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Two Hours a Day: Inside Meta’s Sweeping New Teen Limits for Instagram and Facebook
Meta has agreed to impose a daily two-hour time limit on teen accounts for Instagram and Facebook in the US as part of a child safety settlement with attorneys general nationwide. The agreement also includes new safeguards and limits on teen access during certain hours, with most protections mandated for at least 10 years. A significant portion of Meta's $17.1 billion settlement payment is contingent on TikTok and YouTube matching these new teen usage restrictions.
Legal experts say Meta's settlement puts YouTube, TikTok and Snap on notice
Meta's recent settlement could prompt major competitors like YouTube, TikTok, and Snap to alter their application designs. Legal experts suggest this development signals a potential shift in how these platforms operate.
Meta, TikTok, Snap and Google face wrongful death lawsuit from four US families
Meta, TikTok, Snap, and Google are facing a wrongful death lawsuit filed by four US families. The Social Media Victims Law Center accuses the companies of creating addictive and dangerous platforms.
Snap will show off its AR Specs at a September 16 event
Snap will provide an in-depth look at its augmented reality glasses during an event on September 16. The AR glasses are priced at $2,195.
Snap unveils AR glasses which CEO describes as 'highly wearable' in clip that visibly shows the chunky frames…
Snap has unveiled its new augmented reality glasses, called Specs, priced at $2,195. CEO Evan Spiegel described the devices as 'highly wearable,' despite their chunky appearance, which houses dual Snapdragon processors for advanced features. The glasses offer a virtual 24-inch desktop monitor experience or a 115-inch cinema screen, with a battery life of four hours per charge, extendable to 20 hours with the included case.
Virtual Reality Check
Snap has announced its new 'Snap Specs,' a virtual reality headset priced at $2,195. The article notes the device's appearance and cost, referencing a report from 9to5Google.
Snap's slimmed down AR Specs go on sale later this year for $2,195
Snap announced that its new AR Glasses, described as a 'wearable computer,' will go on sale later this year for $2,195. The company is focusing on a slimmer design for its latest augmented reality hardware.
AWE 2026: Live updates from keynotes by Snap CEO Evan Spiegel, Google and Qualcomm at the XR show
This article provides live updates from the AWE XR 2026 event, focusing on keynotes from Snap CEO Evan Spiegel and Qualcomm. The event covers advancements in augmented and virtual reality technologies.
Snap will no longer allow younger teens' Spotlight videos to be publicly viewable
Snap will no longer allow videos from users under 16 to be publicly viewable on its Spotlight feature. This change aims to enhance safety for younger users on the platform.
Virtual Reality Check
Snap is reportedly launching its augmented reality glasses this Fall with a price tag of $2,500. The article also briefly mentions the Homestar Runner Distraction Pack for the game Walkabout Mini-Golf.
Meta, Snap and Roblox commit to tougher anti-grooming measures in UK
Meta, Snap, and Roblox have committed to implementing tougher anti-grooming measures in the UK following urging from Ofcom. These social networks will enhance their safety protocols to protect users, particularly children, from online grooming.
Sunday Legal Briefs
Snap, YouTube, and TikTok have reportedly settled a lawsuit alleging they contributed to a "tech addiction crisis" among young people. PCMag notes that one defendant remains in the legal proceedings.
Snap and YouTube have reportedly settled another major social media addiction lawsuit
Snap and YouTube have reportedly settled a major lawsuit concerning social media addiction. Both companies are currently involved in numerous other legal challenges.
Snap is laying off 16 percent of its workforce, blames AI
Snap is laying off approximately 1,000 employees, representing 16 percent of its workforce, with CEO Evan Spiegel citing advancements in artificial intelligence as a reason for the reduction. The company expects these changes to save over $500 million by the second half of 2026 and improve net-income profitability. This move follows similar workforce reductions at other tech companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and Pinterest, as they increasingly integrate AI to boost efficiency.
Most US teens say TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat aren't hurting (or helping) their mental health
A Pew Research report indicates that most U.S. teenagers do not believe social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat are harming their mental health. While a minority report negative effects on sleep and productivity, the majority feel the apps neither help nor hurt these aspects. Parents, however, tend to hold a more negative view of social media's impact on their children.
Majority of Australian kids are still on banned social media platforms, study finds
A study by the Molly Rose Foundation found that 61% of Australian children aged 12-15 continue to use social media platforms banned for their age group, questioning the effectiveness of the country's new regulations. Many children reported easily bypassing the ban, and the Australian government is investigating platforms like TikTok and Meta for non-compliance, with potential penalties up to A$49.5 million.
Three YouTubers accuse Apple of illegal scraping to train its AI models
Three YouTubers have filed a class action lawsuit against Apple, accusing the company of illegally scraping copyrighted videos from YouTube to train its AI models. The creators allege Apple circumvented platform controls and that its success relies on content like theirs. Similar lawsuits have been filed by these channels against Meta, Nvidia, ByteDance, and Snap, while Apple itself faces other legal challenges regarding AI training data.
Rec Room, a Roblox-style VR game, is shutting down
Rec Room, a social VR game inspired by Roblox, will shut down on June 1 after a decade of operation due to profitability challenges. Despite attracting 150 million players, developers could not find a sustainable business model. Some features will be temporarily free, and users can download room assets. Snap has acquired some Rec Room assets and employees.
The EU is investigating Snapchat over possible child protection breaches
The European Union has launched a formal investigation into Snapchat for potential breaches of the Digital Services Act concerning child protection. Regulators are examining whether the platform adequately safeguards minors from grooming, illegal drug access, and age-inappropriate content, questioning the effectiveness of its age verification system. The EU is also investigating reporting mechanisms for illegal content and accounts, and how user data is recommended.
Jury rules against Meta and YouTube in social media addiction case
A Los Angeles jury found Meta and YouTube negligent in a lawsuit concerning social media addiction, ordering them to pay $3 million in damages to a plaintiff who claimed harm from addictive features during her childhood. Meta was found responsible for 70% of the compensatory damages, with YouTube covering the rest. This case is significant as it's the first time a jury has heard testimony and seen internal documents regarding allegations that social media platforms harmed minors due to their design.