TechnologyUnited States
TikTok Settles Alabama Youth Safety Suit for $100M+
TikTok will pay Alabama at least $100 million and overhaul teen safety features, settling a youth-safety lawsuit days before trial.
—5 min read
Tag
#Social Media
40 articles
InternationalTechnology
Mediahuis Relaunches Hyves in an Algorithm-Free Bet
Mediahuis has revived Hyves, the Dutch social network, 13 years after it shut down, as an algorithm-free alternative to Facebook and TikTok.
—6 min read
TechnologyPolitics
Newsom Signs Landmark Online Child Safety Laws
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed 13 bills imposing the nation's toughest chatbot rules and banning addictive social media features for kids under 16.
—6 min read
TechnologyBusiness
Meta's $17.1B Settlement: How the Deal Came Together
Meta's $17.1B settlement with state AGs is the largest Big Tech deal in history. Here's how it was negotiated and what it means for social media.
—6 min read
TechnologyBusiness
Meta Reaches $18B Settlement in Teen Addiction Case
Meta agrees to pay up to $18 billion and overhaul platform safety features in a landmark settlement with 47 states over teen social media addiction.
—6 min read
TechnologyLegal
Meta Reaches $17B Settlement with States Over Teen Addiction
Meta agrees to pay up to $17 billion and implement sweeping child-safety measures on Instagram and Facebook in landmark settlement over teen addiction.
—6 min read
Technology
Meta Defends Child Safety Record in Landmark Trial
Meta defends child safety measures as four states sue in landmark trial over alleged social media addiction harms to children and teens.
—6 min read
LegalTechnology
Meta Heads to Court in Landmark Kids Social Media Trial
Four states take Meta to federal court over claims its platforms were designed to addict children. The trial could reshape social media regulation.
—6 min read
TechnologyEurope
Meta Trial and Under-15 Social Media Ban: Protecting Kids
As the Meta trial unfolds and France bans social media for under-15s, Belgium debates how to protect children online.
—7 min read
TechnologyPolitics
Belgium Moves to Ban Cyberbullies from Social Media
Belgian Minister Vanessa Matz proposes a temporary digital ban for cyberbullies, inspired by French law. Experts question feasibility and enforcement.
—4 min read
Politics
Belgium Proposes Social Media Bans for Cyberbullies
Belgian Minister Vanessa Matz proposes temporary social media bans for cyberbullies, comparing the measure to driver's license revocation.
—4 min read
TechnologyRegulation
Meta Fined $567M in Landmark Child Safety Ruling
A New Mexico court ordered Meta to pay $567M and implement youth-safety measures after ruling its platforms created a public nuisance.
—6 min read
Domestic Policy
Belgian Police Zones Get Green Light to Use TikTok
Belgian local police zones can now use TikTok to reach young people, with strict security conditions separating accounts from police networks.
—4 min read
TechnologyLegal
Court Orders Meta to Pay $567M Over Kids' Mental Health
A New Mexico court ordered Meta to pay $567M for harming children's mental health, the first time a social media company was deemed a public nuisance.
—7 min read
Entertainment
Miss North Carolina USA Dethroned Over Racist Posts
Miss North Carolina USA Brittany Boltinhouse was stripped of her crown weeks before Miss USA after resurfaced social media posts sparked controversy.
—5 min read
Politics
Belgium Deploys Influencers to Combat Online Hate
Belgium's federal government is deploying social media influencers to combat online hate, targeting younger audiences where they are most active.
—4 min read
PoliticsTechnology
Clipping: Social Media Practice Reshaping Belgian Politics
Clipping - short video excerpts from political speeches on social media - is reshaping Belgian politics. Experts warn of decontextualization risks.
—6 min read
Entertainment
Miss North Carolina USA Dethroned Over Alleged Racist Posts
Miss North Carolina USA Brittany Boltinhouse was stripped of her crown after alleged racist social media posts resurfaced.
—5 min read
TechPolitics
Senators Move to Block Trump Media's Paid Post Access
Senators introduce bills to stop Trump Media from selling fast access to President Trump's Truth Social posts, citing insider trading and ethics concerns.
—6 min read
Tech
OpenAI's Luxury Influencer Trip Draws Online Backlash
OpenAI's luxury influencer brand trip drew backlash, with critics calling it 'dystopian' and accusing the AI firm of greenwashing.
—6 min read
SocietyTechnology
Brussels Targeted by 'Decline Porn' YouTubers
Foreign YouTubers are producing 'decline porn' videos targeting Brussels neighborhoods, raising concerns about negative portrayals of the Belgian capital.
—4 min read
SocietyTechnology
Belgium's Under-15 Social Media Ban Stalls Amid Rifts
Belgium's social media ban for under-15s misses its July deadline amid political infighting, civil society opposition, and age verification debates.
—4 min read
InternationalTechnology
France Approves Social Media Ban for Children Under 15
French lawmakers approve landmark social media ban for children under 15, making France the first EU country to enact such a measure.
—5 min read
SocietyMedia
'Belgian Nightmares': Viral Videos Spark Decline Debate
Viral 'Belgian Nightmare' videos depicting Liège, Brussels, and Antwerp in decline spark debate on urban decay, sensationalism, and far-right narratives.
—5 min read
TechnologyPolitics
UK Announces Midnight Social Media Curfew for Ages 16-17
The UK government unveils a default overnight social media curfew for 16- and 17-year-olds, targeting addictive features and poor sleep.
—5 min read
SocietyPublic Affairs
Changsha Official Suspended Over Parking Space Dispute
A Changsha sports bureau official was suspended after occupying a private parking spot for eight days, sparking public outrage on social media.
—4 min read
Society & CulturePolitics
Antisemitism Goes Mainstream: From Social Media to Politics
How antisemitic rhetoric moved from fringe online spaces into mainstream politics, profiling Nick Fuentes, Hasan Piker, and James Fishback.
—4 min read
CultureTourism
Tibet Viral Tourism Rewards Spark Nationwide Trend in China
Tibet's $69,000 reward for viral tourism videos has inspired regions across China to launch similar campaigns, shifting toward influencer-driven marketing.
—5 min read
TechnologyPolitics
AI Soldier Videos Flood Social Media, Exploit Public Support
AI-generated videos of fake US soldiers are flooding social media, exploiting public support for troops to push disinformation and manipulate opinion.
—5 min read
CrimeUnited States
Nine Shot as 10,000 Teens Swarm Raleigh in Takeover
Raleigh considers youth curfew after 10,000 teens swarm entertainment districts in social media-organized takeovers, leaving nine shot and dozens arrested.
—4 min read
Education
Péruwelz Schools Exit Social Media Over Student Image Rights
Péruwelz communal schools are withdrawing from social media over student image rights and data security concerns, switching to a secure app.
—4 min read
Viral/Social MediaReligion
Belgian Abbot Goes Viral on TikTok: 'I Was Not Aware'
Father François Lear, the 64-year-old abbot of Belgium's Maredsous Abbey, became an unlikely TikTok sensation after a 20-second video got 1 million views.
—4 min read
TechnologyPolicy
Meta Seeks Legal Immunity From Child Safety Lawsuits
Meta lobbies Congress for legal immunity from child-harm lawsuits, proposing liability protections in exchange for supporting KOSA.
—4 min read
PoliticsSocial Media
Hunter Biden Reclaims His Narrative in Viral Social Posts
Hunter Biden goes viral on X with unfiltered posts about addiction, family, and politics, transforming from political liability to social media sensation.
—5 min read
EU RegulationFinance
EU Targets 'Finfluenceurs': New Rules to Curb Online Fraud
The European Parliament adopted a landmark resolution calling for EU-wide standards to regulate financial influencers and protect consumers from fraud.
—5 min read
Cross-Strait RelationsPolitics
China Rejects Taiwan's Lai on Xiaohongshu, TikTok Crackdown
China's Taiwan Affairs Office rejects Lai Ching-te's claim that Xiaohongshu and TikTok threaten youth, calling it a bid to block cross-strait exchange.
—4 min read
CrimeEurope
Belgian Police Question Man Over Antisemitic Threats on X
A Limburg man was questioned by Belgian police after a video on X threatened to kill all Jews. The case highlights rising antisemitism in Belgium.
—4 min read
CultureSocial Media
Cat Maximus Tops PM Bart De Wever in Instagram Followers
Maximus Textoris Pulcher, the Scottish Fold rescue cat of Belgian PM Bart De Wever, has surpassed his owner with 218,000 Instagram followers.
—4 min read
Society
Young Francophones Reject Masculinism, Survey Finds
Survey: 75% of young French-speaking Belgians have heard of masculinism, but two-thirds reject the ideology. Findings highlight youth attitudes on gender.
—5 min read
Odd NewsSociety
Snake Scare on Chinese High-Speed Train Was Actually an Eel
Passengers panicked when what looked like a snake fell from a luggage rack on a Chinese high-speed train. Officials confirmed it was an eel.
—4 min read