation fines

Australia has decided not to go ahead with a plan to fine social media companies for failing to stop the spread of false information. The proposed law would have allowed fines of up to 5% of a company’s yearly earnings but was dropped because it didn’t have enough support in the country's Senate.