Global Scans · Social · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: In the years to come, social commerce will become more widespread and the level of personalization will improve with advanced AI solutions & chatbots. The number of worldwide social media users is projected to grow from 2.1 billion in 2016 to 2.5 billion by 2018.

• [New] UN-Habitat and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, which generates and compiles major global demographic, economic, and social data, project a global population of about 9.7 billion by 2050, with about 68% living in urban areas-around 6.6 billion people. World Socialist Web Site
• [New] Nepal is responsible for only a tiny fraction of global greenhouse gas emissions, yet its Himalayan communities face mounting dangers as temperatures rise and glaciers retreat. The Guardian
• [New] Social housing tenants will be evicted if they fail to keep their gardens well maintained under a Reform UK government. The Guardian
• [New] Under the plans announced on Monday, £10bn will be spent helping to build 70,000 homes outside London, about 60% of which will be social rented houses. The Guardian
• [New] Without addressing the social, economic, and historical factors that shape broadband adoption, the U.S. risks investing billions of dollars in networks, hardware, and training that might not work to fully close the digital divide. Brookings
• [New] Platforms offering social media, gaming, livestreaming, or AI chatbot services to younger users should monitor developments closely, particularly given the spring 2027 target date. Morrison Foerster
• [New] Women make up just 22% of the global data and AI workforce, not for lack of talent, but due to young women in marginalized and underserved communities having limited access to digital resources, AI training and opportunities. EY
• [New] TikTok expects the creator economy in Asia-Pacific to become a $1.2 trillion commercial force by 2030, as social platforms increasingly convert attention into transactions. China Digital Retail Report
• [New] In neighboring South Carolina, the Columbia City Council passed a resolution in May as part of an effort to curb youth crime by connecting parents and families with community resources, services and educational opportunities. Stateline
• [New] For the past several years, regulators around the world have pressured social media companies to make platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok safer for children, or risk facing stringent measures, including bans. CNA
• [New] In the next few years, the UPI-Credit link is expected to reshape India's credit culture, essentially by normalising micro-transactions on credit. TechBullion
• [New] NTU and the Singapore University of Social Sciences said in August that they will stop deploying detection tools to flag for AI misuse in students' work. The Straits Times
• [New] By 2026, half of all U.S. social shoppers are projected to make purchases directly on TikTok. The Goat Agency
• [New] Content analysis could assess how peptides are framed across YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Reddit, Discord, podcasts, online clinics, newsletters, vendor websites, and private communities. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] The commerce data suggests caution has outpaced any consumer pullback: we forecast TikTok Shop's share of US social commerce will climb to 22.8% in 2026 from 18.2% in 2025. eMarketer
• [New] While the dissolution of USAID and other funding cuts exacerbate growing global demands to address public health, economic opportunity, and climate-related challenges, NGOs and social impact organizations are underwater, triaging widespread and complex needs against limited capacity. Stanford Social Innovation Review
• [New] As for the new daily time limit for teen users, that will be reduced to one hour of total daily use should other social media platforms like TikTok, Snap and YouTube also agree to implement new restrictions for young users. BBC News
• [New] Fastest-growing Service Type: Social media marketing is likely to be the fastest-growing segment through 2033, fueled by the skyrocketing popularity and usage of platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Persistence Market Research
• [New] A latter-day threat comes from social platforms such as TikTok and Instagram. CSP Daily News
• [New] WHO is committed to working alongside young people, countries and partners to create opportunities, platforms and enabling environments for young people to lead, influence decisions and drive lasting change for their health and the health of their communities. World Health Organization: WHO
• [New] The global push for sustainability will compel banks to integrate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria into their decision-making processes, influencing everything from investment strategies to lending policies. The Money Centre
• [New] Nearly 60% of workforce growth in social assistance will come from community-focused roles through 2031, emphasizing a shift toward in-person, relational, and advocacy-driven functions that machines cannot replicate. Research.com
• A major legal case brought by 29 US states against Meta has begun, which could affect the way social media companies operate in the future. BBC

Last updated: 07 September 2026