Meta Pulls the Plug on Messenger for Windows and Mac

Amid growing debates over how best to protect young users online, Google has released a new study exploring how European teenagers are engaging with technology — highlighting both the educational opportunities and emerging risks tied to their digital habits. Google’s new “Future Report,” developed in collaboration with youth consultancy Livity, draws on insights from more than 7,000 teens aged 13 to 18 across Ireland, Poland, Greece, Spain, Italy, France, and Sweden. The comprehensive 77-page report delves into key areas of concern — from digital education and social media reliance to AI adoption and online safety — offering valuable takeaways for parents, educators, and even marketers. To begin, the report examines how teens perceive the benefits of being online, and what’s driving their engagement. As the data shows, entertainment remains the top reason teens go online, closely followed by staying connected with friends and exploring personal interests. No surprises there — but what’s particularly telling is how teens are discovering new content online. Algorithm-driven recommendations play a decisive role in shaping what young users see, which underscores the immense power social platforms have in influencing teen behavior and guiding their interests through algorithmic prioritization. Whether that’s a good or bad thing depends largely on who’s programming those algorithms — and how responsibly they’re designed. In contrast, China enforces strict limits on algorithmic amplification in youth-oriented apps to prevent harmful or anti-social trends from gaining traction. This suggests such regulation can indeed shape broader behavioral patterns among younger audiences. The report also highlights the dominance of video content in modern teen life. Video — unsurprisingly — continues to hold enormous cultural influence among European teens, with YouTube emerging as a central hub for entertainment, learning, and social trends. Beyond video, the report dives into one of the defining trends of the moment: AI adoption among young users. AI is rapidly becoming a fixture in teen life, with most respondents aware of — and actively using — AI tools. The majority say they use AI primarily for schoolwork, though many also view it as a way to enhance their creativity. This generational shift — growing up with AI as a constant — will redefine how education works. The challenge will be ensuring that reliance on these tools doesn’t replace critical thinking. That’s where digital literacy becomes essential. Because most AI systems summarize existing web content rather than generating original insights, users who lack critical evaluation skills risk accepting misleading or incorrect information. The key, the report stresses, is teaching young people to treat AI as a guide, not an authority — an important distinction for anyone navigating the modern web. And who do kids turn to for that kind of guidance? According to the study, younger teens still look to parents for help in identifying trustworthy sources — but that dynamic changes quickly with age. “At ages 13–15, more than half of teens (54%) turn to trusted parents or guardians to learn healthy online habits. But at ages 16–18, that number drops to less than one in five (19%), suggesting that the best time for young people to learn good online hygiene is when they’re still more open to conversations with adults.” In other words, early education is critical. Parents must be equipped to teach digital literacy before their children stop listening — and governments must support that education through policy and funding. As technology evolves faster than most adults can keep up, this widening knowledge gap poses another layer of concern. So what’s the takeaway? The report makes one thing clear: education must be the first line of defense. Governments and schools should prioritize digital literacy programs, teaching young users how algorithms influence content, how AI can mislead, and how to engage safely online. Raising the minimum age for social media access — a proposal in several European countries — might offer some protection. But the findings here suggest that AI tools and video platforms like YouTube pose equally significant challenges. Ultimately, the best approach is proactive education — teaching kids to think critically and recognize manipulation early. Governments should also scrutinize algorithmic amplification systems to understand their effect on teen audiences, while schools might even consider programs that educate parents on how to better guide their children in an increasingly AI-driven world. Because the reality is simple: the future isn’t coming — it’s already here. And the next generation is growing up in it, one algorithm at a time. 📢 If you're interested in Facebook Ads Account, don't hesitate to connect with us!🔹 https://linktr.ee/Adshinepro💬 We're always ready to assist you!

In a move that likely won’t shake the digital landscape, Meta has announced plans to discontinue its standalone Messenger app for both Windows and Mac users—part of a broader effort to simplify and consolidate support across its growing suite of products.  As first reported by AppleInsider, Meta quietly updated its Help Center to include a notice explaining the deprecation of its desktop Messenger apps, along with guidance on available alternatives. According to Meta: “The Messenger app for Mac is being deprecated. After deprecation, you won’t be able to log into this app and will be automatically redirected to use the Facebook website for messaging.” Meta notes that users will receive an in-app notification about the shutdown, and will have 60 days from that point to continue using the app before it becomes inaccessible. “Once the 60 days are over, you’ll be blocked from using the Mac Messenger app. We encourage you to delete the app since it will no longer be usable.” For those worried about losing old messages, Meta clarifies that chat history will remain accessible, provided users have secure storage enabled and a PIN set up. Even without these measures, most conversations will still be available through the web version of Messenger—though Meta suggests reviewing your backup settings if you’ve relied heavily on the desktop app. The Messenger desktop app was first launched in 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when remote communication tools saw an unprecedented surge in demand. At the time, Meta highlighted that video calls on Messenger and WhatsApp had more than doubled, while Zoom was rapidly becoming the platform of choice for millions stuck at home. However, as the world reopened and daily life normalized, the appeal of dedicated video chat apps waned. With fewer users relying on desktop communication tools, Meta’s Messenger apps for PC simply lost relevance. Importantly, this change doesn’t mean desktop messaging is disappearing altogether. Users will still be able to chat directly from the Facebook website, maintaining full access to messages, group chats, and other Messenger features—just without the convenience of a separate application. In practical terms, it’s a minor adjustment for most, but it will inconvenience a small segment of loyal desktop users who’ve grown accustomed to the standalone app experience. Ultimately, this shift underscores Meta’s continued push to streamline its platforms, focus on efficiency, and reduce maintenance of redundant tools—another small step in aligning its ecosystem around a more unified, web-first communication strategy. 📢 If you're interested in Facebook Ads Account, don't hesitate to connect with us!🔹 https://linktr.ee/Adshinepro💬 We're always ready to assist you!

TikTok has officially announced the second annual TikTok Awards for the U.K. and Ireland, an event designed to celebrate the most influential and creative figures shaping the platform’s vibrant community. Sponsored by Sky, this year’s ceremony will take place on November 13th in London, hosted by broadcaster AJ Odudu, with a special live performance from the popular British hip-hop duo Rizzle Kicks. As TikTok explained in its announcement: “The TikTok Awards reward the inspiring achievements of the community, celebrating the creators and artists who make TikTok in the U.K. & Ireland truly unique. We are thrilled to announce the 2025 shortlist and the opening of the TikTok in-app voting hub, where the community are invited to cast their vote and crown the winners.” The awards are meant to highlight creators across a wide range of categories—spanning food, books, entertainment, and other in-app cultural trends that define TikTok’s creative spirit. Last year’s inaugural TikTok Awards UK & Ireland 2024 saw standout names like Myles Smith, cancer awareness advocate Iain Ward (“King of Chemo”), and Creator of the Year Kyra-Mae Turner take home top honors. TikTok says this year’s edition promises to be “bigger than ever.” For 2025, over 70 creators have been shortlisted, and TikTok users across the U.K. and Ireland can now cast their votes directly within the app. In addition to creator-focused awards, the TikTok Awards will once again honor the best advertisers and campaigns of the year, with recognition across five key categories: - Greatest Impact- Greatest Creative- Greatest Performance- Greatest Branding- Greatest TikTok Winners in the advertising categories will be chosen by a panel of industry experts, ensuring the awards reflect not just popularity, but also creative excellence and marketing innovation. The voting hub is officially open and will remain active until Wednesday, October 29th. The full awards ceremony will be broadcast live in the app. To participate, TikTok users in the U.K. and Ireland can simply open the app, search for “TikTok Awards,” and access the voting hub to support their favorite creators. Beyond the excitement of competition, the TikTok Awards serve a broader purpose: to recognize the app’s cultural impact and celebrate the creativity driving it forward. For brands and marketers, it’s also a chance to see the year’s most effective ad campaigns in action—insights that could very well inform how they approach TikTok in the months to come. 📢 If you're interested in Facebook Ads Account, don't hesitate to connect with us!🔹 https://linktr.ee/Adshinepro💬 We're always ready to assist you!