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The latest news, analysis and opinion on Apps. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
A girl plays Roblox on her mobile phone in Jakarta, Indonesia. Photo: AP
Indonesia

Gaming platform Roblox to require facial scans for users under 16 in Indonesia

This is in line with new restrictions on minors’ use of social media and digital platforms in the country.

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DeepSeek

‘The whale can now see’: DeepSeek adds AI vision in major move

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Social media

Turkey passes bill to restrict social media access for under-15s

Wellness

Is your family addicted to screens and junk food? How to change their habits

In her book Dopamine Kids, Michaeleen Doucleff examines our reliance on ‘magnets’ that hamper happiness and explains how to overcome them.

Ultra-processed food and screens are dopamine “magnets” that can be avoided for a better quality of life, according to biochemist Michaeleen Doucleff, whose new book Dopamine Kids explains how to reshape your family’s habits. Photo: Shutterstock
Artificial intelligence

Crypto industry sees AI-driven agent economy as next growth driver

Experts gather in Hong Kong for Web3 Festival as firm predicts AI agents could facilitate up to US$5 trillion in global crypto sales by 2030.

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ByteDance

ByteDance profit plunges on AI push as TikTok Shop fuels overseas surge: reports

‘All-in’ AI drive cuts profits by 70 per cent, while booming TikTok Shop sales help overseas markets outpace China, reports say.

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TikTok

Realistic, no edits required – why the Setlog app is trending in South Korea

Viral app Setlog lets up to 12 friends film two- to four-second clips every hour, then auto-stitches them into a split-screen ‘day-in-the-life’ vlog.

A vlog by a group of friends posted on Setlog. Setlog is the latest trending app on social media that is especially popular among South Koreans. Photo: Instagram/setlog_app
Artificial intelligence

Tencent moves to rein in AI content flood on WeChat with stricter rules

Updated guidelines target mass-produced and AI-rewritten posts, reflecting growing concern over the spread of low-effort content.

Artificial intelligence

Alibaba’s Qwen family captures over 50% of global open-source downloads: report

Qwen hits nearly 1 billion cumulative downloads, far surpassing rivals like Meta Platforms’ Llama and DeepSeek, researchers say.

Artificial intelligence

Alibaba cloud growth forecast to climb with AI push, higher charges: analysts

The company’s cloud and AI businesses are gaining speed, with token usage and pricing changes fuelling growth, analysts say.

The Alibaba building in Xuhui Binjiang Park, also known as “AI Park”, in Shanghai. Photo: EPA
Artificial intelligence

China’s DeepSeek adds expert chatbot mode ahead of much-awaited V4 release

The Hangzhou start-up’s latest chatbot update sparks speculation over whether the expert mode is linked to the long-delayed V4 model.

The changes come ahead of the much-anticipated release of DeepSeek’s next-generation flagship model V4 this month. Photo: Reuters
Cartier

The Cartier Women’s Initiative just celebrated 20 years

Amal Clooney spoke on the opening panel to urge action on women’s rights, while female entrepreneurs among the 2026 fellows shared their experiences and advice.

Wellness

Hate jet lag? How fliers are using apps to beat the common travel trouble

Flying across time zones disrupts your circadian rhythm, which affects functioning and even long-term health. But apps could help.

Artificial intelligence

Tencent expands OpenClaw suite with enterprise tool amid China’s ‘lobster’ craze

ClawPro tool promises quick AI agent deployment, giving enterprises control over models, tokens and security.

Chinese tech firms are rushing to offer China users easy or inexpensive access to OpenClaw after it went viral. Photo: Getty Images
United States

New York Mayor Mamdani puts city’s government back on TikTok

The city’s top official, himself a social media star, has reversed a ban on the app that was sparked by concerns over its Chinese links.

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Mayor Zohran Mamdani attends a press conference in New York in January. Photo: TNS
DeepSeek

‘I no longer knew how to work without it’: DeepSeek outage cuts off millions

Chinese AI start-up restores chatbot service by Monday morning after overnight disruption affects millions of users.

Social media

Video | Indonesia bans social media for under 16s

Authorities say the move aims to protect children and young teens against addiction, abuse and exposure to harmful content.

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Hong Kong society

Google’s Gemini AI app debuts in Hong Kong

Tech giant’s chatbot service tops Apple’s app store chart in the city.

Google’s Gemini app was previously restricted to some local businesses, developers, educators and students. Photo: Getty Images
United States

Meta and Google liable for damages in landmark US addiction trial

Jury orders US$6 million payout to a young woman, a verdict that could affect thousands of similar cases against tech companies.

Hong Kong society

More websites, mobile apps for children collecting personal data: study

Global investigation examined 876 websites and mobile apps designed specifically for children across multiple sectors.

Social media

Meta ordered to pay US$375 million in New Mexico child safety trial

Meta said it would challenge the decision after a jury found the social media giant liable for endangering minors.

A recording of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s deposition being played for jurors. Photo: Santa Fe New Mexican via AP
Artificial intelligence

Tencent adds ClawBot plug-in to WeChat amid OpenClaw boom and privacy warnings

With over 1 billion users, WeChat becomes Tencent’s biggest OpenClaw campaign, bringing into focus opportunity and regulatory caution.

Tencent is seeking to capitalise on the OpenClaw craze. Photo: Reuters
Apple

Apple’s Tim Cook visits China as reliance on Chinese suppliers endures

Cook shows up at an Apple Store in Chengdu as part of the company’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

Hong Kong society

‘AI may know me better’: why Hongkongers turn to chatbots for mental health help

Survey reveals growing trend of residents seeking help from AI to deal with emotional stress.

Wellness

She didn’t ignore her brain fog – now she’s helping others with perimenopause

Femtech pioneers are tackling perimenopause with bold new tools, breaking long-standing taboos and empowering women.

Mayra Hurtado, co-founder of Hormony. Photo: courtesy Hormony
OpenClaw

Inside the OpenClaw AI mania in China, as security fears and enthusiasm surge

Appeal of autonomous AI agent spurs rapid adoption across country, from tech pros to retirees seeking a ‘digital staff’, but data wipes mar its rise and trigger warnings.

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Illustration: Henry Wong
Apple

Apple reduces App Store commissions in China, to applause from Tencent, NetEase

Move has ‘long-term constructive significance for the overall prosperity of China’s mobile app ecosystem’, gaming company NetEase says.

Artificial intelligence

OpenClaw is all the rage in China right now. Here’s why

OpenClaw captivates Chinese users, aiding in stock trading, daily tasks and even dating, despite concerns over costs and data reliability.

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