Social Media
Ongoing coverage on Social Media.
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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.
Morning Metaverse
This article touches on various topics including the metaverse, a YouTube spinoff of Jeopardy!, and a UK social media ban. It also mentions the government's website and briefly references Google and Sony Interactive Entertainment.
X is changing its revenue-sharing policy to deter users pretending to be Americans
X is updating its revenue-sharing policy to prioritize engagement from a user's home region, according to Head of Product Nikita Bier. This change aims to encourage content relevant to local audiences and discourage users from gaming the system by pretending to be in the US or Japan. The new policy, effective March 26, 2026, will no longer send money overseas for content focused on American politics.
Evening Metaverse
This article briefly touches on several unrelated tech news items. It mentions a BBC report about UK teenagers trialing social media bans and digital curfews, and an Ars Technica report about Vizio TVs requiring Walmart accounts for smart features.
Meta is letting creators fill their Reels with shopping links
Meta is enabling creators on Instagram and Facebook to add clickable shopping links directly within their Reels, allowing them to tag up to 30 products. This feature aims to simplify brand partnerships and affiliate marketing for creators, bringing Meta's platforms in line with competitors like TikTok and YouTube Shorts. While Meta is not currently taking a cut of sales, the data gathered could inform its advertising business.
Snapchat users sent 'nearly' 2 trillion snaps in 2025
Snapchat users sent nearly 2 trillion snaps in 2025, averaging 5.5 billion per day. This data highlights the platform's engagement, with nearly 15-year-old Snapchat approaching 1 billion monthly users. CEO Evan Spiegel has set reaching a billion users as a long-term goal.
Twitter turned 20 and I feel nothing
The author reflects on Twitter's 20th anniversary, noting a lack of nostalgia despite being a long-time user. The article discusses the platform's transformation into X, its current algorithm, controversial AI tool Grok, and the legacy of its founder Jack Dorsey.
Evening Metaverse
The New York Times is blocking the Internet Archive, a move criticized as a mistake. Separately, Pinterest CEO Bill Ready stated that teenagers under 16 should be banned from social media platforms, though he excluded Pinterest from this recommendation.
Pinterest CEO says teens under 16 should be banned from social media (but not Pinterest)
Pinterest CEO Bill Ready advocates for a global ban on social media for individuals under 16, arguing it is unsafe for this age group. He believes Pinterest, which already has restrictions for younger users and identifies as a visual search platform, should be exempt from such bans.