Social Media Apps

US lags in social media restrictions for kids, but a reform push is growing

Amy Neville describes Kristin Bride as her "soulmate." But the day that forged their bond - June 23, 2020 - was the worst of each of their lives. Both Bride and Neville lost their teen sons that day. Their kids lived a thousand miles apart and never met, but they both died from harms related to their social media use. When the two mothers met, early in their advocacy work to protect other kids, Bride said she had felt "totally alone." But they have since seen the online child safety movement blossom, with scores of other parents who lost kids pursuing stronger social media safeguards and legislation to protect children online. With that momentum, advocates say the tide seems to be turning. A pair of landmark jury verdicts this year showed a way forward for holding tech companies accountable. And while the U.S. is nowhere near embracing social media bans for children like those seen from Australia to Indonesia, a push for regulation is simmering again in Congress. "Moving forward fo

Zuckerberg eyeing prediction markets, Meta to create Polymarket-like app

Meta is developing a prediction-market app modelled on Polymarket and Kalshi as Zuckerberg seeks new avenues for growth beyond Facebook and Instagram

India's TikTok ban shows forcing teens off their phones isn't always good

As countries consider stricter controls on social media use by minors, India's experience suggests restrictions may shift users between platforms rather than reduce screen time

Social media ban for children spreading to more countries. Is India next?

The UK has joined a growing list of countries restricting social media access for children. India is debating similar measures, but its challenges are very different

Britain will ban social media apps for children under 16: Keir Starmer

Prime Minister Keir Starmer says Britain will ban under-16s from using a range of social media apps. Starmer says he will fight back if technology companies resist. He says he is "not prepared to compromise on the safety and happiness of our children." The move makes the UK part of a growing global movement to tighten online safety for children. Australia, Canada, Brazil and Indonesia have introduced legislation or announced age-based restrictions or requirements for children's access to social media.

From Reels to risks: How scammers are turning videos into malware traps

Cybercriminals are moving beyond email scams and into social media feeds, using tutorial-style videos on TikTok and Instagram to spread malware and steal credentials

Canada proposes to ban social media accounts for children under 16

Canada introduced legislation on Wednesday that could bar children younger than 16 from having social media accounts unless the companies show they can make their platforms safe. Canada is joining a growing global effort to tighten safety protections. Canadian government officials said social media platforms can obtain an exemption if they have put in place sufficient safeguards. "We are failing our children. Enough is enough," Marc Miller, Canada's culture minister, said. "We need basic protection in place." The legislation covers seven types of harmful content including content that induces children to harm themselves, content that incites violence and foments hatred and non-consensual intimate images. A new regulator, the Digital Safety Commission of Canada, will be created. Criteria for what exemptions would look like will be announced at a later date. Miller said setting up the regulator could take up to 18 months. Miller said platforms will need to prove they are safe. Age .

Ads to algos: Are IG, Snapchat and YT becoming new digital shopping malls?

Social media is no longer just shaping conversations. With creators, algorithms and commerce converging, platforms are increasingly influencing what consumers discover and buy

Malaysia enforces ban on social media accounts for children younger than 16

Malaysia on Monday began enforcing rules barring millions of children younger than 16 from owning social media accounts, joining a global effort to tighten online safety protections for young users. The rules require social media platforms to implement age-verification systems and block users under 16 from creating accounts. They apply to platforms with at least 8 million users, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Companies that fail to comply could face penalties of up to 10 million ringgit (USD 2.5 million). But parents whose children manage to bypass the law will not be penalised. The government said the measures are aimed at protecting children from harmful content, cyberbullying and platform features designed to encourage excessive use. Other countries including Australia,Brazil and Indonesia have introduced or announced age-based restrictions or requirements for children's access to social media. Countries including Britain, France, Spain, Denmark, Thailand and

Social media giants to pay $27 mn to settle Kentucky school lawsuit

The settlements, which were announced earlier this month but without financial details, allowed the companies to avert the first trial in the nation over a school district's complaint

X cracks down on repost accounts, shifts payouts to original creators

X is changing its creator payout system to stop repost accounts from earning through copied viral videos, while shifting impressions and monetisation benefits to original creators

X introduces posting limits for unverified users: Here's what has changed

X has introduced new posting limits for unverified users, capping original posts and replies daily, as the platform cites system reliability and reduced downtime

YouTube expands AI deepfake detection tool to more creators: What is it

YouTube is rolling out its likeness detection tool to more creators, helping them identify AI-generated fake videos using their face and request removals

X's History tab now stores bookmarks, likes, videos and articles together

X's new History tab brings bookmarks, liked posts, watched videos, and articles into one place, making it easier for users to revisit content later

Soon, you can customise chat themes on WhatsApp Web client: What's new

WhatsApp is reportedly testing chat themes for its web client, allowing users to customise wallpapers, message bubbles, and chat colours directly from browsers

Meta strengthens age checks with AI after EU flags concerns over safeguards

Meta has introduced AI-powered age detection tools and expanded Teen Account protections after EU regulators raised concerns over underage users access to Instagram and Facebook despite safeguards

Threads gains another X-like feature with web DMs: Here is how it works

Threads has introduced direct messaging on the web, allowing desktop users to send one-on-one and group chats as Meta expands conversation features on the platform

Instagram introduces 'AI creator' tag to mark accounts posting AI content

Instagram has introduced 'AI creator' labels to show if content is made with AI, but creators don't have to use them, so many posts may still appear without clear tags

Instagram tests new 'Instants' app for one-time photo sharing: How it works

Instagram is testing a new "Instants" app that lets users share quick, unedited photos that disappear after one view, aiming to bring back more casual and real-time interactions

X introduces Grok AI-powered 'Custom Timelines' for personalised feeds

X has introduced Custom Timelines, allowing users to pin topics to their home feed, with Grok powering personalised content based on interests and activity, now in early access on iOS