Social Media Apps

WhatsApp's Guest chats feature lets users reach non-WhatsApp users through secure links, enabling simple, temporary, end-to-end encrypted messaging without app installation

Meta said that it is prioritising original content on Facebook Feed and Reels while reducing the reach of copied posts and adding new tools to help creators report impersonation

Meta is testing clickable links in Instagram post captions for Meta Verified subscribers, a move that could reduce users' reliance on "link in bio" tools like Linktree

The new chips are part of the company's Meta Training and Inference Accelerator (MTIA) program and the first of the new chips, called the MTIA 300 is in use

Instagram is down for several users, with many reporting problems accessing direct messages while chat themes disappeared from conversations during the disruption

Priyank Kharge says the move targets excessive screen time and online risks for children, stressing stakeholder consultations and age-verification challenges before framing guidelines

Reportedly, WhatsApp is rolling out redesigned chat bubbles in the latest Android beta, introducing softer, fully rounded message bubbles and a refreshed interface for text, images and videos

MeitY Secretary S Krishnan says social media and online gaming fall under the Centre's jurisdiction as it examines state proposals to ban teen access; consultations on DPDP Act compliance window conti

Karnataka has proposed banning social media use for children under 16, with Andhra Pradesh and the Centre weighing similar curbs as concerns grow over digital addiction and harmful content

Karnataka proposes banning social media for children below 16 in its 2026-27 budget; Meta says restrictions should apply uniformly across apps

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said that usage of social media will be banned for children under the age of 16 and strict action will be taken to prevent drug abuse in schools, colleges and universities. Presenting the state budget for 2026-27, he assured that 15,000 vacant posts of teachers in schools and colleges will be filled next fiscal. "With the objective of preventing adverse effects of increasing mobile usage on children, usage of social media will be banned for children under the age of 16," he said. He announced that a grant of Rs 565 crore will be provided for the construction of new rooms and repair works in government primary, high schools, and Pre-University Colleges, Rs 75 crore for the construction of toilets and Rs 25 crore for the procurement of furniture in schools. A grant of Rs 125 crore will be made for the maintenance of government primary schools, high schools, and Pre-University Colleges. Stressing that schools, colleges and universities

Instagram will alert parents if teens repeatedly search for suicide or self-harm-related terms, expanding its supervision tools with new safety notifications

Vaishnaw said platforms must ensure user safety, curb deepfakes and share revenue fairly with content creators, as the government pushes stronger rules and faster takedown timelines

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday asserted that digital platforms must take responsibility for the content they host, stressing that ensuring the online safety of children and citizens is their obligation. Addressing the Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) Conclave here, Vaishnaw said platforms need to "wake up" and understand the importance of reinforcing trust in the institutions that human society has built over thousands of years. "Platforms must take responsibility for the content that is hosted by them. The online safety of children, the online safety of all citizens is the responsibility of the platforms," he said. The minister cautioned that non-adherence to these principles would make these platforms accountable, noting that the nature of the internet has changed now. He also underlined the need to regulate the use of AI-generated content, saying such material should not be generated without the consent of the person whose face, voice or personality is ...

Instagram is expanding its TV app to Google TV devices in the US, allowing users to browse and watch Reels on a bigger screen, similar to YouTube Shorts

Priced at Rs 89 monthly, YouTube now offers Background Play and Downloads with its Premium Lite plan in India

For years, social media companies have disputed allegations that they harm children's mental health through deliberate design choices that addict kids to their platforms and fail to protect them from sexual predators and dangerous content. Now, these tech giants are getting a chance to make their case in courtrooms around the country, including before a jury for the first time. Some of the biggest players from Meta to TikTok are facing federal and state trials that seek to hold them responsible for harming children's mental health. The lawsuits have come from school districts, local, state and the federal government as well as thousands of families. Two trials are now underway in Los Angeles and in New Mexico, with more to come. The courtroom showdowns are the culmination of years of scrutiny of the platforms over child safety, and whether deliberate design choices make them addictive and serve up content that leads to depression, eating disorders or suicide. Experts see the reckon

Meta will shut down its Messenger website (messenger.com) in April 2026, redirecting users to Facebook for web chats, marking another step in merging Messenger back into the main platform

WhatsApp adds Group Message History feature that lets users share up to 100 recent group messages with newly added members, helping them catch up instantly

In 2024, the US Surgeon General called for adding warning labels to social media explaining the platforms were associated with mental health harms for ado- lescents