Twitch policy update bans sex and hard drugs from usernames

  • The live streaming service, Twitch, has updated its policy to ban any usernames with explicit references to sex or hard drugs.
  • From the 1st of March, any reported usernames with references to “sexual acts, arousal, fluids or genitalia” or hard drugs will be removed, and users will be asked to reset their accounts.
  • Alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana are excluded from the list.
  • You can read the full story through The Verge.

TikTok warns users of romance scams

  • TikTok has issued a warning to their users to be wary of romance scams via social and dating apps.
  • TikTok advises users to take thing slowly as scammers are often quick to express affection.
  • Other tips include keeping all financial information private and using Google Images to conduct a reverse image search of someone’s profile photo.
  • You can read the full story through Social Media Today.

Plans for age checks on porn sites ‘a privacy minefield’

  • Privacy campaigners have warned that the proposed plans to make pornography websites verify user ages are a “privacy minefield”.
  • They warn that the move could result in a digital ID system to access the internet.
  • Websites that host pornographic content like Reddit and Twitter could be affected too – which could lead to ‘age-gating’ the internet.
  • You can read the full story through The Guardian.

Low-income families ‘let down’ by payment scheme

  • Charities have claimed that the Scottish government’s cost-of-living payment scheme has let low-income families down.
  • The scheme fails to properly target and support people at the lowest incomes.
  • Those excluded from the payment include young people living in care, students, and households with someone who is severely mentally impaired.
  • You can read the full story through the BBC.