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] Agentic AI could support the automatic switching of products, reducing inertia, and potentially encourage a saving and retail investment culture. Passle
• [New] Non-US persons who pay could face civil and criminal enforcement liability if payments cause US persons, such as insurers and financial institutions, to violate sanctions. BBC News
• [New] Insider threats and social engineering remain critical weak points. MEXC
• [New] Latimpacto emphasized a need to distinguish between rural and urban community development in Latin America and to develop more nuanced categories of marginalized communities, including economic vulnerability, identity-based exclusion, and racial marginalization. Stanford Social Innovation Review
• [New] Policy-wise, countries are moving to ban social media for children, with Australia leading the charge to mitigate risks like cyberbullying and addiction. Coaio Limited
• [New] Phishing and social engineering attacks are predicted to grow in sophistication by 2026. Belmark Corporation
• [New] As the world faces shifting geopolitical alignments, digital disruption, and urgent sustainability challenges, GWF 2026 will address a defining trinity: Sovereignty, Economy & Society-affirming geospatial's place as an anchor of resilience, equity, and innovation. Geospatial World Forum
• [New] Strengthening regional cooperation, investing in domestic regulatory institutions, and fostering collaboration between governments and civil society will be essential for enabling African states to engage global digital governance on more equitable terms. Journal of Public and International Affairs
• [New] Public schools across the U.S. are losing their teachers, putting communities at risk of school closures and more negative outcomes for young children. Route Fifty
• [New] As global oceans continue to warm, the risks to ecosystems, economies and vulnerable communities are expected to intensify, underscoring the urgent need for climate action and adaptation strategies. Healthwise
• [New] Advocates raised concerns about the extraction of critical minerals for the global energy transition, warning it is fueling displacement and rights violations while limiting direct access to climate funding for Indigenous communities. Africanews
• [New] The OECD defines social cohesion as attitudes and behaviours of a society that works towards the wellbeing of all its members, fights exclusion and marginalization, creates a sense of belonging, promotes trust, and offers its members the opportunity of upward mobility. https://www.facebook.com/TheNewDaily/
• [New] There's a new forecast of the Social Security boost retirees should expect in 2027 - and it's a huge disappointment for the millions of Americans who depend on their bi-monthly benefit checks. Daily Mail
• 62% of respondents learnt about crypto via social media, which carries a risk of misinformation. ST
• Article 13's information gathering restrictions create legal risk for routine compliance; environmental, social and governance (ESG); and human-rights due diligence conducted within China. Squire Patton Boggs
• Research and guidance from groups like the JED Foundation emphasize that sustained progress will require culturally competent care, more early intervention in schools and communities, and targeted outreach for groups at higher risk, including Black youth. theGrio
• Local projects eligible for funding could include the development and transformation of underused buildings and green spaces, as well as neighbourhood hubs in UK communities. Third SectorMainNet
• A coalition of the willing - including 54 countries and various subnational governments, civil society groups and academics - will try to chart a new path to powering the world with low-carbon energy. The Guardian
• The head of the UN's civil aviation agency, ICAO, has called for immediate global action to protect commercial flights from escalating military threats, including missiles, drones, and GPS signal jamming. UN News
• Ministers hope to raise £5 billion over the next five years from the digital services tax, which imposes a 2% levy on the revenues of search engines, social media services and online marketplaces operating in the UK. HuffPost UK
• The dangers of AI for teens have been one of multiple reasons countries like Spain have banned social media platforms for kids. Engadget
• Twenty countries recently attended a summit in France on civil nuclear power's potential to become the sector of the future. The Guardian

Last updated: 04 May 2026