Social Media
Ongoing coverage on Social Media.
Latest coverage
The Morning After: Amazon pledges its satellite internet starts this year
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy announced that its satellite internet service, Leo, will begin service by mid-2026, promising download speeds up to 1Gbps. The company aims for faster speeds, lower costs, and integration with other Amazon products. Separately, Greece will ban social media for children under 15 starting in 2027, and Amazon is discontinuing support for older Kindle and Fire tablet models.
Evening Metaverse
The Electronic Frontier Foundation has announced its departure from the social media platform X, citing concerns over engagement metrics. Meanwhile, Amazon's satellite internet service is slated for a mid-2026 launch.
Instagram comments can now be edited (within 15 minutes)
Meta has introduced a new feature allowing users to edit Instagram comments within a 15-minute window after posting. This functionality, similar to message editing, enables users to modify their comments multiple times during that period. The update is part of recent changes Meta has made to the social app, including testing a subscription service for Stories.
Greece will ban all kids under 15 from using social media
Greece will ban children under 15 from using social media starting next year, with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis citing concerns about anxiety and addictive design. Social media companies will be legally required to verify user ages, facing fines under the EU’s Digital Services Act if they fail to comply. This initiative aims to push the European Union towards similar regulations.
Evening Legal Briefs
Recent social media verdicts may usher in a new era of technological accountability. This development suggests a potential shift in how tech companies are held responsible for content and actions on their platforms.
Xbox Game Pass’ Super Meat Boy Tweet is Peak Gaming Social Media Weirdness
Xbox Game Pass's recent social media post questioning if Super Meat Boy could be the biohazard in Resident Evil 7 is analyzed as a prime example of modern, often forced, gaming marketing tactics. The article criticizes the trend of brands prioritizing viral engagement over authentic content and genuine community connection, suggesting a focus on highlighting indie developers or behind-the-scenes stories would be more beneficial.
Evening Metaverse
SpaceX is attempting to persuade the FCC that Amazon's satellites were deployed at an incorrect altitude. Separately, Ofcom has reported a decrease in social media posting activity.
TikTok adds in-app Cameo integration for creators
TikTok and Cameo have announced a new integration allowing creators to add Cameo links directly to their videos. This feature enables fans to request personalized video messages from creators without leaving the TikTok app. The partnership aims to streamline the process for creators and expand Cameo's reach among TikTok's talent.
Meta will "substantially reduce" describing Instagram teen accounts as PG-13
Meta has agreed to significantly reduce its use of the PG-13 rating system for Instagram Teen Accounts, starting April 15, following objections from the Motion Picture Association (MPA). The MPA argued that comparing movie ratings to social media content moderation was misleading. While Meta will no longer explicitly link the two, it will continue to draw inspiration from MPA guidance for its content settings.
Morning Metaverse
The Webby Awards 2026 nominations have been announced, featuring notable figures like Taylor Swift and Stephen Colbert. In related news, Meta has agreed with the MPA to limit PG-13 references for Instagram teens, indicating a push for better content moderation on social media platforms.
The Morning After: Meta tests Instagram Plus subscription service
Meta is testing a new subscription service called Instagram Plus in the Philippines and Mexico, offering features like extended Stories and the ability to see who viewed them. This move appears to be modeled after Snapchat+'s success with premium features. The article also briefly touches on other tech news, including a custom PlayStation PCB, Apple's 50th anniversary, and new Meta Ray-Ban AI glasses.
The Idolmaster English Social Media Opens Ahead of US Concerts
Bandai Namco has launched an official English social media account for The Idolmaster series on X, ahead of two concert performances at Anime Central 2026 in Rosemont, Illinois. While no new game information was revealed, details for the May 15, 2026 concerts featuring characters from the original game and its mobile follow-up have been confirmed.
Meta is testing an Instagram Plus subscription service with exclusive features
Meta is testing a new subscription service called 'Instagram Plus' in the Philippines and Mexico, offering exclusive features such as longer Stories, audience segmentation, and viewing analytics. The service, priced around $1-2 USD per month with a free trial, appears to be modeled after Snapchat+'s success in generating non-advertising revenue.
BrokenLore: UNFOLLOW Review | TheXboxHub
BrokenLore: UNFOLLOW is a horror game that explores themes of social media, influencers, and body dysmorphia. The game features a symbolic narrative that blurs the lines between memory, reality, and hallucination, with gameplay primarily in first-person. Despite some frustrating stealth sections, the game is praised for its impressive visuals, superb audio, and clever horror messaging.
Bluesky's next product is an AI assistant that helps build custom social media feeds
Bluesky has launched Attie, an AI assistant designed to help users create custom social media feeds through natural language prompts. Developed by Chief Innovation Officer Jay Graber and her team, Attie is built on Bluesky's open-source AT Protocol framework. While a separate application, its shared foundation suggests potential for future cross-app integration.
Sunday Metaverse
Austria is considering a ban on social media for children under the age of 14. This potential legislation aims to address concerns regarding child safety and the impact of social media on young users.
Austria is pursuing a social media ban for kids under 14
Austria is introducing a comprehensive set of measures to protect minors from social media harms, including a ban for children under 14. An official bill is expected by the end of June, with improved media literacy and clear rules for platforms also planned. This initiative follows similar actions or considerations in countries like Australia, Spain, the UK, and Indonesia.
Animal Crossing is the latest Nintendo game to be used in White House post
The White House utilized the game Animal Crossing in a social media post to promote National Agriculture Week. This follows previous instances where Nintendo properties, including Wii Sports and Pokemon, were featured in White House promotions. Nintendo has not officially commented on these uses of their intellectual property.
X moves the ashes of Tweetdeck behind its $40 Premium+ subscription
X has moved its TweetDeck feature, now known as X Pro, exclusively to its Premium+ subscription tier, which costs $40 per month. Previously available at the lower Premium tier, the change was not widely communicated to users, leading to confusion. X's AI chatbot, Grok, confirmed the change, stating that X Pro access is now limited to Premium+ subscribers.
How social media’s landmark court loss will affect gaming, whether we like it or not
A recent court ruling against social media platforms, likened to Big Tobacco's legal battles, could significantly impact the gaming industry. The article discusses how restrictions on social media's engagement-farming business models might affect game announcements, advertising, and news dissemination. It also touches upon the potential positive effects on children's mental health and addiction cycles.