Meta company halted Project Mercury research, which found a reduction in depression and anxiety among Facebook users after a week of being "offline. " This became known from documents in court proceedings regarding the harm of social networks to teenagers.
A Spanish court has ordered Meta to pay over $550 million to Spanish digital media outlets. This is due to the use of personal data for behavioral advertising and a violation of EU data protection rules.
Gaming giant Roblox Corp. will introduce mandatory facial recognition or ID verification next month for players who wish to access chat features. This innovation aims to prevent children under nine from chatting without parental consent and to limit communication between adults and minors online.
The European Commission plans to designate WhatsApp's open channels as a "very large online platform" under the Digital Services Act, which will require adherence to high content moderation standards. This decision applies to channels that are open news feeds and have over 45 million users in Europe, without affecting personal messages.
Denmark plans to ban children under 15 from using social media, but parents will be able to grant permission to access certain platforms. This move is a response to concerns about youth mental health.
Meta, ByteDance, Alphabet, and Snap are accused of deliberately creating addiction in teenagers. A Los Angeles court ruling has allowed the cases to proceed, which could be of historical significance for the industry.
Australia has added Reddit and Kick to its list of social media platforms banned for under-16s, as part of a groundbreaking law. These platforms, along with other giants, will face a legal obligation to close accounts of younger children from December 10.
Meta is facing a lawsuit from adult film producers who claim the company illegally downloaded thousands of pornographic videos to train artificial intelligence models. Meta denies the allegations, claiming the content was intended for private use by employees.
Google's YouTube will use AI to improve the visual clarity of low-resolution videos on TVs, the web, and mobile devices. The upscaling feature will initially apply to videos below 1080p, with an opt-out option for content creators.
The European Commission stated that Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok violate EU legislation by not providing users with easy ways to report illegal content. The companies face fines of up to 6% of their annual global turnover.
Tech giant Meta offers a range of entry-level positions with salaries around $200,000 per year, requiring only a bachelor's degree. The company is actively hiring AI talent, and its CEO Mark Zuckerberg values skills over education.
On October 15, the Victoria's Secret fashion show 2025 will take place, where famous "angels" and new faces, including plus-size models, will walk the runway. The show will be available on Prime Video, Amazon Live, and the brand's official pages.
Targeted advertising allows businesses to show ads only to their target audience, saving budget. It has advantages in precisely reaching the target audience and increasing conversion, but carries risks of high competition and dependence on platforms.
In 2025, storytelling became a key trend in communications, ensuring an emotional connection between brands and their audience. Research shows that 92% of consumers expect stories, and quality storytelling increases conversion by 30%.
The European Commission is considering introducing age restrictions on social media use for teenagers under 16. This follows Australia's example, where similar rules will come into force in December.
A former WhatsApp cybersecurity executive has filed a lawsuit against Meta, alleging that 1,500 engineers had unrestricted access to user data. This could violate a 2020 US government order.
In Nepal, at least 13 people died during protests against the government's ban on social networks. Thousands of demonstrators gathered near the parliament in Kathmandu, protesting against the authorities' decision to block popular platforms.
Bandwidth for X, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and WhatsApp has been restricted in Turkey. Users are experiencing difficulties connecting to these platforms.
The famous TikTok and Instagram blogger, who has over 5 million followers, married David Paunall. The couple tied the knot on August 28 at Lake Como, making wedding planning part of their content.
TikTok is updating direct messages, allowing users to send 60-second voice notes and up to nine photos/videos at once. Users will also be able to edit content before sending.
Pop singer Taylor Swift and American football star Travis Kelce are officially engaged. The news sparked an emotional explosion among fans and congratulations from celebrities, including Gordon Ramsay and Donald Trump.
Former defender of Kyiv "Dynamo" and the Ukrainian national team Yevhen Khacheridi joined Odesa "Chornomorets", which plays in the First League. Earlier, Khacheridi worked as a scout at "Dynamo", from where he was dismissed.
The "Yellow Ribbon" movement, together with Ukrainians all over the world, reminds that Ukraine remembers its occupied cities. Hundreds of people from the temporarily occupied territories conveyed greetings to Ukrainians on Independence Day through the "Yellow Ribbon" platform.
The South African government has launched an investigation into the recruitment of local women by Russian companies under the guise of high-paying jobs. There are suspicions that they are being sent to factories producing kamikaze drones.
From September 1, new rules come into force in Russia, providing for large fines for any advertising or free mentions on Instagram and Facebook. Citizens will pay up to 500 thousand rubles for posting content on these platforms.
Meta is adding a live AI video translation tool to Instagram Reels that synchronizes speech with lip movements. Initially, translation from English to Spanish and vice versa will be available, with other languages to follow.
French streamer Raphael Graven, known as Jean Pormanov, died during a live broadcast after “10 days of torture. ” Prosecutors in Nice have launched an investigation and are to conduct an autopsy.
Actress Halle Berry celebrated her 59th birthday in Bora Bora, sharing stunning photos in bikinis and other outfits. The star showed off her slender figure and moments of relaxation with her boyfriend.
The White House has opened an official TikTok account under the name @whitehouse. The first video features footage of Trump saying, "I am your voice," and the caption for the video reads: "America, we are BACK! Hello, TikTok?".
Legendary actress Joan Collins, who turned 92, shared a photo in a white swimsuit from her vacation in the South of France. She hinted at a possible sequel to "Murder Between Friends" and is considering her next project.
