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Details from New Mexico's lawsuit against Snap show site failed to act on reports of sextortion
Read full article: Details from New Mexico's lawsuit against Snap show site failed to act on reports of sextortionSnapchat has failed to act on rampant reports of child grooming, sextortion and other dangers to minors on its platform.
How social media became a storefront for deadly fake pills
Read full article: How social media became a storefront for deadly fake pillsFentanyl overdoses have become a leading cause of death for minors in the last 5 years or so — and social media, where tainted, fake prescription drugs can be obtained with just a few clicks, is part of the problem.
New Mexico attorney general sues company behind Snapchat alleging child sexual extortion on the site
Read full article: New Mexico attorney general sues company behind Snapchat alleging child sexual extortion on the siteNew Mexico’s attorney general has filed a lawsuit against the company behind Snapchat.
Jacksonville man guilty of posting sex videos of ex-girlfriend on Snapchat sentenced to 9 months
Read full article: Jacksonville man guilty of posting sex videos of ex-girlfriend on Snapchat sentenced to 9 monthsA Jacksonville man found guilty of posting sex videos of his ex-girlfriend on Instagram without her consent will spend nine months in the Duval County Jail followed by three months of GPS monitoring.
Snapchat Inc. to pay $15 million to settle discrimination and harassment lawsuit in California
Read full article: Snapchat Inc. to pay $15 million to settle discrimination and harassment lawsuit in CaliforniaSnapchat Inc. will pay $15 million to settle a lawsuit brought by California’s civil rights agency.
DCPS workshop focuses on mental health plan, student code of conduct
Read full article: DCPS workshop focuses on mental health plan, student code of conductDuval County Public Schools is holding a workshop Tuesday morning to discuss creating a mental health plan and to review the student code of conduct.
Spain proposes law to improve online safety for children, including virtual restraining orders
Read full article: Spain proposes law to improve online safety for children, including virtual restraining ordersSpain’s government has proposed a law to protect children from online threats that includes virtual restraining orders for felons and a higher age for opening social media accounts.
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.
Two tribal nations sue social media companies over Native youth suicides
Read full article: Two tribal nations sue social media companies over Native youth suicidesTwo tribal nations are accusing social media companies of contributing to high rates of suicides that disproportionately affect Native American youth.
4 Canadian school boards sue Snapchat, TikTok and Meta for disrupting students' education
Read full article: 4 Canadian school boards sue Snapchat, TikTok and Meta for disrupting students' educationFour of the largest school boards in the Canadian province of Ontario have launched lawsuits against TikTok, Meta and SnapChat alleging the social media platforms are disrupting student learning.
Now that Gov. DeSantis has signed a social media ban for children under 14, do you think this will protect kids online?
Read full article: Now that Gov. DeSantis has signed a social media ban for children under 14, do you think this will protect kids online?Children under 14 years old will be banned from having social media accounts in an effort politicians said would save children’s lives. That’s according to the latest revamped bill that Gov. Ron DeSantis signed on Monday.
A judge has blocked enforcement of an Ohio law limiting kids’ use of social media during litigation
Read full article: A judge has blocked enforcement of an Ohio law limiting kids’ use of social media during litigationA federal judge has extended his block on enforcement of an Ohio law that would require children under 16 to get parental consent to use social media apps while a legal challenge proceeds.
Nevada attorney general launches go-it-alone lawsuits against social media firms in state court
Read full article: Nevada attorney general launches go-it-alone lawsuits against social media firms in state courtNevada’s attorney general has launched a go-it-alone legal fight accusing TikTok, Snapchat and Meta of creating what one lawsuit calls “an addiction machine” that exploits children too young to have self-control.
A judge has temporarily halted enforcement of an Ohio law limiting kids’ use of social media
Read full article: A judge has temporarily halted enforcement of an Ohio law limiting kids’ use of social mediaA federal judge has temporarily halted enforcement of an Ohio law that would require children under 16 to get parental consent to use social media apps.
A group representing TikTok, Meta and X sues Ohio over new law limiting kids' use of social media
Read full article: A group representing TikTok, Meta and X sues Ohio over new law limiting kids' use of social mediaA trade group representing TikTok, Snapchat, Meta and other major tech companies has sued Ohio over a pending law that requires children to get parental consent to use social media apps.
Social media companies made $11 billion in US ad revenue from minors, Harvard study finds
Read full article: Social media companies made $11 billion in US ad revenue from minors, Harvard study findsA study from Harvard says social media companies collectively made over $11 billion in U.S. advertising revenue from minors last year.
Pew survey: YouTube tops teens' social-media diet, with roughly a sixth using it almost constantly
Read full article: Pew survey: YouTube tops teens' social-media diet, with roughly a sixth using it almost constantlyTeen usage of social media hasn’t dropped much, despite rising concerns about its effects on the mental health of adolescents.
Nassau County Sheriff’s Office arrests 11-year-old accused of threatening school shooting
Read full article: Nassau County Sheriff’s Office arrests 11-year-old accused of threatening school shootingThe Nassau County Sheriff’s Office announced on social media that it arrested a person who threatened to shoot up Callahan Middle School on Monday.
Georgia kids would need parental permission to join social media if Senate Republicans get their way
Read full article: Georgia kids would need parental permission to join social media if Senate Republicans get their wayChildren in Georgia would need their parents' permission to create social media accounts if some top Republicans in the state get their way next year.
Why social media is being blamed for fueling riots in France
Read full article: Why social media is being blamed for fueling riots in FranceSocial media companies are once again under scrutiny, this time in France as the country’s president blames TikTok, Snapchat and other platforms for helping fuel widespread riots over the fatal police shooting of a 17-year-old driver.
The Snapchat AI feature makes me want to delete the app
Read full article: The Snapchat AI feature makes me want to delete the appI’m very much aware that I have no control over the decisions social media apps and organizations make, but it would have been nice to know that a strange little AI bot was going to show up as a Snapchat friend.
Snapchat video key in Murdaugh case: Here’s why it was so influential
Read full article: Snapchat video key in Murdaugh case: Here’s why it was so influentialOne of the last pieces of a legal dynasty that doled out justice in rural South Carolina for decades crumbled Friday as prominent lawyer Alex Murdaugh was sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison for the murder of his wife and son at their sprawling estate.
School lawsuits over social media harm face tough legal road
Read full article: School lawsuits over social media harm face tough legal roadLike the tobacco, oil, gun, opioid and vaping industries before them, the big U.S. social media companies are now facing lawsuits brought by public entities that seek to hold them accountable for a huge societal problem in the mental health crisis among youth.
Seattle schools sue tech giants over social media harm
Read full article: Seattle schools sue tech giants over social media harmThe public school district in Seattle is suing the tech giants behind TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Snapchat, seeking to hold them accountable for the mental health crisis among youth.
Group urges feds to investigate Snapchat over fentanyl sales
Read full article: Group urges feds to investigate Snapchat over fentanyl salesAs the U.S. deals with its deadliest overdose crisis to date, a national crime-prevention group is calling on the Justice Department to clamp down on social media’s role in the spread of fentanyl, the drug largely driving a troubling spike in overdose deaths among teenagers.
Snap cutting 20% of staff as ad sales continue to dry up
Read full article: Snap cutting 20% of staff as ad sales continue to dry upThe parent company of social media platform Snapchat said Wednesday that it is letting go of 20% of its staff as it reorganizes and tries to reduce costs in the face of declining sales.
FTC looking at rules to corral tech firms' data collection
Read full article: FTC looking at rules to corral tech firms' data collectionWhether it's the fitness tracker on your wrist, the “smart” home appliances in your house or the latest kids’ fad going viral in online videos, they all produce a trove of personal data for big tech companies.
Social media offers parents more controls. But do they help?
Read full article: Social media offers parents more controls. But do they help?As concerns about social media’s harmful effects on teens continue to rise, platforms from Snapchat to TikTok to Instagram are bolting on new features designed to make their services safer and more age appropriate.
Social media hammered by mounting questions over advertising
Read full article: Social media hammered by mounting questions over advertisingSocial media has had a rough 2022 with lingering questions about advertising spending and a $44 billion takeover of Twitter that may or may not be happening, depending on which Elon Musk tweet you read.
Mental Wellness Wednesday: What is “snapchat dysmorphia” and how does it effect your self esteem?
Read full article: Mental Wellness Wednesday: What is “snapchat dysmorphia” and how does it effect your self esteem?What is ‘Snapchat dysmorphia’? This is when patients seek surgery to look like the filtered versions of themselves.
Faces of Aiden Fucci: A look at the teen murder suspect’s emotions since his arrest
Read full article: Faces of Aiden Fucci: A look at the teen murder suspect’s emotions since his arrestFour different videos obtained by News4Jax show 14-year-old Aiden Fucci’s range of emotions since his arrest in connection to Tristyn Bailey’s murder.
Clay County authorities investigate vague social media threats against schools
Read full article: Clay County authorities investigate vague social media threats against schoolsThe Clay County District Schools Police Department posted a warning to parents Tuesday night about social media posts that could threaten schools in the county and neighboring areas. “The author of a newer social media post apparently formed conclusions of what they heard. We will continue to monitor safety and security measures at all Clay County Schools,” the department’s updated Facebook post read. UPDATE from social media post from March 9, 2021 Clay County District School Parents: After yesterday’s notice to... Posted by Clay County District Schools Police Department on Wednesday, March 10, 2021Visible police presence could be seen at schools around the county Wednesday. “Social media is a platform that everybody uses in one way or another.”
Twitter without Trump tumbles along with other tech shares
Read full article: Twitter without Trump tumbles along with other tech sharesFILE - This April 26, 2017, file photo shows the Twitter app icon on a mobile phone in Philadelphia. Twitter is launching tweets that disappear in 24 hours called Fleets globally, echoing social media sites like Snapchat, Facebook and Instagram that already have disappearing posts. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)Shares of social media and other tech companies slid Monday, hit by fallout from the siege on the U.S. Capitol by supporter of President Donald Trump. Trump supporters have argued that the actions of the technology companies is a violation of free speech and Trump has long tried to repeal Section 230. Though Trump's tenure ends in nine days, power in the Senate has flipped to the Democrats who have long begrudged the oversized influence of social media.
Twitter launches disappearing tweets that vanish in a day
Read full article: Twitter launches disappearing tweets that vanish in a dayTwitter is launching tweets that disappear in 24 hours called “Fleets” globally, echoing social media sites like Snapchat, Facebook and Instagram that already have disappearing posts. Twitter tested the feature in Brazil, Italy, India, and South Korea, before rolling it out globally. Fleets are a “lower pressure” way to communicate “fleeting thoughts” as opposed to permanent tweets, Twitter executives Joshua Harris, design director, and Sam Haveson, product manager, said in a blog post. The news comes the same day Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg faced questions from a Senate Judiciary Committee about how they handled disinformation surrounding the presidential election. Such features are increasingly popular with social media users looking for smaller groups and and more private chats.
2 men arrested, accused of using Snapchat to lure minors
Read full article: 2 men arrested, accused of using Snapchat to lure minorsA man in New York was arrested and charged with sexual exploitation of three minors throughout the country, after an investigation started by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. — Clay County Sheriff's Office, FL (@ccsofl) June 15, 2020The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York released information about the arrest that utilized the Department of Homeland Security, the Putnam County sheriff’s Office and the Longview Police Department in Longview, Texas. Utilizing the Snapchat name “Ian_Jameson,” Weiss communicated online with three different 13-year-olds, asking each to send him explicit photos. One of the victims was allegedly from Clay County, according to authorities with the Department of Homeland Security. News4Jax has also learned of a Jacksonville man charged after allegedly meeting a 14-year-old girl on Snapchat and then meeting her for sex.
South Carolina boy drives 200 miles to live with stranger he met on Snapchat
Read full article: South Carolina boy drives 200 miles to live with stranger he met on SnapchatAn 11-year-old South Carolina boy drove his brother's car 200 miles to meet a man he met on Snapchat. (CNN) - An 11-year-old boy drove 200 miles across South Carolina to meet a stranger he knew only on Snapchat, the Charleston Police Department said. The child drove from the northwest town of Simpsonville to Charleston. He told the officer early Monday morning he had taken his brother's car to go to Charleston where he wanted to live with "an unknown male he met on Snapchat," police said. Police have launched an investigation into the unknown male, Charleston spokesman Charles Francis told CNN affiliate WCSC.
Restaurant chain revives famous 'lost murals' through Snapchat AR
Read full article: Restaurant chain revives famous 'lost murals' through Snapchat ARFor National Hispanic Heritage Month, which is underway now through mid-October, the chain restaurant El Pollo Loco -- which has locations in California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Utah and Louisiana -- is using augmented reality to bring back some of Los Angeles lost murals, as theyre called. (We are) working with our communities to ensure the legacy of our city's great murals endures through digitally restoring lost murals and donating our storefronts as permanent canvases.So what does that mean, exactly? The website provides a list of where exactly these murals are located in L.A. The campaign is expected to last throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, which ends Oct. 15. [READ NEXT: 5 Instant Pot dishes to make for Hispanic Heritage Month | 10 Spanish-speaking TV shows you should be streaming on Netflix | How did Hispanic Heritage Month come to be? ]
11-Year-Old Drives 200 Miles to Meet Up With a Stranger He Met on Snapchat: Cops
Read full article: 11-Year-Old Drives 200 Miles to Meet Up With a Stranger He Met on Snapchat: CopsAn 11-year-old drove himself more than 200 miles to meet a man hed been talking to on Snapchat. He told the officer hed been driving for three hours already but got lost when the GPS app on his dad's tablet stopped working. Police then contacted the boys father, who was in the middle of reporting the boy missing to police. Authorities said they werent able to identify the man the boy was supposed to be meeting because the Snapchat messages had already disappeared, but they kept the tablet to investigate further. RELATED STORIESVirginia Teen With Carnival Cruise Snapchat Handle Gets His Dream VacationCarnival Cruise Line Offers Boy a Free Cruise in Exchange for His Snapchat NameMale Student Pretends to Be Teen Girl Using Snapchat Filter and Nabs Cop Allegedly Seeking Sex
One Colorado school shooting suspect claims he was forced to do it
Read full article: One Colorado school shooting suspect claims he was forced to do itIn the message, McKinney allegedly told him not to come to school. The two suspects are accused of carrying out a mass shooting at STEM School Highlands Ranch near Denver in May, killing Kendrick Ray Castillo, 18, and wounding eight others. Following the shooting, Erickson told investigators that McKinney made him do it and tasked him with guarding an exit and telling everyone not to move. Erickson took the two handguns used in the shooting from his parents, according to a law enforcement source. The two students used the middle school entrance because they knew they would be able to get the guns into the school, the affidavit states.
Putnam County teen accused of making another school threat
Read full article: Putnam County teen accused of making another school threatA teenager who deputies said posted a gun threat on Snapchat in May when he was a senior at Interlachen High School is accused of making another school threat, according to the Putnam County Sheriff's... Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.
Putnam County teen accused of making another school threat
Read full article: Putnam County teen accused of making another school threatPUTNAM COUNTY, Fla. - A teenager who deputies said posted a gun threat on Snapchat in May when he was a senior at Interlachen High School is accused of making another school threat, according to the Putnam County Sheriff's Office. Baylee Crowe, 19, was booked Wednesday night into the Putnam County jail, where he's being held without bond, online jail records show. On Wednesday morning, according to deputies, those students told school administrators and the information was handed over to youth resource deputies, who contacted the Sheriffs Office. We will continue to take seriously any threat made against our school campuses and students, Sheriff H.D. Putnam County School District Superintendent Rick Surrency thanked school staff, youth resource deputies and the Sheriff's Office for taking swift action that led to Crowe's recent arrest.
Putnam County teen accused of making another school threat
Read full article: Putnam County teen accused of making another school threatVIDEO: A 19-year-old who deputies said posted a gun threat on Snapchat when he was a senior at Interlachen High School is accused of making another school threat, according to a public information...
Snapchat unveils redesigned Spectacles sunglasses
Read full article: Snapchat unveils redesigned Spectacles sunglasses(CNN) - Snap isn't giving up on its smart sunglasses.On Tuesday, the Snapchat parent company announced Spectacles 3, the latest version of its video-recording sunglasses now with new 3D effects and an eye-popping price tag. In a video teased on social media, Snapchat teased the new special effects users can add to their "Snaps" with Spectacles. Snap said Spectacles 3 is a limited-edition product, and it will produce less of the new sunglasses than it has in the past. Google is now focusing on offering augmented reality glasses for businesses and Apple is rumored to be developing AR glasses. "The high price and clunky user interface will make most Snapchat users simply look the other way," she said.
Snapchat tops 200 million daily users for first time
Read full article: Snapchat tops 200 million daily users for first timeSnapchat added 13 million daily users in the three months ending in June, ending a long period of lackluster growth and pushing the company's total audience above 200 million daily users for the first time. It's now just short of its initial public offering price. The social media company has been working to right the ship for most of the two years since its initial public offering. In the quarter ending in June, it appears to have moved in that direction. Revenue hit $388 million, up 48% from a year earlier and well above analysts' projections of $360 million.
Parents, are you doing enough to keep your kids safe online?
Read full article: Parents, are you doing enough to keep your kids safe online?Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat … it can be tough to keep all the social media channels straight. And then you throw in texting, e-mail, the Cloud -- phew. It’s one thing to maintain a personal Facebook account. But when you try to stay on top of all the apps on your child’s or teenager’s phone? It can feel like a full-time job.