Retail News CRM

Author: Mei Ling Tan

  • FedEx expands International Connect Plus service to the U.S. and Europe, boosting growth opportunities for Asian SMEs

    FedEx expands International Connect Plus service to the U.S. and Europe, boosting growth opportunities for Asian SMEs

    Federal Express Corporation, one of the world’s largest express transportation companies, is expanding FedEx® International Connect Plus (FICP), its international, day-definite, e-commerce shipping service. Already available for e-tailers to send shipments within Asia Pacific markets, the expanded service will now connect to destinations in the U.S. and Europe. Initially, this service expansion will be available to e-tailers operating in China, Hong Kong SAR, and Japan, with other Asia Pacific markets being added later this year.

    The expanded coverage of FICP is the company’s latest effort to support the growth of cross-border e-commerce from Asia to the U.S. and Europe. E-commerce sales in Asia are projected to reach $13,209 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 17.6% from 2023 to 2030. China and Japan remain the largest Asian Pacific markets with robust cross-border e-commerce activity, providing extensive business opportunities for SMEs. With this expansion, e-commerce merchants in these markets can now offer their customers an international shipping solution with prices that offer greater value, while ensuring most shipments will be delivered between two to three business days to the U.S. and Europe.

    Greater value – The FICP allows businesses to enjoy greater savings at competitive day-definite transits and provide their customers greater value by matching attractive prices with their specific delivery needs.

    Flexibility and control – Besides home delivery, the FICP service enables e-tailers to give their end customers the flexibility to pick up their package from hundreds of available pick-up locations, and the option to change delivery date and location.

    Seamless Integration – Both online and offline shipping automation solutions are available for e-tailers to enjoy a paperless experience.

    Peace of mind – FedEx extensive parcel tracking capabilities gives e-tailers and customers visibility throughout the entire delivery journey.

    “FICP has been received enthusiastically by our e-commerce customers who value it as the optimal balance of expedited delivery and cost-effectiveness,” stated Salil Chari, senior vice president, Marketing & Customer Experience, Asia Pacific, FedEx. “At FedEx, we are focused on providing businesses with a comprehensive range of shipping solutions tailored to their specific requirements. The expansion of FICP, in conjunction with our other digital offerings, enhances our ability to support our customers and facilitate the continued growth of cross-border e-commerce from this dynamic region.”

    FedEx provides end-to-end e-commerce solutions that make order fulfillment easy and efficient for merchants while providing convenience and reliability for customers receiving deliveries. It recently launched cross-border e-commerce handbooks for merchants looking to expand in China and Japan. FedEx Picture Proof of Delivery was introduced to bolster e-commerce residential deliveries, in the company’s continued efforts to digitize its services and improve the customer experience while supporting e-commerce growth in the region.

    FICP also comes with the reliability of FedEx international, day-definite delivery service, coupled with its customs clearance expertise. It is further supported with capabilities including tracking, sending notifications to recipients, and flexible delivery options and visibility features via FedEx Delivery Manager® International.

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  • Spotify expands its library with audiobooks from over 100 publishers

    Spotify expands its library with audiobooks from over 100 publishers

    After introducing a tier specifically dedicated to audiobooks, Spotify is now expanding its library to offer potential customers a reason to pay the expensive subscription price. The world’s biggest music streaming service announced a huge deal to add audiobooks from over 100 Ingram-distributed publishers to its library. Spotify is bringing audiobooks from Europa Editions, Milkweed Editions, G&D Media, Bard Press, New Society Publishers, and more to its customers.

    Our partnership with Ingram Content Group is part of our goal to bring more independent authors to Spotify to get their books heard through our Audiobooks in Premium offering. As one of the biggest distributors for independent publishers around the world, we are excited to have Ingram to help grow the industry and create additional ways for their authors and publishers to reach new audiences.

    Spotify has already revealed some of the titles that audiobook fans will be able to listen to if they decide to join its service, such as The Hurting Kind, Mo Bunnell’s forthcoming Give to Grow, and bestselling author Bob Proctor’s Born Rich. Listeners in the United States can also dive into Damon Galgut’s Booker Prize-winning novel The Promise and Anne Berest’s international bestseller The Postcard.

    According to Spotify, since launching audiobooks in its Premium offering last year, more people have joined the service trying new and different books, with hundreds of thousands of unique titles streamed.

    The streaming service says that not only bestsellers are popular among listeners, but back catalog titles are also gaining popularity. Of the top 10 audiobooks on Spotify, nine are backlist titles, and six of those were released over five years ago.

    This is the second major audiobooks announcement from Spotify, after the streaming company revealed back in May a deal with Bonnier Books UK and Blackstone Publishing to have their libraries of audio titles added to its Audiobooks offer.

  • Microsoft launches new contact editor for Outlook on iOS and Android

    Microsoft launches new contact editor for Outlook on iOS and Android

    Microsoft is bringing Outlook Mobile users a brand-new contact editor, which includes a slew of features developed based on users’ feedback. The new contact editor was specifically designed to enhance the contact experience on both mobile platforms, iOS and Android.

    The contact editor allows users to easily add and edit contacts. It’s important to mention that the new contact editor will replace the use of the devices’ native editors in Outlook Mobile.

    After receiving feedback about compliance concerns in the previous native Android and iOS editors related to managing and enforcing Intune policies for contact editing in Outlook Mobile, Microsoft found a solution that brings multiple benefits to make the contact editing experience better.

    • Compliance: Users can now efficiently manage their contacts in Outlook Mobile using the editor, while ensuring compliance with their chosen Microsoft Intune policies.
    • Coherence: Enjoy a consistent contact-editing experience across iOS and Android, as well as with the editors on Outlook.com and the new Outlook app for Windows.
    • Easy to organize: Categories offer an easy, flexible way to sort your contacts. Think of categories as tags that you can apply to group your contacts into meaningful clusters.

    According to Microsoft, all contacts that were created through the earlier native editors will remain accessible for viewing and editing within the Outlook mobile and web platforms.

    In order to access the new contact editor, users must first update their Outlook Mobile app, click on Apps in the bottom panel to navigate to the Contact tab, and then click on “New Contacts.”

    Another way to access the new contact editor is to navigate to the Feeds tab from the bottom panel and then click on “Create+.” Finally, Outlook Mobile users can click on “Add to Contacts” or “Edit Contact” from a People Card to access the new contact editor.

    Besides that, Android users can also navigate to the Feeds tab from the bottom panel, click on “Create+” and choose “Scan Business Card.” The card details should automatically appear pre-filled in the editor. Once again, this feature is not available on iOS.

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  • Changi Airport reports robust growth in Q2 2024 operating indicators

    Changi Airport reports robust growth in Q2 2024 operating indicators

    Singapore Changi Airport handled 16.5 million passenger movements from April to June 2024, an increase of 13.4% compared to a year ago. This was 98.2% of passenger movements for the same period in 2019. Aircraft movements, including landings and take-offs, totalled 89,300 for the quarter, up 9.7% year-on-year, and was 94.5% compared to the second quarter of 2019.

    Changi Airport’s top five markets for the second quarter of 2024 were Indonesia, China, Malaysia, Australia and India. China saw the highest growth among Changi’s top markets, with traffic doubling compared to the same period last year, and surpassing pre-Covid numbers. For the period, North Asia was the fastest growing region, registering a 40.8% increase year-on-year, and also exceeding pre-Covid levels.

    From April to June 2024, Changi Airport registered 486,000 tonnes of airfreight throughput, surpassing the same period last year by 16%. Growth was registered across all cargo flows – exports, imports and transhipments, led by strong cargo flows between Singapore and China, as well as the United States of America. For this period, Changi’s top five air cargo markets were Australia, China, Hong Kong, India and United States of America.

    Mr. Lim Ching Kiat, Changi Airport Group’s Executive Vice President for Air Hub and Cargo Development said, “Changi Airport continues to expand its global network, having added more flights in the second quarter. Travellers can now explore more destinations with Changi’s connectivity to cities such as Broome, Brussels, Quanzhou and Vancouver, and enjoy more options to evergreen favourites like Tokyo and London. Together with our airline partners, we are striving towards full travel recovery by the end of this year.”

    As of 1 July, 94 airlines operate over 6,900 weekly scheduled flights at Changi Airport, connecting Singapore to 158 cities in 50 countries and territories worldwide.

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  • Nike’s Olympics ad featuring athlete licking table tennis triggers controversy among Chinese netizens

    Nike’s Olympics ad featuring athlete licking table tennis triggers controversy among Chinese netizens

    Nike’s new ad for the 2024 Paris Olympics, featuring an Asian table tennis player licking her paddle, has sparked controversy among Chinese social media users.

    Though the nationality of the table tennis player has not been specified, many Chinese social media users have implied that the scene targeted China, as table tennis is the country’s national sport. They complained that the video, uploaded to Nike’s social media accounts on July 19 , was “smearing the image of the Chinese people.”

    “What’s the purpose of making this action? It’s disrespectful, incomprehensible and unacceptable,” one netizen wrote.

    The Global Times reported that by Tuesday, the hashtag “Nike promotional video licking table tennis paddle” had already garnered 81 million views on Weibo.

    Others suggest that the inclusion of the scene might have been a deliberate attempt to provoke and stir controversy, and comments expressing how they no longer buy Nike products racked up thousands of likes.

    One netizen commented: “Only people with dirty thoughts would think it’s a bad action. Licking the paddle obviously was to raise their fighting spirit and provoke the competitor.”

    The South China Morning Post reported that in response to the video, a Weibo user expressed confusion and criticism, asking: “What does licking a table tennis paddle even mean? What was the person who made this commercial even thinking, that the paddle is clean and sweet, like a lollipop?”

    It is reported that Nike’s customer service in China stated that it “will reflect the concerns to supervisors.”

    China will be represented by 405 athletes at the Paris Games starting on Friday.

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  • Saigon beer company reports 6% profit increase in first half

    Saigon beer company reports 6% profit increase in first half

    Sabeco has reported a slight profit increase to VND2.3 trillion ($90.85 million) within the first half of 2024.

    According to its latest financial report, the beverage company reported a 6% increase in profit from the first half of 2023, earning an average of VND12.9 billion per day.

    Business in the second quarter this year was better than the same period in 2023, with a profit at VND1.319 trillion, a 9% increase. It was also the second consecutive quarter where Sabeco saw a recovery to its profit.

    The company’s management board said policies for alcohol level control have been implemented in the first half of this year, with the company seeing tough competition in the market.

    But thanks to the recovering economy and positive impacts of increased sale prices, the company’s revenue within the first six months saw a slight increase of 5% to around VND15.27 trillion.

    Higher profit could also be attributed to lower sale costs, with Sabeco cutting sale costs by 14% to VND1.744 trillion, mostly in advertisements and employee discounts.

    However, the board still anticipated the beer industry to be stormy this year, as people tighten their budgets and input costs remain high. Alcohol level control policies, along with proposals to increase special consumption tax, will force the company to improve on its commercial activities and supply chain effectiveness, as well as cut costs, the brewer said.

    Sabeco aims for full-year 2024 revenue to reach VND34.4 trillion and profit to reach VND4.58 trillion, an increase of 13% and 8% respectively. After six months, the firm has reached just under half of its intended revenue goal, and just over half of its profit goal.

    However, the board added it would take a few more years before revenues could return to pre-pandemic levels.

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  • Aldi confirms it has abandoned plans to launch online shopping

    Aldi confirms it has abandoned plans to launch online shopping

    Supermarket chain Aldi has dropped its plan to expand into online shopping believing it might affect its ability to continue providing low-cost products for customers.

    According to Jordan Lack, Aldi’s MD of buying, the company dismantled its online team late last year after serious consideration.

    “The greater concern is the impact on cost structure as fundamentally keeping our costs low has a direct impact on the prices we can offer our customers,” he said.

    Lack stressed that the company prioritises value over convenience as price plays a great importance to consumers.

    Last month, consumer group Choice said Aldi was $17 cheaper for a basket of 14 grocery items compared to Woolworths and Coles.

    In addition, offering online shopping would also create more complexity given Aldi is still building warehouses and an automated distribution centre, Lack stated.

    Instead, the retailer is considering new products while targeting growth corridors on the outskirts of major cities and growing sales at its existing 570 stores.

    “There was 5.1 per cent growth in new households shopping with Aldi in the last three months,” Lack said. “Customers are coming for price, but we are holding them because of quality. We are aiming to get more shoppers to come to Aldi as their first stop.”

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  • Google Maps rolls out alerts for issues impacting accessibility

    Google Maps rolls out alerts for issues impacting accessibility

    Google Maps has just introduced an accessibility alert feature that will alert users of outages at public transit stations that could make it more difficult for those with disabilities to access these locations. The update is available on iOS, Android, and desktop devices. Initially, it’s rolling out in New York, Paris, Seattle, Boston, Budapest, and Brisbane.

    The alert feature will inform users of issues such as broken elevators, which could make it difficult for people in wheelchairs to access certain platforms. This information can be particularly useful for those who rely on accessible routes and want to plan their trips accordingly. For example, those who use wheelchairs, have strollers, or are carrying heavy luggage can use this information to avoid stairs.

    The update aims to enhance the inclusivity and usability of Google Maps by providing users with information about accessibility issues at transit stations before they arrive. It empowers users to make informed decisions about their routes and avoid unexpected obstacles.

    To access the accessibility alerts on Google Maps, users first need to activate the “wheelchair accessible routes” option. This can be done by following these steps:

    • Enter your desired destination in Google Maps.
    • Tap the three dots located in the upper-right corner of the app, next to the starting location.
    • Select “Options.”
    • Tap on “Wheelchair accessible.”
    Once this option is enabled, users will see alerts next to any route options that might have accessibility issues. Clicking on an alert will reveal more information about the specific issue. For example, users might see a notification about an elevator outage at a particular station.

    As technology continues to evolve, it is essential to ensure that it caters to the needs of all individuals. By integrating accessibility features into its platforms, Google is setting a positive example for the industry and working towards a future where technology truly benefits everyone, regardless of their abilities.

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  • Google Drive gets automatic captions for video uploads with new update

    Google Drive gets automatic captions for video uploads with new update

    Google Drive is now rolling out a useful feature for videos you upload: automatically generated captions. It seems the new feature is widely rolled out.

    The feature is available for personal Google Accounts and uses speech recognition tech to transcribe the audio. To use the feature, users should request automatic captions after uploading a video to Drive. On the other hand, for Google Workspace users, the captions are enabled automatically, unless their admins disable it.

    To generate captions for a video, you can right-click on the video and then click on Manage caption tracks, and then generate automatic captions. On mobile, tap the three-dot menu on the top right, and then go for Manage caption tracks and generate automatic captions, but this has to be done when a video is already playing.

    It takes some time for the request to process. Then, the automatic captions will be available in a YouTube-esque player by tapping “CC”.

    Having captions is also great for searching for videos based on content, while they also improve the accessibility of media stored in Drive. For now, English is the only language that is supported, with other languages planned “in the future”.

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  • Fisheries exports grow by 6% in H1

    Fisheries exports grow by 6% in H1

    Vietnam’s fisheries exports in the first half of 2024 were worth US$4.4 billion, up 6% year-on-year on higher demand in major markets like the U.S., China and the EU.

    The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers’ latest report said key items such as shrimp, pangasius, and tuna did well.

    Pangasius accounted for $918 million and tuna for $472 million, up 5% and 23%. Shrimp fetched $1.6 billion, a 6% increase, while exports of other crustaceans jumped by 75% to $125 million.

    The U.S. and EU imported 18% and 56% more tuna. Shrimp exports to China and the EU rose by 17% and 13%.

    Top shrimp exporter Minh Phu said profits for the first half were VND7.2 billion (US$284,000) as against a loss of VND98 billion in the same period last year.

    Its CEO, Le Van Quang, said the company has been receiving more orders than last year and is planning to boost exports to China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.

    Businesses are optimistic that seafood exports, especially of green and sustainable products, will grow even more in the coming months.

    But the seafood association said some challenges remain, such as fierce competition from Ecuador and India, rising transport costs and a shortage of raw materials for processing.

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  • Gasoline hits 5-week low

    Gasoline hits 5-week low

    Gasoline prices on Thursday fell to the lowest since June 20 in its third consecutive week of decline.

    The popular fuel RON95 dropped 1.25% to VND22,880 ($0.90) per liter.

    Biofuel E5 RON92 declined by 1.22% to VND21,900.

    Diesel fell 1.51% to VND20,190.

    Globally fuel prices in the last seven days were affected by expectations of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, a stronger U.S. dollar, and declining oil demand in China compared to last year, according to regulators.

    Gasoline fell by 1.6-1.7% globally and oil dropped 1.8-3% in the period. RON95 is now at $95.6 per barrel and diesel at $97.5.

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  • Techcombank named Vietnam’s Best Bank again

    Techcombank named Vietnam’s Best Bank again

    Techcombank has been named Vietnam’s Best Bank as well as Best Bank for Corporates at this year’s Euromoney Awards for Excellence.

    Techcombank has been named Best Bank in Vietnam 2024 by three international finance publications: Euromoney, Finance Asia, and Global Finance, becoming the only Vietnamese bank to ever win all three prestigious awards in the same year.

    In June, the bank was also named Number 1 Bank in Vietnam in the World’s Best Banks 2024 rankings by Forbes Magazine, based on an extensive survey of customer opinion.

    Jens Lottner, CEO of Techcombank, said that this is an unprecedented achievement.

    “These awards are testament to the success of the bank’s customer-centric strategy, the quality of its advanced data capabilities and digital infrastructure, and the unwavering commitment to excellence throughout the organization,” Lottner said. “Together, these pillars have firmly established Techcombank as one of the strongest banking platforms in Asia.”

    The Euromoney Awards for Excellence are widely considered to be one of the most prestigious accreditations in the banking industry and a strong and independent endorsement of excellence and achievement.

    Banks from over 100 countries entered the Awards for Excellence in 2024, and the best banks in each market were carefully selected by Euromoney’s independent team of editors and analysts.

    Techcombank has now won the Euromoney award for Vietnam’s Best Bank for an unprecedented fifth time, more than any other lender in Vietnam.

    This year’s award recognized Techcombank for its strong financial performance and profitability in 2023, achieved despite economic headwinds and proving the resilience of Techcombank’s business model.

    “Techcombank further solidified its leadership in Vietnam’s banking sector in 2023,” acknowledged Lousie Bowman, Euromoney Editor.

    Techcombank’s sustained profitability, robust asset quality, and balance sheet strength have enabled it to pay a cash dividend of VND1,500 per share to its shareholders in Q2 2024, one of the highest cash dividends in the industry.

    The award also acknowledged the bank’s focus on customer-centricity and its role as an industry pioneer through the launch of innovative digital and data-led solutions for individual, business, and corporate customers.

    For example, its new auto-earning solution enables individual customers to generate profit from their idle cash; Techcombank Merchant is a holistic solution designed to empower Vietnam’s many merchants to run and grow their businesses; and the new C-Cash solution helps Vietnam’s largest corporations uplift their treasury management to a world-class level.

    The quality of Techcombank’s suite of payments and collections, cash and treasury management, and FX solutions for SME and corporate customers was given special recognition with the Best Bank for Corporates honor in 2024.

    Techcombank has broadly applied data analysis and AI across the bank, and most major systems have been transitioned to the cloud.

    This was acknowledged by the Euromoney Best Bank in Vietnam award to put Techcombank years ahead of its competitors in Vietnam and to enable the bank to leverage its best-in-market digital platforms and data and AI capabilities to create more meaningful and more personalized experiences for customers than ever.

    “The bank’s key differentiator is its digital capability. Techcombank’s apps have received the market’s highest customer rating,” said Bowman of Euromoney.

    This rating is due to the smooth and personalized experiences that customers can enjoy when using the Techcombank Mobile app.

    For example, the bank is helping customers improve their financial awareness by providing personalized financial management advice and insights via the app, which enable them to enjoy their money and save for the future.

    Techcombank has already delivered over 52 million personalized pieces of financial advice to more than 4 million customers since the experience was launched.

    Another example is Techcombank’s new loyalty ecosystem, available through the app, and offering rewards and experiences tailored to individual customer preferences and lifestyles.

    It is already one of the largest and most diverse loyalty programs in the Vietnamese banking industry, encompassing over 19,000 points of sale with over 300 brands, where customers can earn reward points.

    The bank’s commitment to ESG excellence and to making a positive social and environmental contribution to Vietnam was also noted by Euromoney.

    In 2023, it provided more green credit to sustainability projects in Vietnam than ever before, while also supporting social initiatives with donations reaching VND148 billion (US$5.84 million) and promoting healthy living and physical fitness through support for the Hanoi and HCMC Techcombank marathons.

    “We are proud and humble to have been named Best Bank in Vietnam by Euromoney for a record fifth time,” Lottner said.

    “But this achievement is just the beginning of a new period of growth. We are now ready to accelerate and to leverage our digital platforms and data and AI capabilities to create more meaningful experiences for our customers and grow our business faster and more profitably than any other bank in Vietnam.”

  • Grab no longer buying Trans-cab, Singapore watchdog says

    Grab no longer buying Trans-cab, Singapore watchdog says

    Grab, Southeast Asia’s biggest ride-hailing and food delivery firm, has called off its proposed acquisition of Singapore’s third-largest taxi operator, Trans-cab, according to a statement from Singapore’s competition watchdog.

    The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) said in the statement on Thursday evening that both Grab and Trans-cab had notified it on July 22 that they would no longer be proceeding with the proposed acquisition.

    “With the termination of the proposed acquisition, the parties have withdrawn their application to CCCS for a decision, and CCCS has accordingly ended its assessment of the proposed acquisition,” CCCS said in the statement.

    Trans-cab did not immediately respond to a request for comment after working hours.

    “(The) ruling does not change our determination to do everything that we can to offer affordable, reliable transport options to passengers in Singapore,” Yee Wee Tang, managing director at Grab Singapore.

    The commission added that it encourages businesses with acquisition plans to engage CCCS at an early stage if they think there are likely to be competition concerns.

    The commission first raised concerns about the taxi deal in October 2023 before asking Grab and Trans-cab for solutions to address competition concerns earlier this month.

    Grab is one of the city-state’s top ride-hailing companies, with the deal for Trans-cab reported to be worth around S$100 million ($74.55 million).

  • Durian exports rise by 45% in first half

    Durian exports rise by 45% in first half

    Vietnam exported US$1.32 billion worth of durian in the first six months of 2024, up 45% year-on-year, according to customs data.

    It accounted for 65% of all fruit exports during the period and is growing increasingly popular in many key markets.

    China was the largest importer, accounting for over 92% of Vietnam’s durian exports.

    Its imports increased by 46% from the same period last year.

    Thailand was the second largest market for Vietnamese durian, with shipments increasing by 90.5% to $47 million.

    Exports to Japan doubled from a year ago to $2.6 million. Cambodia bought $1.6 million worth of the fruit from Vietnam, a 23-fold increase.

    Currently the monthong variety is the most favored for its taste, aroma, small seeds, firm texture, and longer shelf life.

    Dang Phuc Nguyen, general secretary of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, expected durian exports to skyrocket in the second half, fueled by the harvest of the fruit in the Central Highlands from July to October.

    Furthermore, Vietnam and China have wrapped up negotiations and will soon sign a protocol for the export of frozen durian.

    With all this in the works, Nguyen expected exports for the year to hit $3 billion.

    But there are challenges, he said, with some shipments to China recently being flagged for containing banned substances.

    Vietnamese authorities have been discussing the issue with their Chinese counterparts and investigating the cause.

    Inspections have indicated that the contamination did not occur at orchards, and so traders, packaging facilities and exporters have been urged to strictly comply with quality control regulations.

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  • Here’s how Spotify will help to prevent self-harm

    Here’s how Spotify will help to prevent self-harm

    Spotify is aiming to create a safer online environment for young people, the popular streaing service announced.

    There’s a recent blog piece by Marcelina Slota (Head of Spotify’s Platform Integrity) that states so.

    With safety being a “top priority” for Spotify, the company aims to make it easier for young people and parents to understand and navigate the digital world. That’s why Spotify announced a new Parental Guide to assist in this effort and joined the Tech Coalition to share best practices within the industry for upholding youth safety.

    The Tech Coalition is an organization that unites the global tech industry to foster a safer online environment for young people by preventing and combating online child sexual exploitation and abuse.

    This partnership expands Spotify’s network of trusted third-party experts who help advise its teams on launching policies and products with safety by design.

    In addition to partnering with global experts, Spotify works to craft a safe and enjoyable experience for young people in several ways, including:

    • Establishing a zero-tolerance policy against content that exploits children and Platform Rules that ban illegal and/or abusive behaviors that could harm children;
    • Leveraging machine learning signals and establishing user reporting mechanisms to detect potential policy and/or legal violations;
    • Staffing teams around the clock to review and promptly remove potentially violating or explicit content; and
    • Connecting potentially vulnerable users to mental health resources when they search for content related to suicide, self-harm, and disordered eating content.

    The aforementioned mental health resources include the US’ National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the TREVOR Project, National Eating Disorders services, and more.

    So, if you or someone you know is struggling or thinking about self-harm, there are ways to get help. If you’re concerned about self-harm, drug or alcohol usage, or depression, please talk to someone or reach out to one of the organizations listed below for professional support.