Mixed reactions as Snapchat removes controversial filter

Published

3 years ago

June 22, 2021

Snapchat is known for its array of filters but now it is removing one of its original features due to safety concerns.

The feature that displays how fast a user is travelling when taking a picture or video footage will no longer be available.

The company says it is because the speed filter was “barely used”, but multiple lawsuits have been filed against the tech firm because of the danger and risks that it poses to drivers.

The move follows Snapchat being sued by the parents of two young men, who say the filter encouraged their sons to drive at dangerous speeds which led to their deaths.

Snapchat removing its speed filter is for the best, but I did have fun using it when I was on a plane pic.twitter.com/xqY3O456qH
— ᒎᗴᑎ ᓚᘏᗢ (@jenlovescats) June 18, 2021

Parent company Snap says it had already “disabled the filter at driving speeds” and the filter now has a small “don’t snap and drive” warning.

In 2015, a separate lawsuit was filed in the United States. The judge presiding over the case ruled that the social media app could be sued for cases such as these.

“[The filter] motivated those to drive at an excessive speed in order to obtain recognition through Snapchat”
The Court Says.

It will take a few weeks to disappear from the screens of the 500 million people who use the app.

Boeing’s bad luck continues following Starliner malfunction

Published

7 hours ago

May 7, 2024

Nathan Langridge

Long-awaited first crewed test flight of the new Starliner space capsule was called off over a technical issue that launch teams could not resolve in time.

Originally scheduled for liftoff from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center, the mission aimed to demonstrate Starliner’s capabilities and certify it for regular crewed flights to the ISS, as reported by Reuters.

News

Will Tesla’s supercharger layoffs eventually payoff?

Published

1 day ago

May 6, 2024

Nathan Langridge

Tesla CEO Elon Musk dissolves supercharging team, leaving customers stranded.

Elon Musk’s decision to disband Tesla’s electric vehicle charging team has left customers concerned about the future of the company’s charging infrastructure.

The move comes as a surprise to many, considering Tesla’s commitment to expanding its charging network to support its growing fleet of EVs #featured