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Trending: ‘Blessers’ - South Africa’s Sugar Daddy Problem

‘Blessers’: South Africa’s Sugar Daddy Problem

21/05/2016 GMT

‘Blessers’ - South Africa’s Sugar Daddy Problem

BBC World Service - Trending, ‘Blessers’ - South Africa’s Sugar Daddy Problem

The online backlash against relationships based on money and gifts

A new phrase has highlighted an old trend in South Africa - one that has even been blamed for contributing to high rates of HIV infection.

In South Africa a 'blesser' is a man who showers gifts and money on women in exchange for a relationship or sex. An online backlash against these sugar daddies has been trending this week. Even the health minister has spoken out because of fears the 'blesser' phenomenon is contributing to high rates of HIV among young women.

And in Bangladesh, Wikipedia is fighting online pirates who are using its site to allow people to secretly download bootlegged Hollywood films for free. The pirates are hiding movie files on websites which poorer people can access for free in Bangladesh, as part of a scheme to encourage internet use. The practice is illegal, but some say it poses difficult questions about internet access in the developing world.

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