Australia’s ban on social media for under-16s is now in effect, a study shows Instacart presents variable prices for the same items in the same stores, and Instagram is AI-generating titles for photos showing up in web searches.
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Show Notes
Australia’s ban on social media for under-16s is now in effect, banning access to Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, YouTube, Snapchat, Reddit, Kick, Twitch and TikTok. Those specified platforms must implement methods to remove or block accounts by under-16s or risk fines up to $49.5 million Australian (approx. $33 million USD). On Tuesday BlueSky announced it would also comply with the ban, even though it is not required to due to a limited user base of 50,000 in Australia.
Source: The Guardian
Due to the ban, Lemon8 is now the most downloaded free app on iOS, with photo-sharing app Yope in second, then CoverStar, a fully-moderated alternative to TikTok with no direct messaging and advertising “no bullying” or explicit content.
Source: Bloomberg
Under the new Australian rules, Discord, GitHub, LEGO Play, Roblox, Steam and Steam Chat, Google Classroom, Messenger, WhatsApp and YouTube Kids remain unaffected by the ban, though the ban can be updated to adjust included platforms in the future. The United Nations agency for children, Unicef, warns the ban may push under-16s towards riskier places online. Some parents told the Guardian they have taught their children how to use VPNs.
Source: Bloomberg
The South Korean government announced plans to require ads made with AI to be labelled as such in early 2026. Director of economic and financial policy at the Office for Government Policy Coordination, Lee Dong-hoon, said “Anyone who creates, edits, and posts AI-generated photos or videos will be required to label them as AI-made”. Officials also plan to raise fines and add punitive penalties to discourage false AI ads, with companies knowingly distributing false information online liable for damages up to 5x any losses. Platforms will also be responsible for ensuring advertises are following labelling rules.
Source: ABC News
Meta announced changes to Facebook, adding features making the feed feel similar to Instagram. When posting multiple photos it will now be displayed as a grid and photos can be double-tapped to ‘like’ them. Search results have changed to display in a grid and support all content types. Facebook updated the menu design, streamlined commenting, and added the ability to give feedback when designating a post as ‘not relevant’. The update announcement states Meta plans to “continue to introduce new ways for you to shape your Feed and provide your algorithm feedback in the coming months.”
Source: The Verge
404 Media reported Tuesday that Instagram is generating headlines for posts which are not created by the uploader or pulling from posted captions or alt text. Author Jeff VanderMeer shared on BlueSky finding their own content show up in Google Search with a description they did not write. Similar clickbait-style headlines show up in a Google search from other users. 404 Media confirmed with a Google spokesperson that it is not generating the headlines, just pulling straight from Instagram. Engadget received a statement from Meta that the company “recently began using AI to generate titles for posts that appear in search engine results” and “As with all AI-generated content, these titles may not always be 100% accurate.”
Sources: 404 Media and Engadget
According to a new study organized by Consumer Reports, More Perfect Union, and Groundwork Collaborative, Instacart is using AI pricing tools in the US, with some shoppers being shown higher or lower prices for products from the same store. 437 shoppers in four cities added the same items to a cart from the same store with almost 75% of tested items offered at different prices. Tests were run at several Instacart available stores, including Target, Albertsons, Safeway, and Costco. In response to the report, Instacart made a blog post stating a “small subset” of stores run limited pricing tests which do not use any personal data, and that prices “never change in real-time, including in response to supply and demand”.
Sources: New York Times and CNBC
Uber announced adding a kiosk at New York’s LaGuardia airport so travellers can book a ride without requiring the app. Uber pitches the kiosk as a convenience for visitors without a data plan or when carrying a drained phone. Passengers using the kiosk can select a ride type and destination then receive a printed receipt with all the necessary details. Uber plans to add additional kiosk locations in airports and hotels in the coming months.
Source: Engadget