Meta is adding social hangouts to the Quest’s VR Home Space

  • Meta Quest virtual reality headsets is introducing an option for hanging out with other users in the home screen.
  • The upcoming v41 Quest update will add a multi-user Horizon Home Space for users to invite others for a “social experience” and is due to be released this week.
  • Users will be able to chat to other users, hang out and even watch videos together in the Home Space.
  • To find out more about virtual reality and the Metaverse, check out our article
  • You can read the full story on The Verge’s website.

Telegram Premium is coming later this month

  • Telegram is launching a paid Premium subscription later this month, giving users “additional features, speed and resources.”
  • Features will include early access to new features, the ability to upload larger files, and Premium-only stickers and reactions.
  • Existing features on the app will remain free and non-Premium users will still be able to access larger files sent by Premium users.
  • To learn more about Telegram, check out our article.
  • You can read the full story on The Verge’s website.

Child sex offender caught out by TikTok account he used to groom children

  • An Oxfordshire man has been sentenced to 4 years in prison for sexual offences against children.
  • He was caught after intelligence work on a TikTok account that he used to groom children revealed his home address.
  • He used TikTok to incite two eight-year-old girls to engage in non-penetrative sexual activity between October and December of 2021.
  • Police are urging parents and guardians to always be mindful about their children’s online activity and use privacy settings and parental locks.
  • You can read the full story on the Oxfordshire Live’s website.

83% rise in child cruelty and neglect in Yorkshire and the Humber

  • NSPCC figures show that child cruelty and neglect increased by more than 80% in Yorkshire and the Humber last year as the UK emerged from the pandemic.
  • There were 3,454 offences recorded in 2021/22, representing an average of 9 offences a day across the region.
  • The NSPCC warned about the increased risk of abuse at the start of the pandemic, due to stressors for parents and caregivers and a rise in children’s vulnerability.
  • You can read the full story on ITV’s website.

GP surgeries get their own mental health specialists

  • A new initiative by NHS England will introduce more than 2,000 mental health workers to work at GP practices to tackle a record demand for help.
  • This will involve a mixture of staff, including community psychiatric nurses, clinical psychologists, and peer support workers.
  • The introduction of dedicated teams aims to ensure that those suffering from conditions such as eating disorders can access help more quickly
  • You can read the full story on The Telegraph’s website.