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] America is not going to pass a law that bans social media. The Guardian
• [New] The NPA, which represents 6,000 independent community pharmacies in the UK, called for patients with several repeat prescriptions to have more reviews so that medicines that were no longer needed could be identified. The Guardian
• [New] As AI increasingly shapes how people learn, communicate and relate to one another, the discussion in Mexico City will explore its impact on the social fabric, cultural expression, trust and education systems. United Nations Sustainable Development
• [New] In an additive fashion, modern communicative technology (eg, social media) and disinformation campaigns pose serious threats to worldwide biosafety and biosecurity. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] The UK's Civil Aviation Authority is targeting having eVTOLs certified to carry passengers commercially from the end of 2028. Business Insider
• [New] A federal appellate court recently rejected First Amendment and vagueness challenges to an Ohio parental-consent statute that limits minors' access to social media platforms reasonably anticipated to be accessed by children. American Enterprise Institute - AEI
• [New] The conversation around referral dependency will become increasingly important within the UK's business community. BusinessMole
• [New] The European Union reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Sierra Leone's creative community and investing in culture as a driver of inclusion, innovation, economic opportunity, and dialog. EEAS
• [New] American society is multicultural and includes a large number of first-generation immigrants who routinely use or might have already explored CAM. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] DHS recognizes any delays or disruptions in the arrival of foreign students may impact livestock and crop health, food supply chains, and the well-being of agricultural communities. Federal Register
• [New] Social Security's main trust fund could be depleted by early 2033, leaving incoming payroll taxes sufficient to cover only about 86% of scheduled benefits. Knowledge at Wharton
• [New] By targeting blue-collar workers, tourists, and small businesses, Dubai will aim to assist all segments of society to go completely cashless by 2026. Khaleej Times
• [New] The Ada Lovelace Institute has warned that AI transcription tools are being rapidly adopted across social work despite limited and light-touch approaches to ethics and evaluation. UKAuthority
• [New] From 2027, the Language Elective Programme will expand, adding schools for Chinese and Tamil languages to offer more students advanced mother tongue learning and cultural exposure. ST
• [New] In spring 2027 it will bring in a social media ban for under-16s, which will include platforms like Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. / UK The Guardian
• [New] Business leaders cited in Deloitte's 2026 Gen Z and Millennial survey said they worry that an early reliance on technology could hinder human capabilities such as critical thinking, communication, empathy, influence, and social skills when looking at younger generations coming into the workforce. City AM
• [New] Singapore's ageing society creates significant opportunities for innovation and technology adoption. ST
• [New] Latest Developments Observed The threat actor is suspected of targeting government organizations, military personnel, and critical entities in Ukraine through a recent campaign leveraging ClickFix social engineering, compromised websites, and counterfeit security software as initial access vectors. CYFIRMA
• [New] Social work graduates often remain to serve high-need communities through OPT or advanced research positions, helping to meet the projected 6% growth in social work jobs from 2024-34, which is expected to create over 74,000 new positions. Federal Register
• [New] Social commerce revenue is projected to exceed $1 trillion globally by the end of 2026. Web Tonic
• [New] A future high speed rail network will connect Brisbane, Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and regional communities in between - creating generations of opportunity for all Australians. AusRAIL - The largest rail event in Asia-Pacific region
• [New] Links remain the dominant delivery method: Microsoft found 78% of email threats were link-based, and KnowBe4 put links (including QR codes) at 60.1% of payloads, ahead of attachments (30.6%) and pure social engineering. PhishEye
• [New] The net primary school enrolment rate fell to 94.5% in 2025 for the second consecutive year, while the Community Basic Education program - focused on indigenous communities - will face a real reduction of 20% in 2026. BNamericas

Last updated: 10 August 2026