Built with input from parents, psychologists, and safety experts, Instagram Teen Accounts introduce a set of built-in protections that limit who can contact teens, the content they can see, and how much time they spend on the platform. Teens under 16 will automatically be placed into Teen Accounts and will need parental or guardian approval to change any of the protective settings to be less strict.

Globally, more than 54 million teens have already been enrolled into Teen Accounts, with 97% of teens ages 13-15 electing to remain in these protections. Early feedback from both teens and parents has been overwhelmingly positive — over 90% of parents surveyed saying the protections are helpful.

Key protections offered with Teen Accounts include: Private Accounts, Messaging Restrictions, Sensitive Content Control, Time Limit Reminders, and Sleep Mode.

To mark the launch, Meta hosted the Youth Summit in collaboration with Digital Wellbeing Council on June 18 in Emirates Towers, Dubai. The event brought together UAE policy stakeholders, experts, parents, and teens for an open dialogue about how to build safer digital experiences for teens and addressed recent trends in youth wellbeing.  Additionally, parent creator, media personality and book author Helen Farmer, co-founder of Arab Child Summit; creator and educator Deema Al Alami and clinical psychologist at Lighthouse Arabia Dr. Tanya Dharamshi ran a workshop to explore Instagram’s safety and supervision tools and share best practices for creating healthy, supportive online experiences for teens.

Meta is also partnering with regional parent creators, including the likes of Alaa Abou Harb, The Afrobysara Family, Jana Alhafarand others to develop short-form video guides and safety tips on Instagram, making it easier for families to understand and use the new tools available to them.

The announcement comes as part of Meta’s broader commitment to supporting digital wellbeing and online safety, especially among younger users in the region.

Key features demoed were Ray-Ban Meta’s camera with an ultrawide 12 MP – which takes high-quality photos and immersive 1080p videos in portrait orientation, as well as Meta AI.  The celebration marks the start of a month-long takeover at Gitano, designed to embody Ray-Ban’s timeless style in a city as rooted in culture as it is in the future. Running until June 5, guests will find signature pops of Ray-Ban red adorning the sunbeds of the vibrant beach club.

Diving more deeply into the key features of the Ray-Ban Meta collection: discreet open-ear speakers increase bass response and noise suppression, enhancing the overall audio quality – whether it’s for listening to a favorite album or reliving moments personally created. Each pair can be found with five built-in microphones to support seamless switching between music and calls, while still allowing the wearer to hear the ambient sound of their surroundings and stay attuned to the world around them. The livestreaming function allows content creators to broadcast their experiences and POV in real time, hands-free. It opens a new level of authenticity and relatability in the content that’s being created, sharing live from their eyes. The wearer can toggle between the glasses and phone camera to Instagram Live or Facebook Live for up to 30 minutes.

The Meta AI offering gives wearers the ability to use the voice prompt “Hey Meta” to dive deeper into a moment of creativity, get things done, such as local recommendations or playlist suggestions and control features on the glasses. Learn the history of a landmark as you walk by, translate a sign that’s in a different language, or get recipe suggestions based on what’s in your fridge, all using only your voice.

The Ray-Ban Meta collection features multiple styles, colors, and lens variations, giving consumers powerful technology without compromising aesthetics or comfort. They are available in Wayfarer and Wayfarer Large, the most recognizable frame and an icon since the 1950’s, along with the Ray-Ban Skyler, a more inclusive and universal fitting design now available in Shiny Chalky Grey. Built using the latest optical technology, the high-performance lenses come in a versatile range to match individual style and vision needs. Available in a full suite of prescription, sun, clear, polarized or Transitions®, all the lenses offer advanced clarity, comfort, and protection.

Starting at a suggested entry price starting at AED 1,330.  The Ray-Ban Meta collection comes with a classic compact and portable charging case to keep the glasses powered. 

Speaking about the grant, Kojo Boakye, Vice President of Public Policy, Africa, the Middle East, and Turkiye, Meta commented: "We're inspired by the diverse projects we've seen developers undertake around the world to positively impact their communities by building with Llama. We believe AI has more potential than any other modern technology to increase human productivity, creativity, and quality of life—and to accelerate economic growth while unlocking progress in medical and scientific research. The Llama 3.1 Impact Grants program presents an opportunity to further empower organizations to leverage AI for social good and to drive meaningful change."

To support prospective applicants, Meta will host a series of regional events, including virtual events, in-person hackathons, workshops, and training sessions in Egypt, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Korea, Latin America, North America, Pakistan, Singapore, Sub-Saharan Africa, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Vietnam. These events will provide technical guidance and mentorship, fostering the development of impactful applications of Llama 3.1 in local contexts. Organizations participating in these events will be eligible for additional specialized awards of up to $100,000.

The inaugural Llama Impact Grants, announced in October 2023, received over 800 applications from 90+ countries. The 20 finalists have submitted their final proposals, and the grant recipients will be announced in September, alongside the recipients of the Llama Impact Innovation Awards.

The application window for the Llama 3.1 Impact Grants is open from Monday, August 5, 2024, to Friday, November 22, 2024. Meta encourages eligible organisations to submit their proposals and take advantage of this opportunity to drive social impact through AI.  All proposals will be evaluated using the selection criteria here.

Updates, that came with the global roll-out to the feature include admins of Channels having the power to edit their posts. There's also an enhanced directory, where users can discover Channels filtered by country and other metrics like how active they are and how many followers they have. People can also react to posts on Channels with emojis.

Communicate spoke to Moon Baz, Creator Partnerships Lead, Africa, Middle East, and Turkey at Meta to further delve into the launch of this platform.

In image above: Moon Baz, Creator Partnerships Lead, Africa, Middle East, and Turkey at Meta

How does this new feature of WhatsApp channels promise privacy and encryption?

We’re aspiring to build the most private broadcast service available, and this starts by protecting the personal information of both admins and followers. As a channel admin, your phone number and profile photo won’t be shown to followers. Likewise, following a channel won’t reveal your phone number to other followers or the admin, unless the admin already has you saved in their contacts. The Channels you decide to follow are your choice and it’s private.

We’re also prioritizing privacy control for admins so they can choose to block screenshots and forwarding of messages from their channel, define who is eligible to follow their channel and decide whether or not they want it to be discoverable in the directory. Another important aspect we focus on is channel history. We don’t believe Channel updates should have to stick around forever, so we’ll only store channel history on our servers for up to 30 days and we’ll add ways to make updates disappear even faster from follower’s devices.

In terms of encryption, Channels are not end-to-end encrypted by default as their main aim is to reach a wide audience. However, we do think there are some cases where end-to-end encrypted channels to a limited audience might make sense, such as a non-profit or health organization, and we’re exploring this as a future option as well. 

WhatsApp will continue to build support for Channel owners and followers and, as always, we will continue to listen closely to feedback from users about how we can help people get the information they want – privately, safely, and securely.

In what ways is this feature going to further empower the creator economy of the Middle East?

The creator economy is a rapidly growing industry in the Middle East with more and more people turning to content creation as a viable career path. By giving our users access to more diverse tools and communication channels, we are aiming to amplify the amazing ways creators reach their communities.

WhatsApp Channels is certainly a different way to share updates compared to our other platforms. Channels will give creators new format ideas and access to different and much wider audiences than other platforms.  Over 2 billion people use WhatsApp globally – opening vast opportunities for growth.

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach for creators to grow their following, so for some, WhatsApp Channels might be just the right platform that resonates with their community. This can be especially useful for micro-communities with niche interests and specific needs. We’ve seen a rise in these types of hyperlocal communities after the pandemic, and WhatsApp Channels can be a potent tool for driving engagement and fostering meaningful connections with such groups.

 For example, Adel Al-Adwani, a travel content creator known as @ibnfatota, created his own  WhatsApp Channel, leading the way in connecting with his community and sharing his travel adventures, recommendations, and tips, one update at a time.

Will there be a way for creators to use this feature to monetize from this platform?

At this stage, we are still exploring various ideas. We do believe there is an opportunity to support creators running their Channels with a new way to build a business around their updates – for example, with the expansion of our payment services, the ability to highlight certain Channels in the directory or charge a fee for their channel, like a subscription. Channel admins may also want to partner directly with brands for their channels and we could build tools to help them. There are a number of ways we could do this without impacting the privacy and security of people’s personal messages. It’s still early for us and we’ll share more information in the future.

What was the true insight behind WhatsApp channels? What objective inspired the launch?

Building channels is a big step our users have asked us for years, and now, our users have a private way to receive important updates from people and organizations, right within WhatsApp. 

Our key insight was that people desired prompt and convenient access to information that matters to them, all in one place. Currently, people often rely on multiple apps to stay informed about the things they are interested in – whether this be their favorite sports team, weather, updates from local officials, regular exercise routine, or local traffic updates. With Channels, this information will be accessible to WhatsApp users in one convenient location within the WhatsApp app. We expect, however, that the core of how people use WhatsApp will continue to be private messaging among friends, family, and communities.

How has the region been responding to this new feature?

We’re excited by the positive feedback we received from our launch in the MENA region. Businesses, government entities, and media outlets have already activated Channels to expand their reach. We’ve seen major outlets like The National, Asharq News, Dubai TV, Al Bayan, Hia Magazine and many more create their channels, which users can find in the open directory. 

We anticipate a surge in the adoption of this feature in the forthcoming weeks driven by increasing usage across the region – particularly in countries like UAE and KSA – which have the highest degree of digitization in the region.

I still see myself as 1% of the way there! My journey has been full of twists and turns, with one mountain to climb after another. Just when I think I’ve reached one peak, I discover another equally exciting one and eagerly pursue it. I veered away from the conventional linearity of the career ladder a long time ago and remained open to all opportunities for learning that came my way. As a result, my cup has always been full of new experiences that taught me a lot, incredible talents I’ve had the privilege of nurturing, and legends I’ve been fortunate to partner with! On a personal level, I have never defined myself solely by what I do, nor have I compartmentalized my life into a work-life balance bracket. To me, as long as I stay true to my values, I find balance. I lead with curiosity, generosity, and kindness, which makes me not only a good leader but also a better human being!

After dedicating almost two decades to DDB and four years in BBDO, working in roles such as strategy, creative planning, and copywriting, you shifted to Meta. What motivated you to make this shift? How did you decide to transition into the big tech industry?

The shift wasn’t easy since I was already an Executive Director at BBDO, working with a great team, boss, partners, and clients. At the time, Meta offered me the title of a ‘manager’, which is considered super senior in the flat culture of the tech industry, particularly at Meta. What tipped the scale was a late-night call I received from Nicola Mendelson, Meta’s Global VP. She acknowledged that I was doing well where I was, but she posed a question: What if someone approached me right now and offered me a ticket to the next rocket ship? What if I had the chance to explore the next frontier in communication at the heart of the mother ship itself? That was the turning point for me. I put aside my title, and my curiosity took over. I decided to join the rocket ship. In the past seven years at Meta, I can confidently say that it has fulfilled my appetite for discovering and influencing the future, just as I was promised. I reached the peak as a Director, and it has been an incredible journey.

As the Head of the Creative Shop at Meta, you played a pivotal role in shaping the creative strategies for many brands. Can you share some of the most memorable and impactful campaigns you worked on during your tenure?

I would say the most memorable work for me was not a specific client’s campaign, even though my team has built numerous ground-breaking campaigns from our region to the world. Instead, it was our ability, alongside my team and our partners, to influence Meta’s strategy for Ramadan globally. From the MENA region, we spearheaded the development of the “Month of Good” campaign, which Meta adopted and executed worldwide in collaboration with creators and brands. This initiative set a precedent for other big tech companies to follow suit and it became one of the most significant occasions globally, alongside Black Friday and Christmas. To me, this was the most impactful cultural strategy I was able to build and shape from within Meta. It allowed me to elevate my region, supported by the incredible legends I worked with, and showcase a glimpse of our beloved culture to the world.

You’ve likely faced a fair share of challenges and setbacks throughout your career. Can you share a particular obstacle you encountered and how you overcame it? To tell you the truth I really can’t remember any setbacks, I only remember those moments that helped me to grow and thrive, so I can’t separate them anymore from the opportunities.

With your extensive experience in the creative industry, what are some key trends or shifts you have observed in the way brands approach advertising and marketing in the digital age? I always begin with people. If we acknowledge the revolution brought by mobile devices as a medium of communication – always in our pockets, enabling human connection on platforms designed for interaction—whether we lean in or wind down, laugh or cry—we recognize the world we need to address. The major trend I see is the value brands must offer audiences in this crowded space. One aspect is relevance, whether it’s through the resonance of their story, the moment they choose to tell it (day or season), or the different formats they employ to address the temporary motivators and barriers experienced by diverse audiences within their target group. The other aspect is curation. In a world inundated with information and with an audience-driven by a discovery mindset, especially among younger generations, brands can play a crucial role in curating the ever-present digital landscape. This is when the magic can truly happen as brands build a common ground and language, with their audience based on shared interests. We must not overlook the remarkable potential of AI in bridging the gap between brands and people. Hyper-personalization, once a distant dream, has now become a tangible tool for exploration, empowering brands to establish deeper connections. To make all of this possible, there has never been a more critical moment to revisit the foundations of our industry – to delve deep into the study of our beloved brands’ origins, values, purposes, and emotive pillars. When we unleash the always-on, co-creative, and co-owned mode upon the world (yes, that will happen), we need to be confident that we still command the essence of our story.

The creative industry is known for its fast-paced and ever-changing nature. How do you stay inspired and continuously innovate in your approach to creativity and problem-solving?

Like many professionals in the creative industry and tech field, I thrive in fast-paced and dynamic environments. I draw inspiration from continuous learning and the people around me, both those from whom I learn and those who learn from me. I am motivated by partners who challenge me and problems that require innovative solutions. These are the defining aspects of the industries where I excel and find fulfillment.

Lastly, having transitioned from the role of Head of Creative Shop at Meta, what exciting ventures or projects are you currently involved in, and what can we see you doing next? Ask me again in a couple of months. At this stage, I am still standing at the shore wondering what new doors will open up for me, which one will I finally walk through, and finally which new peak I am destined to reach next! 

This piece was first published in Communicate's Women to Watch Issue 2023.

Twitter attorney, has made his comments too, accusing META of hiring former Twitter employees and using trade secrets and intellectual property to create a “copycat” app. In response, Andy Stone, META spokesperson responded through a Threads post that “no one on the Threads engineering team is a former Twitter employee.”

Threads began trending on the Twitter app on the day of its launch but has now mysteriously disappeared from the ‘Trending’ list. Twitter users have taken notice that search results have been limited while looking up Threads despite the platform being filled with links connecting to the newly launched app. 

Since Elon Musk's governance over Twitter, the company has experienced a tumultuous few months, only making a mark with various text-based alternatives that have gained significant attention throughout the year. Twitter isn’t the Twitter it once was. Launched in 2006, it once had its period of fame. Called the ‘global town square’, Twitter was the platform where anyone could get the attention of millions overnight, and facilitate large social movements such as #MeToo.

However, since Musk’s takeover, the microblogging platform has seen unfavorable changes – from giving access to any and all users to the famous check mark (for only $8), to recently, allowing unverified accounts to only view 1000 tweets a day. On the other hand, verified, paying accounts, can view up to 10,000 tweets a day. This was amended after a massive backlash when the development was first introduced, restricting unverified users to view only 600 tweets daily and 6000 tweets for verified users. 

Rounds of #DeadTwitter have been emerging. Chris Messina joined the bandwagon by posting the hashtag #DeadTwitter on Threads. 

Twitter is distinctly losing its relevance and falling behind other social media giants. The platform has suffered a series of detrimental slips and recent decisions have only added to its decline in users and overall significance. Threads has made its noteworthy entrance, but according to most social media experts, TikTok has long reigned as the new ‘global town square’ with over 1.6 billion users. TikTok’s popularity links with its refined algorithmic feed where even a user with no followers can potentially gain millions of views with a single video.

According to a Reuters report, people have now turned to TikTok for information and news, allowing users to consume a plethora of information through short videos. The report states that the platform is snowballing, now being the source of news, knowledge, and entertainment. Gen-Z users are increasingly observing that TikTok has become the birthplace of memes and trends, which often take weeks to reach Twitter and in turn, has caused Twitter to appear less culturally relevant.

Users on Threads are having a fair share of fun too. Memes both celebrating and poking fun at the new Twitter alternative have surfaced – with some not afraid to mock how Twitter users are abandoning the long-running platform to join its newly formed rival. 

Evidently, Threads has taken the spotlight and has already begun cleverly engaging with its young adult audience through relevant subjects. A recent post on the app by the official Threads team reads:

Can Threads become the ‘dreamhouse’ for its residents to be open, honest, and spark change? Or is the newly formed haven merely enjoying its short-lived hype, with its users to perhaps make their way back to the Twitter realm? Only time can tell.

(Or Elon Musk, if he chooses to sue META and shut down Threads).

At the end of each month, we, at Netizency, study the popular conversations happening on social media and online platforms across the Gulf to highlight the most relevant trends and analyze the discussions that have gained momentum. To do so effectively, we’ve identified a group of keywords in Arabic and English that define conversations based on the region’s most relevant industries. We then classify them according to the volume of mentions and analyze the topics of conversation across social and online media between the first day of the month to the last.

In June, the categories’ rankings underwent quite a noteworthy shake-up. Entertainment took the lead, surpassing Electronics, which now holds the second position. Finance moved up from fifth to third place for the first time in over a year, pushing Education to the fourth rank. Following in order are Health, Automotive, Malls & Retail, and Telecommunication.

There’s no doubt that your social media feeds were flooded this month with posts about OceanGate's Titan, the Titanic, Hajj, Eid al-Adha, Father’s Day, Egypt’s shark attack on the Russian tourist, and summer vacation. These stories were all over the internet and impossible to miss! But if you thought that was the end of June’s trending topics, think again! Let’s dive into the key stories that shaped the online chatter in the GCC this month across the top three categories: Entertainment, Electronics, and Finance.

Top Themes

Entertainment

Football aficionados, our first story is for you! The Entertainment dashboard witnessed a spike following the news of Karim Benzema's move to Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia. Passionate users heavily shared all the updates on #Benzema2Ittihad along with videos covering his grand reception at Al-Jawhara Stadium of King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah. The event was attended by over 60,000 enthusiastic supporters of the football club. The flood of comments on relevant posts revealed the immense pride of Saudis in their country’s ability to attract top-notch players like Benzema and even Cristiano Ronaldo, who recently joined Al Nassr FC, cementing Saudi Arabia’s position as a true football industry disruptor globally.

The Barbie movie stunts have also taken over the internet, leaving a trail of pink in their wake. From Barbie-themed Xbox consoles to Airbnb’s Barbie Dreamhouse stay in Malibu, it is clear that the brand’s marketing team has reached new heights of hype-building mastery, with clearly zero budget restraints! And with that obviously comes the plethora of memes and posts that we are always excited to sniffle through. One interesting story that sparked humorous responses from the GCC community was the revelation that the movie had caused an actual global shortage of pink paint due to its extensive use in its sets (talk about leaving a colorful impact!). We’ve also come across content from VOX and Novo Cinemas posting countdowns to thrill their fans about its upcoming arrival. But amidst all the excitement, there was some drama too! The #NotMyKen controversy emerged as some fans took to social media arguing that Ryan Gosling is too old to play Ken. Gosling’s response to the backlash was cited by many users and news outlets, where he said, "If you don't want to play with my Ken, there are plenty of others to choose from.” Besides that, it is safe to say that the movie's anticipation has hit a fever pitch as reflected in the sheer volume of mentions including trending TikTok filters we've seen (and continue to!) this month.

June also unfolded as a gamer's paradise, brimming with thrilling events that set the gaming community on fire. The Summer Game Fest 2023 kicked things off, grabbing the spotlight with major announcements and reveals. Gamers in the GCC eagerly shared trailers, recaps, and reviews of the showcased games, including The Lost Crown, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Spider-Man 2, and more.

Next in line was the Dubai Esports and Games Festival, which specifically ignited conversations among UAE-based users. The buzz around the five days of action-packed events was amplified by the likes of Dubai Media Office, Dubai Police, Expo City Dubai, du, and others who actively posted about the festival, further fueling the momentum. The anticipation continued to mount for Gamers8, the upcoming Saudi esports festival set to take place in July. The festival promises a fantastic lineup of concerts, esports competitions, panel discussions, workshops, and community gaming activations. And you know what that means — lots and lots of online chatter! Notably, ticket sales for Rabeh Saqer's concert, the first scheduled performance at the gaming festival, garnered numerous retweets. So this month was truly eventful for gamers, filled with thrilling experiences and plenty to talk about.

Let’s now move to the second top category for this month and see what shaped the conversation spikes there.

Electronics & Technology

Unsurprisingly, Apple once again emerged as the leader in the Electronics and Technology realm as users in the GCC were extensively posting about WWDC 2023. The annual developer conference unveiled an array of releases, such as the 15-inch MacBook Air, Mac Studio update, iPadOS 17, and new iPad features, among many others. However, GCC users specifically took an interest in the arrival of Apple Vision Pro, lauded as the brand's first groundbreaking spatial computer. Tech influencers posted reviews and first impressions vlogs, highlighting Vision Pro's ability to seamlessly blend digital content with the physical world, enabling users to stay connected while remaining present. Equally captivating, iOS 17 gained traction for its family-friendly Check-in feature, allowing users to notify friends and family of their safe arrival at a destination. Furthermore, hardcore tech influencers dwelled on other noteworthy updates introduced in iOS 17, including improvements to communication apps, easier sharing through AirDrop, enhanced text input capabilities, and new experiences with Journal and StandBy, among others.

Google has also made a notable appearance in this category’s discussions this month, with posts focusing on its latest feature and updates. Among the news that picked momentum is Google’s decision to remove Canadian news articles from its search engine following the passage of The Online News Act (Bill C-18), a new law aiming to regulate internet giants and assist the Canadian media industry in recovering financial woes. Additionally, content about Google’s new enhancement to its image recognition tool, "Google Lens" has gained traction. The new feature allows users to describe various skin conditions and obtain initial diagnoses by searching for similar images online. While Google emphasized that it doesn't substitute medical advice, users in the GCC praised this innovative advancement and sought tips on utilizing it.

Galaxy Unpacked 2023 also emerged in this month's top word cloud of this category. Driven by Android fanatics, we’ve seen posts announcing the upcoming conference that is set to take place at the end of July in Seoul, South Korea. The discussions have been buzzing with anticipation, particularly surrounding the potential models set to be unveiled, including Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, Galaxy Z Flip 5, Galaxy Tab S9 series, Galaxy Watch S6 series, and Galaxy Buds 3. @SaudiAndroid, @Andro_Arabic, @TariqAljaser, and others emerged as the key influential figures prompting the conversation, enthusiastically tweeting news and leaked images of these soon-to-be-revealed devices. However, amidst the buzz, we’ve seen negative sentiments creeping in as some users expressed concerns about Samsung’s lack of creativity or deviation from previous models.

Up next: What’s trending across the Finance conversation?

Finance

As mentioned previously, the Finance conversation made a significant jump from the fifth rank in May to claiming the third spot this June. This spike was driven by several noteworthy events, and here are some of the highlights. 

The New Global Financing Pact summit held in Paris became a major catalyst for the Finance discussions this month. This high-profile event brought together world leaders and finance executives for two days, with a focus on addressing climate change, and poverty and forging a new agreement between affluent and less prosperous nations in alignment with the current climate state. Analysis articles, recap posts, and videos featuring speakers deliberating key topics that dominated the discussions surrounding the summit. Interestingly, average users also contributed to the chatter — but in their own, unique way of course! To clarify, there was a significant number of retweets from users in Saudi Arabia, showcasing videos capturing the arrival of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman at the summit, which garnered admiration from the community. Additionally, users in the UAE displayed significant interest in HE Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, who spearheaded the Climate Finance Reforms at the summit. They actively retweeted posts featuring him at the event and left comments reflecting their admiration, pride, and support for his achievements.

The announcement of the return of Abu Dhabi Finance Week 2023 (ADFW) sparked a surge in Finance discussions this month as well. Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the second edition of ADFW is set to take place in November. With this year's main theme being 'Investing in the Transition Era,’ the conversation primarily revolved around the event's mission to foster collaboration on capital flows, monetary systems, and global financial impacts during this transitional period.

Bank Albilad also attracted attention in June after announcing its achievement of successfully completing the technical permit requirement and becoming the first Saudi bank to provide Open Banking Services. There was widespread coverage in mainstream media, with interested users responding positively and commending the bank for its dedication to enhancing innovation within the digital banking and fintech sector.

That wraps up our June monthly roundup. But you can always get the freshest trends and social media news delivered straight to your inbox every week by subscribing to our newsletter here.

Every month, Netizency identifies a group of Arabic and English keywords from different industries in the region, classifies them according to the volume of mentions, and analyzes the topics of conversation across all social and online media. Although the conversation topics vary from month to month, Electronics and Entertainment remain the top conversation drivers in the GCC during February. Education ranks third, followed by Health, Finance, Automotive, and Malls and Retail. Finally, Telecommunication rounds out the top eight most-discussed topics.

We've compiled a list of the trending stories that shaped the conversations across the three top categories: Electronics, Entertainment, and Education. Going through them will give you an idea of the type of content that resonates with the GCC audience and how you can use it to boost engagement. Let's plunge right in!

Top Themes

Electronics & Technology

Among the main conversation drivers in this category was the World Government Summit, which generated considerable interest in the GCC during February. Technologists shared videos and quotes from experts at the summit discussing their unique take on digital transformation, artificial intelligence, metaverse, and the role of each in shaping the future for upcoming generations in governance and decision-making. While most comments on social media were optimistic about the transformative impact of these technologies on our daily lives, we’ve seen a fair amount of chatter about the need for major reforms from governments around labor laws and bridging the digital divide between countries and generations to ensure that digital transformation and AI strategies are inclusive and accessible for everyone. Others, however, shared a more pessimistic opinion on the same topic, quoting Elon Musk at the summit, saying, “one of the biggest risks to the future of civilization is AI”.

Additionally, as the big tech event took place at the beginning of the month in Riyadh, #LEAP23 maintained dominance for the second consecutive month increasing the volume of online discussions even more. We saw posts featuring interesting insights from speakers about emerging trends in technology and many cool booths showcasing the latest innovation in the industry. We also observed the spike in social media activities after LEAP announced its plans to invest more than $9 billion to support future technology and startups. The news sparked a sense of pride among Saudis, who saw it as proof of their country's forward-thinking approach to technology, solidifying its status as a global hub for innovative opportunities in the tech industry.

Furthermore, the buzz around generative AI is still in full force, with tech companies racing to integrate it into their platforms and cash in on the trend. Throughout the month, we saw multiple announcements fueling the online conversations around the topic. For instance, Microsoft added AI-powered search to Bing, while Google unveiled its own ChatGPT-like chatbot called Bard. Even Snapchat jumped on board with ‘My AI’ for its premium subscribers, becoming the first social platform to integrate ChatGPT into its features portfolio. Tech fanatics in the GCC posted reviews of different AI-based websites such as Scribe, ChatSonic AI, TLDR This, etc., recommending them to their followers. The conversations, however, weren't all sunshine and rainbows. Some users expressed concerns on social media about ChatGPT, including errors in quoting the Quran. This caused a stir in negative sentiments, with Gulf-based tech influencers tweeting to @OpenAI to look into the matter immediately. Until this issue is resolved and the tool is more advanced in terms of accuracy, we should take the results of generative AI with a grain of salt!

Up next: What's hot in Entertainment?

Entertainment

If we don’t talk about Rihanna’s Super Bowl Halftime Show and all the buzz it generated, are we even listening to the online hype? Our Entertainment dashboard was excitedly buzzing over Riri’s return to the stage after a seven-year hiatus. Her epic performance included surprises like her second pregnancy reveal and clever Fenty product placement during the show, which felt authentic and not forced. The internet was excitedly buzzing over her performance, leading to plenty of TikTok trends and memes throughout the month. It's safe to say that everything really "worked worked worked worked" in her favor as she dominated the conversation charts.

The Grammys, Brit Awards, and Golden Globes also made it to the top word cloud, but they weren't exactly showered with positivity. Beyoncé's “Album of the Year”' loss caused quite a stir on social media. Users were sharing videos of Harry Styles being heckled by her audience after winning the “Best Pop Vocal Album” award. Harry’s fans shared footage across the interwebs of Taylor Swift’s dancing during his performance and applauding him for the award. Many comments showed fans’ admiring her unconditional support. Furthermore, Sam Smith’s performance and fashion choices during the events raised eyebrows with users responding with memes. Well, these award shows are always good for drama and entertainment!

February brought national pride to the Gulf's entertainment scene with Kuwait National Day and Saudi Foundation Day trending on social media. Users, celebrities, and brands alike joined in on the celebrations, sharing greetings and showcasing their unique traditions. TikTok and Instagram feeds were flooded with videos of car rallies, proudly displaying the country's flag and cruising through the streets. Fashion and lifestyle influencers got in on the action too, sharing Reels of themselves decked out in traditional national attire. And of course, brands didn't miss a beat, launching promotional campaigns and giveaways that had the online community retweeting and buzzing with excitement. It's clear that these occasions brought everyone together in a wave of national pride and a festive spirit.

Let's switch gears now and talk about Education.

Education

Saudi Arabia has been making waves in different sectors with their impressive advancements, and this month saw two exciting educational initiatives gaining significant attention online. The first is the launch of Amazon Academy in collaboration with MCIT for the first time in the MENA region in Saudi Arabia. The academy will provide training and certifications in cutting-edge sectors like cloud technology, logistics, and retail. The second is Meta's launch of the Metaverse Academy in KSA aimed at accelerating the development of emerging technologies and the economic opportunities that come with them. These exciting ventures are definitely ones to watch!

Another piece of news that boosted the educational conversations in the GCC was about Valentino and the Education Above All Foundation (EAA) teaming up to support education for children in Somalia. They did this by launching a limited-edition collection that was displayed at the Doha Jewellery and Watches Expo (DJWE). This generated a lot of online buzz, as people were excited to see fashion and philanthropy come together for a great cause, emphasizing the importance of supporting education.

Finally, in February, the UAE implemented computer-based exams in public schools, which brought joy to many students and sparked increased online conversations. This change is aimed at modernizing the educational system in the UAE and providing students with a more efficient and user-friendly way to take exams – much to the delight of many students. Say goodbye to the traditional pen-and-paper exams and hello to a bright new future in education!

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The Kantar CrossMedia study also found that TikTok's impact on exposure is particularly strong among light TV viewers; the platform achieved +14% incremental exposure to TV for this segment, compared to medium (+5.3%) and high TV viewers (+3.5%). Additionally, when comparing audiences who were exposed only to TV vs. TV and TikTok, the latter mix kept overall costs lower while creating a stronger impact.

The budget factor is especially important as media spending around Ramadan 2023 closely follows other festive events, including Black Friday and the football season. As a result, Ramadan media budgets may be challenged and diversified, calling for a cross-platform strategy that targets audiences effectively and efficiently.

Vipul Jain, Head of Measurement, Middle East, Africa, Turkey and Eastern Europe – TikTok, said “Ramadan and television have traditionally been a match made in heaven, as families gather together around their living room TV screen to enjoy special, shared moments from dawn to dusk. And as more people take to TikTok to celebrate the spirit of the Holy Month, the platform is proving to be the ideal addition to a marketer's Ramadan media mix, as supported by the data from Kantar CrossMedia. By incorporating TikTok into their strategy this Ramadan, marketers can achieve stronger retention and inspire immediate action, both during the Holy Month and beyond, all while reducing costs.”

Moreover, the Global Web Index found that multi-screen consumption comprises 93% of viewers’ media consumption while watching TV, which further establishes the importance of integrating TikTok into the media mix this Ramadan, as users multi-screen while watching their favorite drama series, and talk shows, cooking shows, sitcoms, and more.

As brands and businesses of all sizes look to engage with the community during the Holy Month, TikTok is able to provide them with the opportunity to embrace the multi-faceted nature of the moment through the endless possibilities in which it can be enjoyed, the diverse faces and voices that bring it to life and the many communities it can be expressed through.

In this month's roundup of social media updates, you'll find that Twitter was the most active when it comes to trying new features — all in Musk’s efforts to steer the company in the right direction! Despite making the world’s most popular electric car, leading the transition to sustainable energy, and launching rockets into space, in the eyes of many, Musk has yet to cross one major item off his list: Reviving Twitter!

Besides that, we're particularly excited about Twitter's current focus on improving the search experience on mobile for curious users, as well as the introduction of a new ad type called Search Keywords. This could spell trouble for Google – an interesting battle to watch unfold!

For now, let’s get right into this month’s recap of all the social media news you need to know:

Twitter

• Introduces ‘Search Keywords’ ads.
• Adds ‘Advanced search’ on mobile.
• Publishes its annual 2023 Marketing Calendar.
• Adds ‘Hashfetti’, a new branded hashtag experience.
• Considers selling usernames online.
• Adds ‘For You’ and ‘Following’ tabs on the desktop.
• Adds an annual Blue subscription plan.
• Bans all third-party apps.
• Revives an old side-swipe feed navigation feature.
• Brings the ‘Bookmark’ display button up front.
• Works on counting Bookmarks as “quite likes”.
• Loosens the ban on political ads.

Instagram

• Outlines its areas of focus for 2023.
• Adds a 'Quite Mode' feature.

Meta

• Announces launch of ‘Rights Manager’.
• Adds more restrictions on teen ad targeting.
• Centralizes all its platforms’ settings in ‘Accounts Center’.
• Renames 'People' metric to 'Accounts Center accounts'.

TikTok

• Partners with IMDb for feature-targeting film and TV content.
• Adds video-scrubbing thumbnails.
• Tests ‘sleep reminders’.
• Adds ‘Talent Manager’ to its Creator Marketplace.
• Tests a ‘playback’ feature.

YouTube

• Tests suggested hashtags on Shorts.
• Tests its Queue feature on mobile.
• Adds subscribers by format in YouTube Analytics.
• Launches Shorts thumbnail selection on Android.
• Experiments with Shorts location tagging during upload.

WhatsApp

• Launches proxy support.
• Tests voice notes to status uploads.

LinkedIn

• Highlights their goals and plans for 2023.
• Makes newsletter subscriptions visible to others.