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] Under the proposed changes - the first for an Australian state - social media companies could be forced to identify anonymous accounts accused of online vilification. The Guardian
• [New] The NAO highlights that AI and digital technologies are expected to deliver £45 billion in annual efficiencies, with 76% of civil servants anticipating AI will change their jobs within five years. UKAuthority
• [New] In 2026, social engineering has transcended simple phishing emails, evolving into a highly personalized, AI-augmented threat that targets human trust as a technical vulnerability. CyberSec Magazine - CyberSec Magazine is your trusted s
• [New] Across Europe, governments are quietly rebuilding civil defence systems, expanding military production, discussing conscription, increasing defence budgets, and warning citizens to prepare emergency food, water, medicine, batteries, and cash. Armstrong Economics
• [New] The International Rescue Committee, a humanitarian organization, has warned that the intense El Nino conditions threaten to unleash severe flooding and drought across East Africa and Asia, hitting some of the most vulnerable communities. Live Science
• [New] The UK government is preparing to launch a social media ban for under-16s early 2027, which will increase scrutiny of the methods tech companies use for verifying users' ages. The Guardian
• [New] By the end of 2026, a surge in M&A activity will likewise see increased exposure to fraud and cyberattacks, with phishing, social engineering, and payment diversion spiking during deal transitions. Annual Conference
• [New] Social Policy - A survey by the Jewish People Policy Institute found that 60% of Israelis consider the risk of civil war to be a real threat, while more than half believe a political assassination of a senior public official is likely. More News From NowHere
• [New] Many of the asylum seekers whose information is allegedly being shared are people who seek refuge in the United States because of the grave dangers they face in Iran, such as pro-democracy activists and members of the LGBTQ + community. The Week
• [New] A report into social cohesion and the state of British democracy suggests a widespread view that the social contract between citizen and state has broken down, threatening democracy and posing a first order national security threat. Religion Media Centre
• [New] Asia could 'no longer rely on others to address its social challenges', urging cross partnerships between philanthropy and governments. Alliance magazine
• [New] Asia's capacity for deploying private funding for social good is not keeping pace with its growing wealth and billion-dollar philanthropic potential. Alliance magazine
• [New] Social homes will need to meet either the new EPC fabric performance, smart readiness or heating system metric at band C by 2030, followed by one of the remaining metrics at band C by 2039. GOV.UK
• [New] As TikTok continues to evolve into one of the world's most influential discovery platforms, brands that understand its unique culture and back creative decisions with data will be best positioned to grow. Dash Social
• [New] In 2026, Washington and New York passed state budgets that will ensure 988 crisis counselors receive cultural competency training to support LGBTQ + young people in crisis. The Trevor Project
• [New] Given the apparently large role of social ties in shaping fertility behaviours, the idea that the digital revolution might be reducing American and global birth rates by reducing the extent to which Americans are exposed to family life is entirely plausible. Institute for Family Studies
• [New] Activist investors or NGO groups could target Netflix over social or political issues (e.g. diversity, censorship). Risk Intelligence Service
• [New] Hailed as the great equalizer and foundation of better social and economic opportunities for generations, access to higher education in the United States is becoming increasingly out of reach in the current fraught political environment for a growing number of immigrants. American Sociological Association

Last updated: 20 July 2026