**Exemptions**

While Meta’s plan for targeted advertising using AI chats will apply globally, it will not be implemented in the UK, South Korea, and the European Union. This is because privacy laws in these regions restrict companies from using user data in this manner. Meta AI has approximately 1 billion monthly active users across all its apps.

**Excluded Conversations**

Meta clarifies that user conversations related to sensitive topics such as politics, religion, and health will not be used for targeted advertising. This decision highlights how companies are attempting to monetize free AI services.

**Implementation Timeline**

According to TechCrunch, Meta’s updated privacy policy will take effect on December 16th, with users being informed in the following days. While Meta currently has no immediate plans to display advertisements based on this data, CEO Mark Zuckerberg has hinted at the possibility in the future.

In this scam, people are initially required to register. After registration, they are asked to rate online content. After doing this for a few days, they are persuaded to recharge with different amounts, such as 1950, 8000, and 24000. After recharging, people are given several other tasks and are initially paid a small amount for each task. This builds trust, leading victims to invest more.

After investing more, people are unable to withdraw their earnings, resulting in financial loss. In many cases, scammers empty the victims’ accounts.

If you become a victim of fraud, immediately go to the Cyber Crime Portal of the Government of India (cybercrime.gov.in) and file an online complaint without delay. In addition to the website, you can also call the helpline number 1930 to register a complaint. Filing a complaint increases the chances of getting your money back.

Recently, the Nepali government banned 26 social media platforms. This decision did not sit well with Gen Z, prompting them to protest. Demonstrations took place in Kathmandu, the capital, and at times became intense.

In response, the Nepali government stated that the social media apps will be unbanned once the companies establish offices in Nepal, register with the government, appoint grievance officers, and create systems to prevent misconduct. The government noted that platforms like TikTok and Viber were not banned because they complied with these requirements.

According to a vicinotech report, Gen Z spends 4 to 6 hours daily on social media. They spend their time on stories, reels, and short videos on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

In terms of the most popular social media apps in India, Instagram is now at the top. Following Instagram, Gen Z uses YouTube, Snapchat, and Reddit.

Gen Z users spend a significant amount of time watching short videos and memes on social media platforms.

They prefer short-form videos—whether a 15-second reel, a 30-second YouTube short, or a fun snap. If it doesn’t grab their attention in the first few seconds, they swipe away.

They also enjoy memes, which provide comedy, satire, and smart commentary on politics or everyday life. Memes are not just jokes.

The report indicates that they trust real people over flashy events. They often prefer real-time content created by friends, creators, or even strangers over branded ad videos.

Following the ban on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, people have increasingly turned to VPNs. They are easily accessing these banned sites using VPNs.

According to Nepal Cyber Police spokesperson Deepak Raj Awasthi, there has been a rise in VPN usage. Despite the security risks associated with VPNs, people are using them extensively. Authorities are continuously monitoring the situation.

VPN usage is risky, yet people are still using it. According to Google Trends, the search terms ‘VPN for laptop,’ ‘VPN for iPhone,’ and ‘VPN for Facebook’ have been the most searched in Nepal in the last 24 hours.

Internet Service Providers’ Association members are currently able to use Facebook and Instagram without experiencing any issues. The association stated they have received a letter from the government and are preparing a roadmap. Further action will follow. Additionally, people in border areas are facing minimal difficulty in using Facebook and Instagram.

The Nepalese government made the decision to ban 26 social networking apps on Thursday, September 4th. According to Communication Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung, this decision was made under the new rules. The Nepalese government prepared a law in 2023, as requested by the Supreme Court.

According to this law, all social networking sites will be required to register in Nepal. Sites must re-register with the Nepalese government every 3 years.

Furthermore, each social media app will be required to appoint a contact officer in Nepal to take immediate action on inappropriate content. The apps must also assure that the information of its citizens is not leaked elsewhere.

Immediately after the ban, the Nepalese government contacted Meta. It is anticipated that the dispute with Meta might be resolved within 7 days. In Nepal, Meta oversees the operations of Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.

Currently, WhatsApp users can set their profile pictures by taking a photo with their camera, selecting one from their gallery, creating an avatar, or generating an AI image. However, with the new feature, Instagram and Facebook will be added as options. To utilize this feature, users need to go to their WhatsApp profile settings and tap on the ‘Edit Profile Picture’ option. If the user has linked their Meta accounts (WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook) in the Meta Accounts Center, they can directly upload their DP from Instagram or Facebook to WhatsApp. This feature is particularly useful for those who want to maintain the same profile picture across all their social platforms. It eliminates the need to download the DP or take screenshots, thus avoiding quality loss. This integration enhances the user experience by providing a more seamless and integrated approach.