Australia’s Social Media Ban Plan Raises Alarms Over Teen Isolation - 1

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Australia’s Social Media Ban Plan Raises Alarms Over Teen Isolation

  • Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
  • Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor

In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!

  • Teenagers from minority groups in Australia worry that the new ban will isolate them even more
  • Experts believe a full ban is not the solution as it could have mental health repercussions
  • The government will introduce the new legislation by the end of the year

Australia’s new social media ban plan for children and teenagers raises concerns regarding possible isolation and lack of communication among young users.

According to a recent report by Reuters , experts consider that the ban could negatively impact the young population.

“The ban is pretty much the opposite of what we would recommend,” said Amelia Johns, an associate professor of digital media at the University of Technology, Sydney. “Everyone is living in social media. For a lot of young people, it’s not an option to opt out, and I do wonder about the mental health consequences of a complete blanket ban.”

The Australian government announced the introduction of a new age requirement for social media use last month—the age limit hasn’t been officially announced yet, but it’s expected to be between 14 and 16 years old—as safety and development concerns increased.

The regulation is a measure to cut the addictive nature when using the algorithms and its consequences in physical and mental health, privacy risks, access to inappropriate content—like hate speech, violence, and more—, predator’s grooming, and general well-being. However, it has faced criticism and rejection.

Reuters interviewed teenagers in Australia—according to a recent survey 97% of teenagers in this country use social media channels—and revealed that a certain part of this population, especially minorities, are at risk.

“I have a really hard time connecting to others,” said Ben Kioko, a 14-year-old Australian teenager interviewed, who considers himself autistic and part of the LGBTQIA+ community. “Doing that online makes it a lot easier.” Another teenager, a refugee in Darwing, said she uses social media to talk to her family abroad and worries about losing communication with them.

The Australian government expects to have a new legislation ready by the end of the year.

Australia’s government announced last month it plans to ban younger teenagers from using social media. But many young Australians say the proposed age-based ban would isolate them further. More here: https://t.co/GwbM30sSYj pic.twitter.com/mdFYBbOqEN — Reuters Tech News (@ReutersTech) October 16, 2024

Google Shopping Introduces AI-Driven Recommendations - 2

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Google Shopping Introduces AI-Driven Recommendations

  • Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
  • Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Former Lead Cybersecurity Editor

Google introduced today a personalized feed to its shopping platform, offering users tailored product suggestions based on their interests. The new feature, accessible on both mobile and desktop and is being rolled out across the U.S, as noted by The Verge.

At the top of the page, users will see a carousel displaying products they have recently searched for. As they scroll, the feed will present recommended items and in-line videos, curated based on recent Google searches and YouTube viewing history, notes The Verge.

“Imagine a store that’s tailored just to your current interests, and that’s really what we set out to create here,” Sean Scott, Google’s vice president and general manager of consumer shopping, explained to The Verge.

Additionally, a personalized deals tab will highlight products on sale that match user preferences, although personalization is only available for those logged into their Google accounts, adds The Verge.

The update also introduces AI-generated summaries for product searches. For example, a search for “Men’s winter jacket for Seattle” will provide an AI-generated brief outlining key factors to consider for that climate, along with product recommendations.

These summaries are intended to help users make more informed purchasing decisions by offering relevant information and suggestions sourced from across the web.

Other features include dynamic filters that enable users to refine search results by criteria such as size or local availability.

The platform also integrates virtual try-on tools using augmented reality (AR) to further assist users in their purchase decisions. Tools for price comparison, insights, and tracking are also included to help users navigate pricing and discounts.

The AI-generated summaries are marked as “experimental,” with Google encouraging users to provide feedback to improve the system.

The new features are gradually being introduced, starting this week, and can be accessed via the “Shopping” tab on Google Search or directly through the Google Shopping website.