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] A new UNAIDS report finds that ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 remains within reach if countries, communities, and global partners act decisively. George W. Bush Presidential Center
• [New] New commentary published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine warns that current risk-based regulatory approaches to Artificial Intelligence in healthcare fall short in protecting patients, potentially leading to over - and undertreatment as well as discrimination against patient groups. News-Medical
• [New] The new Explorer Scout badges, part of the Scout movement's first major overhaul in almost 25 years, will require 14 - to 18-year olds to explore how digital communities shape opinion, create online campaigns, investigate digital footprints and design toolkits to help others stay safe online. The Guardian
• [New] As use of disaster risk financing instruments, such as catastrophe bonds and parametric insurance becomes more embedded in social safety nets, it provides UN agencies and similar a way to access efficient risk capital that can be responsively deployed when food security disasters strike. Artemis.bm - The Catastrophe Bond, Insurance Linked Sec
• [New] Thanks in part to the growth of social platforms and decentralised content creation, revenue growth in connectivity, the largest E & M sector, will slow through 2030. PwC
• [New] Adolescents who spend more than three hours a day on social media face double the risk of poor mental health outcomes, including symptoms of depression and anxiety. Free Malaysia Today
• [New] Through 2100, the theoretically combined Social Security trust funds face an actuarial imbalance of 4.42% of payroll, or 1.5% of GDP, the largest since 1977. Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget
• [New] In the decades that follow, Social Security's deficits will grow dramatically, rising from 2.7% of payroll (1.0% of GDP) by 2036 to 3.7% of payroll (1.3% of GDP) in 2050 and 6.6% of payroll (2.2% of GDP) by 2100. Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget
• [New] Today, more than 71 million people rely on Social Security, and as America ages, ensuring it stays strong will become even more critical. AARP Press Room
• [New] Labour's election promise that no one will be left behind has rapidly given way to cuts to social spending and real wages as inflation and interest rates continue to rise. World Socialist Web Site
• [New] Communities in the Global South, which rely most heavily on blue foods for daily protein, face the greatest risks - yet also receive the least research attention and policy support. The Fishing Daily - Irish, UK and European Fishing Indu
• [New] The UK Government has announced that it plans to introduce a total ban on access to social media for children under 16. Mishcon de Reya LLP
• [New] From 2027, under-16s would be banned from social media platforms including Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, X and Instagram. The Week
• [New] This week, the UK announced a wide-ranging ban on social media that will soon block users from communicating or accessing information on apps such as X, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, TikTok and Snapchat unless they prove that they are over the age of 16. The Guardian
• [New] One of the biggest emerging questions about the UK's social media ban is how it will be enforced. BBC News
• [New] Under-16s will lose access to social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube, while the minimum age for chatbots that imitate romantic interactions will be raised to 18. Wired
• [New] Prime Minister Keir Starmer has today announced a Australian-style ban for Teenagers under the age of 16 from accessing high-risk social media apps while safer platforms will be subjected to restrictions. Inforrm's Blog
• [New] White House displeasure over the prospect of an under-16 social media ban will not deter the UK from cracking down on tech platforms. The Guardian
• [New] Using social media influencers on Instagram, TikTok, Youtube and Twitch with existing large platforms and follower bases could help amplify messages. Centre for European Reform
• [New] Social media health influencers and TikTok doctors generate high engagement but low clinical credibility, creating positioning risks for healthcare organizations. TopDoctor Magazine
• [New] The global reach of social media means that even localized incidents (e.g. handset privacy concerns, app vulnerabilities) can snowball into PR crises. Risk Intelligence Service
• [New] We are sharing threat indicators so that anyone can check if they were targeted by NSO-linked social engineering attempts across any platform - be it text message, email, WhatsApp message, or something else. Meta Newsroom

Last updated: 29 June 2026