The European Parliament has passed a resolution advocating for a ban on social media use for children under 16, with parental consent being an exception. This non-binding resolution aims to address growing concerns about the potential mental health risks associated with unrestricted internet access for minors. The European Commission is currently evaluating Australia’s similar ban, and a panel of experts is expected to advise on the best approach to protect children online. The resolution also calls for the disabling of addictive features on internet platforms used by minors, such as infinite scrolling and excessive notifications.
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Internal documents and statements from Meta, YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat reveal that these social media giants were aware of the addictive nature of their platforms and the potential harm to teens, yet continued to target them. According to a newly unsealed legal filing, internal communications show executives acknowledging that the platforms’ designs could be harmful to users’ mental health, with one internal message comparing Instagram to a drug and another noting minors lack the executive function to control screen time. The lawsuit, brought by several school districts and individuals, alleges that the companies prioritized profit over user safety by deliberately designing features to maximize youth engagement and advertising revenue. While the companies deny the allegations, the filing raises questions about the effectiveness of safety features and their awareness of the platforms’ negative impact.
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X’s new feature revealing user locations and account details has exposed widespread manipulation and fake accounts. Numerous accounts posing as Gazan residents, including some that solicited donations, were revealed to be operating from other countries such as Nigeria and Pakistan. Furthermore, accounts claiming to be journalists from Gaza were found to be based in locations like the United States and Turkey. The increased transparency has unveiled the extent of coordinated inauthentic activity on the platform, highlighting potential issues with political activism and misinformation campaigns.
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The European Parliament is considering a proposal to ban children under 16 from social media platforms. Citing concerning data on young people’s internet usage and potential risks, the Parliament’s Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) has drafted a resolution advocating for a harmonized digital age limit across the EU. This resolution, which will be voted on in a plenary session, also suggests applying the same age limit to video-sharing platforms and AI assistants, with the possibility of a harmonized digital age limit of 13 years. While the European Commission has been working on measures to protect minors online, it has previously resisted imposing an EU-wide digital age, leaving the decision to member states.
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In a recent social media episode, Donald Trump inadvertently amplified an anti-Trump account’s call for his impeachment while attacking Democratic lawmakers. He shared a screenshot from an account explicitly demanding his impeachment, thus undermining his own message. This gaffe occurred amidst a broader online tirade where Trump accused Democrats of “sedition” and retweeted a message suggesting they should be “hanged.” This incident follows a similar instance where he incorrectly referenced a Fox News appearance, further fueling concerns about his ability to stay on message.
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A recent update to X, formerly Twitter, now displays the country of origin for user accounts, revealing that many accounts promoting MAGA ideologies and American political content are based outside the United States. Accounts with significant followings, often promoting America First agendas, were found to originate from countries in Africa, Asia, and Europe. This discovery has sparked considerable discussion and concern about the authenticity of online content and potential foreign influence. While some accounts have deleted their profiles following this revelation, the feature is expected to be refined with further updates.
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X’s new “about this account” feature has revealed that numerous influential figures within the “Make America great again” (MAGA) movement are operating from outside the United States. This transparency tool exposes account locations, joining dates, and username changes, leading to the discovery of several right-wing influencers based in countries such as Russia, Nigeria, and India, despite presenting themselves as American patriots. User findings included prominent accounts like MAGANationX and IvankaNews, which were revealed to be based in eastern Europe and Nigeria respectively. The new feature has amplified ongoing concerns about foreign actors and misinformation on the platform, issues that have persisted even with the change in ownership and the introduction of AI chatbots like Grok.
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Further investigation has revealed that several prominent social media accounts with patriotic American themes are not operated from within the United States. Accounts such as “America First” and “MAGA Nation,” boasting hundreds of thousands of followers, are reportedly based in Bangladesh and Eastern Europe, respectively. Furthermore, a fan page dedicated to Ivanka Trump, with a million followers, appears to be managed from Nigeria. These findings raise questions about the true origins and potential influence of these accounts.
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X’s new “About This Account” feature, designed to increase transparency, has inadvertently revealed that numerous prominent MAGA influencers are actually based overseas. This feature allows users to see an account’s location, join date, and username changes, leading to the identification of foreign origins for accounts posing as “America First” or “MAGA” proponents. Accounts with hundreds of thousands of followers were found to be based in countries such as Russia, India, and Nigeria. The revelation has sparked discussions about foreign influence operations and disinformation campaigns targeting American politics, along with calls for further investigation into the motivations behind the use of these accounts.
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The Cambridge Dictionary has chosen “parasocial” as its Word of the Year, defining it as a relationship felt by someone towards a famous person they do not know. This term, coined in 1956, describes the relationships formed by individuals with celebrities and online personalities, particularly as social media has amplified these connections. Recent examples, such as the interest in Taylor Swift’s life and interactions with AI bots, demonstrate the word’s growing relevance. The surge in usage, and the word’s endurance, has solidified its place in the dictionary, alongside other newly added terms.
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John Q. Hosedrinker