Must Read
A lot to get to this week in the social world, with updates from new social startups and talks of more regulation and scrutiny.
1. TikTok will embrace limiting screen time with its new feature rolling out in the next week, requiring a 60-minute daily cap for users under the age of 18. The company noted the password-enforced feature will hope to limit teens from using the app excessively.
2. The new social app Mammoth, which makes it easier to join decentralized social web platforms, announced the raise of its pre-seed round. Investors included web app Mozilla, Long Journey Ventures, and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff.
3. The decentralized Twitter alternative Bluesky launched on the App Store for its invite-only beta. The public project was originally born within Twitter under Jack Dorsey's leadership to offer creators the ability to own their posts and developers more freedom.
4. Twitter announced new policies aimed at eliminating violent speech on its platform. The company noted that it would take a zero-tolerance approach to cases that involve users' glorification of violence, incitement, and severe threats.
5. TikTok could be in trouble in the U.K. as some lawmakers are calling on the government to ban the social video-sharing app from all government devices. The move comes as the EU directed employees to remove the app, and 26 states in the U.S. have some version of a ban in place.
6. The state of Minnesota is paving ways to address social media's impact on children with a bill that would restrict algorithm use for users under 18. The proposed legislation would fine social media companies up $1,000 per violation.
7. Snapchat has made changes to its popular Snap Streaks feature by allowing users the ability to pause and restore their streaks. The feature will only be available to Snapchat+ subscribers in an attempt to migrate more users into the paying monthly subscription model.
