“Nudify” Apps Spark Outrage and More This Week
Plus: Schools cracking down on student phones, new laws to hold platforms accountable, and fresh studies on teen relationships with technology.
December 12, 2024
Phones Without Social Media: Is the New Trend…
Brain Rot, AI to Our Rescue, and More Top Stories
Australia’s Social Media Ban, AI Weight…
Here’s a roundup of some of this week’s biggest stories in the tech world, where safety, legislation, and innovation are making headlines. From Instagram’s new teen protection features to California’s crackdown on AI deepfakes in elections, the focus is shifting toward safeguarding digital spaces.
Instagram Tightens Teen Safety
Instagram is making teen accounts private by default to enhance safety amid growing concerns over social media’s impact on youth.
Starting in the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia, new accounts for users under 18 will have restricted settings.
Parents can supervise accounts, and teens will receive alerts for excessive use.
Instagram makes teen accounts private as pressure mounts on the app to protect children | AP News
Read Gabb’s full take on the update.
California Cracks Down on AI Deepfakes in Elections
California just passed new laws requiring social media platforms to moderate election-related deepfakes.
These regulations, effective before and after elections, aim to curb misinformation and require companies to label or remove deepfakes.
The laws are facing opposition over free speech concerns and legal challenges.
California Passes Election ‘Deepfake’ Laws, Forcing Social Media Companies to Take Action | The New York Times
State-by-State Look at Kids’ Online Safety
A study by Cloudwards evaluated U.S. states on children’s online safety, considering factors like cyberbullying, safety legislation, and mental health support.
Oregon and California ranked poorly due to high cyberbullying rates and insufficient laws, while Utah and Hawaii excelled in safety initiatives.
Map Reveals Most Dangerous US States for Kids Online | Newsweek
AI Use Exploding Among U.S. High Schoolers
A new study shows that use of generative AI is quickly growing among teenagers in the United States.
Seven in 10 teens have used at least one type of generative AI tool, while only 37% of parents think their teen has.
The most common use of these AI tools is homework help, followed closely by staving off boredom and translating from language to another.
The Dawn of the AI Era | CommonSense Media
Read our breakdown of top AI tools parents should know about
The Battle Over TikTok’s Future Continues
Federal judges are deliberating whether TikTok’s Chinese parent company (ByteDance) controls the app’s algorithm, which would raise national security concerns.
The U.S. government argues ByteDance’s influence poses risks, while TikTok claims the law violates First Amendment rights.
A ruling could lead to TikTok being banned or forced to find non-Chinese ownership by January 2024.
TikTok just had the most important two hours of its life | CNN
Snap’s New Spectacles
Snap’s new AR-powered smart glasses, called Spectacles, aim to redefine computing by merging fun and connection into daily life.
While not yet practical for everyday use, they offer an intriguing alternative to smartphones, and are designed to enhance real-world interactions.
Smartphones Are So Over | The Atlantic
TikTok Becoming a News Hub
A growing number of U.S. adults are turning to TikTok for news, increasing from 3% in 2020 to 17% in 2024.
Among those under 30, 39% regularly use TikTok for news.
Currently, 52% of TikTok users get news there, surpassing Facebook users but still behind X.
More Americans — especially young adults — are regularly gettings news on TikTok | Pew Research Center
Nearly Half of Gen Zers Wish TikTok Didn’t Exist
A nationally representative survey of 1,006 Gen Z adults (ages 18-27) found that 47% wish TikTok didn’t exist and 50% wish X (formerly Twitter) didn’t exist.
This is especially concerning given the survey also found that 60% of them use social media for more than four hours per day.
These love/hate data points speak to the addictive and problematic nature of social media today.
Nearly half of Gen Zers wish TikTok ‘was never invented,’ survey finds | Fortune
Other Headlines
- How would a social media ban actually work? | The Sydney Morning Herald
- Social-Media Companies’ Worst Argument | The Atlantic
- Judges Show Some Skepticism of TikTok’s Fight Against Potential U.S. Ban | The New York Times
- Google Wins Fight to Scrap $1.7 Billion EU Antitrust Fine Over Ads | The Wall Street Journal
Did we miss anything?
Let us know in the comments below.
Author Jackie Baucom
Jackie is a Gabb staff writer. She is the mother of four children and is passionate about keeping kids safe, happy, loved, and thriving. She has a degree in Mass Communication from the University of Utah.
Success!
Your comment has been submitted for review! We will notify you when it has been approved and posted!
Thank you!