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] The next decade will be defined not merely by continued growth in numbers but by increasingly intentional efforts to make international arbitration more accessible, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of a genuinely global community of practitioners. Kluwer Arbitration Blog
• [New] There are many projects that have created protocols for decentralizing discourse, including ActivityPub and SSB for social, Matrix and IRC for chat, and RSS for blogging. BlueSky
• [New] Through the immersive Taiwan cultural experience event at Union Station, it is hoped that tourism promotion will deepen Taiwan-U.S. economic, cultural, and people-to-people connections. Cision PR Newswire
• [New] The legal amendments are being seen as a reform push that could help leverage the commercial potential of the Indo-US civil nuclear deal, nearly two decades after it was inked. The Indian Express
• [New] Social media history, family members' personal information, and biometric data are just some of the information tourists will need to provide if changes proposed this week by U.S. Customs and Border Protection are approved. Skift
• [New] Denmark and Malaysia are among the nations expected to roll out social-media bans for teens and children as soon as 2026. Gizmodo
• [New] The secretary of commerce will target funding available under the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment Program, a $42.5 billion effort to expand high-speed internet access in rural communities. Engadget
• [New] If Trump's DOJ starts aggressively pursuing dormant commerce clause challenges to keep his Silicon Valley donors happy, they might accidentally create precedent that invalidates every state's attempts to regulate social media, require age verification, or mandate content filtering. Techdirt
• [New] Rather than chasing every trend, 2026 will be about choosing the right mix for your audience, from established spaces like Instagram and TikTok to the community-led platforms like Facebook or gardening forums. Vuelio -
• [New] In 2025, Telegram remains the heartbeat of the crypto community, wherein members get access to insights, signals, and opportunities in real time. The AI Journal
• [New] Some analysts expect Reddit's Free Cash Flow to rise over the next few years, with certain estimates and extrapolations pointing to roughly $4.75 Billion by 2035 as the platform scales and monetizes its community and data more effectively. Simply Wall St
• [New] The United Kingdom is seeing impressive tourism growth in 2025, with around 35 million visitors expected to explore its rich history, culture, and iconic landmarks. Travel And Tour World
• [New] The UK's leading Dementia charity, Alzheimer's Society, urges: Around one million people are living with dementia in the UK and the terminal condition is the UK's biggest killer which means thousands of families will experience the devastation it causes. HuffPost UK
• [New] Australia's social media ban for teens has just come into force The whole world will be watching to see what happens next. MIT Technology Review
• [New] The United Nations' World Food Programme warned it will be forced to slash food rations by up to 70% for communities facing starvation starting in January due to critical funding shortages. Al Jazeera
• [New] Multi-channel scams, where victims are lured from social media or text messages into encrypted chats and fraudulent payment pages, will become the dominant pattern in 2026. Trend Micro
• [New] VCOSS will continue to highlight the need for the Victorian Government to reinstate the Community Climate Change Adaptation program and to provide funding to cohort-specific organizations to produce tailored resources for the people they support. A deep dive on the 2025 Victorian Budget | VCOSS
• [New] The trust funds face significant financing challenges, and without major reforms, Social Security's Old-Age and Survivors Insurance program will only be able to pay full scheduled benefits until 2033. Newsweek
• [New] With government bonds yielding higher interest rates, Japan faces escalating interest payments that could strain public finances and divert resources from essential social services. chinadailyhk
• [New] The future of China-South Africa cooperation will continue to go beyond the energy sector to include culture, youth empowerment, and innovation. The Star
• [New] Eastern suburbs institution Cranbrook will ban its primary students from owning a smartphone from 2026, with parents instructed to instead purchase a basic Nokia for students to use, as schools prepare students to lose access to social media apps next week. The Sydney Morning Herald
• [New] Africa is rich, not just in minerals like cobalt, lithium, and rare earths, but in human potential, culture, and ingenuity. Dawan Africa

Last updated: 15 December 2025