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] In February, the UN Human Rights Council warned in a new report that Israeli policies in the West Bank - including the systematic unlawful use of force by Israeli security forces and unlawful demolitions of Palestinian homes - aim to uproot Palestinian communities. Al Jazeera
• [New] Few trust private developers, but the next four years could see more communities building their own renewable schemes. The Guardian
• [New] There is increasing fear about the economic, social, environmental, and institutional crises the world faces, and answers seem to be getting more plentiful, technical, and confusing. Sparx Publishing Group
• [New] In 2026, with climate change, over-tourism, and cultural erosion threatening many destinations, travelers must prioritize conscious, eco-friendly, and culturally respectful choices. MEXC
• [New] The spate of targeted strikes sparked fear among Jewish communities already reeling from the surge in antisemitism after the Gaza war. The Guardian
• [New] Air pollution is the world's leading environmental health risk, driving respiratory and cardiovascular disease, asthma, and premature births, with lower-income communities most affected. Positive News
• [New] As AI technology improves and leverages the underregulated space it inhabits to creep further into modern society, the risks it brings have become a major topic of public discussion over the past year or so. Gizmodo
• [New] Socialists and class struggle oriented unionists will emphasize the class nature of Trump's attack and the working class composition of the immigrant communities under attack. / USA International Viewpoint - online socialist magazine
• [New] Apple will continue to innovate in groundbreaking silicon, life-enriching products, transformative software, and services that improve people's lives, while deepening its commitments to environmental responsibility, education, and community impact around the world. Apple Newsroom
• [New] Governor Tim Walz proposed a new tax on social media companies to support workers impacted by artificial intelligence, arguing that middle-class families are currently bearing the burden of tech disruptions. / USA Daily Trump Report
• [New] Social bonds are projected to be $115 billion. Environmental Finance
• [New] People living in London now agree that it is not realistic for any household to expect access to social housing. Loughborough University
• [New] Recruitment has been industrialized through social media platforms, such as Telegram, TikTok, and Discord, where mule roles are advertised as flexible remote work opportunities. SOCRadar Cyber Intelligence Inc.
• [New] The UK Government plans to establish a Creative Content Exchange marketplace for digitised cultural and creative assets. Press Gazette
• [New] A significant minority of kids who have access to AI are using it in social ways that might make parents uncomfortable. BBC
• [New] Social Media: TikTok Shop appears set to move from novelty to necessity, and we expect platforms to enforce built-in paid partnership / commercial content offerings in short video and live shopping more aggressively. National Law Review
• [New] Ultimately, social media in 2026 rewards the deliberate, and brands that favor automated shortcuts over community building risk being permanently ignored by a more selective, skeptical audience. Sprout Social
• [New] There is a heightened risk of retaliatory attacks and further escalation, with demonstrations and civil unrest possible worldwide. Neos Kosmos
• [New] The future of policing in the United States will likely involve a combination of technology, community engagement, and policy reforms. legalframewire.com
• [New] Geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions are already affecting Canadian communities. ConstructConnect.com
• [New] The next few years are going to be a painful adjustment, heavily marked by very intense and uncomfortable debates over how to reshape society. Fortune
• [New] The mood among some anti-regime Iranians has turned on Trump, shifting from hope of being rescued to dismay at the destruction of infrastructure, culture and lives. The Guardian

Last updated: 23 March 2026