Social media technology

Social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn have proved enormously popular, and while they are consumer focused, the principles of collaboration and information sharing that they embody are highly relevant for corporate IT. We analyse the latest trends in social media technology, social networking and explain how they can be applied to enterprise IT strategy.

Feature 28 Sep 2023
Retailers and customers alike open to AI, but calls for caution

Retail-related studies into AI’s influence suggest its capabilities are welcome by the sector and shoppers alike – but tech leaders advise treading cautiously Continue Reading
News 20 Sep 2023
Parliament passes sweeping Online Safety Bill but tech companies still concerned over encryption

Ofcom will consult on standards to enforce new powers, but tech companies remain concerned about the impact of the bill’s ‘spy clause’, which could require them to scan encrypted messages Continue Reading

News 31 Jul 2018

Why Pinterest pinpointed features for the visually impaired

Ideas curation site has developed features for people with visual impairment. Its lead designer explains what has been changed and why it matters Continue Reading
News 31 Jul 2018

Briton ran pro-Kremlin disinformation campaign that helped Trump deny Russian links

A British IT manager and former hacker from Darlington ran a disinformation campaign that duped former US intelligence agents and provided Donald Trump with manufactured “evidence” to deny that Russia interfered with the US election Continue Reading
News 26 Jul 2018

Facebook stock price falls on slowing growth forecast

Facebook’s stock price has fallen dramatically in response to a forecast of slower revenue growth in 2018 and lower-than-expected user growth for the second quarter Continue Reading
Opinion 25 Jul 2018

Smart cities face challenges and opportunities

IHS Markit analysts Noman Akhtar and Kevin Hasley assess the way forward for smart city technology projects around the world Continue Reading
News 20 Jul 2018

Cisco and UCL to open AI research unit in $100m digital economy boost

Cisco has extended its ongoing Country Digital Acceleration programme in the UK with a further $100m investment, part of which will go towards a new AI research centre Continue Reading
News 18 Jul 2018

Google record fine could lead to Android fork

Amazon’s Android was one of the operating systems mentioned by the European Commission as it imposed a record €4.34bn fine on Google Continue Reading
News 03 Jul 2018

Feds expand Facebook data sharing probe

The US federal probe into Facebook’s data sharing practices is expanding and MEPs are considering new measures as the firm reveals it granted extended access to 61 companies and admits to another data sharing software bug Continue Reading
News 03 Jul 2018

UK financial services firms up tech investments to fuel new services

Driven by the need to offer new services, as well as meet industry regulations, UK financial services firms are increasing spending on IT Continue Reading
Blog Post 28 Jun 2018

Introducing Ukip’s meme team

Somewhere deep in cyber space, a clutch of the internet’s more eccentric alt-right YouTubers have collaborated to join Ukip for a bit of attention, and the dotty old right-wing Eurosceptics have ... Continue Reading
News 27 Jun 2018

Nationwide Building Society to fund tech startups to the tune of £50m

With an available fund of £50m, Nationwide Building Society is the latest traditional financial services provider to support tech startups Continue Reading
News 27 Jun 2018

BBC launches online archive for 1980s Computer Literacy Project

Archive will enable people to read up on a 10-year project developed by the BBC in the 1980s Continue Reading
News 27 Jun 2018

Government must challenge popular smart city misconceptions

A report by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Smart Cities says many people feel alienated by the concept, and calls on the government to challenge some popular misconceptions Continue Reading
News 26 Jun 2018

Liberty Global picks Cisco to transform customer service ops

Virgin Media parent enlists Cisco in a bid to transform its customer service experience across Europe Continue Reading
News 21 Jun 2018

HR projects are leading company moves to digital tech, say business leaders

Business leaders say their human resource IT programmes are leading the way to the wider deployment of digital and cloud technology across their organisations Continue Reading
News 19 Jun 2018

CIO interview: Michael Cole, European Tour and Ryder Cup

Michael Cole, chief technology officer at the European Tour and Ryder Cup, discusses how he is helping the sport of golf broaden its appeal through his “connected course” digital transformation vision Continue Reading
News 12 Jun 2018

Mayor Khan bids to make London the world’s smartest city

At London Tech Week, mayor Sadiq Khan launched a city-wide initiative to harness the capital’s technology talent to address London’s most pressing problems Continue Reading
News 11 Jun 2018

An audience with Matt Hancock, secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport

Matt Hancock is the first Cabinet minister with a digital background, and he's keen to impress on the tech sector that he’s on their side Continue Reading
News 08 Jun 2018

Thriving fintech, AI sectors give boost to UK tech funding

British technology businesses have received £5bn worth of venture capital funding since June 2016 – more than France, Germany and Sweden put together – with fintech and AI startups standing out Continue Reading
News 01 Jun 2018

Revamped BHS website to close two years after department store collapse

The BHS website, which was developed after the department store’s closure in 2016, will be closed at the end of June Continue Reading
Blog Post 31 May 2018

Fintech professional’s tech predictions: 9- Gamers monitored by businesses and authorities

People that use online gaming platforms might be being sized up for a job or even by security services Continue Reading
Feature 23 May 2018

Amazon, Toys R Us and a tale of two technology approaches

Many factors contributed to the collapse of Toys R Us, but did a partnership with Amazon at the turn of the millennium play a part in its eventual demise? Continue Reading
Opinion 23 May 2018

Ethics and tech – a double-edged sword

Just because a business activity is legal doesn’t mean it will be acceptable to customers, as the ethical debates in tech are proving Continue Reading
News 22 May 2018

Social one of the 'most powerful' tools at brand’s disposal, says retail experts

Using social media to connect with customers is one of the most “powerful” tools retailers have at their disposal, said a panel of experts at the Salesforce World Tour Continue Reading
News 21 May 2018

UK government promises laws to police 'Wild West Internet'

UK government plans laws to make online activity safer after green paper reveals more needs to be done to protect citizens Continue Reading
News 21 May 2018

ICO could use new GDPR powers in Facebook probe

UK privacy watchdog is considering using new powers in its investigation of Facebook, while the government is considering new laws to police social media firms Continue Reading
News 16 May 2018

Companies need to adapt to new communication demands from millennials

TechSmith has warned businesses younger generations have new multimedia-based communication demands Continue Reading
Opinion 10 May 2018

Hacking the internet of things just got easier – it’s time to look at your security

Are you taking security for internet-connected devices seriously enough? Continue Reading
Opinion 10 May 2018

If we're measuring GDP wrong in a digital world, what does that say about the economy?

Conventional measures of economic success such as GDP fail to account for the nature of free digital services. How different would the UK economy appear if that changed? Continue Reading
News 01 May 2018

Facebook bolsters enterprise integration with Workplace tool

Facebook wants to embed its platform in the enterprise, and hopes to achieve this through integration with third-party services Continue Reading
News 01 May 2018

SuiteWorld 2018: Magic Johnson gives advice on adapting to the millennial customer

Entrepreneur and former basketball star tells SuiteWorld 2018 about the importance of adapting to the millennial customer in a technology-driven age Continue Reading
News 27 Apr 2018

Government given six months to rewrite snoopers’ charter

The government has until 1 November 2018 to rewrite a key section of the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, after the high court declared them unlawful in a judicial review brought by human rights group Liberty Continue Reading
News 26 Apr 2018

Facebook posts strong first quarter despite privacy scandal

The data exploitation scandal that hit Facebook has not yet had an adverse impact on advertising revenues or user activity, according to first quarter financial results Continue Reading
News 26 Apr 2018

SuiteWorld 2018: Hiring people is about more than just ability, says Rachel Zoe

NetSuite customer, fashion designer and CEO of Rachel Zoe explains that part of entrepreneurship is hiring people who fill the gaps you leave behind, and that in doing so passion can be more important than ability Continue Reading
News 26 Apr 2018

EC calls on online platforms to develop common code of practice to tackle ‘disinformation’

The European Commission says online platforms such as social media and video sites, have not done enough to tackle unethical use, and calls on them “to decisively step up their efforts to tackle online disinformation” Continue Reading
News 26 Apr 2018

Digital economy research projects to get funding

Research projects aimed at building trust, privacy and security in the use of personal data and digital technologies are to receive funding Continue Reading
News 24 Apr 2018

Telcos see multiple paths to internet of things revenue

A report from Ericsson has revealed that telecoms operators are testing out multiple routes to monetising the IoT Continue Reading
News 18 Apr 2018

CIO interview: Richard Tallboy, CIO, Wagamama

Richard Tallboy, CIO of pan-Asian restaurant chain Wagamama, explains why the firm adopted “pay by walking out” technology Continue Reading
News 18 Apr 2018

Twilio offers IoT developers programmable mobile connectivity

Developers of internet of things applications and devices will be able to use the Twilio Programmable Wireless mobile communications platform to build mobile connectivity into their services Continue Reading
News 16 Apr 2018

Fintech sector increasingly attractive compared to traditional banking for IT professionals

Fintech job vacancies are growing, while less are being advertised in traditional banking sector companies Continue Reading
News 13 Apr 2018

EU-US data sharing under threat as Irish court refers Facebook case to Europe

The Irish High Court is seeking answers from the European Court of Justice in a case that could have huge implications for EU-US data sharing and raises questions about US government surveillance of EU citizens. The move could bring a five-year legal battle between Austrian lawyer Max Schrems and Facebook to a close Continue Reading
Blog Post 13 Apr 2018

Phishing for beer

Pishing is when you get fed plenty of booze and then start mouthing-off, reveal a few secrets, passwords and PIN Continue Reading
News 11 Apr 2018

Tesco online grocery sales up 5.1%

After ninth consecutive quarter of growth, CEO says supermarket chain is “on track to deliver our medium-term ambitions” Continue Reading
Opinion 09 Apr 2018

Who do you trust to censor social media?

Calls to censor Facebook and its rivals are growing – but society needs to consider carefully the motivations of those making such demands Continue Reading
Blog Post 09 Apr 2018

Fintech professional’s tech predictions: 4 – Social media regulation

Social media platforms will face increasingly stringent regulations which might limit their scope as governments clamp down on data abuse Continue Reading
News 06 Apr 2018

Using Salesforce Social Studio, Harvard saw power of social media

By looking at its social media data with Salesforce, Harvard Graduate School of Education saw more than 65% of article traffic generated through social media. Continue Reading
Feature 05 Apr 2018

Should retail try to save the high street's declining footfall?

Footfall in the high street is declining, but should retailers be trying to claw back visits to stores or is it time for a new digital focus? Continue Reading
Blog Post 05 Apr 2018

Fintech professional’s tech predictions: 3 –Sharing data risks outweigh benefits

Personal data in all its forms is becoming a valuable commodity for businesses, but people will be more cautious as legal and illegal abuse of data continues to hit the headlines Continue Reading
Feature 03 Apr 2018

Retail legacy systems: how can we overcome them?

With technology adoption changing the retail landscape, many retailers are left with legacy systems. We look at how they are dealing with them in today’s digitally led environment Continue Reading
News 03 Apr 2018

Future of internet regulation is focus of Lords inquiry

Inquiry will seek evidence on whether or not the law is up to the job of regulating online platforms such as Facebook, and what improvements can be made Continue Reading
News 28 Mar 2018

Consumer group calls for Zuckerberg to step down after data misuse

A social media firm's value is in the size of the network of users it can offer advertisers. But this model is now under the spotlight Continue Reading
News 27 Mar 2018

Case study: Berkshire NHS trust provides mental health support through social network

Berkshire NHS is using its Support Hope and Recovery Online Network to provide 24/7 support and advice to service users struggling with mental health issues Continue Reading
News 23 Mar 2018

European insurtech growth dwarfs US

Europe is seeing rapid growth in its insurtech as investors pump hundreds of millions into the sector Continue Reading
Blog Post 21 Mar 2018

The sweet life of Cambridge Analytica

Channel 4’s hidden-camera exposé on data firm Cambridge Analytica has made familiar faces of the puppeteers of democracy who wished to remain invisible, but we’re glad to meet them. Not since the ... Continue Reading
News 21 Mar 2018

Danish government launches business-focused national digital strategy

Denmark’s government has launched a plan to get more small businesses into the digital economy as it targets being a leader in advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence Continue Reading
News 20 Mar 2018

Maplin in administration: Internet connectivity issues hit in-store card payments

Internet issues at beleaguered high-street electronics retailer Maplin cause trouble at the tills in stores across the UK Continue Reading
News 20 Mar 2018

Dutch cycling culture pumps up bicycle startups

Bike-sharing services are cropping up in urban areas of the Netherlands but the government wants to restrict their number Continue Reading
Podcast 19 Mar 2018

Social media customer care important to brands, experts say

In this Pipeline podcast, we discuss what was a primary topic at Social Media Marketing World: how companies should interact with customers through social media. Continue Reading
News 19 Mar 2018

Digital retail calls for agile approach, say experts

To embrace digital technology, retailers need to adopt an agile nature across the entire business and break down internal silos, said a panel at Retail Week Live Continue Reading
News 16 Mar 2018

IT contractors not a risk despite Snowden leaks, GCHQ tells court

The government argues in the Investigatory Powers Tribunal that contractors with systems administration rights to computers holding GCHQ’s most sensitive intelligence pose no more of a security risk than the agency’s employees Continue Reading
News 13 Mar 2018

Government ‘unlawfully delegated’ bulk data powers to GCHQ, court hears

Privacy International urges Britain’s most secret court, the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, to rule that the government illegally collected surveillance data from internet and phone companies until at least September 2017 Continue Reading
News 12 Mar 2018

World Wide Web inventor Tim Berners-Lee wants us to fix the web’s bugs

Too much of the web and people’s personal data is under the control of a handful of mega-corporations. Is there a better way? Continue Reading
News 12 Mar 2018

Politicians need to be more involved in tech, says Sadiq Khan

Flying the flag for the UK capital at the SXSW festival in Texas, London mayor Sadiq Khan says government should “do more” for technology, as well as mitigate the risks that come with it, and calls on social media firms to take responsibility for hate speech on their platforms Continue Reading
News 09 Mar 2018

Modern retail: machine learning, customer experience and legacy

As the retail landscape shifts in the wake of new technologies, experts in retail and tech explain how firms need to adapt to cater for modern consumers Continue Reading
E-Zine 08 Mar 2018

CW Europe: Germany’s Lemoncat takes catering to the cloud

Business catering startup Lemoncat has taken advantage of the affordable cost of living in Berlin and is shaking up the catering sector by harnessing the Amazon and Salesforce clouds. Also in this issue, read how Moscow’s government is taking advantage of high penetration of broadband and mobile internet to expand innovative services under the Russian capital’s smart city programme, and how organisations in the Netherlands still have much to do to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation. Continue Reading
News 07 Mar 2018

Ofcom probes Three and Vodafone over suspected net neutrality breaches

Telecoms regulator launches investigation into whether or not mobile operators Three and Vodafone are flouting European rules on net neutrality Continue Reading
News 06 Mar 2018

Government sets out tighter security measures for IoT devices

The government has announced plans to develop a new code of practice to improve the security of connected internet of things devices Continue Reading
News 06 Mar 2018

Why improving social media customer service is important

By having a social media strategy in place, companies can quickly respond to customers' concerns through social media. Continue Reading
News 06 Mar 2018

Amazon contemplating next move in banking sector

Amazon is in talks with a bank about setting up a current account that will appeal to young people Continue Reading
News 02 Mar 2018

People at risk of psychological side-effects of screen addiction

Many Brits spend more than 10 hours a day attached to a screen and 60% look at two at once, research shows Continue Reading
Opinion 28 Feb 2018

Taxing tech giants on revenue only ends up with us customers paying more

EU proposals to tax internet companies based on sales in each country fail to apply the tax burden on the right people Continue Reading
Feature 26 Feb 2018

What are the retail jobs that don’t exist yet?

As in many industries, technology and new consumer behaviour is changing the shape of retail. But what yet-to-be-created jobs are on the horizon for the sector? Continue Reading
News 26 Feb 2018

MWC 2018: Samsung Galaxy S9 launch kicks off annual mobile festival

Samsung has raised the curtain on Mobile World Congress 2018 in Barcelona with the launch of a new flagship Galaxy S9 smartphone device Continue Reading
News 22 Feb 2018

Schoolkids want social media giants to do more to stop online bullying

Schoolchildren feel that social media companies such as Facebook and Instagram can do much more to protect them from online abuse Continue Reading
News 19 Feb 2018

Take-up of chatbots will accelerate over next two years

Chatbots and artificial intelligence are becoming an increasingly important part of customer services Continue Reading
News 14 Feb 2018

Consumers wasting millions of gigabytes of inclusive mobile data

Over 140 million gigabytes of mobile broadband data included in UK consumer mobile contracts is going unused every month, according to uSwitch Continue Reading
Opinion 05 Feb 2018

Safer Internet Day: Building online safety practices with young people

Many organisations around the UK are contributing to the important work on making the internet a safer place for everyone Continue Reading
News 02 Feb 2018

Google Q4 results show businesses are buying into its public cloud

The Google Cloud Platform is earning the search engine giant $1bn per quarter. Expect more cloud investment this year Continue Reading
News 01 Feb 2018

More than half of millennials prefer online retailer info to in-store assistance

Customers between the ages of 25 and 34 would rather look online for information than talk to a shop assistant, even when they are in a store Continue Reading
News 01 Feb 2018

Facebook reports $15.9bn profit after ‘hard’ year

Facebook has reported a strong fourth quarter and a strong year with quarterly profit up 20% and annual profit up 56%, but chief Mark Zuckerberg admits it has been a challenging 12 months Continue Reading
News 31 Jan 2018

Australia’s internet speeds limiting productivity

Australia’s broadband networks, already among the world’s slowest, could be further strained by the emergence of virtual and augmented reality Continue Reading
News 26 Jan 2018

Government sets out further details of Digital Charter

The government’s charter aims to tackle challenges and risks brought by technology in “an effective and responsible way”, thereby boosting the digital economy Continue Reading
News 23 Jan 2018

Mastercard sets biometric ID deadline for banks

Mastercard has committed to guaranteeing that every one of its customers will have access to biometric authentication services by April 2019 Continue Reading
News 22 Jan 2018

Manchester’s CityVerve launches new internet of things challenge for SMEs and startups

Manchester’s CityVerve smart city project has called for IoT developers and startups to tackle challenges in healthcare, transport and energy Continue Reading
News 22 Jan 2018

Judge will take time to seek answers from EU court over Max Schrems Facebook privacy fight

The Irish High Court will take time to decide what questions to put before the European Court of Justice in a case with significant implications for EU and US trade and the privacy of EU citizens Continue Reading
News 22 Jan 2018

European Parliament votes to restrict exports of surveillance equipment

European Parliament votes to tighten export controls to restrict supply of surveillance and encryption technology to states with poor human rights records amid fears British companies may not have to comply after Brexit Continue Reading
News 18 Jan 2018

NRF 2018: Rent the Runway – focus on data proves use case for clothing rental

Clothing retailers are not traditionally known to rent products to anyone other than celebrities, but retail service Rent the Runway is using data to prove customer demand Continue Reading
News 17 Jan 2018

Dream machines: how IT is changing the world of neuroscience

We talk to computer scientist and entrepreneur Jamil El Imad about the cutting-edge intersection of neuroscience and IT Continue Reading
News 09 Jan 2018

Google puts its payment services under one roof

Internet giant is bringing all its payment services under the Google Pay brand, making them “simpler, safer and more consistent” Continue Reading
News 22 Dec 2017

Air New Zealand to trial digital translation technology

Airline becomes one of the first companies to try out a business case for Google's real-time translation technology Continue Reading
Opinion 20 Dec 2017

How to boost your personal brand as an IT professional

Seven steps to help you build a personal brand in the workplace, articulate the value you provide and build your professional reputation Continue Reading
Blog Post 19 Dec 2017

Fear not for the future of digital government - the GIFs are taken care of

I was tempted to write this blog post on Computer Weekly's Downtime blog, where we try to look at the lighter side of the world of IT. But I'm not entirely sure this is a joke. While budgetary ... Continue Reading
E-Zine 24 Oct 2017

Where will artificial intelligence take us?

In this week’s Computer Weekly, artificial intelligence (AI) enthusiasts and sceptics debate the opportunities and risks of the much-hyped technology – we listen in to the House of Lords investigation. Our latest buyer’s guide examines the benefits and challenges of cloud-native applications. And we look at the best practice in defending email systems from cyber attacks. Read the issue now. Continue Reading
News 17 Oct 2017

UK intelligence agencies ‘unlawfully’ sharing sensitive personal data, court hears

A secret court will decide whether Intelligence agencies are “unlawfully” sharing huge datasets containing sensitive information about the population with industry, government departments and overseas intelligence services. Continue Reading
News 16 Oct 2017

How technology is transforming healthcare delivery in Gulf region

IT will transform the healthcare sector in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries over the coming years Continue Reading
News 03 Oct 2017

Tech entrepreneur aims to take digital skills to refugees

Tech entrepreneur Emma Sinclair hopes to raise £150,000 to run an education programme for displaced young people in a Unicef programme that aims to develop skills that might otherwise be lost Continue Reading
Feature 27 Sep 2017

How retailers are using technology to remain relevant

From the constant innovation at Asos, Amazon and Missguided to the new supply chain prowess flaunted by Diesel and Gap, fashion retailers are investing in tech to stay relevant to their customers Continue Reading
News 19 Sep 2017

Outlook outage: Microsoft blames European Hotmail downtime on load-balancing fault

Microsoft claims connectivity issues that blighted Outlook and Hotmail users for much of Monday 18 September have now been largely resolved Continue Reading
News 12 Sep 2017

Government wants to remain in EU cyber security club after Brexit

The UK government wants to maintain deep links with the European Union’s cyber security working groups following Britain’s exit from the bloc in 2019 Continue Reading
Feature 07 Sep 2017

Formula 1: Mercedes team turns to big data in quest for victory in Grand Prix

Data analytics could help Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport team gain an edge on rival Ferrari during the 2017 and 2018 Grand Prix season. Its head of IT, Matt Harris, reveals the team’s plans Continue Reading
News 01 Sep 2017

US Open tennis uses IBM AI to create video highlights

Fans of the US Open are able to access match highlights provided by IBM's Watson artificial intelligence system Continue Reading