Prompt: Latest technology news summary
Response:
This week in technology, a study found that social media can be linked to mental health problems, Apple announced a new ad-free subscription service, and Facebook is being scrutinized for its data practices.
Mental health problems linked to social media use
A study published this week in the journal Social Science Research found that social media can be linked to mental health problems. Researchers surveyed nearly 1,500 adults who reported using social media at least once a day for at least six months in 2018. They found that people who use social media more often are more likely to have mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression. The study suggests that social media use can be a risk factor for mental health problems, and that policies designed to prevent mental health problems, such as online safety courses, could be beneficial for social media users.
Apple announced a new ad-free subscription service
Apple announced a new ad-free subscription service this week. The service, which is available for subscribers in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Ireland, will allow users to access all apps, articles, books, and services on the Apple platform without ads. The subscription service will cost $10 per month, and Apple is targeting people who use its products frequently, such as for work or school. Apple’s ad-free subscription service is a direct response to Facebook’s ad-free subscription service, which was launched in early 2019. Facebook’s ad-free subscription service has been met with criticism for its $10 per month price tag, and for the fact that it does not include access to Instagram.
Facebook is being scrutinized for its data practices
Facebook is being scrutinized for its data practices this week. The company is being investigated by the UK’s data protection regulator, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), for its handling of data collected from Facebook users who use the social media platform to interact with political ads. The investigation is related to Facebook’s use of data from users who have interacted with political ads on Facebook, as well as data from people who have interacted with ads on Instagram and Facebook Messenger. The investigation is focused on whether Facebook has violated the UK’s data protection laws by sharing data from users who have interacted with political ads with other Facebook entities, such as the Facebook ads team and the Instagram division. Facebook is also being investigated by the US Federal Trade Commission for its data practices related to the 2016 US election.