Florence is opening Italy’s first youth digital addiction center, offering education, screen-free activities, and support instead of broad bans.

The post Florence Opens Italy’s First Youth Digital Addiction Center appeared first on TechRepublic.

The European Commission says TikTok may be violating the Digital Services Act by failing to adequately protect minors' accounts and privacy on the platform.

The latest findings could come with a fine of up to six percent of TikTok's annual revenue.

In the final weeks before Romania’s presidential vote in November 2024, TikTok accounts that had previously spent years posting about manicures or fashion suddenly started promoting a little-known politician named Calin Georgescu.

His posts, espousing hard-line views on immigration and anti-Semitic tropes, were viewed 120 million times before the vote. Georgescu, who had previously been polling in the single digits, stunned observers by winning the election’s first round with 23 percent of the vote.

In the Netherlands, Adriana Iamnitchi was watching closely. As chair of computational social sciences at Maastricht University, she leads the research into disinformation campaigns. She wanted to know how pro-Georgescu content was being monetized on TikTok through hidden influencer marketing and livestreamed political content.

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Facebook is rolling out a standalone Seller app for Marketplace power users and testing a video-first home screen that mirrors TikTok's format.

In a curious move, the social network is siphoning off its most popular features into separate apps.

About 430 million items are listed on Marketplace each month, according to Meta.

Facebook is rolling out a free, selfie-based Verified badge so you know there's a real person behind a profile before you swipe, chat, or buy.

Meta has launched a new AI campaign featuring CEO Mark Zuckerberg, positioning artificial intelligence as a tool for creativity, connection, and human potential ahead of earnings.

The post Zuckerberg Wants to Change How You Think About AI appeared first on TechRepublic.

Trump Media's planned Truth API is drawing regulatory scrutiny as lawmakers question whether premium access to market-moving Truth Social posts creates fairness concerns.

The post Why Trump Media’s New API Is Raising Questions on Capitol Hill appeared first on TechRepublic.

Meta avoided a closely watched social media addiction trial after the plaintiff dropped the remaining claim, leaving broader questions over platform design unresolved.

The post Why Meta Escaped a Landmark Social Media Lawsuit appeared first on TechRepublic.

While the company is trying to protect creators from AI, it still thinks the technology is changing how it does business.

The company wants people to be anti-doomer, but doesn't say why.

A closely watched social media addiction lawsuit that had been set to go to trial next week has been dropped after the plaintiff voluntarily dismissed his claims against Meta, leaving none of the major tech companies facing trial in the case.

Yope, a fast-growing social app focused on private groups of friends and family, has raised $12.3 million in seed funding. Instead of chasing creators and algorithmic feeds, the startup is betting that the future of social networking lies in small, private communities powered by messaging, photo sharing, and AI features designed to strengthen real-world relationships.

France will ban social media for children under 15, requiring nationwide age checks and raising privacy and platform compliance concerns.

The post France Bans Social Media for Under-15s, Requires Age Checks appeared first on TechRepublic.

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Instagram’s new Replace Audio feature allows users to swap music on existing feed posts and carousels while preserving their engagement

YouTube is clarifying monetization rules for repetitive AI-generated videos, synthetic personas, and low-effort content in its Partner Program.

The post YouTube Tightens Monetization Rules for AI-Generated and Low-Quality Content appeared first on TechRepublic.

Opponents of the ban worry about online anonymity.