A Pause from Screens, a Return to Letters: India Post, IndiGo Take Digital Detox Campaign to the Skies

October 13, 2026 6:32 PM

A Pause from Screens, a Return to Letters: India Post, IndiGo Take Digital Detox Campaign to the Skies

In a bid to revive the charm of handwritten communication in an increasingly digital world, the Department of Posts, under the Ministry of Communications, collaborated with IndiGo to organise a unique Digital Detox Campaign on October 12, observed as Philately Day during the ongoing National Postal Week celebrations from October 9 to 15. The initiative encouraged air travellers to step away from their digital devices, put their thoughts on paper and reconnect with loved ones through handwritten ...

President Murmu urges information officers to use social media to listen, respond to citizens

August 19, 2026 7:13 PM

President Murmu urges information officers to use social media to listen, respond to citizens

President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday urged Indian Information Service (IIS) officers to use social media not only to inform and engage citizens but also to listen to their concerns, understand their aspirations and respond to their feedback. A group of Officer Trainees of the Indian Information Service and Indian Statistical Service called on the President at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday. Addressing the officer trainees, President Murmu said both services, despite having different function...

How influencers changed travel

August 19, 2026 6:41 PM

How influencers changed travel

That 30-second Instagram Reel of someone walking through the Himachal mountains, eating street food in Bangkok, or watching a sunset in Bali is now enough to make people check flight prices. Social media has turned travel inspiration and booking into one step, and travel industry data shows the shift is accelerating. According to Expedia's 2025 Traveler Value Index, based on a survey of more than 11,000 people across 11 countries, 61% of travellers now use social media for trip ideas. That is ...

UAE sets 15 as minimum age for social media access under new child safety rules

June 18, 2026 5:26 PM

UAE sets 15 as minimum age for social media access under new child safety rules

The UAE has approved a major new regulation setting the minimum age for social media use at 15 years, a sweeping move aimed at strengthening child protection in the digital space. The decision was taken by the UAE Cabinet, chaired by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Under the resolution, children under the age of 15 will not be permitted to create or operate social media accounts, nor access interactive features such as posting, commenting, sharing content, or joining public groups.Users...

Social media as bad for children as smoking, British doctors say

May 26, 2026 5:04 PM

Social media as bad for children as smoking, British doctors say

Social media ranks alongside smoking as a danger to children, senior British doctors said on Tuesday, as they urged lawmakers to tackle the harm that they say excessive screen time is causing to young people. The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges detailed the impact of social media on children in a submission to the government's consultation on protecting children online, which closes on Tuesday. "It ranks alongside smoking and wearing seatbelts in cars as a unifying force for the medical prof...

EU chief turns up heat on social media’s ‘addictive’ design

May 12, 2026 4:11 PM

EU chief turns up heat on social media’s ‘addictive’ design

The European Union is working on new rules to protect children from the addictive designs of social media such as TikTok, Meta and X, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday. "Sleep deprivation, depression, anxiety, self-harm, addictive behaviour, cyberbullying, grooming, exploitation, suicide. Risks are multiplying fast," von der Leyen said in a speech in Copenhagen. "These risks are the reality of the digital world. They are not accidental. They are the result of busines...

UK threatens jail for people smugglers who advertise on social media

August 3, 2025 5:25 PM

UK threatens jail for people smugglers who advertise on social media

People smugglers who use social media to promote their services to migrants seeking to enter Britain illegally could face five years in prison under plans announced by the government. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour government is under huge political and public pressure to cut the number of migrants arriving illegally in small boats from France. More than 25,000 people have made the crossing so far this year. Analysis by the Interior Ministry showed around 80% of migrants arriving on smal...

India to host 28th CSPOC with focus on AI and social media: Lok Sabha Speaker

January 10, 2025 9:41 PM

India to host 28th CSPOC with focus on AI and social media: Lok Sabha Speaker

India will host the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of Parliaments of Commonwealth Countries (CSPOC) in 2026, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla announced at the CSPOC Standing Committee Meeting in Guernsey. The event will focus on the use of artificial intelligence and social media in parliamentary processes. In his address, Birla highlighted India’s economic progress and technological advancements, including its growing role in sectors like agriculture, fintech, artificial intel...

India committed to ethical AI and combating fake news: Ashwini Vaishnaw

December 11, 2024 10:27 PM

India committed to ethical AI and combating fake news: Ashwini Vaishnaw

Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, emphasized India's commitment to tackling ethical challenges in artificial intelligence (AI) and combating fake news on social media. Addressing the Parliament, he called for robust debates and responsible innovation to address these global concerns, while proposing accountability measures for social media platforms. He stressed the need for a balanced approach, saying, "Freedom of speech and accountability must coexi...

Australia proposes ban on social media for children under 16

November 7, 2024 10:29 AM

Australia proposes ban on social media for children under 16

The Australian government will legislate for a ban on social media for children under 16, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday, in what it calls a world-leading package of measures that could become law late next year. Australia is trialing an age-verification system to assist in blocking children from accessing social media platforms, as part of a range of measures that include some of the toughest controls imposed by any country to date. "Social media is doing harm to our kids an...