Social media safety, blood shortage, and Weinermobile jobs.

Adam Rogers
January 10, 2024

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Meta, Instagram and Facebook’s parent company, is making changes to enhance safety for teens using its platforms.

They will now hide certain types of content related to suicide, self-harm, and eating disorders when searched for by users under 18. When someone searches for these issues, the company will hide the result and guide them to expert resources for help. It will also restrict teens from seeing anything related to nudity or drugs for sale - even if it’s posted by someone they follow.
Social media, especially Instagram and Facebook, has faced criticism for its impact on teen mental health. Studies suggest that heavy social media use is linked to higher rates of depression, negative body image, and bullying among teenagers. Despite concerns, teens can easily sign up for these platforms without parental permission, making it challenging to regulate their online experiences. Meta has acknowledged these issues and is investing in age-verification tools to address them.
The move aligns with a broader push for online safety legislation, like the Kids Online Safety Act, which aims to hold tech companies accountable for exposing teens to toxic content. Meta is also juggling lawsuits from multiple states that allege the company designed its platforms to be addictive and failed to address the harm they cause to teenagers.

Ecuador announced a state of emergency after notorious criminal Adolfo Macías escaped from prison in Guayaquil.

Macías, the leader of the powerful gang Los Choneros, vanished just before his transfer to a maximum-security facility on Sunday. He was serving a 34-year sentence for drug trafficking, murder, and organized crime. Thousands of soldiers and police are searching for him. Simultaneously, prison guards were overrun and taken hostage during riots in prisons across the country.
President Daniel Noboa declared a 60-day emergency in response to the chaos telling violent criminals that “we won’t rest until peace has been returned to Ecuadorians.” The country has been plagued by extreme violence in recent years, with each successive government unable to reign in organized crime. The lawlessness reached a new high last August when presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was assassinated.
The situation in Ecuador escalated on Tuesday after armed men broke into a public television channel as it was broadcasting and threatened people. The broadcast continued live for 15 minutes while the gunmen forced the staff onto the floor as shots and yelling were heard in the background. Police later arrested the men and all the members of the media outlet were evacuated.

The White House is ordering reviews of reporting protocols after Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin didn’t disclose that he had cancer.

In early December, Austin had a routine prostate screening, revealing cancer that required treatment. On Dec. 22, he underwent a "minimally invasive" prostatectomy at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Austin recovered but was readmitted on Jan. 1 with complications, including severe pain and nausea. Doctors found a urinary tract infection and abdominal fluid buildup in his small intestines. Austin didn’t lose consciousness or undergo general anesthesia but was transferred to intensive care for closer monitoring.
The White House only found out about Secretary Austin having prostate cancer on Tuesday, and President Biden was told right after. It isn’t clear why Austin didn't mention it during his chat with the president on Saturday. Even though the president wasn't informed immediately, he still trusts Austin and wants to keep him in charge through his term.
Despite the health scare, the Pentagon insisted that Austin has full access to secure communications capabilities and continues to monitor global operations. However, the incident prompted the White House chief of staff to review how authority is delegated when Cabinet secretaries are unable to perform their duties. Additionally, the White House and Pentagon have launched reviews to make sure the correct reporting procedures are followed in emergencies.

The SEC's official X (formerly Twitter) account (@SECGov) was hacked. The hacker posted a tweet, falsely claiming the approval of bitcoin ETFs for trading. After the fake post, the price of Bitcoin briefly surged but quickly fell back below $46,000. (More)

Gabriel Attal became France’s youngest-ever and first openly gay prime minister on Tuesday. The 34-year-old has served as the government spokesperson and, most recently, as the education minister. His predecessor Elisabeth Borne resigned due to political unrest over immigration. (More)

South Korea's parliament passed a bill to stop the breeding and slaughtering of dogs for consumption. The law also prohibits the sale of food products made with dog ingredients, but individuals consuming such products won't face punishment. Instead, the bill’s focus is on the industry, targeting dog farmers and sellers. Offenders can be punished by up to three years in prison or fined 30 million Korean won ($23,000). (More)

A powerful winter storm is hitting a large part of the U.S., bringing blizzards, damaging winds, heavy rain, and the threat of tornadoes. Around 196 million people, spanning from Florida to Maine, are under advisories or warnings. The storm has already claimed three lives. (More)

The American Red Cross has declared an emergency blood shortage due to the lowest blood donations in 20 years. Hospitals are receiving blood faster than donations are coming in, leading to limitations in distribution for crucial blood types. The Red Cross says only 4% of eligible people donate blood every year. (More)

Inside a home made almost entirely out of glass bottles and rocks.

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