Yazılar

Whistleblowers Accuse Meta of Prioritizing VR Profits Over Child Safety

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Two former Meta researchers told the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Privacy and Technology that Meta Platforms knowingly ignored harms to children on its virtual-reality platform to protect profits.

Key Testimonies

  • Cayce Savage (Former User Experience Researcher):

    • Said Meta shut down internal research proving that children were exposed to sexually explicit content in VR.

    • Claimed researchers were instructed not to investigate child safety harms so the company could claim ignorance.

    • Reported instances of bullying, sexual assault, and requests for nude photos involving children in VR.

  • Jason Sattizahn (Former Reality Labs Researcher):

    • Testified he was not surprised Meta’s AI chatbots were permitted to engage children in romantic or sensual conversations, as revealed by a Reuters investigation.

Congressional Concerns

  • Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN): Highlighted chatbot risks and renewed calls for the Kids Online Safety Act, which passed the Senate but stalled in the House.

  • Lawmakers warned that Meta’s failures add urgency for federal safeguards on children’s digital experiences.

Meta’s Response

  • Meta spokesperson Andy Stone rejected the accusations, claiming the whistleblowers “selectively leaked internal documents” to create a misleading narrative.

  • Said there was never a blanket ban on child-related research, and that problematic chatbot behaviors had been removed.

Broader Context

  • Meta already faces bipartisan scrutiny for youth safety across Instagram, Facebook, and AI tools.

  • The testimony underscores growing pressure on Congress to regulate Big Tech’s handling of child protection in immersive and AI-driven platforms.

Joe Rogan, AI Chatbots Rise as Key News Sources While Traditional Media Declines

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A new report from the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism reveals a major shift in how Americans consume news, with podcasters like Joe Rogan and AI chatbots playing a growing role—particularly among younger audiences—while traditional news outlets continue to lose relevance.

In the week following the January 2025 U.S. presidential inauguration, more Americans reported getting news from social and video platforms than from TV, websites, or apps, marking the first time this digital dominance has been recorded in the U.S.

The study, based on a survey of nearly 100,000 people across 48 countries, found the trend especially pronounced among Americans under 35, with over 50% turning to social and video networks as their primary news sources. Globally, 44% of those aged 18–24 also rely on these platforms.

Podcaster Joe Rogan was cited as a news or commentary source by 20% of Americans in the post-inauguration week, making him a top figure in the evolving news landscape. Other widely followed political influencers include Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, Ben Shapiro, and on the left, Brian Tyler Cohen and David Pakman. Most of these top political voices are male, according to the report.

“These creators are attracting audiences traditional media struggle to reach—especially young men, right-leaning users, and people with low trust in mainstream media,” said Nic Newman, Senior Research Associate at the Reuters Institute.

However, this shift comes with risks. Online influencers are considered major sources of false or misleading information, second only to politicians in the U.S. Over 70% of Americans said they are concerned about distinguishing true from false information online—one of the highest levels globally.

The report also highlights the emerging role of AI in news consumption. Among people under 25, 15% use AI chatbots for news weekly, with ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Meta AI being the most cited tools. Overall AI-based news usage remains lower, at 7%, but growing.

This trend may also threaten traditional publishers, as AI tools reduce the need for users to click through to original news websites.

While text remains the preferred format for consuming news globally, about a third of people say they prefer watching, and 15% prefer listening—a shift driven largely by younger audiences.

Meanwhile, X (formerly Twitter) is seeing a resurgence as a news platform in the U.S., especially among right-leaning users and young men, with 23% of Americans now using it for news—up 8 points from last year. Other alternative platforms like Threads, Bluesky, and Mastodon are struggling to reach even 2% of users.

Despite all these shifts, trust in news has remained steady at 40% globally for the past three years, the report notes.

Alphabet Shares Surge Nearly 4% on AI Mode Rollout and Monetization Strategy

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Alphabet’s stock jumped 4% on Thursday, reaching its highest level in nearly three months, as investors responded positively to the company’s latest artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives announced at its annual developer conference.

The boost follows Google’s unveiling of “AI Mode”—a major update that allows users across the U.S. to toggle their search experience into an AI-powered interface. The new feature is designed to deliver more conversational and complex answers, positioning Google more competitively against AI-driven platforms like OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

Key Highlights:

  • AI Mode Launch:
    Now available to all U.S. users, AI Mode redefines traditional search by integrating generative AI responses directly into Google Search.

  • Monetization Strategy:
    Google also introduced a premium $249.99/month subscription plan aimed at power users, which could help offset the high infrastructure costs of AI development. Analysts expect further monetization of AI Mode to follow soon.

  • Market Response:
    Alphabet’s Class C shares rose 4% to $175.27, reaching levels not seen since February. Despite Thursday’s rally, the stock remains down about 7% year-to-date.

  • Analyst Confidence:
    Citi analyst Ronald Josey stated the updates reflect improving execution and offer reassurance that “Google can deliver continued search growth while ramping monetization.”
    He also noted that AI Mode could enable more targeted and relevant advertising, the backbone of Google’s revenue model.

Strategic Context:

Google CEO Sundar Pichai emphasized that the rise of generative AI does not entirely cannibalize traditional search. Instead, AI capabilities are expanding the types of queries users bring to Google, offering opportunities for deeper engagement and smarter ad placements.

Executives noted that more challenging user questions, which are often difficult to answer using traditional search algorithms, are now within reach thanks to AI—a potential goldmine for ad monetization and user retention.

Outlook:

With Alphabet doubling down on AI integration and monetization, analysts and investors are signaling increased confidence in the company’s ability to maintain leadership in search while competing in the evolving AI landscape.