Over 26 million South Africans get a social grant. Fear of losing the payment used to be a reason to vote for the ANC, but no longer – study: Social grants to reduce poverty feature prominently in the campaign promises of political parties in South Africa’s 2024 national and provincial general elections, set for 29 …
How visas for social care workers may be exacerbating exploitation in the sector: Ground Picture/Shutterstock The health and social care visa route was introduced in August 2020 as a response to labour shortages after Brexit and the COVID pandemic. Now, the independent chief inspector of borders and immigration has found that the Home Office’s “limited …
Social media continues to censor women’s health posts as pornography – and it may cause serious harm: Social media users aren't used to seeing this — men's nipples and even pubic hair aren't censored but posts about women's bodies are assumed to be pornographic Sergiy Nigeruk/Shutterstock What’s the difference between men’s nipples and women’s? How …
Pregnant women in South Africa should be offered social grants – it’ll save the state money in the long run: A baby’s first 1,000 days, from the time of conception until their second birthday, is a crucial window of opportunity to optimise their potential – through healthy nutrition for the mother during pregnancy, and then …
The Future of Social Media Marketing: Introduction In the fast-paced world of digital marketing, social media stands out as a dynamic and ever-evolving landscape. Today, it’s not just about connecting with friends and family; social media has morphed into a vital channel for businesses to engage with their target audience, build brand awareness, and drive …
Social workers can help children more effectively by assessing the needs of the whole family – study: What do children need most? The answer often depends on a person’s relationship with the child. When people think about children outside their family and close friends, they commonly make basic needs the priorities. Food, shelter and services …
Selfies and social media: how tourists indulge their influencer fantasies: A town in the US state of Vermont closed its roads to tourists in September 2023 after a social media tag sparked a swarm of visitors that overwhelmed the rural destination. Videos on TikTok were seen by thousands and the hashtag #sleepyhollowfarm went viral, prompting …
Social isolation and loneliness linked to poor health – our study could help explain why: ERIK Miheyeu/Shutterstock Numerous studies have shown that social isolation and loneliness are associated with an increased risk of early death, on a scale comparable to other known risk factors such as smoking and obesity. This year, the US surgeon general …
Why a social media detox may not be as good for you as you think – new research: DimaBerlin/Shutterstock Whether you’re an influencer, an occasional poster, or just a lurker, you likely spend more time than you’d like on social media. Globally, working-age people with internet access now spend more than 2.5 hours per day …
Social media content in times of war: an expert guide on how to keep violence off your feeds: There are some practical ways to filter the amount of violent and graphic content you see on social media. bubaone Social media platforms are a great source of information and entertainment. They also help us to maintain …
Les classements mondiaux des universités tiennent désormais compte de l’impact social : les universités africaines démarrent en force: Les classements mondiaux des universités sont publiés vers la fin de chaque année. Les établissements du monde entier se précipitent pour savoir comment ils s’en sortent. Ont-ils progressé ou régressé ? Dans l’affirmative, de combien de places …
How to redesign social media algorithms to bridge divides: Social media platforms have been implicated in conflicts of all scales, from urban gun violence to the storming of the US Capitol building on January 6 and civil war in South Sudan. Scientifically, it is difficult to tell how much social media can be blamed for …
Global university rankings now include social impact: African universities are off to a strong start: Universities across Africa can drive prosperity through innovation. Westend61 World university rankings are released towards the end of each year. Institutions globally scramble to see how they have fared. Have they risen or fallen? If so, by how much and …
Social prescribing could help support young people’s mental health – but calls for a national strategy in England may be premature: GPs could "prescribe" activities to a child or teen with the aim of improving health and wellbeing. PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/ Shutterstock A growing number of children and adolescents in England are seeking access to …
Community radio: young South Africans are helping shape the news through social media: The number of South African internet users has nearly doubled in the past decade. One 2023 study of 45 developed countries suggests that South Africans even lead the world when it comes to the amount of time spent in front of screens, …
Is someone using your pictures to catfish? Your rights when it comes to fake profiles and social media stalking: Ekateryna Zubal/Shutterstock If you’ve ever used a dating app, you’ve probably experienced the disappointment of meeting someone who doesn’t look quite like their photos. You may have even been a victim of catfishing, where someone creates …
Israel-Gaza conflict: when social media fakes are rampant, news verification is vital: As news of Palestinian militant group Hamas launching a deadly attack on Israel and Israel’s threat of retaliation began to filter across news networks and social media platforms, a wave of misinformation and fake videos rose alongside. In a “tech-first” society, it is …
Three steps for getting over social media envy – advice from a psychologist: iSOMBOON/Shutterstock In the past, you may have envied your neighbour when they bought a new car or went on holiday abroad when you could not. Although these feelings of envy would have been perfectly valid, they were isolated incidents that would last …