Following a move to restrict forwarding, WhatsApp has reported a significant decline in viral messages. With people worried about the consequences of fake news in the context of COVID-19, many are reevaluating their perceptions of free speech and prioritising truth above all.

Amid widespread online trolling and bullying, social media users are demanding that platforms step up their security and protection measures. Twitter has responded by updating its hate speech policy to ban ‘dehumanising’ tweets based on age, disability, or disease.

User confidence in social media giants has been plummeting in the wake of data privacy scandals and the rise of ‘fake news’. As a result, many are choosing to connect with like-minded individuals in micro-spaces that they believe can offer better security and a sense of community.

For digital natives, Facebook and Instagram are key social lifelines – but they also present a risk to users’ wellbeing as they judge themselves by what they see on these platforms. How is satirical site Lifefaker sparking a conversation about the dangers of obsessing over one’s online image?