Meta’s Oversight Board Expands To Include Threads

 Meta’s Oversight Board has just announced an expansion plan to include Threads in its purview.

The announcement was recently made about how Threads users would be given the chance to make appeals against Facebook’s parent firm’s decisions having to do with moderating content online. This would provide this independent group the chance to impact policies for the new app that comes under Meta’s ownership.

It’s a serious expansion for Meta’s Oversight Board. The latter has now weighed up against any issues linked to Facebook and Instagram’s content published online. This change would give users the chance to have greater accountability that was independent, early on.

As per statements mentioned by the Oversight Board, users making appeals across Threads are going to see it work very much like how it is on Meta’s other two apps, Instagram and Facebook.

After exhausting the whole internal system on Meta, they can see a small glimmer of hope through reviews requested by Meta’s Oversight Board.

Under such rules created during the board’s formation, Meta would now be forced to make the board’s decisions come into effect with particular posts. But at the same time, it should not feel pressured or obligated to stick to such policy recommendations.

Including content moderation of Threads under its belt, such decisions are clear proof of how there’s a growing influence of the platform that works very much like Twitter, despite being rolled out last year in the summer.

So far, Mark Zuckerberg’s platform has a user base featuring close to 130 million users and Zuckerberg speculated some more ambitious targets where it might just go up to one billion soon. But only time can tell how true his prediction proves to be.

When we take a closer look into this matter, Threads has similar rules to Instagram. Meta has similarly encountered such pushback from a wide number of users working over the policies that include content recommendations.

For now, we’re seeing Threads bar certain terms linked to the COVID-19 pandemic and issues of that kind which it deemed to be sensitive. As one would expect, it raised eyebrows.

It similarly shocked some critics when it delineated how accounts promoting political content would no longer be recommended to users on the feed. The only way that would be possible is if the users themselves opted into making such kinds of suggestions.

When you look at things more officially, Threads has rules quite similar to Instagram. However, Meta says it continues to face a lot of pushback from plenty of users in regards to its policies outlined for content recommendations.

Whether or not the board weighs in on such decisions, only time can tell. It’s going to take some time before we see users on Threads witness any kind of changes due to recommendations made by the board.

Meta’s Oversight Board only attains a small figure of appeals generated by users. It might take a few weeks or even months for such groups to produce a decision and it may take even more months for the tech giant to make amendments to any regulations that it already has in place, thanks to the guidance being taken on.

Remember, Meta’s Oversight Board can expedite the whole process in certain cases so gone are the days when one would expect the whole endeavor to take a really long time before coming into play.

For now, we think the Oversight Board of Meta has its hands full because an app like Threads is certainly not the simplest to handle, especially in terms of content regulation.

European Commission Study Exposes Majority of Social Media Influencers for Failing to Disclose Paid Content

A recent study conducted by the European Commission highlights a concerning trend among social media influencers, with the majority failing to disclose paid content. This omission not only contravenes advertising guidelines but also raises legal implications for both influencers and the brands they promote.

European Union regulations mandate influencers to maintain transparency in their posts, ensuring they do not disseminate false or deceptive information about products or services. Specifically, influencers must disclose any financial or non-monetary benefits received from endorsing a brand's offerings.

The study examined posts from 576 influencers across major social media platforms and uncovered significant deficiencies. While nearly all influencers (97%) shared content with commercial intent, only a minority 2 in 10 (or 20 percent to be exact) consistently disclosed the promotional nature of their posts.A notable portion (30%) omitted essential company details, such as contact information or registration particulars. Furthermore, a considerable percentage (38%) failed to utilize platform-provided disclosure tools, opting for ambiguous terms like "collaboration" or "partnership."

Moreover, a substantial proportion (40%) did not ensure continuous visibility of disclosure throughout their commercial communications, while a significant fraction (34%) did not prominently display the disclosure, necessitating additional steps for viewers.

Of particular concern is the revelation that among influencers marketing their own products, a majority (60%) neglected to consistently disclose the advertising nature of their content. In response, the European Commission emphasized the importance of transparency in commercial communications, stressing that EU consumer law mandates transparency to prevent consumer deception regarding promoted products or services. Any endorsement of a brand's offerings in exchange for influencer benefits must be unequivocally disclosed as advertising. Additionally, influencers marketing their own products or services must fulfill the same legal obligations as online retailers, including providing consumers with requisite guarantees and withdrawal rights.

These findings underscore the imperative for influencers to adhere to regulatory requirements and uphold consumer trust through transparent communication practices.

Image: Digital Information World - AIgen

Zuckerberg Advocates Founder Involvement in Decision-Making, Acknowledges Need for Talented Teams Despite Reluctance to Delegate

 Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, shared insights into his unconventional leadership style during a recent episode of the Morning Brew Daily podcast. He expressed a reluctance towards delegating responsibilities, a principle that has sparked controversy within the business and leadership community.

Zuckerberg emphasized the importance, in his view, for founders to immerse themselves in decision-making processes and various aspects of their company's operations. He acknowledged the necessity of recognizing personal limitations to avoid hindering progress. Despite his inclination towards hands-on involvement, Zuckerberg acknowledged the indispensability of a talented team to handle essential tasks beyond his capacity.

Photo: Digital Information World - AIgen

Reflecting on his evolving confidence over time, Zuckerberg asserted his commitment to delving deeply into various matters and steering them towards his envisioned direction. He acknowledged the inevitability of setbacks but stressed the importance of continuous learning and improvement over time.

The Meta CEO's management approach has faced scrutiny amid significant layoffs affecting thousands of employees. Zuckerberg attributed some of these actions to timing misjudgments regarding investments, particularly in metaverse technology, and the need to streamline operations following excessive hiring during the pandemic-driven tech and e-commerce surge.

In an effort to enhance efficiency, Zuckerberg declared a "year of efficiency" and initiated measures to reduce bureaucratic layers within Meta's organizational structure. He expressed a desire to avoid an overly complex management hierarchy, emphasizing a focus on empowering individuals directly involved in executing tasks rather than creating layers of managerial oversight.

Meta In The Hotseat As EU Watchdogs Express Concern Over Ad-Free Subscription Model

 Tech giant Meta is facing great scrutiny from watchdogs located in the EU.

The news comes after the rollout of ad-free subscriptions took center stage in 2023 but EU regulators feel the thought of the ‘pay or ok’ initiative is just worrisome and they’re making sure Meta knows how they feel about this.

In the recently published joint letter, several watchdogs from that part of the globe had people talking more on this front and speaking against the model for ad-free subscriptions.

The leading concern is that there is a $14 monthly fee attached which Meta would take to ensure user data was secure and privacy was maintained at all times. The firms who are expressing concern include those hailing from Norway, Germany, and the Netherlands.

There were plenty of concerned parties who felt Meta’s Pay or Okay policy might be too expensive and therefore they would find it hard to say no to the option that allows them to reject the offer.

The document similarly goes on to point out how news publishers have little income as a major share of profits stays with the advertisers themselves.

Given the results of this pay or okay policy, we’ve seen how it’s not too popular with experts either. Many companies also feel that the button for acceptance automatically is deemed to be illegal. But the thought of charging a fee for rejection of the option isn’t.

There is also a great mention of how results from this pay or okay front are even greater in regards to consent as close to 100% failed in seeing how charging thousands of euros for clicking the rejection button is legal when compared to the option for rejection.

Paying out a fee also means families are speaking close to $38,000 each year if 35 applications on their devices follow this pay-or-okay model for business strategy.

The subscriptions in place for no ads address matters like the latest in terms of regulatory developments and guidance as well as judgments shared by top-of-the-line regulators in the EU and the courts over the years.

Meta does not agree and says its goals are in line with the laws arising in the EU and also with the stringent Digital Markets Act but 28 top companies feel it robs users of real or free-of-choice decisions of how data is utilized.

Image: DIW

Meta Opens Up Greater Access To Its Data To Keep Voters Informed Of Political Shifts

 Tech giant Meta is gearing up for the upcoming US Elections phase as well as crucial voting polls all set to take center around the globe very soon.

The company just mentioned how the goal was to provide a greater number of data to the masses for the sake of academics and to ensure people stayed well aware of what was taking place in their surroundings.

As days go by, this would be designed to ensure voters remain well aware of what’s taking place in terms of remaining aware of happening in the world of politics so they can be more informed and make better decisions along the way.

Remember, Meta has already been criticized multiple times for enabling misinformation to spread across its apps for a while now, and it seems to peak, each time the elections take place.

The goal is to ensure the best understanding of any political shifts arising as we speak because things keep on fluctuating and people need to be aware of what’s taking place.

After this new initiative was rolled out in the name of a partnership with the COS in the past month, we saw how the tech giant made way for greater content from a series of public figures that were accessible to those carrying out research.

This was done to make sure they met the growing impact linked to Facebook and Instagram activity that was linked to society, cultural norms, and even politics.

As rolled out by tech giant Meta, the next few weeks were surely going to be crucial for the firm and its host of apps that are popular with many around the globe. They can now download all kinds of content posted online, thanks to the growing rise in public figures and famous personalities. This data would be accessible to those downloading CSV formats via the user interface and wouldn’t need any access via virtual rooms.

• Also read: 10 Most Popular Social Media Titans: Top Platforms of 2024

This update would give rise to more content being published on social media for public discourse. It would be crucial to carry out opinion shifts in terms of how public figures can impact people’s behavior.

In a similar context, tech giant Meta is also launching its Data Protection Assessment questionnaire so that developers can benefit and it’s used for vetting applications to ensure data access.

200,000 Private Records From Facebook’s User Database Stolen, Hackers Forum Confirms

 A hacker has just raised the alarm amongst Facebook users after confirming that 200,000 personal data record entries were reportedly stolen from the firm’s database.

The news is alarming for obvious reasons as the claims further went on to delineate how the cybercriminal dubbed ‘alogoatson breached contractors’ efforts that are in charge of Facebook’s cloud services. They stole part of the user database that featured a significant number of entries.

The information was rolled out by a leading threat actor dubbed ‘IntelBroker’ which is notorious for a long list of leaks that entailed data stolen through General Electric and a long list of high-profile attacks taking place.

This sample entails lists featuring full names, profile image links, and hashed passwords. Other than that, profile ratings, settings, and plenty of reviews were on display.

The hacker explained how the data that was compromised included the likes of Physical IDs.

This database was first rolled out in February and has close to 24k email IDs and a host of other compromised information. Media outlets tried to request tech giant Meta for more comments on this front but there is no response so far.

This is clearly not the first time that we’ve seen such measures take center stage where a firm like Facebook has become the center of attention in a long list of data leaks. We saw in 2022 how a database from the same tech giant featuring data records of close to 533 million users on Facebook went public online without any additional costs attached.

For a while now, the company has been slammed for enabling third parties to gather data belonging to users as was seen in the high-profile and infamous Cambridge Analytica scandal.

The danger is massive and cannot be ignored because it involves a large number of private data getting leaked that could potentially impact the lives of millions. So as you can see here, there’s a lot at stake.

So many threat actors managed to collect data for matters like phishing attacks, malicious attempts, and convincing attacks against a host of individuals where data was exposed.

Media outlets continues to update the top-of-the-line data leak checker to entail data arising from several different leaks. For this reason, warnings are generated so users continue to remain vigilant at all times and ensure top-level privacy and security with passwords that are not easy to break into.

Photo: Digital Information World - AIgen

H/T: Bleepingcomputer / Cybernews

Meta Considers Revisiting Its Hate Speech Policy After Massive Concern Over ‘Zionist’ Terminology

 Tech giant Meta is under pressure after greater concern grew surrounding its respective hate speech policy.

Many users were wary about the terminology linked to zionists and how it was being used for posts linked to the Arab and Jewish communities. 

The policy currently enables the use of the term in a political discourse. Still, it was removed when it had to do with Jews or Israelis directly, especially when it was in the context of a violent or dehumanizing manner. This was just confirmed through an email generated by a Meta rep who mentioned that it planned to invite others to discuss the matter in the future, as first spotted by TheIntercept.

Meanwhile, the email further mentioned how the firm considered reviewing this in context to posts and concerns of users who were the real stakeholders on this front.

This means we might soon be witnessing a possible change in policy while advocacy groups (including MPower Change and 7amleh) were seen questioning how these policies were getting enforced, and that entails whether the posts were made by the platform’s algorithm or humans.

For a while now, we’ve seen Meta be blasted for rolling out measures that were unfair as all pro-Palestinian content was getting censored as mentioned by one Meta rep.

The groups rolled out questions regarding such policies and how they would get enforced for detection and censoring of this kind of language.

The AI-based systems are designed to flag all posts deemed problematic. Right now, there’s no kind of human review and such firms were the ones who happened to be in attendance during the meeting taking place with tech giant Meta.

Right before that meeting took center stage, a whopping 73 different firms generated a letter to the company that added how extensions generated to the policy could mischaracterize chats regarding zionists. They would treat that as proxies and would encourage acts linked to Israel as well as antisemitism.

The move was designed to stop Palestinians from rolling out daily experiences from the world.

During the meeting, Meta shared examples of how plenty of posts would soon be removed and they included posts where zionists were dubbed rats.

Such kinds of decisions regarding content moderation would not include track records that were reliable and had to do with Palestinian protection and speech.

In this letter, the firms expressed serious concern about the lack of replies to the rise in censorship of content generated in favor of Palestinians. This has been at an all-time high for quite some time now.

The proposal is ineffective in combatting measures like antisemitism. It ignores issues fueled by the likes of Palestinian oppression during a time when so many courts and experts in the field of human rights would accept that something as severe as genocide is taking place in the Palestinian region.

“There is a real danger that such policy revisions would stifle free expression of voices speaking out against the Israeli government’s systematic violations of Palestinian rights, and its ongoing onslaught in Gaza, where a real and imminent risk of genocide looms large.”, expressed Alia Al Ghussain, Researcher and Advisor on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights at Amnesty Tech.

Photo: Digital Information World - AIgen/HumanEdited

Meta Changes How Instagram and Threads Handle Political Content

 Meta is changing the way Instagram and Threads show political content. The company wants to avoid making Threads like Twitter, where political debates can get very heated. Now, Instagram and Threads won't "proactively" show users political posts. This is similar to what Meta already does on Facebook. It has cut down on political content in different places like the News Feed and video suggestions.

Image: Digital Information World

Meta plans to bring these changes to Instagram and Threads as the 2024 U.S. elections get closer. This means less political content in Instagram Reels and the Explore section, as well as in the main feed of both Instagram and Threads.

Threads is trying to be different from Twitter, avoiding news and political debates. Even though Threads delayed adding a trends feature, Meta doesn't want to push news content there.

Meta's new rules affect how Instagram suggests posts to users. But, if someone follows an account that shares political content, they will still see those posts in their feed and stories. It just means those posts won't be suggested to people who don't follow the account. Instagram will let professional accounts check if they can be suggested and change their content if they want to be.

Users who like political content can choose to see it in their settings on Instagram and Threads. Facebook will have a similar option later.

Meta is making these changes slowly. They want to be careful after facing criticism for spreading hate and misinformation in the past. This could also help with lawmakers who are thinking about how to handle big tech companies.

Meta Lays Down New Rules For Greater AI Transparency Surrounding Its Apps

 Tech giant Meta is on the rise to roll out a greater sense of transparency surrounding its platforms.

Facebook’s parent firm says it hopes to implement a greater number of rules that give rise to more transparency as we speak while others would be linked to detecting AI usage through technical measures.

We agree that it won’t always be possible as there are plenty of options up for grabs and a lot of options available today for subverting digital watermarks can be done with ease.

But tech giant Meta says it hopes to generate the latest industry standards on this front that has to do with AI detection. Facebook’s parent firm hopes to collaborate with a series of other providers in the industry to ensure AI transparency and create the right working rules that highlight such ordeals taking place online.

Tech giant Meta says it’s on the rise to creating several tools that can identify which markers are invisible and which are not.


This means labeling pictures from all kinds of platforms like Google, Shutterstock, Adobe, Microsoft, and even Midjourney. All the measures used for AI detection will allow Meta and a host of other apps to generate labels on content made through generative AI so everyone is well-informed about what they’re seeing or reading online.

This would help in limiting misinformation spread online that comes due to AI and while there are limitations regarding this capacity across the AI sector, it cannot be ignored.

The news comes at a time when we’re seeing some of the world’s top firms generate labels of images made through AI and those curated through humans so people are well aware of what’s taking place.

• Also read: Mark Zuckerberg Raises Concerns After Confirming Meta’s Use Of Instagram and Facebook Data For Training Purposes

It’s a key concern linked to AI development and has to do with experts generating a lot of concerns on this front for years. New generative AI tools like ChatGPT are certainly a major innovation when it comes to technical advancements. That is why a more cautious approach needs to take center stage so any harm and risks to the general public regarding its misuse must be made aware before it’s too late.

As it is, we’ve been seeing so many tools cause problems in various contexts like the elections. But with greater transparency and image labeling, Meta feels the addition of such ordeals can ensure AI is detectable easier than before.

There are plenty of safeguards being generated on this front and as search engine giant Google confirms, the need for such tools to be deployed at an earlier stage than before is the need of the moment.

Remember, more technical shifts and greater regulation can set the stage for greater management than before. It might take a few years but with the right tools in place, the tech world can overcome the issues and loopholes that many of us fear taking place right now.

Kids' Online Habits: Roblox and TikTok Lead, Generative AI Apps Gain Traction - Qustodio Report

 Social media trends are always evolving and now with the use of VR, AR, and other AI technologies, users are finding different ways to engage with each other online. Surely, these new trends of online engagements are going to impact the next generation of young consumers. A report by Qustodio shows how the young generation of people are engaging themselves in new trends on different social media platforms. The report is based on a survey of 40,000 US families with kids ages between 4 to 18 years.

The report outlines the social media platforms where kids spend their time. It was revealed that kids are spending an average of 2 hours daily playing Roblox, a popular online game. Kids are also spending another 2 hours on average of their day on TikTok. However, in 2023, TikTok remained the most-blocked social media app for its influence on mental health and security concerns. Parents worldwide restrict access due to its controversial challenges, marking its second consecutive year as the top-blocked app.

Data from 2022 showed that kids from ages 4 to 18 spent an average of 107 minutes but now those minutes have increased to 112 minutes average per day in 2023. These stats have made TikTok the most famous social media app among the younger generation. Instagram is the next popular app after TikTok, followed by Facebook and then Pinterest.

Snapchat is also one of the most popular apps among young people but it is under the category of “Communications”. If it was under the category of “social media apps”, it would have been the second most popular social media app after TikTok. The report also shows that the younger generation is also interested in using generative AI apps. 20% of the kids in the survey used ChatGPT in 2023, which makes it the 18th most visited website in 2023.

The report also sheds light on how parents are using different parental control tools to supervise their kids’ activities. Many parents are using parental controls in different gaming and educational apps to monitor their children's activities. You can read the whole report to see comprehensively how kids are engaging on social media sites.

WhatsApp Reinforces Security and Privacy with Locked Chats on Web and Automated Account Reports

 Whatsapp is coming up with a new feature that will enable the user to lock their chats on WhatsApp web, as spotted by WBI.

Users have been demanding locked chats on WhatsApp web and now Meta's messaging platform has already started working on it. The locked chats will have a separate tab for them that will greatly protect the user’s privacy. Anything about tab placement and its design is too soon to discuss as WhatsApp hasn’t said (officially) anything about it. What some experts are anticipating is that the tab is likely to have a code that will help the user to hide their private chats.

Keep in mind that a lock for chats on WhatsApp is already available on its iOS and Android. There are a lot of advantages to locking your chats on WhatsApp in terms of privacy and security. The biggest advantage of locking the chats on WhatsApp web will be when the user will be working among other people and wants to protect their privacy. WhatsApp is working hard to add new features on the app and on Web WhatsApp so users can easily use it without worrying about their privacy and security.

This new feature shows that WhatsApp wants users to feel secure while chatting with people on their platform.

On the other hand, WhatsApp is also working on automating account reports in an upcoming update. The beta version for Android 2.24.3.30 reveals a feature that will generate monthly reports for user accounts and channels automatically. This promises users a hassle-free way to stay informed about their account activities without manual intervention, enhancing convenience and efficiency. The development aims to streamline the process initiated in 2018, allowing users to effortlessly track changes in their account information over time. Further details on this feature will be shared as the update progresses.

Zuckerberg Faces Tough Questions in Senate Over Meta's Role in Child Safety

 Mark Zuckerberg, the Chief Executive Officer of Meta, expressed his heartfelt apologies during a Senate session on online child safety topic, acknowledging the distress experienced by parents who attributed their children's tragic outcomes to Instagram. Senator Josh Hawley's inquiry prompted Zuckerberg's candid response, "I’m sorry for everything you’ve all gone through. It’s a terrible ordeal, and no family should endure the hardships yours have faced."

The Senate Judiciary Committee convened the hearing, titled “Big Tech and the Online Child Sexual Exploitation Crisis,” where Zuckerberg, alongside the CEOs of TikTok, Discord, X, and Snap, faced a barrage of queries from lawmakers. Holding snapshots of their children, parents confronted the tech leaders, donning blue ribbons advocating the "STOP Online Harms! Pass KOSA!" initiative, urging the enactment of the Kids Online Safety Act.

Upon Zuckerberg's entrance, audible disapproval emanated from some parents, underscoring the intense scrutiny Meta has faced concerning child safety issues on its platforms. While addressing parents, Zuckerberg's words weren't confined to the microphone but resonated on a livestream. Post-apology, he assured parents of ongoing efforts, emphasizing, "This is why we invest significantly and will persist in industry-leading endeavors to ensure that no one has to endure the hardships your families have faced.”

Throughout the hearing, Zuckerberg confronted rigorous questioning, notably about nonconsensual explicit content, drug-related fatalities linked to Meta's platforms, and various other concerns. Meta grapples with a federal lawsuit from numerous states, alleging intentional creation of "psychologically manipulative" features on Facebook and Instagram, concealing internal data that reveals harm to young users.

Senator Richard Blumenthal highlighted emails purportedly received by Zuckerberg from Meta’s global affairs director, Nick Clegg, indicating concerns about well-being topics such as problematic use, bullying, harassment connections, and suicidal self-injury. Clegg, a former deputy prime minister of the UK, communicated that Meta’s safety efforts were constrained by insufficient investment.

Senator Hawley referred to a 2021 Wall Street Journal investigation revealing Meta's awareness of Instagram's detrimental impact on teenagers' mental health. Zuckerberg contested Hawley’s presentation of these details as “facts” and claimed selective interpretation of the research.

Responding to questions from Senator Welch about layoffs in the trust and safety departments, Zuckerberg clarified that Meta's layoffs were not sector-focused. Senator Tillis emphasized a balance between the executives' humanity and their corporate responsibilities, encouraging continuous efforts to mitigate the negative impact of their platforms.

Zuckerberg disclosed to senators that Meta employs 40,000 individuals in its trust and safety division. The hearing underscored the ongoing challenges faced by major tech companies in balancing innovation with the responsibility to protect users, particularly the vulnerable demographic of children and teenagers.

Photo: United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary

Note: Content in this story is written using AI and edited.