instagram Instagram Launches U.S. Test to Hide Like Counts from Public View Instagram begins testing a new feature that hides public like counts on posts for a select group of U.S. users. The change aims to reduce competitive pressure and improve the well-being of younger users on the platform.
instagram Instagram Expands Hidden Like Counts to U.S. Users to Reduce Anxiety Instagram rolls out a test hiding public Like counts in the U.S. to reduce social pressure, despite potential drops in influencer engagement.
facebook Global Lawmakers Confront Facebook Over Disinformation and Oversight International legislators gather in Dublin to press Facebook on accountability, scrutinizing its planned Content Oversight Board and Libra cryptocurrency while also questioning Twitter's political ad ban.
freedom house US Internet Freedom Drops for Third Year Amid Surveillance and Disinformation Freedom House reports that the United States experiences a third consecutive yearly decline in internet freedom due to increased social media surveillance, warrantless device searches at borders, and rampant disinformation.
reddit Reddit Bans Accounts Over Leaked UK Trade Docs Linked to Russian Campaign Reddit reveals that leaked US-UK trade documents posted on its platform are part of a Russian disinformation effort known as Secondary Infektion. The company bans 61 accounts and one subreddit for coordinated vote manipulation.
twitter Twitter's Political Ad Ban Masks Deeper Platform Issues Twitter bans political ads while Facebook embraces unchecked paid lies, but neither approach solves the underlying ethical failures of major social platforms.
twitter Twitter Bans Political Ads, Directly Contrasting Facebook's Stance Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey announces a complete ban on political advertising, arguing that paying for reach compromises democratic infrastructure. The decision sets Twitter apart from Facebook, which continues to allow politicians to run targeted ads without fact-checking.
facebook Facebook Employees Demand Action Against Political Ad Misinformation Over 250 Facebook employees sign an open letter demanding CEO Mark Zuckerberg address lies in political ads. The workers propose solutions like fact-checking and limiting microtargeting to prevent the platform from profiting off misinformation.
instagram Instagram Bans Fictional Suicide Content Including Memes and Cartoons Instagram broadens its self-harm policies by prohibiting fictional depictions of suicide, such as drawings and memes, along with content showing related methods or materials.
facebook Facebook Launches Dedicated News Tab to Spotlight Quality Journalism Facebook rolls out a new News Tab feature designed to surface curated, high-quality journalism for its users. The section represents a major shift in how the platform delivers news content.
facebook Facebook Launches Dedicated News Tab to Highlight Quality Journalism Facebook introduces a new News feature that prioritizes original reporting from trusted publishers. The tab aims to rebuild relationships with the news industry by paying outlets for their content.
facebook Facebook Launches Dedicated News Tab Focused on Local Journalism Facebook introduces a new curated News tab that highlights personalized stories, local journalism, and original reporting. The platform relies on human editors rather than just algorithms to select fact-checked content.
facebook Facebook Launches Dedicated News Tab in Limited US Test Facebook is introducing a dedicated News tab in its main app, blending human curation with algorithmic suggestions to deliver personalized journalism.
facebook Facebook Launches News Tab Despite Repeated Publisher Betrayals Facebook introduces a new News tab featuring paid partnerships with major outlets, ignoring its long history of abandoning media initiatives and leaving publishers stranded.
india India Moves to Regulate Social Media Platforms Amid Disruption Concerns India's government announces plans to revise intermediary rules by January 2020, citing threats to democracy and national security. The filing emerges amid a legal battle with Facebook over WhatsApp message traceability.