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| Hey Insiders! Here are the top tech headlines for today: - China proposes rules to address internet addiction among children.
- X, formerly Twitter, is letting users hide their blue checkmarks.
- Meta is pulling news links from Facebook and Instagram in Canada.
If you find this newsletter useful, don't forget to spread the word and share it with your friends and colleagues. Thanks for being part of our community! Beth
p/beth-duckett | |
| 1 | | China's cyberspace regulator has laid out new rules designed to curb smartphone use among children and teens. The proposed rules, among the strictest globally, seek to address concerns about online addiction. More: - Under the Cyberspace Administration of China rules, minors under 18 would be cut off from the internet on devices from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
- There would also be specific time limits based on age. For example, users under 8 could only use a device for 40 minutes a day, while 16 to 18-year-olds can use it for two hours.
- Phone makers and app store operators must install a "minor mode" on devices to enforce the time limits and curfews.
- During curfew, minor mode devices would allow only approved functions like emergency calls and educational apps.
- The rules also require content providers to create separate pools of videos and games for minors, promoting "core socialist" values and Chinese culture.
Zoom out: - The draft is still open to public feedback until Sept. 2 and isn't guaranteed to pass.
- If it is adopted, it could significantly impact smartphone brands like Apple, Xiaomi, and Huawei, along with Chinese app developers like ByteDance (TikTok and Douyin) and Tencent (WeChat), which would need to design apps and tailor content to comply.
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| 2 | | What happened: Twitter Blue, now known as X Blue, is allowing paid subscribers to hide the blue checkmark from others in their profile and posts. Why it matters: Twitter hasn't explained why it added the option, which comes after the blue checkmark lost some of its coveted status when it became a paid feature accessible to anyone. Some Blue users have been mocked or criticized for displaying the check, which is only given to subscribers of the $8-per-month service. The numbers: Despite the reputation, Twitter, now known as X, has made recent improvements for paid users, offering a higher post limit of 25,000 characters and an expanded video limit of 3 hours. Meanwhile, free users are experiencing more limitations, such as caps on direct messages and tweets. The changes might be contributing to an increase in the number of Blue subscribers in recent months. 
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| 3 | | As promised, Meta Platforms has started blocking news links in Canada in response to a new law. As of Tuesday, Facebook and Instagram users in Canada can't access or share news links or view videos and photos posted by publishers and broadcasters. More: - The move is the result of Canada's Online News Act, which requires tech companies to pay domestic news publishers for hosting stories on their digital platforms.
- Under the law, the companies must negotiate payments to news organizations for the content.
- Meta and Google have opposed the legislation, fearing a ripple effect where other governments might adopt similar regulations.
- Meta argues that the law underestimates the value news outlets gain from using its platforms, saying that they willingly share content to grow their audience and boost earnings.
Zoom out: - The U.S. Senate and California are weighing similar legislation, while New Zealand, South Africa, and Brazil have been exploring their own regulatory approaches.
- The CBC reports that Facebook and Google collectively absorb around 80% of digital advertising revenue.
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| 4 | | Meta is gearing up to launch AI-powered chatbots called "personas" on Facebook and Instagram, potentially starting next month. The chatbots will reportedly have unique personalities, enabling them to provide travel recommendations with a surfer's voice or speak like Abraham Lincoln. More: - The personas will offer various features, including a search function, personalized recommendations, and interactive experiences that mimic human interactions.
- App researcher Alessandro Paluzzi discovered an upcoming "Chat with an AI" feature on Instagram, allowing users to receive advice and answers from 30 different AI personalities while assisting them in composing messages.
- Other tech companies, like Character.ai and Snap, have already introduced chatbots with personalities.
- Apple is also reportedly working on its AI solutions, including a large language model referred to internally as "Apple GPT," akin to ChatGPT and Google's Bard.
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| 5 | | Google is introducing updates for Chrome on mobile and desktop. Most notably, Chrome for Android now shows trending Google searches directly in the address bar, with the same feature coming to iOS later. More: - Android users can view trending Google searches directly in the Chrome address bar and click on a trending result to learn more.
- Chrome for Android also displays 10 suggestions related to every search, up from six.
- Additionally, clicking on the address bar with a URL will reveal related searches in a new category called "Related to this page."
- Android users can also tap on a word in the article and use the existing "Touch to Search" to discover similar topics.
- For Chrome on desktop, the download bar is now replaced by a download tray at the top right of the browser, showing recent downloads with options to manage them.
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| 6 | | Amazon has opened its Fresh grocery delivery service to non-Prime members in 12 U.S. cities, with plans to expand nationwide by the end of the year. Customers in cities like Boston, Dallas, and San Francisco can now order from Amazon Fresh stores and warehouses. More: - However, non-Prime users will have to pay delivery fees ranging from $7.95 to $13.95, higher than Prime members.
- Amazon is also working on streamlining the online grocery ordering process and eventually allowing non-Prime members to order from Whole Foods.
Zoom out: - According to Bloomberg, Amazon is undergoing a major transformation of its grocery business, the largest since it acquired Whole Foods Market in 2017.
- The company is revamping stores with new technology, experimenting with highly automated warehouses, and adding self-checkout lanes.
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 | AI and technology writer | | Beth is a writer and editor at Inside.com covering artificial intelligence and daily technology news. She has written the Inside AI newsletter since 2019. You can reach her at Beth.Duckett@inside.com. | | This newsletter was edited by NO ACCOUNT ASSOCIATED WITH THE EDITOR | |
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