TikTok Makes Move Into Education Market 

  • Social media giant TikTok is partnering with hundreds of universities, experts and charities to create educational content for the platform, including English Heritage, The Prince’s Trust and the University of Cambridge
  • TikTok’s success is based on user-generated content, so the move to include professionally produced videos marks a significant shift as the company attempts to diversify its content
  • Rich Waterworth, TikTok’s General Manager for Europe, said the platform had noticed users’ interest in educational videos, saying “we think this is about applying the power of TikTok to learning: the effects, the audio, the transitions, the tools that make it so engaging and fun, to make people enjoy learning.”

Research Finds Rise in Conspiracy Theories Among Social Media Users 

  • Research conducted in May 2020 by King’s College London and Ipsos Mori has found that people who get their news from social media are more likely to believe conspiracy theories relating to COVID- 19
  • In an online survey of over 2,000 people, 30% thought that the coronavirus was created in a lab, (up from 25% in April). A similar proportion thought the true death toll from covid-19 was being hidden by the authorities. 13% believed the pandemic was part of a global effort to force everyone to be vaccinated, and 8% believed there was some connection between symptoms and radiation from 5G phone masts
  • Nearly 60% of those who believe that COVID-19 symptoms were linked to 5G radiation said that much of their information on the virus came from YouTube
  • This news comes after social media companies faced questioning from MPs regarding their actions to tackle the spread of misinformation on their platforms

Government Tracing App no Longer Priority and Has no Launch Date

  • Lord Bethell, the Minister for Innovation at the Department of Health and Social Care has said the NHS coronavirus contact-tracing app is “not a priority” and he was not sure it would be out by winter 
  • “We are seeking to get something going for the winter, but it isn’t the priority for us at the moment,” Lord Bethell said in answer to a question about the app
  • The project’s two lead managers – NHSX’s Matthew Gould and Geraint Lewis – are also stepping back
  • The app, which has been trialled on the Isle of Wight, was initially expected to launch nationally weeks ago

All Zoom Calls to Feature Encryption After Company U-Turn

  • The video conferencing platform Zoom announced on Wednesday that it will provide end-to-end encryption to all customers, not just those who pay, after a public backlash
  • The popular app faced criticism from civil rights groups for its plans to exclude free calls from encryption services, which secure communication so they can only be read by the users involved
  • The company’s CEO, Eric Yuan said in a statement that Zoom changed its decision after speaking with civil liberties organisations, child safety advocates, encryption experts, government representatives and users. The enhanced encryption will be available starting in July

14 Year Old Boy Charged Under Terrorism Act 

  • Counter-Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE) have arrested a 14-year-old boy who has been charged on Wednesday with one count of preparation of terrorist acts contrary to section 5(1)(a) of the Terrorism Act 2006 connected to Islamist terrorism
  • A CTPSE statement said: “We know that the community of Eastleigh might be concerned about this news, however Hampshire Constabulary have been working closely with colleagues in Counter Terrorism Policing South East on this investigation and we want to reassure you that we believe the investigation is isolated, and with no known wider risk to the community”

Got a question or an idea for us? 

You can email us at [email protected]