Tech-enabled sexual health, Sparkle's $3.1 million seed, Facebook's Policy Update

·
October 15, 2021
·
3 min read

Hello,

Today I’m discussing:

  • Improving your sexual health with technology 
  • Sparkle's $3.1 million seed 
  • Facebook's policy on sexual harassment of public figures

Improving your sexual health with technology 

Tech and Sexual health 2

Sexual health is an important aspect of our physical health and development

It involves intimacy with a partner, communicating explicit sexual needs and desires, being sexually functional — having sexual desire, becoming aroused, and obtaining sexual fulfilment — behaving consciously and responsibly, and establishing appropriate sexual boundaries.

Advertisement

Sexual health is critical to our overall health and well-being, and the social and economic development of communities and countries.  

However, in Africa, sexual health education is rarely discussed, leading to sexual dysfunction, endometriosis, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), HIV, and unintended pregnancies.

Nonetheless, technology is helping us live sexually healthy lives by bringing information to our fingertips.

A study by Loraine J. Bacchus, Kate Reiss, et al. on Using Digital Technology for Sexual and Reproductive Health shows that healthcare is increasingly being delivered via digital channels like mobile phone messaging, social media, apps, voice, video messaging, and telemedicine. 

So, I discussed sexual health and how technology can improve our sex lives.

Be the smartest in the room

Join 30,000 subscribers who receive Techpoint Digest, a fun week-daily 5-minute roundup of happenings in African and global tech, directly in your inbox, hours before everyone else.
Digest Subscription

Give it a try, you can unsubscribe anytime. Privacy Policy.

You can read it here: How technology can improve your sex life in Africa 

Sparkle's $3.1 million seed

Uzoma Dozie Sparkle
Source: Supplied

On Thursday, October 14, 2021, Nigerian neobank, Sparkle, raised $3.1 million in seed funding to scale its operations.

The round was led by Leadway Assurance. Trium Networks and other unnamed individuals participated in the round. 

Launched in the fourth quarter of 2019 by Uzoma Dozie, Sparkle CEO, the startup says it provides seamless solutions to Nigeria's retailers, SMEs, and individuals.

In 2020, Sparkle launched Sparkle Business to offer banking services to individuals and businesses. 

Per Techcrunch, Sparkle differs from other neobanks because it provides Nigerians with financial, lifestyle, and business support services.

What's more, the funds will be used to develop robotic process automation to aid in mundane and repetitive tasks, and to hire talent in engineering, financial risk, and marketing.

Facebook's new policy on sexual harassment of public figures 

Facebook News Feed Add a Link

What's the news? As part of a new update to its bullying and harassment policies, Facebook announced on Wednesday, October 13, 2021, that it would begin removing "severe sexualising content" directed at public figures. 

Facebook stated that as part of the policy update, it would remove any profiles, pages, groups, or events dedicated to sexualising public figures, like celebrities, politicians, and content creators.

Antigone Davis, Global Head of Safety at Facebook, said that "sexualised photoshops and drawings, and any degrading content depicting individuals in the process of bodily functions," is prohibited.

Also, Facebook stated that it would remove "unwanted sexualised commentary" and repeated attacks sexually harassing a person.

Davis said, "Public figures, either politicians, journalists, celebrities, or content creators use Facebook and Instagram to engage directly with their followers. We made these changes because attacks like these can weaponise a public figure’s appearance, which is unnecessary and often not related to the work these public figures represent."

In Case You Missed It

Why Techpoint Africa is making all its past premium reports free. Read.

What I’m reading and watching

  • What Do You Want to Know About Schizophrenia?  Read.
  • "He is stupid to kill himself". Watch.
  • What it's like to live with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Watch.

Opportunity

BK Digital Factory is hiring a People Lead. Apply here.

Have an amazing weekend ahead.

Victoria Fakiya for Techpoint Africa.

She's autistic and interested in mental health and how technology can help Africans with mental disorders. Find her on Twitter @latoria_ria.
She's autistic and interested in mental health and how technology can help Africans with mental disorders. Find her on Twitter @latoria_ria.
Subscribe To Techpoint Digest
Join thousands of subscribers to receive our fun week-daily 5-minute roundup of happenings in African and global tech, directly in your inbox, hours before everyone else.
This is A daily 5-minute roundup of happenings in African and global tech, sent directly to your email inbox, between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m (WAT) every week day! 
Digest Subscription

Give it a try, you can unsubscribe anytime. Privacy Policy.

She's autistic and interested in mental health and how technology can help Africans with mental disorders. Find her on Twitter @latoria_ria.

Other Stories

43b, Emina Cres, Allen, Ikeja.

 Techpremier Media Limited. All rights reserved
magnifier