The Asia Pacific is the most dynamic digital landscape in the world, home to the fastest adopters of new technologies and the largest concentration of mobile and social media users. An escalation in online activism, changing cyber dynamics, developments in digital diplomacy and the exploitation of big data are shaping the region's engagement with the world.
- In Myanmar, Facebook has become the digital outlet of choice. In fact, Facebook is the internet. Here's why that's both good and bad.
- In the same vein, The Atlantic reports on Myanmar's Facebook-loving farmers who are benefiting from a drop in SIM card prices (from US$2000 to US$1.50).
- The latest Chinese mobile app trends via the personal blog of a WeChat product manager.
- Rigorous open-source analysis of last week's North Korean rocket launch.
- Indonesia's online outbreak of anti-LGBT sentiment is worsening, with Japanese chat app LINE agreeing to block LGBT-friendly emojis at the request of Indonesian lawmakers who called them 'somewhat vulgar.' WhatsApp and Tumblr are also in the firing line.
- Online censorship is also rearing its ugly head in Thailand and Malaysia.
- Harvard Business Review offers lessons from Facebook's fumble in India.
- The Pakistan-based startup Transparent Hands uses crowdfunding to collect donations for patients who are unable to pay for their medical care.
- 32 billion virtual red packets were sent out over WeChat last week for Chinese New Year.
- Why is dating mobile app Tinder opening its first international office in India?
- A Vietnamese TV station supplied a soldier based on the disputed Hoang Sa Islands in the South China Sea with a virtual reality headset so he could see his family over Chinese New Year holidays. Watch from 1.05 hrs (h/t Asia Digital Life project).