A fire in a nine-story apartment building in Vietnam’s capital killed about 12 people and injured more than 50

Just as you thought social media platforms had all corners of the internet covered, along comes Threads, created by Facebook and Instagram owners Meta. In what has been described as a rival to Twitter, Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg has already had over 10 million people signed up in the first few hours of launching. Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter For some, it’s a matter of jumping in with both feet and navigating the waters from there. Others will sit back and take a little more cautious approach. Either way, learning how to navigate the social media jungle using these few simple tips will be invaluable... Take a social media detox It’s easy to use social media compulsively and excessively. You can become so accustomed to scrolling through posts, laughing at videos and liking images that it can take over. According to data found by audience insights platform GWI, 29 per cent of people across Britain use more than five social media apps, with 54 per cent of 16-24-year-olds doing the same. “There has been a substantial surge in social media consumption over the past decade. What initially began as occasional Facebook ‘check-ins’ has now evolved into spending six to eight hours per day on various social media platforms such as TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, and now, Threads,” said Marvin Winkelmann, the managing director of AFK Digital. That’s why he says moderation is key. “I strongly advocate for individuals to not only take periodic breaks from social media to rejuvenate their wellbeing but also to consider reducing their engagement before bedtime and during meals. By doing so, we can prioritise face-to-face interactions, which hold even greater significance than merely keeping up with the seemingly idealised virtual world.” Practise the right social media etiquette Winkelmann highlights that different platforms have different niches in terms of how people generally interact. “But a rule of thumb should always be to treat other users with respect.” It’s also why Chris Hackett, the founder of Face Digital, an SEO advisory firm, believes we all need to learn the right social media etiquette, which dictates how people should behave around others online. “Always be yourself,” he said. “Whether you’re using social media for personal or professional reasons, people connect with authenticity. This doesn’t mean you should be airing out your personal details, but you don’t have to hide behind an online persona. “Be careful with what you say. It may feel like a safe space, but using social media to vent or voice controversial opinions can come back to haunt you in the future. “And don’t post anything that you wouldn’t want an employer to see. Social media is, for the most part, public. Before you fire off that tweet, imagine a potential employer reading it and what they may think.” Be careful of negativity Hackett advised against getting into arguments on social media. “There are a lot of keyboard warriors around, and there is nothing to gain by arguing with them. If you don’t like something, scroll past it.” Plus, some of the negativity on social media could have an impact on your mental health – which is why it’s important to look after yourself. “Social media has become a constant figure in everyone’s lives, to the point where it can be detrimental to our mental health. The best way to deal with negativity is to take time away from toxic online environments,” said Hackett. Winkelmann added: “It is crucial to acknowledge that social media platforms tend to accentuate negativity due to the provocative nature of negative content. People love to disagree and share their opinions online. “As a result, the algorithms used by these platforms are designed to amplify such content. It is important for individuals to remain aware of this fact, bearing in mind that much of what is observed online is often an embellished representation of reality anyway.” Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

By Tatiana Gomozova and Lucy Papachristou MOSCOW Three Russian academics who have worked on hypersonic missile technology face

The Bank of England is forecast Thursday to lift interest rates for the 13th time in a row -- and may hike sharply to fight stubborn...

Republican lawmakers who oppose the debt-ceiling bill argue it doesn’t do enough to cut spending or reduce the

David Miller hit a defiant century to help rescue South Africa against Australia in the Cricket World Cup semi-finals on Thursday but the five-time champions will only chase a modest...

Suspended Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales said Sunday he will resign from his post because of the scandal caused by his kiss on the lips...

YouTuber Danny Duncan has given his fans a fright thanks to a cleverly edited video of a car accident that appeared to show him being wiped out by a flying vehicle. The 31-year-old shared a video on his popular channel, which has more than 7 million followers and mostly consists of comedy and prank clips. His latest video, which was posted on August 23rd, is called 'We Jumped My Car Through an RV!' and does exactly what it says on the tin. It involves Duncan and his friends building a ramp so they can drive a red Mustang at high speed through the side of a beat-up old RV. However, the 11-and-a-half-minute video ends on a worrying note. As Duncan begins to introduce the challenge from inside the RV, the car appears to smash right through the side of it demolishing the vehicle before the YouTuber could get out of the way. It's the final moment of the video and we aren't given reassurances as to whether Duncan is ok or not. However, it's highly unlikely that YouTube would allow a video on its platform where someone dies. Instead, Duncan's video is actually a smart bit of editing. Eagle-eyed viewers on X/Twitter notice that Duncan isn't in the frame when the car crashes through the RV. However, the speed of the car and the editing still managed to fool people who feared that Duncan had either been killed or was seriously hurt. "This Danny Duncan Vid fake right?" wrote one person. Another added: "Nah Danny Duncan’s editors deserve a raise for sure. I really thought bro died." A third said: "Danny Duncan uploaded footage of him getting hit in the head by a car. You think he’s ok?" Yet, as explained the YouTuber is completely fine and there is no reports of him being hurt or even having a scratch on him. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Australia’s government has reported a $14.2 billion budget surplus for the last fiscal year

Vladimir Putin has pushed more troops to the frontline in Avdiivka, Ukraine, despite a failing offensive which has incurred heavy losses. The reinforcements are set to arrive after Russian soldiers have become bogged down there in recent weeks, the ISW reported, citing Russian military bloggers. Russian assaults in Avdiivka have contributed to “a 90 per cent increase in Russian casualties”, the Ukrainian ministry of defence claimed. It comes as Ukrainian authorities ordered a mandatory evacuation of 802 children from 23 settlements in Kherson, according to the Reintegration Ministry. The children with their parents or legal guardians will leave the Beryslav, Kakhovka, and Kherson districts for safer regions, the ministry said on Telegram. Meanwhile, Russia has amassed “150,000-190,000 permanent casualties” in the war with Ukraine, the UK defence ministry said. In other developments, six people have been killed in a Russian missile attack that hit a postal distribution centre in Kharkiv, Ukrainian officials have said, as Kherson has seen a record number of bomb attacks in the past 24 hours. Read More Spanish police say they have confiscated ancient gold jewelry worth millions taken from Ukraine Ukraine destroys all Russia-launched drones and cruise missile in overnight attacks Ukrainian and Russian forces clashed 82 times in a single day

India skipper Rohit Sharma has won the toss and decided to bat first against New Zealand in the first of the Cricket World Cup semifinals

Sofia Vergara slayed her date night look in a black lace corset top, plum-colored slacks, and black heels, while Justin Salisman wore a casual shirt and blue jeans