Applications
Investigative journalism no longer a viable proposition
AMSTERDAM: Day three of IBC. The highlight was the screening of the 3D movie Monsters and Aliens in the evening. It was quite a sight to see techies queuing up to pick up their 3D glasses, don them and squat in the auditorium to watch the animated film. 2,000 of them took time out to watch the animated feature. And they went away more than sated. The idea behind the screening: reemphasise the fact that 3D is upon us and close to 10 per cent of all Hollywood films are being crafted in 3D. |
The evening saw Hindustan Times editorial advisor Vir Sanghvi take part in a panel discussion which debated whether the broadcast journalist has a future. And the consensus was that change is upon us. Citizen journalism and the hard times print groups are facing have meant that investigative journalism is no longer a viable proposition with costs being cut. Journalists are also being forced to hog air time on TV – that is fill in with “bollocks” (as one panelist put it) and jabber away. With that increasingly happening and the internet offering a very good option to listners – but a non-paying one – journalists and journalism are being challenged. The consenus was that very definition of news these days is undergoing a change. “It has always been more about being local and community, but with the internet, this is further being emphasised,” said one of the panelistis. “The internet is making that possible and how. This will definitely impact broadcast news.” |
Applications
With 57 per cent single new users, Ashley Madison rebrands as discreet dating platform
Platform says majority of new members now identify as single
INDIA: Ashley Madison is shedding the “married-dating” label that defined it for two decades, repositioning itself as a platform for discreet dating in what it calls the post-social media age.
The rebrand, unveiled in India on 27 February, 2026, marks a structural shift in business model and identity. Once synonymous with married dating, the company now describes itself as the “premier destination for discreet dating” under a new tagline: Where Desire Meets Discretion.
The pivot is data-driven. Internal figures show that 57 per cent of global sign-ups between 1 January and 31 December, 2025 identified as single: a notable departure from the platform’s married core. The company argues that its community has already evolved beyond its original positioning.
“In an age where our lives have been constantly put on public display, privacy has become the new luxury,” said Ashley Madison chief strategy officer Paul Keable. He framed the platform’s offering as “ethical discretion” for singles, separated, divorced and non-monogamous users seeking private connections.
The shift also taps into wider digital fatigue. A global survey conducted by YouGov for Ashley Madison, covering 13,071 adults across Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the US, found mounting discomfort with hyper-public online lives.
Among dating app users, 30 per cent cited constant swiping and messaging as a source of fatigue, while 24 per cent pointed to pressure to curate public-facing profiles and early personal disclosure. Some 27 per cent said fears of screenshots or information being shared contributed to exhaustion; an equal share cited unwanted attention.
The retreat from oversharing appears broader. According to the survey, 46 per cent of adults actively try to keep most aspects of their life private online. Only 8 per cent feel comfortable sharing most aspects publicly, while 35 per cent say they are becoming more selective about what they disclose.
Ashley Madison is betting that this cultural recalibration towards controlled visibility can be monetised. By doubling down on privacy infrastructure and reframing itself around discretion rather than infidelity, the company is attempting to convert reputational baggage into a premium proposition.
