Latest Social media News
Australia's plan to ban children from social media proves popular and problematic
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — How do you remove children from the harms of social media? Politically the answer appears simple in Australia, but practically the solution could be far more difficult. The Australian government’s plan to ban children from social media platforms...
EU slaps Meta with a nearly 800 million euro fine for engaging in 'abusive' Marketplace practices
LONDON (AP) — European Union regulators issued their first antitrust fine to Facebook parent Meta on Thursday with a penalty of nearly 800 million euros for what they call “abusive practices” involving its Marketplace online classified ads business. The European Commission,...
Australia will require social media platforms to act to prevent online harm to users
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia plans to require social media platforms to act to prevent online harms to users such as bullying, predatory behavior and algorithms pushing destructive content, the government said Thursday. “The Digital Duty of Care will place the onus on...
Bluesky has added 1 million users since the US election as people seek alternatives to X
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Social media site Bluesky has gained 1 million new users in the week since the U.S. election, as some X users look for an alternative platform to post their thoughts and engage with others online. Bluesky said Wednesday that its total users surged to 15 million,...
Facebook and Instagram users in Europe can opt for less personalized ads
LONDON (AP) — Facebook and Instagram users in Europe will get the option to see less personalized ads if they don't want to pay for an ad-free subscription, social media company Meta said Tuesday, bowing to pressure from Brussels over privacy and digital competition concerns. Meta...
Mattel says it 'deeply' regrets misprint on 'Wicked' dolls packaging that links to porn site
NEW YORK (AP) — Toy giant Mattel says it “deeply” regrets an error on the packaging of its “Wicked” movie-themed dolls, which mistakenly links toy buyers to a pornographic website. The error gained attention on social media over the weekend, where numerous users shared...
Who will buy Infowars? Both supporters and opponents of Alex Jones interested in bankruptcy auction
Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' Infowars broadcasts could end next week as he faces a court-ordered auction of his company's assets to help pay the more than $1 billion defamation judgment he owes families of victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Or maybe not. ...
Australian states back national plan to ban children younger than 16 from social media
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia’s states and territories on Friday unanimously backed a national plan to require most forms of social media to bar children younger than 16. Leaders of the eight provinces held a virtual meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to discuss...
YouTuber known for drag race videos crashes speeding BMW and dies
NEW YORK (AP) — A car influencer who posted YouTube videos of drag races on New York City streets died when he crashed his speeding BMW into a light pole near John F. Kennedy airport, police said. Andre Beadle, 25, crashed just after 1 a.m. Wednesday on the Nassau Expressway near...
Australia plans a social media ban for children under 16
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The Australian government announced on Thursday what it described as world-leading legislation that would institute an age limit of 16 years for children to start using social media, and hold platforms responsible for ensuring compliance. “Social media...
