Senators Blast Facebook For Concealing Instagram's Risks To Kids
3 years, 2 months ago

Senators Blast Facebook For Concealing Instagram's Risks To Kids

NPR  

Senators Blast Facebook For Concealing Instagram's Risks To Kids Enlarge this image toggle caption Patrick Semansky/Pool/AFP via Getty Images Patrick Semansky/Pool/AFP via Getty Images If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741. We know it chooses the growth of its products over the well-being of our children," said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. "The question that haunts me is how can we, or parents, or anyone trust Facebook?" You knew it was there, but you didn't do anything about it," said Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., the subcommittee's ranking member, referring to internal documents about the prevalence of sex trafficking on Facebook. "Facebook's brand is bad, and I think Facebook, you know, would freely admit that," said Katie Harbath, a former public policy director at the company.

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History of this topic

Dutch MP will propose banning children under 15 from using social media
1 week, 1 day ago

Dutch MP will propose banning children under 15 from using social media

NL Times  

Dutch political party D66 is advocating for a minimum age of 15 for social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat. “Tech giants are harming children’s health because social media is deliberately designed to be addictive,” said D66 parliamentarian Hanneke van der Werf, according to RTL." “The Netherlands doesn’t let cigarette manufacturers determine and enforce age restrictions,” Van der …

Cut risks, not potential, of social media for young with Instagram Teen Accounts
2 weeks, 2 days ago

Cut risks, not potential, of social media for young with Instagram Teen Accounts

India Today  

Being a great communication and learning tool for teenagers, managing the use of social media by them is becoming increasingly important. The idea behind Instagram Teen Accounts is to place teens in built-in protections and reassure parents that their children are having safe experiences. “Parents and educators play a vital role in managing teenagers’ social media experiences. Using these features, …

Texas weighs social media bans for minors as schools and police face challenges
2 weeks, 5 days ago

Texas weighs social media bans for minors as schools and police face challenges

Associated Press  

As school districts struggle to control the spread of cyberbullying, sexual abuse images and online exploitation among their students, Texas lawmakers could consider banning social media from minors, among other sweeping measures, in the upcoming legislative session. While they welcome any efforts to reduce harm to children, school officials and cybercrime investigators say more needs to be done to hold …

JUST SPAMMING | Can social media be kept out of the child's reach?
3 weeks, 3 days ago

JUST SPAMMING | Can social media be kept out of the child's reach?

Deccan Chronicle  

The latest news from down under is rather baffling. The Online Safety Amendment Act 2024 passed by the Australian Senate last week seeks to ban children below the age of 16 from using social media apps like TikTok, Facebook, Reddit, Snapchat, Instagram and X. Because in the Indian context, 70 per cent of the children access social media from their …

Founder of teenage-run 6 News channel criticises Anthony Albanese's social media ban for children under 16
3 weeks, 4 days ago

Founder of teenage-run 6 News channel criticises Anthony Albanese's social media ban for children under 16

Daily Mail  

The founder of an Australian news channel staffed exclusively by teenage journalists has responded to new laws which will ban children under the age of 16 from social media. Leo Puglisi, 17, has run the online news service 6 News since beginning his media career at age 11. 'As Australia's only national streaming news channel run almost entirely by teenagers …

'Serious concerns': Meta and other social media companies slam Australia's social media ban for teens
3 weeks, 5 days ago

'Serious concerns': Meta and other social media companies slam Australia's social media ban for teens

Firstpost  

Most tech giants have said they will comply with the ban as the government has imposed a fine of up to $50m if they fail to do so The Australian government’s ban on social media for teens has caused an uproar not only among users but also among tech companies including Meta that has accused the administration of passing the …

Australia lawmakers pass landmark social-media ban for under-16s
3 weeks, 5 days ago

Australia lawmakers pass landmark social-media ban for under-16s

Live Mint  

Australia is set to become the first country to ban social media use by under-16s after the country’s Senate overwhelmingly voted in favor of strict new legislation. “Social media is doing harm to our children and I’m calling time on it," Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said when the bill was introduced to Parliament earlier this month. The legislation marks …

The Australian Senate debates the world’s first social media ban for children under 16
Top News
3 weeks, 6 days ago

The Australian Senate debates the world’s first social media ban for children under 16

Associated Press  

MELBOURNE, Australia — The Australian Senate was debating a ban on children younger than 16 years old from social media Thursday after the House of Representatives overwhelmingly supported the age restriction. “The core focus of this legislation is simple: It demands that social media companies take reasonable steps to identify and remove underage users from their platforms,” Kovacic told the …

Australia should delay social media ban for children under 16, Big Tech says
1 month ago

Australia should delay social media ban for children under 16, Big Tech says

Associated Press  

MELBOURNE, Australia — An advocate for major social media platforms told an Australian Senate committee Monday that laws to ban children younger than 16 from the sites should be delayed until next year at least instead of being rushed through the Parliament this week. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said she looked forward to reading the Senate committee’s assessment of the …

Young Australians weigh in on under-16 social media ban as senators meet over plan
1 month ago

Young Australians weigh in on under-16 social media ban as senators meet over plan

ABC  

Senators and experts will gather in Canberra today to discuss the federal government's social media ban for under-16s. Young people say the social media ban will make it harder for them to communicate with each other. But Sadie said she was not too worried about a proposed social media ban for kids her age. It is unclear how platforms will …

Australia’s plan to ban children from social media proves popular and problematic
1 month, 1 week ago

Australia’s plan to ban children from social media proves popular and problematic

Associated Press  

MELBOURNE, Australia — How do you protect children from the harms of social media? The Australian government’s plan to ban children from social media platforms including X, TikTok, Facebook and Instagram until their 16th birthdays is politically popular. More than 140 such experts signed an open letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemning the 16-year age limit as “too blunt …

Australia's plan to ban children from social media proves popular and problematic
1 month, 1 week ago

Australia's plan to ban children from social media proves popular and problematic

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The Australian government’s plan to ban children from social …

Facebook whistleblower backs teen age restrictions ahead of NSW, SA government Social Media Summit
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Facebook whistleblower backs teen age restrictions ahead of NSW, SA government Social Media Summit

ABC  

Facebook whistleblower and data scientist Frances Haugen is backing a social media ban for Australian teenagers until they are old enough to safely use it. "To safely use social media, you have to do something very complicated, something that even adults really struggle with, which is you have to understand that what you're seeing is not representative," Ms Haugen said. …

Teen social media use: Why banning isn’t the answer
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Teen social media use: Why banning isn’t the answer

Hindustan Times  

The debate around whether we should ban access to social media for teenagers aged 13 to 16 has gained significant attention. Social media is a significant part of modern communication, and teens need to develop digital literacy skills, including how to recognise misinformation, avoid dangerous interactions, and use the platforms in a healthy way. Rather than an outright ban, a …

Social media platforms engaged in ‘vast surveillance’ and failed to protect young people, FTC finds
3 months ago

Social media platforms engaged in ‘vast surveillance’ and failed to protect young people, FTC finds

LA Times  

Social media apps and video streaming services are still facing scrutiny from U.S. regulators over youth safety and privacy concerns. Major social media platforms and video streaming services that gather a “staggering” amount of data from their users have failed to protect young people and safeguard online privacy, the Federal Trade Commission said Thursday. “These surveillance practices can endanger people’s …

Meta introduces new “Teen Accounts” on instagram to enhance parental control
3 months, 1 week ago

Meta introduces new “Teen Accounts” on instagram to enhance parental control

New Indian Express  

Meta is launching “teen accounts” for Instagram users under 18, aimed at giving parents greater oversight of their children's online activities. Key features of the teen accounts include enhanced parental controls, such as the ability to set daily usage limits, restrict access during nighttime hours, and monitor direct messages and content categories viewed by teens. This update follows Meta's commitment …

Facebook's swipe at Anthony Albanese over his proposed Australian social media ban
3 months, 1 week ago

Facebook's swipe at Anthony Albanese over his proposed Australian social media ban

Daily Mail  

Facebook's head of global affairs has called a proposed social media ban for Aussie teenagers a 'whack-a-mole nightmare' for parents that would fail to stop children from using the app. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has proposed legislating a minimum age for social media use in a bid to restrict teenagers from using platforms like Snapchat, Facebook and Instagram for their …

Social media companies to face fines for allowing children under 14 on their platforms under proposed SA laws
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Social media companies to face fines for allowing children under 14 on their platforms under proposed SA laws

ABC  

Social media giants would be forced to ban children under the age of 14 from their platforms or face hefty penalties, under proposed laws in South Australia that could be replicated in other states. SA Premier Peter Malinauskas said the proposal was fuelled by concerns social media was harming young people and affecting their mental health, leaving parents "almost powerless". …

Teen sues Meta for $5bn saying Instagram’s features are ‘addictive’
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Teen sues Meta for $5bn saying Instagram’s features are ‘addictive’

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The case cites numerous internal documents …

Senate passes bill to protect kids online and make tech companies accountable for harmful content
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Senate passes bill to protect kids online and make tech companies accountable for harmful content

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The Senate overwhelmingly passed legislation Tuesday that is designed to protect children from dangerous online content, pushing forward with what would be the first major effort by Congress in decades to hold tech companies more accountable for the harm that they cause. “It is past time to act.” The legislation is about allowing children, teens and parents “to …

Senate to consider bills that aim to protect children and teenagers online
5 months ago

Senate to consider bills that aim to protect children and teenagers online

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The Senate will consider legislation this week that aims to protect children from dangerous online content, moving forward with what could become the first sweeping new regulation of the tech industry in decades. On this issue, we desperately need to catch up.” The online safety bill, which the Senate will consider along with a separate bill to update …

What to know about the Kids Online Safety Act that just passed the Senate
5 months ago

What to know about the Kids Online Safety Act that just passed the Senate

Associated Press  

The last time Congress passed a law to protect children on the internet was in 1998 — before Facebook, before the iPhone and long before today’s oldest teenagers were born. KOSA would create a “duty of care” — a legal term that requires companies to take reasonable steps to prevent harm — for online platforms minors will likely use. Even …

Keeping children safe on social media: What parents should know to protect their kids
6 months, 1 week ago

Keeping children safe on social media: What parents should know to protect their kids

Associated Press  

At what age should kids be on social media? For years, there has been a push among parents, educators and tech experts to wait to give children phones — and access to social media — until they are older, such as the “Wait Until 8th” pledge that has parents sign a pledge not to give their kids a smartphone until …

The government puts warnings on tobacco and alcohol. Is social media next? : Consider This from NPR : NPR
6 months, 1 week ago

The government puts warnings on tobacco and alcohol. Is social media next? : Consider This from NPR : NPR

NPR  

'An unfair fight': The U.S. surgeon general declares war on social media Enlarge this image toggle caption doble-d/Getty doble-d/Getty Emma Lembke was 12 years old when many of her friends started using phones and social media. "Too much time on social media gets in the way of things that we know are good for kids, like getting a lot of …

Keeping children safe on social media: What parents should know to protect their kids
6 months, 2 weeks ago

Keeping children safe on social media: What parents should know to protect their kids

The Hindu  

At what age should kids be on social media? For years, there has been a push among parents, educators and tech experts to wait to give children phones — and access to social media — until they are older, such as the “Wait Until 8th” pledge that has parents sign a pledge not to give their kids a smartphone until …

Keeping children safe on social media: What parents should know to protect their kids
6 months, 2 weeks ago

Keeping children safe on social media: What parents should know to protect their kids

Associated Press  

At what age should kids be on social media? For years, there has been a push among parents, educators and tech experts to wait to give children phones — and access to social media — until they are older, such as the “Wait Until 8th” pledge that has parents sign a pledge not to give their kids a smartphone until …

New York considers regulating what children see in social media feeds
6 months, 2 weeks ago

New York considers regulating what children see in social media feeds

Associated Press  

New York lawmakers on Tuesday said they were finalizing legislation that would allow parents to block their children from getting social media posts curated by a platform’s algorithm, a move to rein in feeds that critics argue keep young users glued to their screens. Supporters say New York’s Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation For Kids Act, which would prohibit algorithm-fed content …

How parents approach social media for different children in the same family
7 months, 1 week ago

How parents approach social media for different children in the same family

ABC  

Deciding when and how children should access social media is a challenge for parents and there's rarely a one-size-fits-all solution — even when it comes to kids in the same family. Following the South Australian government's proposal to ban social media access for children under 14, two parents share how they're managing when their kids have very different interests and …

The EU says Instagram and Facebook may be too addictive for children in fresh investigation, here's what we know
7 months, 1 week ago

The EU says Instagram and Facebook may be too addictive for children in fresh investigation, here's what we know

ABC  

The European Union is warning Facebook and Instagram may be too addictive as it launches an investigation into whether the platforms have breached the Digital Services Act in areas linked to the protection of minors. The European Union opened fresh investigations into Facebook and Instagram over suspicions that they're failing to protect children online, in violation of the bloc's strict …

Facebook and Instagram face fresh EU digital scrutiny over child safety measures
7 months, 1 week ago

Facebook and Instagram face fresh EU digital scrutiny over child safety measures

Associated Press  

LONDON — The European Union opened fresh investigations Thursday into Facebook and Instagram over suspicions that they’re failing to protect children online, in violation of the bloc’s strict digital regulations for social media platforms. It’s the latest round of scrutiny for parent company Meta Platforms under the 27-nation EU’s Digital Services Act, a sweeping set of regulations that took effect …

Facebook and Instagram face fresh scrutiny under the European Union's strict digital regulations
7 months, 1 week ago

Facebook and Instagram face fresh scrutiny under the European Union's strict digital regulations

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ …

EU investigates Meta over Facebook and Instagram child safety
7 months, 1 week ago

EU investigates Meta over Facebook and Instagram child safety

Al Jazeera  

The European Commission says it is concerned systems used by apps could ‘exploit weaknesses and inexperience’ of children and stimulate ‘addictive behaviour’. European Union regulators have opened a formal investigation into Meta for potential breaches of online content rules relating to child safety in its Facebook and Instagram platforms. Thierry Breton, the EU’s internal market commissioner, said on X the …

Editorial: Social media companies refuse to safeguard kids. It’s up to lawmakers now
8 months ago

Editorial: Social media companies refuse to safeguard kids. It’s up to lawmakers now

LA Times  

From state capitols to Washington, D.C., lawmakers are scrambling to come up with regulations that can protect kids from the potential harms of social media, since the platforms have been unwilling to adopt reasonable safeguards themselves. In just the last few months, Florida passed a law banning children under age 14 from having a social media account, Iowa legislators backed …

Younger children increasingly online and unsupervised, Ofcom says
8 months ago

Younger children increasingly online and unsupervised, Ofcom says

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. In its annual study of children’s relationship with the …

New York City files a lawsuit saying social media is fueling a youth mental health crisis
10 months, 1 week ago

New York City files a lawsuit saying social media is fueling a youth mental health crisis

Associated Press  

New York City, its schools and public hospital system announced a lawsuit Wednesday against the tech giants that run Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube, blaming their “addictive and dangerous” social media platforms for fueling a childhood mental health crisis that is disrupting learning and draining resources. “Over the past decade, we have seen just how addictive and overwhelming the …

Why did Mark Zuckerberg apologise at the US Senate?
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Why did Mark Zuckerberg apologise at the US Senate?

Al Jazeera  

Parents of affected children said the Meta CEO’s apology was ‘a bit too late’. Meta Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg, alongside the CEOs of TikTok, X and other social media companies went before the US Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday to testify at a time when lawmakers and parents are growing increasingly concerned about the effects of digital platforms on young …

Meta, TikTok and other social media CEOs testify in heated Senate hearing on child exploitation
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Meta, TikTok and other social media CEOs testify in heated Senate hearing on child exploitation

Associated Press  

Suicide and eating disorders. “They’re responsible for many of the dangers our children face online,” Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, who chairs the committee, said in opening remarks. From left; Discord CEO Jason Citron, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, X CEO Linda Yaccarino and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, are sworn in during a Senate Judiciary Committee …

Meta, TikTok and other social media CEOs testify in heated Senate hearing on child exploitation
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Meta, TikTok and other social media CEOs testify in heated Senate hearing on child exploitation

LA Times  

Meta Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg turns to address the audience during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Capitol Hill on Wednesday to discuss child safety. On Wednesday, the chief executives of Meta, TikTok, X and other social media companies went before the Senate Judiciary Committee to testify as lawmakers and parents grow increasingly concerned about the effects of social media …

Facebook, Instagram, TikTok CEOs face tough questions on child safety online I Watch LIVE proceedings
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Facebook, Instagram, TikTok CEOs face tough questions on child safety online I Watch LIVE proceedings

India TV News  

California: The CEOs of top social media apps and video streaming platforms including Meta, TikTok, X and others are testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee about child exploitation on their platforms, as lawmakers, families and advocates are growing increasingly concerned about the effects of social media on young people’s lives. So independent regulation needs to step in.” Facebook to face …

To protect kids, California might require chronological feeds on social media
10 months, 3 weeks ago

To protect kids, California might require chronological feeds on social media

LA Times  

Social media companies design their feeds to be as gripping as possible, with complicated algorithms shuffling posts and ads into a never-ending stream of entertainment. A new California law would require companies to shut off those algorithms by default for users under 18, and implement other mandated tweaks that lawmakers say would reduce the negative mental health effects of social …

Social media giants like Facebook and TikTok made an estimated $11 billion a year from users under 18
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Social media giants like Facebook and TikTok made an estimated $11 billion a year from users under 18

Daily Mail  

The social media giants of the world generated $10.7 billion in advertising revenue in 2022, all from their US users who are 17 years old or younger, a study has claimed. According to a new study, social media companies made an estimated $10.7 billion in advertising revenue in 2022 from children and adolescents in the US. The figures are staggering: …

Under-16s could face limits on social media
1 year ago

Under-16s could face limits on social media

The Telegraph  

Under-16s could be forced to ask their parents for permission before using social media under proposals being considered by Rishi Sunak. Ministers are devising plans for a consultation on the potential harms to children from social networks such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok in the new year, which could lead to teenagers being forced to obtain their parents’ permission to …

Court document claims Meta knowingly designed its platforms to hook kids, reports say
1 year ago

Court document claims Meta knowingly designed its platforms to hook kids, reports say

Associated Press  

SAN FRANCISCO — Facebook parent Meta Platforms deliberately engineered its social platforms to hook kids and knew — but never disclosed — it had received millions of complaints about underage users on Instagram but only disabled a fraction of those accounts, according to a newly unsealed legal complaint described in reports from The Wall Street Journal and The New York …

States sue Meta claiming its social platforms are addictive and harm children’s mental health
1 year, 2 months ago

States sue Meta claiming its social platforms are addictive and harm children’s mental health

Associated Press  

Dozens of U.S. states, including California and New York, are suing Meta Platforms Inc. for harming young people and contributing to the youth mental health crisis by knowingly and deliberately designing features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children to its platforms. “Kids and teenagers are suffering from record levels of poor mental health and social media companies like Meta …

U.S. States sue Meta for harming young people’s mental health, collecting data on children
1 year, 2 months ago

U.S. States sue Meta for harming young people’s mental health, collecting data on children

The Hindu  

A group of 33 States including California and New York are suing Meta Platforms Inc. for harming young people’s mental health and contributing the youth mental health crisis by knowingly designing features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children to its platforms. “Kids and teenagers are suffering from record levels of poor mental health and social media companies like Meta …

States sue Meta for harming young people's mental health, collecting data on children
1 year, 2 months ago

States sue Meta for harming young people's mental health, collecting data on children

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ …

States sue Meta claiming its social platforms are addictive and harm children’s mental health
1 year, 2 months ago

States sue Meta claiming its social platforms are addictive and harm children’s mental health

Associated Press  

Dozens of US states, including California and New York, are suing Meta Platforms Inc. for harming young people and contributing to the youth mental health crisis by knowingly and deliberately designing features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children to its platforms. “Kids and teenagers are suffering from record levels of poor mental health and social media companies like Meta …

California sues Facebook parent Meta over alleged harm to young people
1 year, 2 months ago

California sues Facebook parent Meta over alleged harm to young people

LA Times  

California and 32 other states on Tuesday sued Facebook parent company Meta over allegations that it “designed and deployed harmful features” on the main social network and its platform Instagram despite knowing about the mental health risks to young people. “In seeking to bolster profits, Meta has repeatedly misled the public about the substantial dangers of its products.” The 233-page …

California lawmakers want to make social media safer for young people. Can they finally succeed?
1 year, 4 months ago

California lawmakers want to make social media safer for young people. Can they finally succeed?

LA Times  

Samuel Chapman of Los Angeles, whose teenage son died after taking a fentanyl-laced drug he got through Snapchat, is urging California lawmakers to crack down on social media platforms. Social media platforms such as Meta-owned Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat and TikTok have removed some harmful content, but parents, teens and lawmakers say they need to do more to make their services …

If Even Mark Zuckerberg Is Hiding His Kids’ Faces on Instagram, What Are the Rest of Us Doing?
54 years, 11 months ago

If Even Mark Zuckerberg Is Hiding His Kids’ Faces on Instagram, What Are the Rest of Us Doing?

Slate  

Mark Zuckerberg had a nice Fourth of July. “Fascinated by Zuck’s choice to not have his kids’ faces on his social media platform,” Bloomberg Businessweek’s Reyhan Harmanci observed. Over the weekend, when Twitter seemed like it might truly, finally break, many people I know flocked to other platforms; others said they were simply quitting the entire exercise of dispensing quips …

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