Malaysia is set to implement a nationwide restriction next year that will prevent individuals under the age of 16 from creating social media accounts. This is a growing global movement by governments to enhance online protections for children and address concerns over mental health and exposure to harmful content.Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil announced the planned restriction, stating that the government is currently developing compliance systems that major platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and X, will be required to adhere to.The initiative mirrors similar actions in other nations. Australia, for example, mandates social networks to deactivate accounts belonging to users under 16 starting in December. The US has seen 24 states enact age-verification laws.For Malaysia, the primary concerns driving this policy are the impact of social media use on young people’s mental health, safety, and exposure to harmful content and online manipulation.
Google launches Nano Banana Pro in Nigeria
Google is rolling out its most advanced image generation and editing tool yet, ‘Nano Banana Pro,’ a system built on the powerful reasoning capabilities of the Gemini 3 Pro model.Nano Banana Pro is designed to address key pain points that have long challenged AI image creation, offering users much greater control and accuracy than previous models.One of the most significant upgrades of the model is its ability to generate clear, readable text directly inside images, a major hurdle older AI system often stumbled over. This feature is a game-changer for Nigerian designers working on banners, social media ad mockups, and presentations where typography must be sharp and accurate.Nano Banana Pro can now generate visuals that are grounded in real-world facts. Because it is connected to Google’s search knowledge base, users can create highly accurate infographics, educational diagrams, recipes, or sports visuals that reflect up-to-date information, making it a powerful tool for students and journalists alike.Users can upload up to 14 reference photos in a single prompt to ensure characters, product shots, or brand aesthetics remain identical across multiple visuals.User can now adjust camera angles, change lighting conditions (shifting a scene from day to night), and modify focus using simple text prompts. Then, export final work in a high-resolution 2K or 4K, providing flexibility for everything from mobile production to professional print use.Google has integrated new verification tools, in order to maintain transparency. Every AI-generated image includes an invisible SynthID watermark. Users can upload any image to the Gemini app and ask a simple question to verify if it was created by Google’s AI.While free-tier users will still see a visible watermark, Ultra-tier subscribers will have the visible mark removed, allowing for a cleaner canvas for commercial and professional work, though the invisible digital watermark remains active for accountability.Nano Banana Pro is now rolling out globally. Nigerian users can access the advanced features through the Gemini app by selecting the “Thinking” model. Developers and businesses can integrate it through Google Ads, Slides, Vids, the Gemini API, and Vertex AI for scaled production.
Google unveils Gemini 3, calling it their “most intelligent model yet”
Google has officially launched Gemini 3, the latest version of its flagship AI model, describing it as the company’s most intelligent, state-of-the-art iteration. Unveiled on Tuesday, the new model combines all of Gemini’s previous capabilities with advanced reasoning, creativity, and problem-solving abilities. Gemini platform currently boasts 2 billion users every month across its services and the Gemini app surpasses 650 million users per month. Alphabet-owned Google stated that Gemini 3 is its attempt to make AI truly helpful by meeting user requests for powerful tools that simplify daily activities.The launch includes Gemini 3 Pro, a specialized version that offers multimodal capabilities and reportedly outperforms Gemini 2.5 in every major AI benchmark. Google claims this model demonstrates PhD-level reasoning, setting a new frontier standard in mathematics. Gemini 3 Pro tells you what you need to hear, not just what you want to hear. It acts as a true thought partner that gives you new ways to understand information and express yourself – Demis Hassabis, CEO of Google DeepMind Google is also rolling out other complementary products, including the Google Antigravity platform, a tool that transforms AI from a simple coding assistant into an active partner for complex software tasks.
Cloudflare network problem knocks X and multiple sites offline
The social media platform X (formerly Twitter) is experiencing a global outage, with thousands of users reporting issues with loading posts on both the app and web browser versions. The problem, which began around 11 a.m. UTC on Tuesday, is reportedly linked to a major network issue at Cloudflare, an American company providing essential web security and Content Delivery Network (CDN) services. Cloudflare has confirmed it is aware of the issue and is currently investigating.Cloudflare operates as a vital intermediary for a substantial portion of the internet. It helps websites defend against cyberattacks and ensures fast content delivery. When Cloudflare experiences a problem, it can simultaneously impact numerous, unrelated websites and services that rely on its network. According to Downdetector, nearly 12,000 users reported issues with X, where they were met with a consistent message like “posts aren’t loading right now”. While X has not released an official statement, the concurrent global outage at Cloudflare is the suspected source of disruption. Cloudflare is aware of and investigating an issue which potentially impacts multiple customers. Further details will be provided as more information becomes available The issue also affected their internal systems, including the Cloudflare dashboard feature and the application programming interface (API).This incident follows a major AWS global outage in October, which also temporarily affected multiple platforms, including Grammarly, Snapchat, and Reddit.Full service restoration across all impacted platforms, including X, is expected once Cloudflare successfully implements a solution to the network degradation.
Anthony Joshua to face YouTuber Jake Paul in December
Former unified heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua will fight YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in a professional bout on Friday, December 19, at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida.The anticipated match, titled “Judgment Day,” will be streamed live globally onNetflix. The fight is scheduled for eight three-minute rounds and marking Paul’s first professional contest against an elite heavyweight boxer.The bout is a sanctioned professional heavyweight fight contested over eight three-minute rounds using 10-ounce gloves, which is more accommodating to Paul’s career as a cruiserweight, different from the 12-round championship distance Joshua is accustomed to.The fight represents the most significant step up in competition for Paul (12-1, 7 KOs), who has largely built his professional record on wins against former MMA fighters and one victory over the retired heavyweight legend Mike Tyson. Paul is historically a cruiserweight, making this his first professional fight at true heavyweight against a formidable opponent.The fighters are scheduled to meet face-to-face for the official kickoff press conference on Friday, November 21, in Miami.
Mothers warn of online chatbot dangers after cases of tragic teen suicide surface
Several grieving mothers have come forward, warning that AI chatbots have pushed their vulnerable teenage sons towards suicidal thoughts, with one case ending in tragedy last year.Megan Garcia’s 14-year-old son, Sewell Setzer, disappeared into hours of conversations with a chatbot based on a fictional character from Game of Thrones during spring 2023. This virtual relationship, filled with explicit and romantic messages, culminated in Sewell taking his own life within ten months.Unaware of these exchanges, Megan describes the experience as “like having a predator in your home”, noting the added danger since children often hide such interactions from parents.Similar stories have emerged worldwide. In the UK, a mother who wished to remain anonymous revealed her 13-year-old autistic son was groomed via chatbot from October 2023 to June 2024 after encountering bullying at school. The bot shifted from comforting messages to explicit grooming and suicidal suggestions, even encouraging the boy to run away. His family only uncovered the extensive logs after his increasing hostility led to a search on his device. The mother lamented the “soul-deep trauma” the AI inflicted on her child and family.These accounts show the growing concern amid the soaring use of AI chatbots by children and teenagers. Research by Internet Matters shows that two-thirds of UK children aged 9-17 have engaged with chatbots like ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and Snapchat’s My AI.While many enjoy these platforms innocently, the capacity for harm grows as chatbots mimic human interaction and, in some cases, exploit vulnerabilities. The UK’s Online Safety Act, enacted in 2023, aims to protect users, especially children, from harmful online content. However, experts like Professor Lorna Woods of the University of Essex warn the legislation struggles to keep pace with rapidly advancing chatbot technology and does not cover all use cases. Ofcom, the UK’s regulator, insists that chatbots are within the Act’s scope and has urged tech firms to implement robust protections, though enforcement remains uncertain without legal precedent.Andy Burrows of the Molly Rose Foundation criticized the slow political response, calling it “disheartening” that lessons from a decade of social media harm have not been fully applied to AI.Calls for tighter controls on children’s phone use and chatbot interactions are growing, but government action remains tentative. Character.ai, the platform involved in some of these incidents, has responded by banning direct chatbot access for under-18s and planning additional age assurance features. Yet, grieving parents like Megan Garcia said that these changes come too late. If my son had never downloaded that app, he’d still be here…It’s like having a predator or a stranger in your home. I just ran out of time. Other parents shouldn’t have to