TIKTOK ADDICTION
EU charges TikTok over harmful algorithmic 'rabbit hole' effects
EU tech regulators charged social media platform TikTok on Friday with breaching the bloc's online content rules due to the so-called "rabbit hole" effect of its recommender system, which attracts users' attention to a constant stream of
Google sued over suicide-related AI chats on school computer
The parents of a 13-year-old girl have sued Google claiming she planned a potential suicide and funeral using its AI technology on a school-issued computer. Developers of fast-evolving AI technology are facing a litany of similar lawsuits in the US. OpenAI faces several wrongful death suits, including from the parents of 16-year-old Adam Raine, a teenager who committed suicide allegedly using methods advised by ChatGPT. Google and the startup Character.
Google, Meta, TikTok sue to block California youth social media law
The law, known as Assembly Bill 1709, prohibits such platforms from offering underage children "psychologically exploitative features" that could lead to compulsive use, such as providing personal recommendations and sending videos through autoplay features. It also requires the deletion of children's accounts with those features.
Does Snapchat cause depression, anxiety, eating disorders? A court trial that tells bold story against social media platforms
Social media companies face thousands of lawsuits in federal and state courts brought by individuals, school districts, municipalities and other government entities alleging the companies knowingly sought to addict children to their platforms.
Meta settles with teen during trial testing claims social media caused depression, eating disorders
Meta Platforms has settled with a teen plaintiff who accused the company of designing Instagram and Facebook to be addictive, causing her mental health problems
Meta, Snap head to trial in another case about social media's harms
Jury selection is expected to begin on Wednesday in Los Angeles for another landmark trial about the alleged harms of social media on young users, with Meta and, for the first time, Snap as defendants. Meta and YouTube lost the first so-called bellwether case earlier this year, when a jury found them collectively liable for harming a young user known by the initials KGM, and ordered the tech companies to pay a combined $6 million penalty.
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Meta stock: Facebook, Instagram parent stock price rises after tech giant announces new types of shares. All you may want to know
Meta posted diluted earnings per share of $3.83 in the quarter, a figure that would have been $7.40, had it not been for a $9.89 billion charge related to the August settlement.
Meta raises AI spending forecast to $145 billion, plans new share issue; Q3 revenue beats estimates
Meta raised its 2026 capital expenditure forecast to $135 billion-$145 billion to accelerate AI expansion and announced plans for non-voting shares, while reporting stronger revenue amid mounting legal challenges and intensifying competition.
Florida asks court to force Meta to change Facebook, Instagram for teens
In a filing in a Pasco County court, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier asked for a temporary injunction forcing Meta to identify and remove users in the state under the age of 14 from those platforms, limit teens there to two hours a day across all apps and turn off features like autoplay and infinite scroll for them.
Florida asks court to force Meta to change Facebook, Instagram for teens
Florida is advancing a lawsuit against Meta Platforms to enforce stricter protections for young users. The Attorney General seeks changes including limiting teen app usage and identifying underage users. Meta previously settled claims with other states, including changes for teen safety. Florida argues that the settlement was insufficient and will not prevent future harm. The proposed changes from Florida are stricter compared to those agreed upon in the settlement.
TikTok gave thousands of young users fake safety tools in tests, New York lawsuit alleges
TikTok is facing allegations from New York for conducting misleading placebo tests on its safety features. Those tests involved thousands of young users, including minors, who tried to activate a feature called 'Algo Refresh'. Despite believing they had engaged the tool, their feeds remained unchanged compared to users with the actual feature. The lawsuit also highlights the tragic outcome of a teen boy's death after being exposed to harmful content.
TikTok agrees to teen limits in US settlement following Meta
A trial had been set to begin Monday in the southern US state over claims by Alabama that TikTok misled parents about tools meant to shield children from harmful content.
‘Daily time limits, filter controls, and account privacy’: TikTok agrees to ‘platform-level changes’ for teens, settles lawsuit with Alabama for $100 million days before trial
TikTok has agreed to pay Alabama $100 million following claims about its harmful impact on youth mental health. The settlement involves implementing safety features for teens to reduce negative effects from the platform. These features will include limiting daily usage and banning cosmetic filters for young users. Additionally, Alabama may receive further funds if other states reach similar arrangements.
First US trial against TikTok to test claims platform fueled teen mental health crisis
An Alabama jury will hear the state's claims that TikTok and its Chinese parent company ByteDance made the platform addictive to young users and misled consumers about its safety, in the first case against the company to reach trial in the sweeping litigation
EU chief to unveil social media, gaming curbs for under-15s
EU chief Ursula von der Leyen will on Wednesday unveil long-awaited plans to protect children from online harm by curbing access to social media, video-sharing platforms, games and AI chatbots for under-15s. Von der Leyen will use her annual keynote speech to the European Parliament to outline new EU legislation, which according to a draft document will set strict limits on access to social media, AI chatbots and online gaming for under-15s.
Limit AI now or humanity will lose its agency, says Nobel laureate Ressa
The Filipino and American journalist, who jointly won the 2021 award in part for her work documenting the power of large tech companies, serves as co-chair of the United Nations' international scientific panel on artificial intelligence, tasked with assessing how AI is transforming lives worldwide.
Limit AI now or humanity will lose its agency, says Nobel laureate Maria Ressa
Nobel laureate Maria Ressa expresses urgent concerns about the risks that artificial intelligence poses to human agency, emphasizing the need for immediate regulation. She encourages citizens to drive legislative changes aimed at holding tech corporations accountable. Ressa outlines AI's progression through social media and manipulation, and highlights the importance of creating platforms that serve the public interest, along with ensuring tech firms face consequences for harm caused.
California governor signs law to limit children's social media risks
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed more than a dozen new laws on Thursday that address various aspects of children's safety online, including one that prohibits social media companies from serving addictive features to users under 16 years old. Instead, it defines "addictive" features as ones that are "psychologically exploitative" and prohibits social media companies from providing children with features such as infinite scroll, algorithmic recommendations and autoplay.
Texas judge rules TikTok misled users on child safety feature
According to the ruling, Texas said TikTok told users it would remove content that violated its Community Guidelines, but internally classified some of that material as "hard to find" rather than "do not allow," allowing it to remain on the platform. Judge Cory Liu agreed that the practice violated the state's consumer protection law.
Portuguese group D3 sues Meta, TikTok and YouTube over addictive design
A spokesperson for Alphabet's Google, owner of YouTube, said providing people with "a safer, healthier experience has always been core to our work" and pointed to tools such as "take a break" and bedtime reminders designed to help users manage viewing habits.
EU's von der Leyen to proposal on children protection from social media September 16
Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, is set to unveil an initiative focused on safeguarding children from the harms of social media algorithms. Emphasizing the unacceptability of childhoods dictated by such algorithms, she asserts Europe's potential to enact vital protective measures. This upcoming proposal aligns with previous demands for enhanced online safety for minors.
EU faces revolt over social media ban for children
The European Union is poised for a big reveal of its plans to keep minors safe online -- but proposals to restrict their social media access and force age checks have drawn fire from children's rights groups and privacy defenders alike. children's rights groups fear that social media limits will infringe on minors' freedoms, while digital rights groups raise concerns over age verification.
Proposed Australian law would let social media users opt out of algorithms
The proposed legislation would also protect children from content that promotes eating disorders, hostile ideas about women, pornography, crime, dangerous stunts and that causes serious mental health distress.
Amusing or addictive? The algorithms powering our social feeds
Open TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or other platforms and you'll see a scrolling feed or recommendations bar showing content targeted to your interests.
Australia threatens hefty fines if big tech fails 'duty of care'
Social media giants face US$78 million fines if they fail to protect young users from harmful content, Australia's prime minister said Tuesday as he unveiled draft laws reining in big tech. Communications Minister Anika Wells said big tech was facing a "reckoning".
Don't ban children from social media, Estonia tells EU
The European Union should make social media platforms change instead of banning children from using the apps, Estonia'Monday, just over a week before the EU is due to announce an age limit. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen is expected to announce a social media ban on September 16, with officials saying an age limit of 13 or 15 is under discussion.
TikTok reaches $400 million settlement with US Justice Department over children's privacy
TikTok has agreed to a $400 million settlement with the US Department of Justice. This resolution addresses allegations of violating federal children's privacy laws. The company will pay $300 million immediately and $100 million later. This action follows a 2024 lawsuit concerning data collection practices. The settlement aims to protect children's online privacy and data security.
US teen drops lawsuit against Meta, Google and Snap ahead of trial
The plaintiff, a 15-year-old girl from New Jersey identified in California court records as P. M-Y., had alleged the platforms' owners - Meta Platforms, Google and Snap Inc - contributed to her social media addiction, depression and self-harm.
Teen drops landmark social media addiction case against Meta, Google, Snap
A 15-year-old girl dropped her lawsuit against Meta, Google, and Snap Inc. She had alleged social media addiction and mental health issues. Her attorney stated the dismissal allows her client to resume her life. TikTok had previously settled her claims, while other cases proceed. Companies deny allegations and state they protect young users.
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