YouTube is still recommending eating disorder videos to teenagers despite new rules introduced to curb harmful online content, research has found. The platform continues to recommend harmful videos to teens in the UK. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/clyrykggv26o #Media #SocialMedia #AI
Hacked source code has revealed that AI music generator Suno scraped millions of songs from YouTube Music, Deezer, Genius and podcast RSS feeds to train its model. The breach exposes the scale of data harvesting by AI companies. https://www.404media.co/hack-reveals-suno-ai-music-generator-scraped-youtube-deezer-and-genius/ #Media #SocialMedia #AI
UK officials have proposed a default overnight ban on social media apps for teenagers aged 16 and 17. The curfew would make Instagram, TikTok and YouTube unavailable between midnight and 6am. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/uk-officials-propose-overnight-social-media-blackout-for-teens/825374/ #Media #SocialMedia #Teens
#CandiceOdgers, a developmental psychologist, argues against #socialmediabans for #teenagers, believing they are misguided and potentially harmful. She contends that while #socialmedia may be a factor in adolescent mental #health issues, it is not the primary cause, and bans could drive #teens into less regulated and potentially more dangerous online spaces. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/jul/16/psychologist-candice-odgers-kids-tech-mental-health-social-media-bans?eicker.media #media #socialmedia
Cops have used Flock's FreeForm search feature to look for people with tattoos and wearing specific sport shirts, and searches sometimes include the target's race, according to data reviewed by 404 Media. The licence plate reader company has expanded beyond car tracking to person-based surveillance. https://www.404media.co/how-cops-use-flock-to-track-people-not-cars/ #Media #SocialMedia #Privacy
X will use Grok AI to detect stolen content at three times the previous rate, redirecting monetised impressions to original creators. The platform detected 1.5 million stolen posts in its latest cycle, with over 1M USD in payouts now going to rightful owners. https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/16/x-cracks-down-on-creators-who-steal-content/ #Media #SocialMedia #CreatorEconomy
X is testing Grok AI integration in Ads Manager, letting advertisers ask the chatbot for guidance on their ad campaigns. The move represents X's latest AI advance and could eventually enable full advertising automation. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/x-adds-grok-powered-insights-to-ads-manager/825497/ #Media #SocialMedia #AI
Research shows scrolling on social media tires the brain, making users more vulnerable to bold advertising claims. The study found people who scrolled for just 30 seconds were more likely to believe explicit product claims. https://theconversation.com/why-you-let-down-your-guard-on-ads-when-scrolling-on-social-media-287129 #Media #SocialMedia #SocialCommerce
Gen Z clubbers are becoming increasingly anxious about being filmed and posted online without consent, with many avoiding promoters' cameras and worrying embarrassing moments could go viral within hours. A Cardiff University student says the fear has cheated her out of the carefree nightlife previous generations enjoyed. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgmdk0k8dxzo #Media #SocialMedia #SocialNews
There has been a 14-fold increase in harmful social media posts during the 2026 World Cup compared to 2022, according to FIFA. The rise highlights the challenges platforms face in moderating content during major sporting events. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c7vg6q24e18o #Media #SocialMedia #SocialNews
X has relaunched a completely rebuilt Android app after nearly a year of development. The new version promises faster loading, smoother scrolling, improved notifications and greater reliability. Built from scratch using modern Kotlin and Jetpack Compose, the refresh represents one of the largest engineering projects in the company's history. https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/20/x-relaunches-a-rebuilt-android-app-after-year-long-effort/ #Media #SocialMedia #Community
Victoria will introduce "nation-leading" laws forcing tech companies to prevent online hate and keep children safe. New unmasking laws will let victims obtain court orders to identify anonymous trolls via VCAT. Families will also find it easier to sue social media platforms for negligence causing psychiatric harm to children, as the 10% permanent impairment threshold will be removed. https://theconversation.com/new-laws-in-victoria-target-online-trolls-and-harmful-tech-designs-how-will-they-work-287850 #Media #SocialMedia #Privacy
A UK businesswoman made 100,000 pounds in one day through TikTok Shop, using the platform livestream shopping to sell lash care products. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cvg76w4p1epo #Media #SocialMedia #SocialCommerce
AI companies are buying millions of old books to use as training data for their models, avoiding the AI slop that pollutes the modern web. A book database company says pre-2022 printed books are structurally guaranteed to be free of AI-generated content that could cause model collapse. https://www.404media.co/ai-companies-are-buying-tons-of-old-books-because-theyre-free-of-ai-slop/ #Media #SocialMedia #AI
Apple has fixed a vulnerability in its Hide My Email feature that was exposing users real email addresses. The company knew about the issue for over a year but only fixed it after 404 Media reported on it. A class action lawsuit has been filed. https://www.404media.co/apple-fixes-hide-my-email-vulnerability-after-404-media-coverage/ #Media #DataPrivacy
Meta used AI systems to determine which workers to include in its 10% layoff round, with a lawsuit alleging the systems targeted employees who had taken protected leave. The company employed a constellation of internal artificial-intelligence systems for the job cuts. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/metas-ai-based-layoffs-allegedly-targeted-workers-who-had-taken-protected/825800/ #Media #SocialMedia #AI
Three ways AI told the story of the 2026 World Cup: Lionel Messi, Jude Bellingham and Lamine Yamal all turned into memes. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zxk3nk7 #Media #SocialMedia #AI
A teenager has dropped her lawsuit against Meta that claimed Instagram caused addiction and harm. The case was among the first to hold a social media company directly responsible for its platform effects on young users. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgmk9gk1kuso #Media #SocialMedia #DataPrivacy
Samsung has unveiled new smart glasses designs from Gentle Monster and Warby Parker ahead of their fall release. The frames, built on the Snapdragon AR1 Gen1 platform, feature a single camera for photos, video and AI features including real-time translation. They offer up to nine hours of battery life with the charging case. All four designs run Google's Android XR operating system. https://roadtovr.com/samsung-google-smart-glasses-designs-gentle-monster-warby-parker-release/ #Metaverse #VR #AR #SmartGlasses
A small US town is installing 33 Flock surveillance cameras, one for every 300 residents, sparking privacy concerns. A resident who works as an investigative journalist spoke against the expansion at a city council meeting. https://www.404media.co/what-happened-when-flock-came-to-my-town/ #Media #SocialMedia #Privacy