Social Media
ALI SWENSON and CHRISTINE FERNANDO Associated Press
As social media guardrails fade and AI deepfakes go mainstream, experts warn of impact on elections
Experts are warning that the spread of misinformation could get worse in the coming presidential election contest. The safeguards that attempted to counter the bogus claims the last time are eroding, while the tools and systems that create and spread them are only getting stronger.4 months ago
Shelby Lofton
New Lyft option matching female, nonbinary passengers with drivers makes travelers feel safer
Lyft has launched a new feature allowing women and nonbinary passengers to pair with someone of the same gender.4 months ago
Associated Press
Social media platform Parler plans to relaunch early next year
The social media platform Parler is relaunching ahead of next year’s presidential elections.4 months ago
Associated Press
What did you Google in 2023? ‘Barbie,’ Israel-Hamas war are among the year’s top internet searches
Google released its “Year in Search,” a roundup of 2023’s top global queries, ranging from unforgettable pop culture moments (hello, Barbenheimer), to the loss of beloved figures and tragic news carrying worldwide repercussions.5 months ago
Clare Duffy, CNN
Elon Musk signals he will restore the X account of notorious conspiracy theorist Alex Jones
Elon Musk signaled Saturday that he would restore the account of right-wing extremist Alex Jones on X, formerly known as Twitter, reversing a 2018 decision by the company’s previous management to deplatform the notorious conspiracy theorist after he repeatedly broke rules prohibiting harassment and hate.5 months ago
EU AI
Europe’s world-leading artificial intelligence rules are facing a do-or-die moment
Hailed as a world first, European Union artificial intelligence rules are facing a make-or-break moment as negotiators try to hammer out the final details this week — talks complicated by the sudden rise of generative AI that produces human-like work.5 months ago
Eva Rothenberg, CNN
Meta collected children’s data from Instagram accounts, unsealed court document alleges
Since at least 2019, Meta has knowingly refused to shut down the majority of accounts belonging to children under the age of 13 while collecting their personal information without their parents’ consent.5 months ago
MICHAEL LIEDTKE and BARBARA ORTUTAY AP Technology Writers
Corporate, global leaders peer into a future expected to be reshaped by AI, for better or worse
President Joe Biden and other global leaders have spent the past few days melding minds with Silicon Valley titans about AI in San Francisco.5 months ago
MATT BROWN Associated Press
FCC adopts rules to eliminate ‘digital discrimination’ for communities with poor internet access
The Federal Communications Commission has enacted new rules intended to eliminate discrimination in access to internet services, a move which regulators are calling the first major U.S. digital civil rights policy.6 months ago
Associated Press
Former Meta engineering leader to testify before Congress on Instagram’s harms to teens
On the same day whistleblower Frances Haugen was testifying before Congress about the harms of Facebook and Instagram to children in the fall of 2021, Arturo Bejar, then a contractor at the social media giant, sent an alarming email to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg about the same topic.6 months ago
Tamara Vaifanua
Tips for protecting your identity online
You may not think twice about sharing intimate details about your life on social media, but experts say your personal info could be at risk.6 months ago
Associated Press
AI-generated child sexual abuse images could flood the internet. A watchdog is calling for action
The already-alarming proliferation of child sexual abuse images on the internet could become much worse if something is not done to put controls on artificial intelligence tools that generate deepfake photos, according to a new report.6 months ago
Madeline Holcombe, CNN
About half of children share their location on Twitch, research shows
Joining the interactive platform can help create feelings of community, but streamers age 13 and younger often share information that can put them at risk for exploitation with viewers all around the world.6 months ago
Mark Sherman, Associated Press
The Supreme Court allows the White House to continue work to combat controversial social media posts
The Supreme Court says it will indefinitely block a lower court order curbing Biden administration efforts to combat controversial social media posts on topics including COVID-19 and election security.6 months ago
Sanjay Gupta, CNN
Surgeon General warns of impact social media has on mental health of teens, young adults
The U.S. Surgeon General is once again warning of the impacts of social media on mental health, especially among teens and young adults.7 months ago
Mary Culbertson and Shelby Lofton, KSL TV
New social media rules proposed for minors in Utah
The state of Utah announces a set of rules for social media companies and enrollment of minors. The rules are scheduled to take effect on March 1, 2024.7 months ago
Eliza Pace
Utah sues TikTok, alleges harms to teens
The state of Utah filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against social media giant TikTok, alleging harm to the app's teenage users.7 months ago
Brianna Chavez
Daybreak residents turn their street into ‘Barbieland’ for Halloween
It's no secret Utahns go all out for Halloween. A group of neighbors in South Jordan are opting for the traditional haunted house and choosing the Barbie Dream House instead.7 months ago
Matt Gephardt
Influencers are influencing men the most to spend on beauty products and supplies
The marketing world has been taken over by influencers. Companies pay them to post about their products on social media – sometimes handsomely.7 months ago
Jordan Valinsky, CNN Business
Lyft’s new feature lets women and non-binary riders request their driver’s gender
Lyft is introducing a new feature that lets women and non-binary riders choose a preference to match with drivers of the same gender.8 months ago
Haleuya Hadero, AP Business Writer
TikTok Shop launches in the U.S. as the company bets big on e-commerce
After months of testing, TikTok is fully launching its e-commerce product in the U.S., in an effort to translate the app’s cultural relevance among young consumers to sales.8 months ago
Associated Press
NOT REAL NEWS: A look at what didn’t happen this week
A roundup of some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals of the week. None of these are legit, even though they were shared widely on social media.8 months ago
Matt Brooks, KSL.com and Shelby Lofton, KSL TV
Adobe co-founder, U alum, John Warnock dies at 82
Adobe co-founder and University of Utah alumni John Warnock died on Saturday at age 82, Adobe confirmed in a statement Sunday.8 months ago
