My Son Fell Victim to Social Media Algorithms. Life Will Never Be the Same
At the age of 16, my son Mason Edens went through his first break-up. This is always a difficult time for any teenager, but one that almost everyone experiences. I did what any supportive parent would do and told Mason things would be alright.
After his breakup, I noticed Mason’s mental health deteriorating. He would be on his phone all night, predominantly using TikTok. I noticed an increase in the frequency and intensity of his anxiety. After weeks of him not getting enough sleep, I took his phone away. An argument broke out and Mason had what I can only call a nervous breakdown. I had never seen him like that. In the heat of the moment, and one I’ll replay for the rest of my life, he rushed upstairs to his room and took his own life.
It was such a tragic and shocking moment for our family, one that I’m still processing and that nothing could have prepared me for. In search of answers, I went through Mason’s phone and was sent reeling once again by what I discovered: On his TikTok account, in the “For You” feed that TikTok curates for every individual, Mason had been shown video after video of depressing content, which I believe, appeared to promote depressing and suicidal thoughts.
Congress Questions Amazon Over ‘Dangerous and Unwise’ TikTok Partnership
The House Select Committee on China has expressed concerns over Amazon’s ecommerce partnership with Chinese-owned video platform, TikTok. The partnership between the platforms allows TikTok users to link their Amazon account, and make purchases through the site without leaving the TikTok app.
Lawmakers met with representatives from Amazon in a closed-door meeting at Capitol Hill to discuss the retail giant’s deepening relationship with the video platform. The meeting reportedly took place a month after the collaboration was announced.
“The Select Committee conveyed to Amazon that it is dangerous and unwise for Amazon to partner with TikTok given the grave national security threat the app poses,” a spokesperson told Bloomberg.
Govt Falls Short on Data Privacy Amid Growing Tech Dependence: GAO
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently examined the approaches of 24 federal agencies under the Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990 and found that the increasing reliance on technology and data-driven processes across federal agencies raises profound challenges to protecting civil rights and civil liberties.
GAO was blunt in its assessment. It said federal “agencies lack government-wide laws and guidance that identify how civil rights and civil liberties are to be considered and protected as they relate to data collection, sharing, and use,” and that they “reported varying protections for the public’s civil rights and civil liberties in the areas of establishing dedicated offices, appointing designated officials, and developing standalone policies and procedures for collecting, sharing, and using data.”
The GAO’s analysis underscores the urgent need for uniform, government-wide guidance to address the evolving challenges at the intersection of technology and civil rights.
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As the 2025 TikTok Ban Deadline Looms, Here’s What We Know
TikTok is facing a potential ban in the U.S. that could go into effect just one day before a new administration takes the Oval Office — and its fate hinges on legal battles, political maneuvers, and President-elect Donald Trump.
In April, President Joe Biden signed a bill into law that gave ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, nine months to either get a new owner or be banned in the U.S., meaning app stores like Apple and Google and internet hosting companies could face penalties from the government if they distribute or update TikTok.
TikTok responded to the potential ban in the courts by suing the government in May, calling the law unconstitutional because the company claims it “subjects a single, named speech platform to a permanent, nationwide ban, and bars every American from participating in a unique online community with more than one billion people worldwide.”
How a Wrong Google Search Can Compromise Your Data and Bring Law Enforcement Calling
Google is probably the one online service that we all use at least once a day, whether it’s searching for a query, finding something to buy or anything else. It’s generally safe to use, even though the search results aren’t quite hitting the mark these days. That’s a discussion for another time.
What we have at hand today are the hidden risks involved with Google search, which can not only compromise your device and personal data but also bring law enforcement to your doorstep. This is not an exaggeration, and below you’ll find out how.
Cybersecurity company Sophos issued an urgent warning on its website, asking people not to type six words into its search engines. Those who Google “Are Bengal Cats legal in Australia?” have reportedly had their personal information stolen after clicking on fraudulent links that appear near the top of the page.
