social media users

US intelligence has reportedly warned Spain, France and Italy that Russia may be preparing drone attacks against targets in Southern Europe. The warning was reported by Spain's El Mundo, which said the intelligence was shared with European governments following CIA Director briefings. The news is spreading quickly across European social media, with users discussing what the reported threat could mean for southern Europe's security.

A jury has found Facebook liable for deceiving its users in the long-running Cambridge Analytica case. The verdict stems from the scandal in which data from millions of Facebook users was harvested without proper consent and used for political profiling. Commenters are debating the significance of the ruling and what penalties or changes it may bring for the social media company and user privacy protections.

Lawsuits are being brought against social media companies in the European Union over allegations that their platforms cause mental health and safety harms to children and teenagers. The cases form part of a growing legal push to hold tech firms accountable for the impact of their products on young users, and follow mounting regulatory scrutiny of child safety online in Europe and beyond.

The first US trial against TikTok is set to test claims that the platform fueled a teen mental health crisis. The case will examine whether the app's design and algorithms contributed to harm among young users, and its outcome could shape the wave of similar lawsuits and regulatory pressure facing social media companies in the United States.

Australia is moving to restrict social media use, particularly among young people, as part of a broader regulatory crackdown on major platforms. Analysts are now asking whether Apple stands to gain from the shift, as users spend more time on devices and services rather than social networks. The discussion highlights how tighter platform regulation could reshape where attention and advertising money flow.

A New Mexico jury on Friday found Facebook liable for deceiving users about privacy protections on its platform, delivering another legal setback to the social media company. The Associated Press reported the verdict, which adds to the company's mounting legal troubles over how it handled user data and its privacy claims, and observers are weighing its implications for future privacy litigation against major tech firms.

Social media platforms have refused to run paid advertising for a documentary about Elon Musk titled 'Musk'. The rejection means the film's promoters cannot buy promoted placements to reach audiences on the major platforms. The documentary examines Musk's life and influence, and the ad refusals have raised questions about whether platforms are uncomfortable promoting content centred on one of their most prominent figures.

TikTok has agreed to pay more than $100 million to settle a lawsuit over its impact on users' mental health, according to Alabama's attorney general. The settlement, reported by NewsNation and The Hill, is drawing attention as US states continue legal action against social media companies over harms to young people.

TikTok has agreed to pay Alabama $100 million to settle a lawsuit alleging the company designed its platform to be addictive, particularly for young users. The settlement marks another legal setback for the social media company as US states continue pressing tech firms over the mental health effects of their products on children and teenagers.

TikTok has reached an agreement with Alabama, days before a scheduled trial, under which it must implement changes for teenagers in the state. These include a two-hour daily time limit, pauses after 15 minutes of continuous use, and stricter age verification checks. The deal is drawing attention as part of wider US scrutiny of social media's effects on young users, with some questioning why parents cannot set the limits themselves.

Alabama teenagers are set to receive their own version of TikTok as part of a sweeping $100 million deal, according to Fox Business. Details about who is funding the initiative, what the app will offer, and how it will differ from the popular short-video platform have not been disclosed, but the announcement is drawing attention as states weigh responses to TikTok's prominence among young users.

Bluesky users are discussing 'Fandom toxicity was never new', a conversation arguing that hostile, gatekeeping behaviour in fan communities is a long-standing pattern rather than a product of modern social media. Posts appear to frame current fan arguments over films, shows, games or celebrities as part of a longer history of fandom conflict, with people sharing examples from earlier decades. The specific trigger for the discussion is not clear from the available posts.