Report calls for an effort to tackle harms in similar way to obesity and smoking, and stresses need to ‘offer boys something better’
The manosphere and online misogyny should be treated by the government as a public health issue, in the same way as obesity or smoking, experts have said.
Writing in the Lancet, the authors of a new report argue that a coordinated response is needed, involving governments, schools, health services and community organisations, similar to the public-health response to tobacco use and ultra-processed food.
Court documents reveal staff considered ways to ‘get academic community to disavow’ influential US author
Meta staff discussed deploying a “whisper strategy” to undermine the influential US academic whose work has inspired a global social media crackdown, according to court documents.
Employees at the parent group of Facebook and Instagram sought to discredit Jonathan Haidt, the social psychologist and author of The Anxious Generation, a book that helped tip the debate about online safety towards more stringent measures such as the under-16 ban in Australia.
Watchdog says under-16 ban may affect older teenagers without passport or licence, and that ‘motivated children’ will skirt restrictions
More than 100,000 British teenagers risk being locked out of social media if they do not have a passport or driving licence when an under-16 ban is introduced next year.
Ofcom, the UK’s online watchdog, said about 150,000 16- to 17-year-olds do not own a passport or driving licence, which are likely to be needed to access age-restricted platforms.
Ifeanyi Ifediba usually creates videos about sports, anime and campus life. But he recently agreed to make a political ad to support the billionaire tax.
Social media users may be required to have photo ID to prove their age when Labour's ban for under-16s comes into force in spring as current facial age checks are inadequate, Ofcom has said.
The secretary of the defence department approved a senior official’s controversial idea to tell a Senate hearing that footage of public servants giving evidence should not be shared on social media because it could invite online bullying and raise national security concerns.
Emails obtained by Guardian Australia under freedom of information reveal deputy secretary Celia Perkins’ planned request to the parliamentary inquiry was flagged with the offices of deputy prime minister Richard Marles and assistant defence minister Peter Khalil, and received the backing of department secretary Meghan Quinn.
The White House has been rocked by turnover and anxiety over the midterms. The president, who is tightening his inner circle, has lashed out at critics, held meandering rallies and feasted on a diet of news clips and “A.I. slop,” as one aide put it.
The Brazilian congressman André Janones created a digital “army” by setting up WhatsApp groups and posting on Instagram, which helped mobilized the vote for the reelection of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Meta Platforms, Alphabet’s YouTube, TikTok parent ByteDance and Snap are facing thousands of lawsuits brought by US states, school districts and individuals alleging the companies intentionally designed their platforms to keep young users hooked.
The companies have denied allegations that their products have contributed to depression, anxiety, body-image issues and a broader youth mental health crisis, saying they take action to protect the youngest users of their platforms.
The companies also have argued that Section 230 of a federal law called the Communications Decency Act shields them from claims based on the content their users post.
Here is a look at the current state of the litigation in US courts.
States seek billions over alleged harm
Nearly every US state filed claims against social media companies over the alleged impact on children of their platforms. The lawsuits seek damages or financial penalties, as well as court orders directing the companies to make significant changes to their platforms.
In August, Meta resolved nearly all of the state lawsuits against it with settlements worth up to $18 billion over the next decade. As part of the deal, Meta agreed to limit how teenagers can use Facebook and Instagram.
The deal made $5 billion of the payout contingent on YouTube, TikTok and Snap reaching similar agreements with the states.
New Mexico and Florida did not join the settlement.
Florida has an ongoing lawsuit against Meta in state court.
New Mexico has sued Meta twice. Earlier this year, jurors and a judge ordered the Facebook and Instagram parent company to pay more than $940 million to the state after finding that Meta failed to protect young users from sexual exploitation on its platforms.
In October, another New Mexico jury agreed with the state that Meta had misled consumers about how it handles data privacy. The judge overseeing the case ordered Meta to pay the state $25 billion in penalties. Meta has said it will appeal both verdicts.
TikTok, facing lawsuits by at least 27 states, settled with Alabama in September, days before that lawsuit was slated for trial. TikTok agreed to pay Alabama up to $300 million if the majority of states reach similar agreements with the company.
Schools seek compensation for social media harm
More than 1,000 US school districts have filed lawsuits over claims that social media companies designed their platforms to be addictive, contributing to anxiety, depression and self-harm and leaving schools to deal with the fallout. The schools are seeking compensation for what they say they have spent dealing with social media’s effects on students, plus additional funding to limit its impact going forward.
A small school district in rural eastern Kentucky was selected as the first school district case to go to trial. But the June trial was canceled after the companies reached settlements with the district. Public records revealed that the district was set to receive $27 million under the agreements.
Lawsuits brought by school districts in Charleston, South Carolina, and Tucson, Arizona, have been chosen for trial next.
Teenagers take tech giants to court
On Wednesday, two teenagers who have said Instagram and Snapchat caused them serious mental health problems will take Meta and Snap to trial in Los Angeles.
It is the second trial in more than 3,300 lawsuits brought in California state court by young people and their families alleging that Meta, Snap, TikTok and YouTube deliberately designed their platforms to be addictive. TikTok and YouTube settled with both plaintiffs before trial and Meta settled with one.
The lawsuits were selected as bellwethers, or test cases, for the state court cases. Attorneys often use bellwether verdicts to gauge how juries may view similar claims, helping them assess the potential value of remaining cases and guide settlement negotiations.
Jury verdicts test companies’ liability
In the first trial to test an individual’s claims that social media caused personal harm, a young woman alleged that her addiction to social media led to depression and anxiety.
In March, a Los Angeles jury found Meta and Google negligent and ordered Meta to pay $4.2 million in damages and Google $1.8 million. Both companies have appealed.
The second trial over an individual’s claims against the companies, scheduled for July in Los Angeles, was canceled after the plaintiff reached settlements with TikTok, Snap and YouTube and dropped his claims against Meta.
In August, a third teen whose case was chosen for trial dropped her case against Meta, Snap and YouTube after she settled with TikTok.
Experts say symptoms such as dark circles under the eyes, grey skin, cracked lips and hair loss can be a warning sign – but there are other factors too
TikTok is rife with influencers warning of “ferritin face”, a term they use to describe the pallor, dark circles, dry skin, and hair loss claimed to indicate low iron stores. But is this based on fact or fiction, and when is it time to head to the GP?
Iranian authorities have sentenced to death Najmeh Amini, an accounting student, for blasphemy over a social media post that reportedly insulted Muhammad. Amini, who is being held in Vakilabad prison in Mashhad, was also sentenced to more than 12 years in prison in a separate case involving charges of acting against national security and spreading propaganda against the government. She was reportedly arrested following online monitoring by the Iranian Cyber Police after nationwide anti-government protests. Amini told the court that she posted the remarks while hallucinating after taking psychedelic mushrooms, and her lawyer argued that the comments were unintentional, but the judge rejected this defense. The content of the offending post has not been made public.
A social media post has only a moment to communicate its point. A strong visual can help someone notice a useful tip, product idea or event, but decoration alone does not make a post effective. An ai image generator can help create original imagery for social content when the creative brief is clear and the final layout is designed for real viewing conditions.
This guide explains how to plan attention-grabbing posts, pair visuals with readable copy and adapt one concept for different channels. In Dreamina, you can explore visual concepts from written prompts and refine promising outputs, then add verified wording in an editable layout. The goal is a useful, recognizable post—not a picture overloaded with effects.
Start with one message and one audience
Before opening an image tool, finish this sentence: “After seeing this post, the viewer should understand ______.” A product post might communicate a practical benefit. A tutorial post might teach one step. An event post might explain why attending is worthwhile.
Decide who needs that message. New customers may need context; existing followers may recognize a recurring visual theme. Avoid trying to teach, sell, announce and entertain in a single graphic. If the content has several points, consider a carousel in which each slide does one job.
Write the headline in ordinary language before designing the image. “Three ways to organize a small workspace” is clearer than “Transform your life today.” The image should reinforce the promise rather than compete with it.
Choose a format that fits the idea
A single image works for a strong announcement, comparison or visual takeaway. A carousel is useful for a sequence of tips, steps or before-and-after explanations. A short video can add value when movement demonstrates something that a still image cannot.
Plan the composition for its destination. A square image can support a centered subject; a taller feed post may allow a larger headline and more breathing room. Stories and vertical videos need important content away from interface overlays and likely cropping zones. Platform specifications change, so check current publishing requirements before export.
Do not design one tiny text-heavy graphic and expect it to work everywhere. A mobile viewer should be able to identify the subject and read the main message without zooming.
Build a visual brief, not a pile of adjectives
Describe the subject, its purpose, the framing and the space reserved for text. For a productivity tip, try: “Editorial illustration of a tidy desk with notebook, lamp and small plant, calm warm palette, main objects on the right, uncluttered light background on the left for a headline, soft natural shadows, no lettering.”
This prompt makes the image useful for a layout. “Beautiful professional viral social post” offers much less control. Avoid asking the generator to produce important copy inside the artwork; keep headlines, prices, dates and calls to action editable.
For a product promotion, do not substitute an invented AI product for a real item whose appearance matters. Use an approved product photograph and build the surrounding visual treatment separately.
Create a clear visual hierarchy
People should notice the subject or headline first, then the supporting detail, then the next action. Give the most important element enough contrast and space. If everything is equally bold, nothing stands out.
Use one short headline and, when necessary, a concise supporting line. Limit decorative fonts, busy textures and competing colors. Text should remain legible against the background, especially on a phone screen in bright light.
A practical test is to shrink the draft to a small preview. Can you tell what the post is about in two seconds? If not, enlarge the focal point, shorten the copy or simplify the background. A visually impressive illustration that hides the message is not an effective social graphic.
Three practical post concepts
For an educational post, start with a question such as “Why does your desk always feel cluttered?” Use a clean illustrated workspace, then place the answer in a short caption or carousel. The visual should invite curiosity without pretending that one image can explain every detail.
For an event announcement, use an original atmospheric scene with quiet space for the event name, date and location. Verify those details independently. The artwork should establish the mood, while editable text carries the facts.
For a brand or product post, focus on one relevant benefit rather than a list of claims. A reusable water bottle, for instance, might be shown in a simple everyday setting. If exact product details matter, use authentic approved imagery. Do not let generated visuals imply features the product does not have.
These formats serve different purposes, but all benefit from a clear message, intentional composition and readable information.
Make a recognizable series
Consistency helps followers identify related content. Choose a limited palette, repeat a small set of type styles and establish how headlines, illustrations and logos are positioned. This does not mean every post needs the same image.
A weekly tip series could use a consistent light background, dark headline and small illustrated object, while changing the subject each week. A campaign might use a shared accent color and visual texture across announcements, testimonials and explainers.
Keep a simple style guide and a few approved examples. When creating new images, describe the same palette, lighting and illustration treatment. Review the results side by side; AI-generated artwork may drift in style even when prompts are similar.
The accompanying conceptual landscape illustration can be used as a background or mood reference, but it should not be presented as a real event location. For a social post, crop or adapt it only if the main subject and text space remain clear.
Design for accessibility and trust
Readable contrast, plain language and a logical text order make content easier to understand. Avoid placing crucial information in tiny lettering. Where the platform allows, write descriptive alternative text for informative images; do not rely on a visual alone to convey essential instructions.
Review AI imagery for distorted objects, accidental text-like marks and misleading representations. If a scene is fictional or conceptual, do not imply that it documents a real person, place or event.
If you are comparing an ai image generator free online with other creation workflows, evaluate practical needs: suitable image dimensions, editing options, current usage rights and how easily you can add accurate text. A free starting point is useful only if the output can meet the publishing task.
Export, test and learn
Before publishing, check the final crop, spelling, contrast and whether the call to action matches the caption or linked destination. View the post on a phone, not only in a large desktop editor. Export a format and resolution appropriate for the channel, and keep an editable master file for later corrections.
After publishing, assess results against the post’s purpose. Reach can show distribution, while saves, shares, comments or relevant clicks may tell you more about whether the content helped its audience. Interpret performance in context; no single visual style guarantees engagement.
The strongest AI-assisted social posts combine a clear idea, useful visual support and careful final editing. Start with the message, design for the viewing environment and let AI help explore images rather than make every creative decision for you.
DISCLAIMER – “Views Expressed Disclaimer– The information provided in this content is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, legal, tax, or health advice, nor relied upon as a substitute for professional guidance tailored to your personal circumstances. The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of any other individual, organization, agency, employer, or company, including NEO CYMED PUBLISHING LIMITED (operating under the name Cyprus-Mail).
A leader who stood up to US President Donald Trump just won an election in Latin America’s biggest country, reversing a trend of new right-wing governments in the region over the past two years. Incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, having narrowly lost to Flavio Bolsonaro in the first round of voting on October 5, […]
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won another term on Sunday, with the help of a seismic social media campaign that convinced Brazilians to reject his rival.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s army of supporters, mobilized over a WhatsApp chat group, delivered an unexpected victory over Flávio Bolsonaro, the right-wing challenger.
Copper prices are at record highs, but for TikTok creators, the real money may be in teaching others how to strip wire—and selling them the tools to do it.
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the leftist incumbent, and Flávio Bolsonaro, the right-wing challenger, face off in a narrow race that could redefine the future of Latin America.
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