Instagram is rolling out a new AI-powered system designed to detect if teens are lying about their age on the platform. This move is part of a broader push by parent company Meta Platforms to enhance safety and privacy for younger users.

For some time, Meta has used AI to assess users’ ages, but this new feature takes a more proactive approach. The company will now actively scan accounts suspected of being teen profiles, even if the user initially entered a false birthdate when signing up.

If Instagram’s AI flags an account as potentially belonging to a teen, it will automatically switch the account to a “teen” status. Teen accounts come with several key restrictions aimed at boosting safety. For instance:

• Privacy by Default: Teen accounts will be private unless changed by the user.
• Message Restrictions: Teens can only receive direct messages from people they follow or are already connected to.
• Content Limits: Content deemed “sensitive” — like videos featuring fights or promoting cosmetic procedures — will be restricted.
• Screen Time Warnings: Teens will receive a reminder if they spend more than 60 minutes on the app. Additionally, Instagram will activate a “sleep mode” from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., turning off notifications and sending auto-replies to direct messages.

Meta’s AI system looks at various signals to determine whether a user is accurately representing their age. These include the type of content they engage with, their profile details, and the account’s creation date. The company claims that over time, the AI is trained to better recognize patterns that suggest a user’s true age.

This move comes as social media platforms, including Instagram, face growing scrutiny over their impact on young users’ mental health. Many states are attempting to pass age verification laws to ensure that children under 13 aren’t using apps like Instagram, although these laws have encountered legal challenges.

Meta, along with other social media companies, has advocated for app stores to take more responsibility for age verification. Critics argue that platforms like Instagram aren’t doing enough to safeguard children.

In addition to the AI measures, Instagram will now send notifications to parents, offering guidance on how to discuss the importance of accurate age reporting with their teens.

Meta’s new AI-driven initiative signals a deeper commitment to creating a safer, more controlled experience for younger users, especially as public concern about social media’s impact on mental health grows.

Source: AP News – Instagram tries using AI to determine if teens are pretending to be adults

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Announced on Wednesday, the multiyear deal gives UFC access to Meta’s cutting-edge technology, including Meta AI, Meta Glasses, Meta Quest, and social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads. The goal? To provide UFC fans with more immersive and interactive ways to experience the sport.

One key aspect of the collaboration is the integration of Meta’s AI-powered smart glasses into UFC events, offering fans a new way to engage with live fights.

“Meta has the greatest minds in tech, and they are going to take fan engagement to the next level,” UFC President and CEO Dana White said in a statement.

Meta is also working on a new fighter rankings system, leveraging AI to bring enhanced analytics and insights to the sport. Additionally, Meta’s branding will be prominently featured inside the UFC Octagon and across UFC broadcasts.

Threads, Meta’s social media platform, will host exclusive UFC content, giving fans behind-the-scenes access and original programming.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is no stranger to mixed martial arts. In 2023, he competed in his first jiu-jitsu tournament and has trained extensively in the sport. His connection with UFC has grown over time, leading to his appointment to Meta’s board of directors in January.

Interestingly, in 2023, there was even speculation about a potential “cage match” between Zuckerberg and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, though the fight never materialized.

Zuckerberg and White are also linked through their connections with former President Donald Trump. After Trump’s reelection in November, Zuckerberg attended a dinner at Mar-a-Lago, and Meta donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund, joining other major tech companies in contributing.

Trump, a longtime UFC fan, has attended numerous major fights and has been associated with White since 2001, when he hosted a UFC event at his former casino-hotel in Atlantic City, the Trump Taj Mahal. White has remained a vocal supporter of Trump, speaking at the 2016, 2020, and 2024 Republican conventions and appearing at Trump’s election victory party in November.

Following the partnership announcement, shares of Meta Platforms Inc. saw a slight uptick in midday trading, while shares of UFC’s parent company, TKO Group Holdings Inc., climbed more than 2%.

This UFC-Meta partnership signals a new era for fan engagement in mixed martial arts, blending cutting-edge technology with the excitement of combat sports. With AI, VR, and innovative content strategies, UFC fans can expect an entirely new way to experience their favorite fights.

Source: – AP News – Dana White’s UFC and Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta joining forces in partnership

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A Trump administration official confirmed Wednesday that Amazon submitted its offer in a letter addressed to Vice President JD Vance and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, did not disclose the bid’s specifics. The New York Times first reported the development.

The urgency stems from a national security law upheld by the Supreme Court, which requires TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell the platform to an approved U.S. buyer or face an operational shutdown in the country. President Donald Trump, who has millions of TikTok followers, temporarily paused the ban on Inauguration Day but has signaled that he expects a resolution by Saturday. While he has the power to delay the ban further, he has also indicated that he prefers a deal to be finalized quickly.

Amazon has declined to comment on the bid, and TikTok has not responded to requests for a statement.

Amazon’s bid isn’t the only one on the table. Several major players have expressed interest in acquiring TikTok’s U.S. operations, including:

• Oracle: The software giant already holds a 12.5% stake in TikTok Global as part of a 2020 agreement when it became the app’s cloud technology provider.
• Blackstone: The investment firm has also been exploring a potential bid.
• Perplexity AI: The artificial intelligence startup proposed a merger with TikTok’s U.S. operations in January, emphasizing its ability to revamp the platform’s algorithm without creating a monopoly.
• Frank McCourt’s Consortium: The billionaire businessman, along with Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian as a strategic adviser, reportedly offered ByteDance $20 billion in cash for TikTok’s U.S. platform.
• Employer.com Founder Jesse Tinsley: Tinsley’s consortium is said to have put forth an offer exceeding $30 billion.
• Wyoming Businessman Reid Rasner: Rasner claims to have made the highest bid so far—approximately $47.5 billion.

The controversy surrounding TikTok isn’t just about business; it’s a matter of national security, according to U.S. officials. Both the FBI and the Federal Communications Commission have expressed concerns that ByteDance could potentially share user data—including browsing history, location tracking, and biometric identifiers—with the Chinese government.

TikTok has repeatedly denied these allegations, stating it has never shared data with Beijing and wouldn’t comply with such requests. However, U.S. officials argue that China’s national security laws could compel ByteDance to hand over user information if demanded by authorities. Despite the warnings, no concrete evidence has been publicly presented to confirm these fears.

Trump’s stance on TikTok has fluctuated over time. During his first term, he signed executive orders banning transactions with ByteDance and WeChat, citing security risks. However, since then, his view of TikTok has softened, particularly as he’s leveraged the platform’s vast reach to engage younger voters. He has acknowledged TikTok’s influence in shaping public opinion and political discourse.

With the Saturday deadline fast approaching, the next few days will be crucial in determining TikTok’s fate in the United States. Whether Amazon’s bid gains traction or another company emerges as the frontrunner remains to be seen. One thing is certain: the battle over TikTok is far from over.

Source: AP News – Amazon’s last-minute bid for TikTok comes as a US ban on the platform is set to take effect Saturday

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What is Bluesky?
Bluesky is an emerging social media platform described as “social media as it should be.” Visually and functionally, it resembles X (formerly Twitter) with features like search, notifications, a homepage, and options to post, comment, repost, and like content.

The primary difference lies in its decentralization, allowing users to host their data on independent servers instead of ones owned by Bluesky. However, most users still sign up with the default domain, “.bsky.social,” for simplicity.

Who Owns Bluesky?
Bluesky was originally the brainchild of Jack Dorsey, the former head of Twitter, who envisioned it as a decentralized alternative to Twitter. Dorsey left the project in May 2024, and its chief executive, Jay Graber, now runs Bluesky. The platform operates as a US public benefit corporation.

Why Is Bluesky Growing So Quickly?
Launched in 2019, Bluesky remained invite-only until February 2024 to address technical challenges before opening to the public. Recent political and social factors, such as Elon Musk’s backing of Donald Trump and criticism of X as a “toxic media platform,” have contributed to a surge in new users.

In November 2024, Bluesky reported gaining nearly one million new sign-ups daily, reaching over 16.7 million users. Celebrities like Lizzo, Greg Davies, Ben Stiller, and Jamie Lee Curtis have also joined, boosting its popularity further.

Despite its rapid growth, Bluesky still has a long way to go to challenge X, which reportedly has hundreds of millions of daily users.

How Does Bluesky Make Money?
Bluesky initially relied on funding from investors and venture capital firms, raising tens of millions of dollars. Unlike traditional platforms, Bluesky aims to avoid relying on advertising for revenue. Instead, it explores paid services like custom domains for usernames.

For instance, a user’s handle, such as “@username.bsky.social,” could be personalized to reflect ownership by an organization, like “@username.company.com,” which also doubles as a form of verification.

If advertising remains off the table, subscription-based features could become a primary revenue source. However, Bluesky’s financial future is uncertain, which is not uncommon for tech startups.

The Road Ahead for Bluesky
While Bluesky’s growth is impressive, its ability to sustain and monetize its user base will determine its long-term success. For now, it stands as a promising alternative to X, with the potential to carve out a unique space in the social media landscape.

Source

Discover Bluesky – Sign up here

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