WEATHER ALERT
Meta's third-quarter profit surges 35% reflecting strong ad revenue and its AI push
Read full article: Meta's third-quarter profit surges 35% reflecting strong ad revenue and its AI pushMeta Platforms Inc. has posted stronger-than-expected third-quarter results fueled by its advertising revenue growth and its push to incorporate artificial intelligence.
Nicky Jam withdraws endorsement of Donald Trump over comedian's 'garbage' comment about Puerto Rico
Read full article: Nicky Jam withdraws endorsement of Donald Trump over comedian's 'garbage' comment about Puerto RicoPuerto Rican reggaeton singer Nicky Jam has withdrawn his endorsement of Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election a month after appearing at a rally for the candidate.
Tech firms remove social media accounts of a Russian drone factory after an AP investigation
Read full article: Tech firms remove social media accounts of a Russian drone factory after an AP investigationGoogle, Meta and TikTok have removed social media accounts belonging to an industrial plant in Russia’s Tatarstan region aimed at recruiting young foreign women to make drones for Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
Police arrest 15-year old for making social media threats against DC schools
Read full article: Police arrest 15-year old for making social media threats against DC schoolsPolice on Friday arrested a 15-year old boy on charges related to threats on social media that prompted an increased police presence at multiple schools in the nation's capital.
Instagram makes teen accounts private as pressure mounts on the app to protect children
Read full article: Instagram makes teen accounts private as pressure mounts on the app to protect childrenInstagram is introducing separate teen accounts for those under 18 as it tries to make the platform safer for children amid growing backlash against how social media affects young people’s lives.
The paint is dry on Banksy's animal-themed street art that appeared across London over 9 days
Read full article: The paint is dry on Banksy's animal-themed street art that appeared across London over 9 daysOn the 10th day, after creating the mountain goat, elephants, pelicans, a rhinoceros and a gorilla, among other animals, Banksy rested.
European Union accuses Facebook owner Meta of breaking digital rules with paid ad-free option
Read full article: European Union accuses Facebook owner Meta of breaking digital rules with paid ad-free optionEuropean Union regulators have accused social media company Meta Platforms of breaching the bloc’s new digital competition rulebook by forcing Facebook and Instagram users to choose between seeing ads or paying to avoid them.
Uvalde families sue Meta and Call of Duty maker on second anniversary of school attack
Read full article: Uvalde families sue Meta and Call of Duty maker on second anniversary of school attackThe families of a group of victims of the Uvalde school shooting have announced new lawsuits against Instagram parent company Meta Platforms, the maker of the video game Call of Duty and the gun company that made the assault rifle used in the shooting.
Facebook and Instagram face fresh EU digital scrutiny over child safety measures
Read full article: Facebook and Instagram face fresh EU digital scrutiny over child safety measuresThe European Union opened fresh investigations into Facebook and Instagram over suspicions that they’re failing to protect children online, in violation of the bloc’s strict digital regulations for social media platforms.
In Orlando District 5 election, Travaris McCurdy sees legislative experience as his strength
Read full article: In Orlando District 5 election, Travaris McCurdy sees legislative experience as his strengthSeven candidates are vying for the seat that was vacated when Commissioner Regina Hill was arrested and suspended from office. We asked each candidate the same questions.
Instagram, YouTube the biggest likely winners of TikTok ban but smaller rivals could rise too
Read full article: Instagram, YouTube the biggest likely winners of TikTok ban but smaller rivals could rise tooWhile a bill to ban TikTok if it doesn't change owners has received President Joe Biden's signature, it could still be years before the popular video-sharing app is actually blocked from U.S. app stores — if it is blocked at all.
Japan's royal family makes formal debut on Instagram as world's oldest monarchy tries to draw youth
Read full article: Japan's royal family makes formal debut on Instagram as world's oldest monarchy tries to draw youthJapan’s imperial family has made an Instagram debut with a barrage of posts, hoping to shake off their reclusive image and reach out to younger people on social media.
Cameron Diaz and Benji Madden announce birth of 'awesome' baby boy, Cardinal, in Instagram post
Read full article: Cameron Diaz and Benji Madden announce birth of 'awesome' baby boy, Cardinal, in Instagram postStar couple Cameron Diaz and Benji Madden say they are “blessed and grateful” to have welcomed a baby boy.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, returns to Instagram to tease new food, cookbook, cutlery brand
Read full article: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, returns to Instagram to tease new food, cookbook, cutlery brandMeghan, the Duchess of Sussex, has returned to Instagram to tease a new brand that records show could feature jams, household items, cookbooks and cutlery.
Most teens report feeling happy or peaceful when they go without smartphones, Pew survey finds
Read full article: Most teens report feeling happy or peaceful when they go without smartphones, Pew survey findsNearly three-quarters of U.S. teens say they feel happy or peaceful when they don’t have their phones with them, according to a new report from the Pew Research Center.
State AGs send letter to Meta asking it to take 'immediate action' on user account takeovers
Read full article: State AGs send letter to Meta asking it to take 'immediate action' on user account takeoversA group of 40 state attorneys general have sent a letter to Instagram and Facebook parent company Meta expressing concern over what they say is dramatic uptick of consumer complaints about account takeovers and lockouts.
Social media outages hurt small businesses -- so it's important to have a backup plan
Read full article: Social media outages hurt small businesses -- so it's important to have a backup planThe Meta outage that affected Facebook, Messenger and Instagram for a few hours on Tuesday was an inconvenience for most.
Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and Threads logins restored after widespread outage
Read full article: Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and Threads logins restored after widespread outageA technical issue had caused widespread login issues for more than an hour across Meta’s Facebook, Instagram, Threads and Messenger platforms on Tuesday.
Osceola sheriff ‘accidentally’ posts possible crime scene photo in Madeline Soto case on Instagram
Read full article: Osceola sheriff ‘accidentally’ posts possible crime scene photo in Madeline Soto case on InstagramThe Instagram account for Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez posted a confidential crime scene photograph on Saturday morning, which the agency later said had been inadvertently shared with the public.
Florida school district sue social media platforms, say they ‘put profits over children’s mental health’
Read full article: Florida school district sue social media platforms, say they ‘put profits over children’s mental health’A Central Florida school district is suing several social media companies, accusing them of creating a mental health crisis in children that the district now has to spend money to handle.
The European Union expands digital crackdown on toxic content, dodgy goods to all online platforms
Read full article: The European Union expands digital crackdown on toxic content, dodgy goods to all online platformsThe European Union is expanding its strict digital rulebook to almost all online platforms in the bloc.
Talk about fresh: New subscription service sends local coffee straight to your door
Read full article: Talk about fresh: New subscription service sends local coffee straight to your doorOrlando Coffee Culture is finding a new way to put new and unique coffee beans in your kitchen with their new Orlando Coffee Club.
Court documents underscore Meta's 'historical reluctance' to protect children on Instagram
Read full article: Court documents underscore Meta's 'historical reluctance' to protect children on InstagramNewly unredacted documents from New Mexico’s lawsuit against Meta underscore the company’s historical reluctance to keep children safe on its platforms.
‘A Legendary Night:’ *NSYNC’s Joey Fatone, Backstreet Boys’ AJ McLean bringing 2024 tour to Orlando
Read full article: ‘A Legendary Night:’ *NSYNC’s Joey Fatone, Backstreet Boys’ AJ McLean bringing 2024 tour to Orlando*NSYNC’s Joey Fatone and Backstreet Boys’ AJ McLean will finish out their upcoming “A Legendary Night” tour with three stops in Florida, including in Orlando.
Meta to hide posts about suicide, eating disorders from teens' Instagram and Facebook feeds
Read full article: Meta to hide posts about suicide, eating disorders from teens' Instagram and Facebook feedsMeta says it will start hiding inappropriate content from teenagers’ accounts on Instagram and Facebook.
Ariana Grande announces new album arriving in 2024, her first since 2020′s ‘Positions’
Read full article: Ariana Grande announces new album arriving in 2024, her first since 2020′s ‘Positions’Thank you, next: Ariana Grande announced on Wednesday that her new album, titled “eternal sunshine,” will be released on March 8.
Facebook parent sued by New Mexico alleging it has failed to shield children from predators
Read full article: Facebook parent sued by New Mexico alleging it has failed to shield children from predatorsNew Mexico's attorney general is suing the parent company of Facebook and Instagram claiming it failed to protect underage users from exposure to child sexual abuse material and let adults solicit pornographic imagery from them.
Facebook parent Meta sues the FTC claiming 'unconstitutional authority' in child privacy case
Read full article: Facebook parent Meta sues the FTC claiming 'unconstitutional authority' in child privacy caseThe parent company of Instagram and Facebook has sued the Federal Trade Commission in an attempt to stop the agency from reopening a 2020 privacy settlement with the company that would prohibit it from profiting from data it collects on users under 18.
Taylor Swift's Rio tour marred by deaths, muggings and a dangerous heat wave
Read full article: Taylor Swift's Rio tour marred by deaths, muggings and a dangerous heat waveThe deaths of two people, muggings and a dangerous heat wave left legions of Taylor Swift's Brazilian fans angry and disappointed in the three-day Rio de Janeiro leg of the pop superstar’s Eras Tour.
Taylor Swift postpones Rio de Janeiro show, citing record heat a day after fan dies during concert
Read full article: Taylor Swift postpones Rio de Janeiro show, citing record heat a day after fan dies during concertTaylor Swift has postponed a concert in Rio de Janeiro after a 23-year-old fan died during her Friday night show.
A Meta engineer saw his own child face harassment on Instagram. Now, he's testifying before Congress
Read full article: A Meta engineer saw his own child face harassment on Instagram. Now, he's testifying before CongressOn the same day whistleblower Frances Haugen was testifying before Congress about the harms of Facebook and Instagram to children in the fall of 2021, Arturo Béjar, then a contractor at the social media giant, sent an email to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg about the same topic.
Meta rolls out paid ad-free option for European Facebook and Insta users after privacy ruling
Read full article: Meta rolls out paid ad-free option for European Facebook and Insta users after privacy rulingFacebook and Instagram users in Europe are getting the option to pay for ad-free versions of the social media platforms as a way to comply with the continent’s strict data privacy rules.
States sue Meta claiming its social platforms are addictive and harm children's mental health
Read full article: States sue Meta claiming its social platforms are addictive and harm children's mental healthDozens of U.S. states, including California, New York, Arizona and Indiana are suing Meta Platforms Inc. for harming young people’s mental health and contributing the youth mental health crisis by knowingly designing features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children to the platforms.
States sue Meta for harming young people’s mental health, collecting data on children
Read full article: States sue Meta for harming young people’s mental health, collecting data on childrenDozens of US states, including California, New York, Arizona and Indiana are suing Meta Platforms Inc. for harming young people’s mental health and contributing the youth mental health crisis by knowingly designing features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children to the platforms.
Riff On This: Smiles Official’s rap career is rapidly rising to the top
Read full article: Riff On This: Smiles Official’s rap career is rapidly rising to the topMiami-based rapper Smiles Official is not an overnight sensation like social media may have people thinking. In fact, he’s worked hard for many years and says he won’t stop until he’s reached the top.
'Addictive' social media feeds that keep children online targeted by New York lawmakers
Read full article: 'Addictive' social media feeds that keep children online targeted by New York lawmakersNew York is bidding to put new controls on social media platforms that state leaders say will protect the mental health of younger users.
Facebook and Instagram users in Europe could get ad-free subscription option, WSJ reports
Read full article: Facebook and Instagram users in Europe could get ad-free subscription option, WSJ reportsMeta plans to give Facebook and Instagram users in Europe the option of paying for ad-free versions of the social media platforms as a way to comply with the continent’s strict data privacy rules.
Apple says it will fix software problems blamed for making iPhone 15 models too hot to handle
Read full article: Apple says it will fix software problems blamed for making iPhone 15 models too hot to handleApple is blaming a software bug and other issues tied to popular apps such as Instagram and Uber for causing its recently released iPhone 15 models to heat up and spark complaints about becoming too hot to handle.
UK's new online safety law adds to crackdown on Big Tech companies
Read full article: UK's new online safety law adds to crackdown on Big Tech companiesBritish lawmakers have approved an ambitious but controversial new internet safety law with wide-ranging powers to crack down on digital and social media companies like TikTok, Google and Facebook and Instagram parent Meta.
Mainland High student arrested after Instagram post with pistol at school
Read full article: Mainland High student arrested after Instagram post with pistol at schoolPolice said that a school resource officer was notified of the post, which indicated that there may have been a weapon on the campus on Tuesday.
Europe's sweeping rules for tech giants have kicked in. Here's how they work
Read full article: Europe's sweeping rules for tech giants have kicked in. Here's how they workGoogle, Facebook, TikTok and other Big Tech companies operating in Europe must comply with one of the most far-reaching efforts to clean up what people see online.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau slams Facebook for blocking Canada wildfire news
Read full article: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau slams Facebook for blocking Canada wildfire newsCanadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Facebook of putting profits over people’s safety during Canada’s wildfire emergencies.
Thousands in Bosnia protest against violence after man livestreamed killing of ex-wife on Instagram
Read full article: Thousands in Bosnia protest against violence after man livestreamed killing of ex-wife on InstagramThousands of Bosnians took to the streets to demand authorities act to curb violence against women after a man last week killed his ex-wife while streaming the slaying live on Instagram.
For Mark Zuckerberg's Threads, the real rival is still TikTok -- not the former Twitter
Read full article: For Mark Zuckerberg's Threads, the real rival is still TikTok -- not the former TwitterThreads, the simple, bare-bones text-based social network created by Facebook owner Meta, burst onto the scene during a particularly bad week for the rival then still known as Twitter.
Man in Bosnia kills ex-wife live on Instagram and kills 2 more people before taking his own life
Read full article: Man in Bosnia kills ex-wife live on Instagram and kills 2 more people before taking his own lifePolice and news outlets in Bosnia say a man shot and killed his ex-wife while streaming the slaying live on Instagram and then killed two other people before taking his own life.
Facebook owner Meta carries out threat to block news in Canada. Google plans to do the same
Read full article: Facebook owner Meta carries out threat to block news in Canada. Google plans to do the sameFacebook and Instagram parent company Meta is keeping its promise to block news content in Canada on its platforms in response to a new law that requires tech giants to pay publishers for linking to or otherwise repurposing their content online.
Deep dive into Meta's algorithms shows that America's political polarization has no easy fix
Read full article: Deep dive into Meta's algorithms shows that America's political polarization has no easy fixA team of some of the world's leading social media researchers has published four studies looking at the relationship between the algorithms used by Facebook and Instagram and America's widening political divide.
Reluctant Twitter users, influencers and others are flocking to Meta's new Threads app
Read full article: Reluctant Twitter users, influencers and others are flocking to Meta's new Threads appCelebrities, lawmakers, brands and everyday social media users are flocking to Meta’s freshly minted app Threads to connect with their followers, including many Twitter refugees tired of the drama surrounding Elon Musk’s raucous oversight of that platform since acquiring it last year.
'Clone' or competitor? Users and lawyers compare Twitter and Threads
Read full article: 'Clone' or competitor? Users and lawyers compare Twitter and ThreadsIn a cease-and-desist letter earlier this week, Twitter threatened legal action against Instagram parent company Meta over the new text-based app, Threads.
Canada's government to stop advertising on Facebook and Instagram after Meta says it will block news
Read full article: Canada's government to stop advertising on Facebook and Instagram after Meta says it will block newsCanada's government says it will stop advertising on Facebook and Instagram in response to Meta’s decision to block access to news content on their social platforms as part of a temporary test.
Instagram and Facebook are adding more parental controls. Critics say they aren't enough
Read full article: Instagram and Facebook are adding more parental controls. Critics say they aren't enoughInstagram and Facebook are adding new parental supervision tools and privacy features beginning Tuesday, but critics say the steps don't go far enough.
Facebook owner wants preteens to step into virtual reality with its Quest headset
Read full article: Facebook owner wants preteens to step into virtual reality with its Quest headsetThe corporate parent of Facebook and Instagram plans to open a digital gateway for kids as young as 10 years old to enter virtual reality through the Meta Quest headset, despite rising concerns about children spending too much time on social media.
Meta tests blocking news content on Instagram, Facebook for some Canadians
Read full article: Meta tests blocking news content on Instagram, Facebook for some CanadiansMeta is preparing to block news for some Canadians on Facebook and Instagram in a temporary test that is expected to last through the end of June.
Teen arrested in DeLand shooting after Instagram video showed him with gun, deputies say
Read full article: Teen arrested in DeLand shooting after Instagram video showed him with gun, deputies sayA 14-year-old Galaxy Middle School student was arrested following a shooting in DeLand on Sunday after an Instagram video showed him with a gun, according to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.
Oviedo police see increase in ‘sextortion’ scam targeting Instagram users
Read full article: Oviedo police see increase in ‘sextortion’ scam targeting Instagram usersThe Oviedo Police Department is warning residents about an increase in fake Instagram accounts blackmailing users in ‘sextortion’ attempts.
WATCH LIVE: Mike Holfeld joins Julie Broughton on Take 6
Read full article: WATCH LIVE: Mike Holfeld joins Julie Broughton on Take 6A man whose face was the center of a catfishing scheme and his girlfriend took the helm of a new social media lifeline for victims of romance imposters around the world.
Louisville attack shows challenge of curbing violent videos
Read full article: Louisville attack shows challenge of curbing violent videosSocial media companies are once again in the spotlight after a bank employee in Louisville, Kentucky, killed five people in a mass shooting and livestreamed the attack on Instagram.
Social media platforms giving voice to victims of online romance schemes
Read full article: Social media platforms giving voice to victims of online romance schemesA man whose face was the center of a catfishing scheme and his girlfriend took the helm of a new social media lifeline for victims of romance imposters around the world.
Correction: People-Kanye West story
Read full article: Correction: People-Kanye West storyIn a story published October 13, 2022, about JPMorgan Chase and the rapper formerly known as Kanye West ending their business relationship, The Associated Press misspelled conservative activist Candace Owens' first name as Candice.
Octogenarian brothers make popular hand-drawn posters
Read full article: Octogenarian brothers make popular hand-drawn postersFor years, Miguel and Carlos Cevallos made a living by drawing posters for neighborhood nightclubs, taco trucks and restaurants in Queens, attracting clients by word of mouth.
The internet (and myself) cannot get enough of little kid obsessed with corn
Read full article: The internet (and myself) cannot get enough of little kid obsessed with cornEvery once and a while something goes viral on the internet that you truly cannot stop thinking about, and for me, it’s this video of a little boy describing the joys of eating corn on the cob.