TikTok overtakes Facebook as world’s most downloaded social media app 

  • The short-video platform TikTok, has overtaken Facebook as the most downloaded social media app in the world.  
  • According to Nikkei Asia, a global survey of downloads in 2020 showed TikTok on top of the list of social media providers for the first time.
  • TikTok has now overtaken Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook Messenger, all of which are Facebook owned. 
  • The app’s popularity grew during the pandemic.  
  • For tips on how to stay safe on TikTok, check out our safety card, here.  
  • Full story, here.  

Instagram introduces new tool to combat waves of online abuse 

  • Instagram has announced a range of new tools it says will help protect users and combat incidents, such as the abuse aimed at England players after the Euro 2020 final. 
  • This update includes a new feature called Limits, which gives people the ability to automatically hide comments and direct message requests from other users who they do not already follow or have only recently followed them. 
  • The update also features stronger  in-app warnings that would show to those who attempt to post abuse.  
  • The Hidden Words filter tool will roll out to users globally, allowing people to filter out words, phrases and emojis they don’t want to see. 
  • Full story, here.  

GCSES 2021: Higher results expected after exams axed 

  • Thousands of pupils are finding out their GCSE results, amid predictions of another spike in grades after exams were cancelled. 
  • Pupils will receive their grades in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, in a second year of exams disrupted by the pandemic. 
  • This follows a leap in top grades at A-level earlier this week and the record rise in grades last year for GCSEs. 
  • If a young person in your life didn’t get the grades they hoped for, read our blog for  advice on dealing with disappointment here.  
  • Full story, here.  

Twitch responds to ‘Twitch Do Better’ movement with improved chat filters 

  • The streaming platform, Twitch, announced the steps it’s taking to protect its marginalised streamers by fixing a vulnerability that allowed internet trolls to circumvent chat filters.  
  • Twitch identified a vulnerability in the proactive filters and have rolled out an update to close this gap and better detect hate speech in chats.
  • In addition, it will implement more safety features in the coming weeks, including improvements to the account verification process and ban evasion detection tools.
  • This comes in response to the hashtag #TwitchDoBetter, started by Twitch creator ‘RekItRaven’ in order to bring awareness to harassment issues that Black creators were experiencing on the streaming platform. 
  • Full story, here.