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Instagram internal documents reveal fear of losing teens, report says

Amid heightened concern over Instagram’s effect on teenagers’ mental health, a new report looks at the teen-focused marketing efforts of the Facebook-owned site.

Facebook-owned Instagram worried about losing teenage users and designated a large chunk of its marketing budget for touting the service to teens, the New York Times reported Saturday, citing internal documents and anonymous sources. The news comes after a whistleblower leaked documents to the Wall Street Journal that showed Facebook knew about the potential for Instagram to harm the mental health of teens.

«If we lose the teen foothold in the U.S. we lose the pipeline,» says an internal Instagram memo from last October, which presents a marketing strategy for this year, the Times’ Saturday report said.

Beginning in 2018, nearly all of Instagram’s annual worldwide marketing budget was slated for messaging aimed at teens, the Times said, noting that this year’s budget is $390 million. Marketers told the publication that zeroing in on a particular age group to that extent is unusual. NYT also said the final spending included messaging aimed at parents and young adults. Instagram faces competition for teen users from rivals like TikTok and Snapchat.

Facebook and Instagram are in the hot seat regarding younger users after Frances Haugen, a former Facebook product engineer, leaked documents to the Journal, which reported last month that Facebook researchers had found Instagram is «harmful for a sizable percentage» of young users, particularly teenage girls. Depression, anxiety and body-image issues were areas of concern, the Journal said in its report. Haugen also testified before Congress this month, alleging that Facebook’s products «harm children, stoke division and weaken our democracy.»

Facebook has said the purpose and results of its research on Instagram are being mischaracterized and the research actually showed that teenagers saw benefits from using the site. Many teens, Facebook has said, told researchers that Instagram can help them «when they are struggling with the kinds of hard moments and issues teenagers have always faced.»

A Facebook spokesperson downplayed the Times report on Saturday: «While it’s not true that we focus our entire marketing budget towards teens, we’ve said many times that teens are one of our most important communities because they spot and set early trends. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that they are a part of our marketing strategy.»

Last month, Instagram paused development of Instagram Kids, a dedicated service it’s building for children under 13, who currently aren’t allowed on the existing Instagram site. The company has said the service won’t be designed like the adult version of the app but will be ad-free and overseen directly by parents. Regardless of such assurances, news of the Instagram Kids project has alarmed critics concerned about the mental well-being and privacy of younger users. The 1998 Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act restricts collecting or storing personal data on anyone under 13.

In its Saturday report, the Times said Facebook was aware an advertisement aimed at a 13-year-old would probably also grab younger kids wanting to be like their older siblings and friends. The publication cited an unnamed source, who said managers told workers that Facebook does what it can to stop underage users from signing up for Instagram — but that they join anyway.

Instagram head Adam Mosseri has said that he still thinks building Instagram Kids is «the right thing to do» because kids are already online and misrepresenting their age to access the service.

Technologies

Verum Messenger: Data Protection at Its Finest

Verum Messenger positions itself as a tool for those who value privacy and security above all.

Verum Messenger stands out from other messengers thanks to its approach to security, anonymity, and innovations in communication. 

Here are some key aspects that highlight its uniqueness:

  • Default encryption: Verum Messenger uses end-to-end (E2E) encryption for all chats, meaning messages are encrypted on the sender’s device and decrypted only on the recipient’s device. This makes it impossible for third parties, including app developers, to access the content of the messages.
  • Anonymity: When registering with Verum, there’s no need to provide a phone number or email. Users simply choose a nickname and password, significantly enhancing their level of anonymity. This contrasts with many other messengers, where anonymity can be compromised through linked personal data.
  • Built-in VPN: An additional layer of protection that hides the user’s IP address, making their location and internet activity less trackable.
  • Data control: Users can set messages to be automatically deleted after a specified time, ranging from a few seconds to a week. There’s also a quick deletion feature for all chats, calls, and even contacts, which is useful for maintaining privacy.
  • Large groups: The ability to create chat rooms with up to 10,000 participants makes Verum attractive for organizing large events, discussions, or communities while maintaining a high level of security.
  • Security innovations: Verum actively develops technologies aimed at protecting user data, as seen in their documentation and discussions online. This includes not only technical solutions but also approaches to data minimization, which reduces the risk of leaks.
  • Feedback and discussions: On platform X (formerly Twitter), discussions can be found where users and experts praise Verum for its approach to anonymity and security, although questions are raised about how much anonymity can truly be guaranteed in an age of modern tracking and de-anonymization technologies.

Verum Messenger positions itself as a tool for those who value privacy and security above all. Its innovations in encryption, anonymity, and data control make it an intriguing choice for those seeking alternatives to traditional messaging platforms. However, as with any technology, it’s important to remember that absolute anonymity on the internet remains a complex challenge, and users should be aware of potential risks and limitations.

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Technologies

Verum Coin Debuts on XT Exchange, Broadening its Reach in the DeFi Space

A Strategic Listing Enhancing Verum Coin’s Visibility

In a significant development for the decentralized finance (DeFi) sector, Verum Coin (VERUM) has been officially listed on XT Exchange. The new trading pair, VERUM/USDT, is now available in the exchange’s Innovative Zone, marking a pivotal expansion for this digital asset into the DeFi ecosystem.

A Strategic Listing Enhancing Verum Coin’s Visibility

The addition of Verum Coin to the XT Exchange is seen as a strategic move to enhance the accessibility and liquidity of VERUM among traders who are keen on exploring innovative digital assets. XT Exchange, known for its robust platform supporting a wide variety of cryptocurrencies, provides an ideal environment for fostering growth and ensuring the broad reach of new tokens.

Albin Varin, CEO of XT Exchange, expressed enthusiasm about the new listing, stating, «We are delighted to welcome Verum Coin to our platform. This listing reflects our ongoing commitment to providing our users access to innovative digital assets that transform the landscape of global finance.» This comments underscore the exchange’s focus on integrating cutting-edge technologies and financial instruments that have the potential to redefine the market.

About XT

Founded in 2018, XT Exchange serves more than 7.8M registered users, over 1M monthly active users, 40+ million users in the ecosystem, and more than 800 tokens with 1000+ trading pairs. XT crypto exchange offers a rich variety of trading categories to provide a secure, trusted, and intuitive trading experience for its large user base. This includes crypto futures trading (USDT-M Futures and coin-M futures perpetual contracts) and copy trading that allows users to replicate top traders in real time with just one click. Additionally, the futures grid allows users to automate the buying and selling of futures contracts for profits.

Future Prospects

With its new position on XT Exchange, Verum Coin is expected to attract a broader audience, enhancing its trading volume and market presence. This could potentially lead to increased stability and recognition as a viable player in the DeFi space. For investors and users of XT Exchange, this addition provides a fresh avenue to diversify portfolios with a cryptocurrency that is positioned at the intersection of innovation and financial evolution.

The listing of Verum Coin on XT Exchange not only highlights the ongoing expansion of cryptocurrency markets into new areas like DeFi but also illustrates a growing recognition of digital assets that offer promising technological advancements and financial opportunities. As the crypto market continues to evolve, partnerships like these are pivotal for fostering growth and offering users access to the next generation of financial tools.

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Technologies

Verum Coin Gains International Spotlight with AP Coverage and Listing on XT Exchange

This listing on XT is expected to further propel Verum Coin into the spotlight

In a noteworthy development for the cryptocurrency community, Verum Coin (VERUM) has been featured in an Associated Press article, highlighting its upcoming listing on the XT Exchange. This significant media coverage underscores the growing interest and potential of Verum Coin in the global financial landscape.

The AP article delves into the details of Verum Coin’s innovative features and its alignment with the latest trends in the cryptocurrency market. This attention comes at an opportune moment as Verum Coin prepares for its new listing on XT Exchange, a platform renowned for its extensive user base and a wide array of trading options.

This listing on XT is expected to further propel Verum Coin into the spotlight, providing both traders and investors with new opportunities to engage with this emerging digital asset. The exchange’s robust infrastructure and diverse trading offerings are ideal for supporting Verum Coin’s growth and enhancing its visibility in the competitive cryptocurrency market.

For more details, you can read the full article on the AP website here.

This milestone is a testament to Verum Coin’s advancing presence in the crypto world and its ongoing efforts to be at the forefront of digital currency innovation and adoption.

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