Social media
Daily news and research on what is trending on social media and how businesses use it, with the original sources.
Latest: Saturday, 7 November 2026
Google, Meta and TikTok are suing California to stop a law that limits addictive app features for children, a fight UK parents and regulators will watch closely. In the UK, complaints about barristers' social media posts have more than doubled, and five Lancashire men admitted hacking about 3,700 accounts to steal private images. For businesses, TikTok search ads now work more like Google ads. The practical step today is to switch on two-step login for your accounts; the rest is worth watching rather than acting on.
Best 5
- Five Lancashire men admit hacking 3,700 social media accounts for intimate images: Five men pleaded guilty to breaking into about 3,700 social media accounts in several countries to steal private pictures. Blackpool police reported that some of the stolen images showed children. It is a stark UK reminder that weak account security can expose very private material.
- TikTok search ads now work like Google ads, with keyword bidding: TikTok has added standard search ad tools, including keyword bids and match types, to its advertising platform. Small businesses can now target people who are actively searching on TikTok, not just people scrolling past.
- Complaints about barristers' social media posts have more than doubled: The Bar Standards Board recorded a sharp rise in complaints about barristers' online conduct. Other reports say debates on gender and Gaza drove much of the increase. Professionals in regulated jobs face growing scrutiny of what they post, even on personal accounts.
- Google, Meta and TikTok sue to block California's law on addictive kids' features: The three companies have asked a federal court to stop a new California law that limits addictive design features for under-age users. They argue the law breaches free speech rights. The case could shape how far governments, including the UK's, can push platforms to change their design for children.
- Amnesty urges design changes after EU findings on TikTok's 'rabbit hole' effect: The European Commission has made findings about TikTok's algorithm pulling users into narrow streams of content. Amnesty International says those findings must lead to fundamental changes in how platforms are designed. European pressure on feed design could change what UK users see too.
Top stories
- Google, Meta and TikTok sue to block California's law on addictive kids' features The three companies have asked a federal court to stop a new California law that limits addictive design features for under-age users. They argue the law breaches free speech rights. The case could shape how far governments, including the UK's, can push platforms to change their design for children. Original source: International Business Times UK
- Complaints about barristers' social media posts have more than doubled The Bar Standards Board recorded a sharp rise in complaints about barristers' online conduct. Other reports say debates on gender and Gaza drove much of the increase. Professionals in regulated jobs face growing scrutiny of what they post, even on personal accounts. Original source: Legal Cheek
- Five Lancashire men admit hacking 3,700 social media accounts for intimate images Five men pleaded guilty to breaking into about 3,700 social media accounts in several countries to steal private pictures. Blackpool police reported that some of the stolen images showed children. It is a stark UK reminder that weak account security can expose very private material. Original source: Lancashire Evening Post
- TikTok search ads now work like Google ads, with keyword bidding TikTok has added standard search ad tools, including keyword bids and match types, to its advertising platform. Small businesses can now target people who are actively searching on TikTok, not just people scrolling past. Original source: Search Engine Journal
Archive
- Saturday, 7 November 2026: Five Lancashire men admit hacking 3,700 social media accounts for intimate images