Instagram officially ended end-to-end encryption for direct messages this week, while Threads expanded its own messaging capabilities to the web. Meanwhile, LinkedIn struck a deal with Amazon to let brands target ads using professional data across streaming platforms.
In California, assembly member Josh Lowenthal introduced legislation to bar children under 16 from maintaining social media profiles, aiming to hold platforms liable for addictive design.
As policy debates heat up, the existential dread surrounding tech remains high. On Fresh Air, Terry Gross weighed the relative dangers of AI against the established track record of platforms, asking her guest: "So you're, you're actually more worried about AI than social media right now. You think AI's gonna be worse."
