social media

Banana AI saree trend pushes Google Gemini to the top

A few months after Ghibli-style AI images went viral, a new Instagram trend is sweeping users: 1990s Bollywood-style saree portraits generated through Google’s Gemini Nano Banana tool.

Known as the ‘Banana AI saree’ edit, the feature allows users to turn ordinary selfies into nostalgic retro-style images. The edits evoke classic cinema with chiffon sarees, grainy textures, bold make-up, and jasmine-adorned hair, often styled under golden sunlight for a vintage glow.

The tool has quickly become a social media hit. Users can experiment with sarees, retro sherwanis, or even traditional dhotis by adjusting prompts to personalise their look. The trend follows earlier viral edits such as hyper-realistic 3D figurine portraits.

With its popularity soaring, Google Gemini has now topped the Apple App Store’s free apps chart in both India and the US, outpacing competitors like ChatGPT and Grok. Google DeepMind’s chief, Demis Hassabis, praised the Gemini team, calling it ‘just the start’.

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France pushes for nighttime social media curfews for teens

French lawmakers are calling for stricter regulations on teen social media use, including mandatory nighttime curfews, following a parliamentary report examining TikTok’s psychological impact on minors.

The 324-page report, published Thursday by a National Assembly Inquiry Commission, proposes that social media accounts for 15- to 18-year-olds be automatically disabled between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. to help combat mental health issues.

The report contains 43 recommendations, including greater funding for youth mental health services, awareness campaigns in schools, and a national ban on social media access for those under 15. Platforms with algorithmic recommendation systems, like TikTok, are specifically targeted.

Arthur Delaporte, the lead rapporteur and a socialist MP, also announced plans to refer TikTok to the Paris Public Prosecutor, accusing the platform of knowingly exposing minors to harmful content.

The report follows a December 2024 lawsuit filed by seven families who claim TikTok’s content contributed to their children’s suicides.

TikTok rejected the accusations, calling the report “misleading” and highlighting its safety features for minors.

The report urges France not to wait for EU-level legislation and instead to lead on national regulation. President Emmanuel Macron previously demanded an EU-wide ban on social media for under-15s.

However, the European Commission has said cultural differences make such a bloc-wide approach unfeasible.

Looking ahead, the report supports stronger obligations in the upcoming Digital Fairness Act, such as giving users greater control over content feeds and limiting algorithmic manipulation.

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EU considers social media restrictions for minors

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the EU is considering tighter restrictions on children’s access to social media platforms.

During her annual State of the Union address, von der Leyen said the Commission is closely monitoring Australia’s approach, where individuals under 16 are banned from using platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat.

‘I am watching the implementation of their policy closely,’ von der Leyen said, adding that a panel of experts will advise her on the best path forward for Europe by the end of 2025.

Currently, social media age limits are handled at the national level across the EU, with platforms generally setting a minimum age of 13. France, however, is moving toward a national ban for those under 15 unless an EU-wide measure is introduced.

Several EU countries, including the Netherlands, have already warned against children under 15 using social media, citing health risks.

In June, the European Commission issued child protection guidelines under the Digital Services Act, and began working with five member states on age verification tools, highlighting growing concern over digital safety for minors.

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Altman questions if social media is dominated by bots

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has sparked debate after admitting he increasingly struggles to distinguish between genuine online conversations and content generated by bots or AI models.

Altman described a ‘strangest experience’ while reading about OpenAI’s Codex model, saying comments instinctively felt fake even though he knew the growth trend was real. He said social media rewards, ‘LLM-speak,’ and astroturfing make communities feel less genuine.

His comments follow an earlier admission that he had never considered the so-called dead internet theory until now, when large language model accounts seemed to be running X. The theory claims bots and artificial content dominate online activity, though evidence of coordinated control is lacking.

Reactions were divided, with some users agreeing that online communities have become increasingly bot-like. Others argued the change reflects shifting dynamics in niche groups rather than fake accounts.

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Nepal lifts social media ban after protests

The Nepali government has lifted its ban on major social media platforms following days of nationwide protests led largely by youth demanding action against corruption.

The ban, which blocked access to 26 social media sites including WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube, was introduced in an effort to curb misinformation, online fraud, and hate speech, according to government officials.

However, critics accused the administration of using the restrictions to stifle dissent and silence public outrage.

Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in Kathmandu and other major cities in Nepal, voicing frustration over rising unemployment, inflation, and what they described as a lack of accountability among political leaders.

The protests quickly gained momentum, with digital freedom becoming a central theme alongside anti-corruption demands.

The United Nations Office for the High Commissioner of Human Rights addressed the situation, stating: “We have received several deeply worrying allegations of unnecessary or disproportionate use of force by security forces during protests organized by youth groups demonstrating against corruption and the recent Government ban on social media platforms.”

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Celebrity Instagram hack fuels Solana meme coin scam

The Instagram accounts of Adele, Future, Tyla, and Michael Jackson were hacked late Thursday to promote an unauthorised meme coin. Posts showed an AI image of the Future with a ‘FREEBANDZ’ coin, falsely suggesting ties to the rapper.

The token, launched on the Solana platform Pump.fun, surged briefly to nearly $900,000 in market value before collapsing by 98% after its creator dumped 700 million tokens. The scheme netted more than $49,000 in Solana for the perpetrator, suspected of being behind the account hijackings.

None of the affected celebrities has issued a statement, while Future’s Instagram account remains deactivated. The hack continues a trend of using celebrity accounts for crypto pump-and-dump schemes. Previous cases involved the UFC, Barack Obama, and Elon Musk.

Such scams are becoming increasingly common, with attackers exploiting the visibility of major social media accounts to drive short-lived token gains before leaving investors with losses.

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Hong Kong deepfake scandal exposes gaps in privacy law

The discovery of hundreds of non-consensual deepfake images on a student’s laptop at the University of Hong Kong has reignited debate about privacy, technology, and accountability. The scandal echoes the 2008 Edison Chen photo leak, which exposed gaps in law and gender double standards.

Unlike stolen private images, today’s fabrications are AI-generated composites that can tarnish reputations with a single photo scraped from social media. The dismissal that such content is ‘not real’ fails to address the damage caused by its existence.

The legal system of Hong Kong struggles to keep pace with this shift. Its privacy ordinance, drafted in the 1990s, was not designed for machine-learning fabrications, while traditional harassment and defamation laws predate the advent of AI. Victims risk harm before distribution is even proven.

The city’s privacy watchdog has launched a criminal investigation, but questions remain over whether creation or possession of deepfakes is covered by existing statutes. Critics warn that overreach could suppress legitimate uses, yet inaction leaves space for abuse.

Observers argue that just as the snapshot camera spurred the development of modern privacy law, deepfakes must drive a new legal boundary to safeguard dignity. Without reform, victims may continue facing harm without recourse.

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Brazil prepares bill to tighten rules on social media

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has confirmed that his government is preparing new legislation to regulate social media, a move he defended despite criticism from US President Donald Trump. Speaking at an event in Pernambuco, Lula stressed that ‘laws also apply to foreigners’ operating in Brazil, underlining his commitment to hold international platforms accountable.

The draft proposal, which has not yet been fully detailed, aims to address harmful content such as paedophilia, hate speech, and disinformation that Lula said threaten children and democracy. According to government sources, the bill would strengthen penalties for companies that fail to remove content flagged as especially harmful by Brazil’s Justice Department.

Trump has taken issue with Brazil’s approach, criticising the Supreme Court for ruling that platforms could be held responsible for user-generated content and denouncing the 2024 ban of X, formerly Twitter, after Elon Musk refused to comply with court orders. He linked these disputes to imposing a 50% tariff on certain Brazilian imports, citing the political persecution of former president Jair Bolsonaro.

Lula pushed back on Trump’s remarks, insisting Bolsonaro’s trial for an alleged coup attempt is proceeding with full legal guarantees. On trade, he signalled that Brazil is open to talks over tariffs but emphasised negotiations would take place strictly on commercial, not political, grounds.

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Australia reverses its stance and restricts YouTube for children under 16

Australia has announced that YouTube will be banned for children under 16 starting in December, reversing its earlier exemption from strict new social media age rules. The decision follows growing concerns about online harm to young users.

Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and X are already subject to the upcoming restrictions, and YouTube will now join the list of ‘age-restricted social media platforms’.

From 10 December, all such platforms will be required to ensure users are aged 16 or older or face fines of up to AU$50 million (£26 million) for not taking adequate steps to verify age. Although those steps remain undefined, users will not need to upload official documents like passports or licences.

The government has said platforms must find alternatives instead of relying on intrusive ID checks.

Communications Minister Anika Wells defended the policy, stating that four in ten Australian children reported recent harm on YouTube. She insisted the government would not back down under legal pressure from Alphabet Inc., YouTube’s US-based parent company.

Children can still view videos, but won’t be allowed to hold personal YouTube accounts.

YouTube criticised the move, claiming the platform is not social media but a video library often accessed through TVs. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia would campaign at a UN forum in September to promote global backing for social media age restrictions.

Exemptions will apply to apps used mainly for education, health, messaging, or gaming, which are considered less harmful.

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Teens struggle to spot misinformation despite daily social media use

Misinformation online now touches every part of life, from fake products and health advice to political propaganda. Its influence extends beyond beliefs, shaping actions like voting behaviour and vaccination decisions.

Unlike traditional media, online platforms rarely include formal checks or verification, allowing false content to spread freely.

It is especially worrying as teenagers increasingly use social media as a main source of news and search results. Despite their heavy usage, young people often lack the skills needed to spot false information.

In one 2022 Ofcom study, only 11% of 11 to 17-year-olds could consistently identify genuine posts online.

Research involving 11 to 14-year-olds revealed that many wrongly believed misinformation only related to scams or global news, so they didn’t see themselves as regular targets. Rather than fact-check, teens relied on gut feeling or social cues, such as comment sections or the appearance of a post.

These shortcuts make it easier for misinformation to appear trustworthy, especially when many adults also struggle to verify online content.

The study also found that young people thought older adults were more likely to fall for misinformation, while they believed their parents were better than them at spotting false content. Most teens felt it wasn’t their job to challenge false posts, instead placing the responsibility on governments and platforms.

In response, researchers have developed resources for young people, partnering with organisations like Police Scotland and Education Scotland to support digital literacy and online safety in practical ways.

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