The Know Daily - Wednesday 10 January 2024

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Starbucks customers in the US and Canada are now able to use personal cups for almost every drinks order, including at drive-thrus and via the app. Previously, the option was only available for in-person orders and the expansion is part of the coffee chain’s “ongoing efforts” to reduce its waste, said CNN. Let’s hope this initiative is rolled out across the pond soon too!

📱 Meta’s changes for children

Meta - the owner of Instagram and Facebook - is changing its policies to better protect under-18s from harmful content.

What’s the story?
The social media giant, which has come under increased pressure in recent years to make its platforms safer for young people, has announced two main policy changes. 

The first is that teenagers will “no longer see posts from others discussing their personal struggle with thoughts of self-harm or suicide” - even from people they follow, reported The Times. The second is that “all under-18s will also be put into the most restrictive content control settings on Instagram and Facebook”. 

In addition, if a teen searches for such content, they’ll be directed towards “expert resources for help”, said Meta in a blog post published on Tuesday.

When will these changes take effect?
The exact timeline is vague but the tech company said it is starting to roll out the changes to under-18s now “and they’ll be fully in place on Instagram and Facebook in the coming months”.

How have campaigners reacted to the news?
The response among child safety regulators has been mixed. Psychology professor Jean Twenge told NPR that the changes were a step in the right direction but pointed out that it is “still hard to police who is actually a teen on Facebook and Instagram”.

A spokesperson for the Molly Rose Foundation - set up in the memory of schoolgirl Molly Russell, whose death was linked to the negative effects of online content - described the changes as “another piecemeal step when a giant leap is urgently required”.

What else do I need to know?
The changes have come a couple of months after the passing of the UK’s Online Safety Act, under which social media platforms can be fined if they do not take adequate steps to protect young people.