14. Trending on Social Media

 

        Social media has transformed the way we consume news, turning everyday users into reporters and global events into instant conversations. With stories spreading in real time, platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and X now shape what we see, what we know, and what we care about. Here is some news that I came across while scrolling on TikTok the other day. 

    

Under-16s lose access to Instagram and Facebook in Australia ahead of landmark social media ban

    Meta announced that it will begin shutting down the Instagram and Facebook accounts of Australian users under 16 as the country’s new social media age-ban goes into effect. Starting December 4, affected teens are being notified to download their data before their accounts are permanently removed. The new law, the first of its kind in the world, has raised concerns about privacy, access, and the shrinking digital space for young people.

Australia has a history of taking strong stances against major tech companies, and this move arrives as other countries, including those in the European Union and the U.K., consider or implement age restrictions of their own. Meta says it will use “age assurance methods” to identify underage users, removing accounts by December 10. Teens will regain access only once they turn 16.

The restrictions won’t stop with Meta: TikTok, X, Snapchat, and Reddit will also be required to block users under 16, while YouTube will shift young users to a kid-friendly version of the platform. Messaging apps like WhatsApp and Messenger are not included in the ban.

Influencer 'foodwithbearhands' is killed in law enforcement shooting in Texas

    Texas authorities are investigating the fatal law enforcement shooting of Michael Duarte, a popular food influencer known online as “foodwithbearhands,” who had nearly 2 million followers on TikTok and Instagram. Duarte was shot and killed last Saturday in Medina County, west of San Antonio, in what officials have only described as an “officer-involved shooting.” The Texas Rangers are now leading an active investigation, and no further details have been released.

Duarte’s wife, Jessica, shared an emotional tribute on Instagram, thanking supporters for their love and promising to continue his legacy. An online fundraiser revealed that Duarte died during a trip to Texas, just three days after celebrating his ninth wedding anniversary.

While millions knew Duarte for his grilling and barbecue videos, his biography offers a deeper story: he learned to cook as a teenager at a relative’s Mexican restaurant in California’s Imperial Valley, later working as a dishwasher and manager at other restaurants. He started creating food videos during the Covid pandemic as a hobby, one that eventually turned him into a beloved social media personality. Loved ones describe him as a devoted husband, father, brother, and friend.