Internet News - Technology News, Internet, World Wide Web https://techxplore.com/rss-feed/internet-news/ en-us The latest news on the internet, world wide web, web 2.0 and science technology. Meta's teen safety deal runs into an unsolved problem: Proving age Meta's landmark settlement with nearly every U.S. state promises curfews and time limits for teens on Instagram and Facebook—but rests on age and parent checks nobody has figured out how to make work. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-meta-teen-safety-unsolved-problem.html Internet Fri, 28 Aug 2026 12:40:05 EDT news707137906 After US settlement, EU says Meta must 'protect our kids too' The EU said Thursday it expects Meta to address "addictive" features of its platforms in Europe after the tech giant agreed to sweeping limits on teen use of Facebook and Instagram in some US states. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-settlement-eu-meta-kids.html Internet Thu, 27 Aug 2026 09:40:06 EDT news707041732 Meta settlement puts social media industry on notice: 'There will be more' Wednesday's historic settlement between Meta and dozens of U.S. states could be just the start of a wave that will ripple across the social media industry, putting TikTok, YouTube and Snap under pressure to make similar changes to their apps for teens. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-meta-settlement-social-media-industry.html Internet Thu, 27 Aug 2026 05:20:01 EDT news707023275 Time limits and a midnight cutoff: Meta's new rules for kids go further, but critics say not enough Kids under 18 will soon see a host of changes to their Instagram and Facebook experiences thanks to a historic $18 billion settlement Meta Platforms reached Wednesday with 48 U.S. states. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-limits-midnight-cutoff-meta-kids.html Internet Thu, 27 Aug 2026 04:18:10 EDT news707023071 What could change for U.S. teens on Instagram and Facebook In a landmark development, Meta reached a proposed settlement Wednesday with U.S. states over claims that it designed Facebook and Instagram to hook children. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-teens-instagram-facebook.html Internet Wed, 26 Aug 2026 16:40:07 EDT news706979505 Meta, U.S. states agree $18 bn settlement in landmark teen safety case Meta agreed to pay a coalition of U.S. states as much as $16.7 billion and to impose sweeping new limits on how teenagers use Facebook and Instagram, according to a court filing Wednesday that ends a landmark trial in California. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-meta-states-billion-settlement-landmark.html Internet Wed, 26 Aug 2026 12:40:01 EDT news706965969 Social media use on the rise among Australian under-16s after ban: Data Australian under-16s are increasing their use of social media apps such as Instagram and TikTok despite a world-leading ban, data provided by a parental control software company showed Wednesday. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-social-media-australian-16s.html Internet Wed, 26 Aug 2026 04:20:01 EDT news706935813 Some of Meta's safety tools were 'designed to fail': Witness A former employee testified Wednesday that some of Meta's safety tools for Facebook and Instagram were "designed to fail," contradicting the company's defense strategy in a landmark trial in California. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-meta-safety-tools-witness.html Internet Thu, 20 Aug 2026 04:40:01 EDT news706418542 The emerging threat of violent, exploitative digital 'com networks': what do we need to know? For many parents, keeping their children safe online is a top priority. But now there's an emerging threat: "com networks." Com networks (short for community networks) are online groups that mostly target vulnerable young people in the online spaces they use every day, including gaming platforms and social media. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-emerging-threat-violent-exploitative-digital.html Internet Wed, 19 Aug 2026 08:40:03 EDT news706346701 Taiwan briefly slows its mobile internet to text-only speed as part of defense drill For 30 minutes, the internet in parts of Taiwan crawled. The slowdown Thursday for people in the capital, Taipei, and six other cities and localities was part of the last phase of the island's annual Han Kuang exercises, military drills that began last week and aim to model a response to a possible Chinese military invasion. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-taiwan-briefly-mobile-internet-text.html Internet Thu, 13 Aug 2026 09:07:13 EDT news705830815 Social media and self-harm: Study finds need for more control over content and safe spaces for connection and support There are increasing calls for tighter legislation and restrictions on social media use, particularly for children and young people. Evidence shows potential harms coexist on social media platforms alongside opportunities for crisis support and connection. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-social-media-content-safe-spaces.html Internet Tue, 11 Aug 2026 12:35:16 EDT news705670487 EU tells Meta, TikTok to boost monitoring, fact-checking The EU's tech chief called on Meta and TikTok to "act decisively" to stem disinformation at times of crisis, saying the European Commission held talks with both platforms Friday following last week's Ceuta migrant surge. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-eu-meta-tiktok-boost-fact.html Internet Sat, 08 Aug 2026 04:10:56 EDT news705381037 More than half of Australian children and teens are using AI for personal reasons. This comes with risks New data released this week show 54% of Australian children and teens use artificial intelligence tools for personal and social reasons. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-australian-children-teens-ai-personal.html Internet Thu, 06 Aug 2026 15:40:05 EDT news705249362 All 50 states have introduced bills to regulate digital media for kids. A new database tracks them As of March 2026, every U.S. state had introduced at least one bill seeking to regulate social media or other digital platforms for people younger than 18. The wave of legislation would be difficult for anyone to keep track of, whether they're a researcher, parent or policymaker. Researchers at the University of California, Davis, have built a public database to help. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-states-bills-digital-media-kids.html Internet Tue, 04 Aug 2026 11:40:01 EDT news705061981 Current privacy frameworks fall short for governing identity in immersive online worlds Research published in the International Journal of Web-Based Communities has looked at how digital identity might be governed online, specifically in the so-called metaverse. The study found that current frameworks for digital identity are ill-equipped for emerging immersive online environments, which sit under the umbrella term "metaverse." The work argues that regulators must move from a privacy-focused approach to one that is broader and rights-based. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-08-current-privacy-frameworks-fall-short.html Internet Mon, 03 Aug 2026 09:00:01 EDT news704966098 More than 80% of kids still using social media despite ban, new eSafety report finds As countries around the world look to follow Australia's lead in restricting young people's access to social media, a new report by the eSafety Commissioner might give them reason to pause, at least temporarily. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-kids-social-media-esafety.html Internet Fri, 31 Jul 2026 07:00:02 EDT news704697842 Australian regulator says Telegram breached online safety law Australia's online safety watchdog took court action Thursday against Telegram, alleging the global messaging platform had failed to remove terrorism material. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-australian-telegram-breached-online-safety.html Internet Thu, 30 Jul 2026 04:40:01 EDT news704603802 X adds banking in 'everything app' push Elon Musk's social media app X on Monday began offering its X Money banking service to all U.S. subscribers of its paid Premium and Premium+ tiers, part of the multibillionaire's ambition to turn the site into an "everything app." https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-banking-app.html Internet Tue, 28 Jul 2026 05:40:01 EDT news704432940 Older people's media literacy can be boosted in just 60 minutes—new study Consider these scenarios. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-older-people-media-literacy-boosted.html Internet Mon, 27 Jul 2026 10:00:50 EDT news704364482 Desktop browsing trends: Gmail first, everything else later Time to check if you've got mail. Again. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-desktop-browsing-trends-gmail.html Internet Fri, 24 Jul 2026 07:40:01 EDT news704096642 French parliament backs social media ban for under-15s in EU first France's parliament on Tuesday approved a bill banning social media access for children under 15, making France the first European country to bar children from apps such as TikTok. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-french-parliament-social-media-15s.html Internet Tue, 21 Jul 2026 17:20:08 EDT news703868911 French youth social media ban meets age check conundrum France's parliament is weighing a social media ban for users under 15, following in the footsteps of Australia and Indonesia, although enforcement authorities face a puzzle over how to manage age checks. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-french-youth-social-media-age.html Internet Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:49:24 EDT news703824543 Most Canadian teens have seen graphic violence online, and algorithms, not searches, are to blame When right-wing commentator and social media influencer Charlie Kirk was shot and killed on a university campus in September 2025, graphic videos of the assassination quickly spread online. Many of those images also appeared before teenagers worldwide. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-canadian-teens-graphic-violence-online.html Internet Mon, 20 Jul 2026 13:40:02 EDT news703773002 Researcher warns against one-size-fits-all age verification online A comprehensive analysis of age assurance technologies co-authored by CISPA faculty member Dr. Wouter Lueks concludes that many currently proposed systems for protecting minors online come with significant trade-offs for privacy, security, accessibility and civil liberties. The study "Assessing Age Assurance Technologies: Effectiveness, Side-Effects, and Acceptance," conducted with colleagues from the University of Hamburg and the Leibniz Institute for Media Research, evaluates a broad range of approaches currently being debated by policymakers and platforms worldwide. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-size-age-verification-online.html Internet Mon, 20 Jul 2026 07:00:02 EDT news703748544 UK unveils plans for social media curfew for older teens—but it's voluntary The British government announced plans Wednesday to introduce a six-hour social media curfew from midnight for 16- and 17-year-olds—though they will be able to override the proposed default setting. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-uk-unveils-social-media-curfew.html Internet Wed, 15 Jul 2026 11:20:05 EDT news703331357 'Like my lover': Chinese users bid farewell to AI companions Chinese users of AI-powered companion bots have bade heart-rending farewells to their virtual buddies as national regulations took effect Wednesday, aimed at curbing the risk of emotional dependency. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-lover-chinese-users-farewell-ai.html Internet Wed, 15 Jul 2026 04:22:40 EDT news703308102 Turn off addictive features on social media for children, say EU lawmakers There should be a "youth mode" for children on social media platforms in which addictive features and targeted advertising are turned off, EU lawmakers demanded Tuesday. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-addictive-features-social-media-children.html Internet Tue, 14 Jul 2026 15:00:01 EDT news703255709 EU to limit children's access to social media—gradually Children should have "phased and gradual access" to social media, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said Monday, as experts recommended that children under 13 use online platforms only under supervision. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-eu-limit-children-access-social.html Internet Mon, 13 Jul 2026 12:00:08 EDT news703161999 Mulling ban, EU gets expert verdict on social media for children To ban or not to ban children from all social media? That is the big question facing the European Union in its bid to protect minors from harmful content. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-mulling-eu-expert-verdict-social.html Internet Mon, 13 Jul 2026 04:20:05 EDT news703134507 Growing list of countries move to ban social media for children The European Union's plan to regulate children's access to social media follows the implementation or proposal of similar measures around the world. https://techxplore.com/news/2026-07-countries-social-media-children.html Internet Sun, 12 Jul 2026 04:10:05 EDT news703046781