For those who are unaware, Instagram is 100% owned by Facebook, which is actually Meta, just by a different set of names. They’re all essentially one company. I don’t think most Americans know this, if they read this, it never stuck in their brains.

It’s along the lines of the fact that I think most Americans don’t know that Bud and Miller are both foreign owned.

Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger founded Instagram, then with the same move as Jan Koum with WhatsApp, they both sold out. They’re all part of the same Meta (actually Facebook) ecosystem

Hey, when I mean sold out? They did the work, and they got their fortunes for it. I just don’t have a brain that can hate on this anymore (with so much else too). It’s become so common you’d be angry every day to the point of absolute insanity. For example, see the Paramount Skydance merger and tell anyone with straight face that the game isn’t rigged. Good luck Hollywood, as we posted about two weeks back, you’re finished anyways.

[just to get this outta the way; because ragebait rules The Internets; this is not a pro/con Trump post]

I most certainly watch too much of online video on YouTube or Tubi or whatever. I need to pick up a book I haven’t read yet. But sometimes, absolute passiveness is needed. It’s the same thing, only in moderation is what is always needed. As with anything in life.

Anyways, the ads online shake up based on what corporations want you to see, to influence you. It’s not just ads for products you can buy. But also, political topics, or to shape the opinion of anything to the audience (you) in certain direction forever. You’ll see the same ads again and again and again. Because (whoever) paid Facebook to do it. Or paid Google (Alphabet) for YouTube to air it, or on and on and on.

Thus, my Guests and I give you what has magically appeared on The Internets in the last week or so: Instagram Teen Accounts

Gee, I wonder why? It’s not like almost a dozen countries are working to establish laws that ban certain parts of social media for anyone like below the ages of 13-16. I mean, I’m sure these teen accounts idea is because Facebook cares about children. Honest.

In other news, Facebook will always win. So why bother with getting ahead with these “ads”? To shape the narrative. Facebook knows they’ll win, but before this gets out of hand in America, writing the script ahead of time gets them ahead of the lawyers, lobbyists, donors, and the average person. Which means less money paid out to get away with what they do.

In other news, Facebook (along with many The Internets others) are in a tight spot right now. I’m sure they care about the children. Or any potential forthcoming regulation that would require them to back away with algorithms that are specifically designed to addict people. Of any age.

If I was Facebook, I wouldn’t worry. Congress can’t regulate a dog kennel. But better safe than sorry.

Hmm, also, so, … everyone should know that you can go to YouTube (or dozens and dozens of other sites) and watch almost all of their videos without ever signing in, right? No matter how horrible the content is.

If nobody signs in, the browser/app/site/whatever is incapable of determining the age of the user or that it’s a child. The Internets companies saying their algorithms can inherently determine the age of the user is a bold faced lie.

There are parental controls available on the physical devices children use. The device has that power. The Internets doesn’t.

If a seven year old stumbles upon a Ukraine drone snuff film where Russians are horribly butchered (well, …, maybe that’s not a bad thing). If they’re not logged in? Nothing can stop them. Then what’s the point of all this multi country legislation?

Regulation cannot replace good parenting. In any form.