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In: OnlineExclusive, Trending

SUSANNA ANBU A recent in app notification informs users of WhatsApp about an update to WhatsApp’s terms of use and privacy policy which users would have to accept by 8 February 2021, should they wish to continue using the app. The message has caused many users of the app to question the data integrity of the platform, leading to users opting for alternative communication platforms. PDBY has taken a look at what this update entails and unpacked what the subsequent implications are for users of the app.  Context Facebook acquired WhatsApp in 2014, hence WhatsApp LLC is one of four companies owned by Facebook Companies.Read More →

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In: Features

CARLI BOTHA The new Netflix documentary, The Social Dilemma, was released on 9 September, and has started a few conversations about social media and the influences it has in the modern day. The documentary highlights some of the most pressing problems people face regarding personal information, including data mining, social media addiction, and fake news. The Guardian, however, describes this documentary as “a valiant if flawed attempt to address our complacency about surveillance capitalism”. The term “surveillance capitalism” is described in the article “Explainer: What is surveillance capitalism” on theconversation. com as a market for the commodity that is personal data. The article credits ProfessorRead More →

Cannabis extraction at the University of Pretoria

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In: Features

MARYKE STEYNVAART Cannabis has been used by humans for millennia for its medicinal and psychoactive properties. The cannabis plant also has various industrial uses, and is a more environmentally friendly substitute for various materials such as plastic. Recently, increased resistance against prohibitionist legislation has resulted in a slow movement towards legislative reform. As cannabis is becoming more legitimised, various types of research on cannabis have become essential in ensuring that cannabis’ potential can be maximised, and used to benefit the people of South Africa. The prohibition of cannabis is a relatively recent and short period in cannabis’ long history. And, in the past few years,Read More →

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In: UPNews

KENDALL BEHR The UP Merensky Library is one of the centres of academic activity on Hatfield campus that provides students a space to study and concentrate. The UP library has been closed for the duration of the lockdown, but the library services have not stopped working to ensure that students can access the resources they need for assignments and other academic work. Lindiwe Soyizwapi,the Director of Library Services, said, “during this time uppermost in our mind as the Library was to align our support and programmes to the needs of our students and staff. We gave priority to enhancing access to academic texts and informationRead More →

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In: UPNews

TSHEPANG MOJI October is recognized as Pride Month in South Africa, and the University of Pretoria’s queer society, Tuks UP&Out, is continuing the support. In addition to hosting their annual UP Pride this month, which has had to take place virtually, Tuks UP&Out received a nomination for the 2020 Feather Awards. Tuks UP&Out is a society that strives to create a safe and comfortable environment for queer bodies to exist across UP campuses, achieving this through creating events where queer people feel comfortable to safely express themselves, as well as lobbying for policy changes on campus that will help protect the rights of the queerRead More →

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In: Features

STEPHANIE COOKSON In the age of online learning, students are experiencing the downsides of spending extended periods of time sitting at the desk with a computer in front of them. PDBY spoke to Dr. Elzette Korkie from UP’s Department of Physiotherapy about some of the ways students can avoid these downsides and stay healthier during online learning. In a non-representative survey of a group of [-]students, PDBY asked students what physical side-effects students have experienced more since the move to online learning. Almost 90% of the surveyed students reported more back pain and eye strain, with 76% of students experiencing more headaches. Just under 30%Read More →

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In: UPNews

 SUSANNA ANBU Dire Tladi appointed as the South African Research Chair Initiative (SARChl) Chair for International Constitutional Law Professor Dire Tladi of the University of Pretoria’s Department of Public Law has been appointed as the National Research Foundation’s (NRF) South African Research Chair Initiative (SARChI) Chair for International Constitutional Law. Prof. Tladi’s tenure is a five year term which begins in 2021. SARChI’s establishment was led by the Department of Higher Education, Science and Technology, and the NRF in 2006. This intervention was designed to coalesce the knowledge of academics to aid in the formulation of a concrete research base that would aid in contributingRead More →

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In: UPNationalNews, UPNews

MANELISI MAGORO AND NOKWANDA KUBHEKA October commemorates National Marine Month, which aims to create awareness about the benefits that are brought by South Africa’s marine and coastal environments. According to the University of Pretoria’s website, the Mammal Research Institute (MRI) Whale Unit at UP is responsible for the advancement of knowledge and conservation of Southern Africa’s diverse whale and dolphin fauna, through innovative research themes, promoting the development of human capacity in the acquisition of marine mammal knowledge bases. Set up in 1985, the MRI Whale Unit is a worldwide, African research, conservation, and education facility that investigates the nature, populace elements, and conduct ofRead More →

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In: EditorsPicks, Pssst...

Pssst… has been busy. But Pssst… always has time to spill the tea for the week. Firstly, as Pssst… is sure you all know, or at least should know, it’s election season. Yay, Pssst… supposes? Pssst… must say though, it’s been nice to see all the various candidates appearing out of the depths on WhatsApp groups begging for votes. Pssst… is excited to see that it paid off, and can’t wait to see another year of empty promises in action. (Don’t worry SRC, Pssst… doesn’t think everyone else noticed, even PDBY was a bit soft on you. COVID’s been tough for everyone, right? Pssst… isn’tRead More →

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KAYLA THOMAS As we are approaching the end of a very long year, I am going to keep this short and sweet. We are all so tired by this time of the year, and I am sure we all resemble zombies, shuffling along and groaning occasionally. Don’t mistake this smiling picture for actual joy – I am just so tired that it’s starting to become mania. Have you reached the level of tired where you find random things hysterically funny? Because that’s where I am – and I can’t stop laughing at the title font of this editorial. It’s cracking me up. Do you seeRead More →