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Instagram pauses “Instagram Kids” in attempt to gain parent support

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The Facebook powered service is creating a kid-friendly platform for young Instagram users, but it doesn’t come without controversy.

Instagram pauses new kid-friendly platform project

Social media platform Instagram, powered by Facebook, has pushed pause on their controversial “Instagram Kids” network.

The tech giant is in the process of creating a spin-off of their iconic photo sharing app in what is planned to be a purpose-built networking tool for children.

However, those plans have drawn to a halt as Instagram works to reinforce the app’s parental supervision and safety features.

Instagram’s solution to a bigger problem

Instagram coined the idea in an attempt to address the ongoing issue of children making false claims about their age.

“We started this project to address an important problem seen across our industry,” Instagram says.

“Kids are getting phones younger and younger, misrepresenting their age, and downloading apps that are meant for those 13 or older.”

The original app’s terms and condition’s state that it is intended for users aged thirteen plus, however young users tend to overlook this and proceed to creating an account.

“Instagram Kids” thus provides children with their own platform to explore the world of social media, with Instagram assuring that it’s the parent’s decision on whether their child should have access to the app.

“We firmly believe that it’s better for parents to have the option to give their children access to a version of Instagram that is designed for them … than relying on an app’s ability to verify the age of kids who are too young to have an ID.”

It’s because of the introduction to develop such opt-in parental settings tools, that Instagram has had to press pause on the project.

The tech giant adds that the demands of parents, experts and policy makers will be considered in the app’s development.

In an address to critics

While Instagram is considering all angles of concern, critics continue to argue that the app’s development is a bad idea due to mental health and safety fears.

However, Instagram argues that it was never their intention to create their kid-friendly version the exact same as their current platform.

“The reality is that kids are already online, and we believe that developing age-appropriate experiences designed specifically for them is far better for parents than where we are today,” Instagram says.

“It will require parental permission to join, it won’t have ads, and it will have age-appropriate content and features.”

“Parents can supervise the time their children spend on the app and oversee who can message them, who can follow them and who they can follow. The list goes on.”

Written by Rebecca Borg

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Tesla is slashing prices to stay competitive

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Tesla cut the U.S. prices of its Model Y, Model X and Model S vehicles by $2,000 each, days after the first-quarter deliveries of the world’s most valuable automaker missed market expectations.

Elon Musk’s electric-vehicle (EV) maker lowered the prices for its Model Y base variant to $42,990, while the long-range and performance variants are now priced at $47,990 and $51,490, respectively, according to its website.

The basic version of the Model S now costs $72,990 and its plaid variant $87,990. The Model X base variant now costs $77,990 and its plaid variant is priced at $92,900.
Tesla North America also said in a post on X said it would end its referral program benefits in all markets after April 30.

Referral program allows buyers to get extra incentives through referrals from existing customers, a strategy long used by traditional automakers to boost sales.

Musk has postponed a planned trip to India where he was to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and announce plans to enter the South Asian market, Reuters reported on Saturday.
On Monday Reuters reported, citing an internal memo, that the EV maker was laying off more than 10% of its global workforce.
Earlier this month Reuters reported the EV maker had canceled a long-promised inexpensive car, expected to cost $25,000, that investors had been counting on to drive mass-market growth.
The EV maker reported this month that its global vehicle deliveries in the first quarter fell for the first time in nearly four years, as price cuts failed to stir demand.

Tesla is to report first-quarter earnings on Tuesday.

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TikTok launches Instagram competitor ‘Notes’

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TikTok Notes has launched in Australia & Canada as a formidable competitor to Instagram, offering a unique platform for content creation, text and sharing.

“TikTok Notes is a lifestyle platform that offers informative photo-text content about people’s lives, where you can see individuals sharing their travel tips and daily recipes,” reads the official App Store description.

Take note

The app allows users to create content by combining short videos with text-based notes, closely resembling that of Meta’s Instagram.

Whether it’s sharing a quick tutorial, a personal anecdote, or a thought-provoking message, TikTok Notes is positioned to be a formidable social media platform.

Currently, the app is only available for download and “limited testing” in Australia and Canada.

As it gains momentum, the platform is poised to contest Instagram’s established reign in the social media landscape.

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Ramifications of a TikTok ban to impact Open Internet

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The United States’ longstanding advocacy for an open internet faces a critical juncture as Congress considers legislation targeting TikTok.

The proposed measures, including a forced sale or outright ban of TikTok, have sparked concerns among digital rights advocates and global observers about the implications for internet freedom and international norms.

For decades, the U.S. has championed the concept of an unregulated internet, advocating for the free flow of digital data across borders.

However, the move against TikTok, a platform with 170 million U.S. users, has raised questions about the consistency of America’s stance on internet governance.

Read more – Big tech to handover misinformation data

Critics fear that actions against TikTok could set a precedent for other countries to justify their own internet censorship measures.

Russian blogger Aleksandr Gorbunov warned that Russia could use the U.S. decision to justify further restrictions on platforms like YouTube.

Similarly, Indian lawyer Mishi Choudhary expressed concerns that a U.S. ban on TikTok would embolden the Indian government to impose additional crackdowns on internet freedoms.

Moreover, the proposed legislation could complicate U.S. efforts to advocate for an internet governed by international organizations rather than individual countries.

China, in particular, has promoted a vision of internet sovereignty, advocating for greater national control over online content.

A TikTok ban could undermine America’s credibility in urging other countries to embrace a more open internet governed by global standards.

 

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