May 08 From data privacy to AI, here are new rules Congress is considering for tech companies By Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press Most Democrats and Republicans agree that the federal government should better regulate the biggest technology companies, particularly social media platforms. But there is very little consensus on how it should be done. Continue reading
May 01 Watch 1:47 Arabic music breaks through to new audiences with help of streaming and social media By Deema Zein, Yasmeen Sami Alamiri With the use of streaming and social media apps, it seems like Arabic music is breaking through to new audiences. The PBS NewsHour's Deema Zein spoke to two experts on what this moment means for the music world and the… Continue watching
Apr 12 Arkansas governor signs bill requiring parental permission for social media By Andrew DeMillo, Associated Press Arkansas on Wednesday became the second state to restrict social media use by children, as Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders approved legislation requiring minors to get their parents' permission to create a new account. Continue reading
Mar 28 Watch 5:16 Utah law could dramatically limit teens’ access to social media By Geoff Bennett, Ali Schmitz A new law in the state of Utah could dramatically limit teenagers’ access to social media platforms. It requires anyone under 18 to get parental consent to join social media platforms, forces platforms to give parents access to children’s posts… Continue watching
Mar 26 Disconnect widens between TikTok users, lawmakers on potential ban By Haleluya Hadero, Associated Press Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle face an uphill battle trying to convince the public that China could use TikTok as a weapon against the American people. But many users on the platform are concerned — and angered —… Continue reading
Mar 21 TikTok updates app rules ahead of CEO’s U.S. congressional hearing By Kelvin Chan, Associated Press TikTok went on a counteroffensive amid increasing Western pressure over cybersecurity concerns, rolling out updated rules and standards for content as its CEO warned against a possible U.S. ban on the Chinese-owned video sharing app. Continue reading
Feb 21 Watch 7:52 Supreme Court case could roll back legal immunity for social media companies By John Yang, Saher Khan, Tess Conciatori, Karina Cuevas The Supreme Court heard a case that could radically alter the internet and social media. Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act protects websites from lawsuits over material posted by users. But the family of a victim killed in an… Continue watching
Feb 21 What you should know about Section 230, the rule that shaped today’s internet By Barbara Ortutay, Associated Press Twenty-six words tucked into a 1996 law overhauling telecommunications have allowed companies like Facebook, Twitter and Google to grow into the giants they are today. Continue reading
Feb 14 Watch 10:10 Social media companies face legal scrutiny over deteriorating mental health among teens By Christopher Booker, Mike Fritz A national survey by the CDC sounded a new alarm about teens in crisis. It shows nearly 30% of teenage girls said they considered dying by suicide, and three out of five girls said they felt persistently sad or hopeless. Continue watching
Feb 14 TikTok ‘de-influencers’ are urging viewers to buy less By Haleluya Hadero, Ali Swenson, Associated Press At a time when consumers are inundated with so-called social media influencers peddling the latest products online, a slew of TikTok users are leveraging their platforms to tell people what not to buy instead. Continue reading