Facebook is finally testing a dark mode in its mobile app beyond a handful of users. The social network has teamed up with code sleuth Jane Manchun Wong to confirm that it’s publicly testing dark mode on Android and iOS. Just who’s getting the option isn’t clear, but MacRumorsnoted that many more people were reporting access to the night-friendly option.
If you have the option, you’ll see a Dark Mode button in the Settings & Privacy section under the Menu tab. You can force it on or off, or leave it up to your system-level settings. If you have an OS-level dark mode switch on when the Sun goes down, Facebook can follow suit.
The feature has been a long time in coming. Facebook let users opt in to a dark mode on desktop back in March, and companion apps like Messenger have had the choice since 2019. It’s not certain why the core Facebook app is getting this feature so much later, but the wait suggests it was determined to tread carefully given the sheer importance of an app likely used by billions of people.
It will also let you limit incoming direct messages to people you follow.
nstagram is getting more serious about curbing underage use. As of December 4th, the social network will start asking for your date of birth when you sign up, and will use the date from your Facebook profile if you're using that. This will help the service dissuade children under 13 from using the app (and thus violating COPPA), but will also let it create "age-appropriate and safer experiences" like child-oriented account control tutorials and privacy settings. You can expect those in the months ahead.
Your birthday and age won't be visible to other users.
You'll also be glad to hear that Instagram is tightening controls for direct messages. It's rolling out an option that will limit incoming direct messages and group invitations to the people you follow, instead of the all-or-nothing approach from before. Finally, you won't have to put up with spammers adding you to groups in the vain hope that you'll click their links. These changes should arrive in the "coming weeks."
The move follows a Facebook promise from last year that also included more proactive reviews of suspected underage accounts. We wouldn't be surprised if this is only mildly effective -- kids routinely lie in age checks, after all. It might discourage kids from signing up when they simply didn't realize there was a minimum age, though. And let's be honest -- this is partly a defense against regulators worried that Facebook and its brands aren't doing enough to protect kids' privacy.
While Instagram toldReuters that advertising wasn't a main reason for the age check, it won't be surprising if this enables marketing that wasn't always feasible before, such as alcohol ads for people over the legal drinking age. That could be a problem for children who fib about their age and start seeing ads for scotch, but Instagram could then blame the users for misrepresenting themselves.
TikTok may drop its ties to China in very short order. Reuters sources claim TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, has agreed to sell its stake in the social network’s US operations to avert a possible ban. The agreement would have Microsoft protect American user data, according to the report, but Microsoft wouldn’t necessarily own TikTok itself — it would leave the possibility of another company taking stewardship.
The company told Engadget that it didn’t comment on rumors, but that it was “confident in the long-term success of TikTok.” It pointed to a video response to talk of a ban where US General Manager Vanessa Pappas said TikTok was “not planning on going anywhere.” Microsoft declined to comment. The White house has already declined to comment on whether or not this move would prevent a ban.
There’s no guarantee this would be enough. President Trump said on Air Force One that he would ban TikTok outright and rejected talk of allowing a sell-off. He suggested he would use an executive order or emergency economic powers to block the company. However, he also said this before word of a possible US deal emerged. If TikTok sheds its Chinese links, a ban might not have much effect.
A ban could have serious consequences if it remained intact for a significant period, and not just to TikTok’s bottom line. The company has about 100 million American users, and a sudden shutdown could both make people scramble to alternatives and possibly create resentment. It could affect creator money and TikTok jobs, too. In that regard, the social media giant might not have much choice if it wants to prevent chaos.
Update 8/1 5:08PM: The Wall Street Journal and The Information claim Microsoft has “paused” talks with TikTok following Trump’s suggestion he would ban the app. The tech companies were reportedly hoping to finish a deal by Monday, sources for the news outlets said. This doesn’t mean they’re scrapping the deal, but they apparently want “clarity” on what happens next.
