Latest news and stories about social media in technology in Portugal for expats and residents.
Meta platforms including Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook are experiencing widespread service outages across multiple countries, including Portugal, with no official statement released yet.
The PSD will submit a bill proposing age verification at social media account creation to enforce a ban on under-13s and restrict access for under-16s. The measure, described as sensible and largely inevitable in an editorial, aims to protect children and reduce pressures such as the pursuit of likes, though it raises practical enforcement and privacy concerns about verification methods.
The Commission states that the platform's account settings expose content from minors too broadly, potentially leading to unwanted contact. It highlights the 'rabbit hole' effect. The investigation began in 2024.
The platform has more than 50 default privacy and security features from the moment an account is created.
Instagram and Facebook are down this morning, July 19. The issues began around 8:20 AM Lisbon time. However, according to several international newspapers, the problem is being detected in multiple countries. Meta, the owner of the social networks, has not yet commented on the matter. WhatsApp, which is also part of the Meta ecosystem, is functioning normally.
An analysis of the European Commission's preliminary finding that the addictive design of Instagram and Facebook violates the Digital Services Act. The article reflects on the misuse of the term 'social' to describe digital platforms, criticizes the delayed political response to the societal impact of these technologies, and highlights the lack of focus on educational foundations in addressing the risks posed by platforms like Meta.
The European Commission concluded that Elon Musk's social network violated the Digital Services Act in 2025. The company also guaranteed that it will facilitate access to public data for eligible researchers.
Starting July 24th, Expresso is launching a new edition of the “Desconectados” collection, consisting of four books that analyse some of the most current topics regarding the relationship between people and technology. From social media regulation to the impact of smartphones on the brain, as well as the use of mobile phones in schools and the potential of artificial intelligence, the collection seeks to help readers understand a digital world in constant transformation.
The head of Audiogest believes that the governing party's proposal to restrict minors' access to social media does not make sense
The proposals will be presented to Member States after the summer. Among the measures under consideration are the creation of age verification tools and a model for gradual access to social media.
A Commission report published Monday recommends minors under 13 years of age should only have “time-limited” access to certain platforms.
The European Commission concluded preliminarily today that Meta is violating the Digital Services Act due to the addictive design of Instagram and Facebook, as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged breaches of EU rules. It has ordered Meta to modify the interfaces, under threat of a very heavy fine.
Investigation targets alleged violation of EU rules.
Technical failures on Instagram and Facebook are impacting users across multiple nations, with reports confirmed in Portugal.
Technical failures on Meta's platforms are causing service disruptions across multiple nations, with users in Portugal reporting issues.
Issues are primarily affecting the applications
In just two weeks of competition, the number of deleted posts has already surpassed the total recorded during the entire 2022 Qatar World Cup.
AI will analyse height and “bone structure” to verify users' ages. Apps will notify parents if their children attempt to search for terms related to suicide or self-harm.
Contact with “hostile messages or content” related to politics, race, or ethnicity decreases over the years. The 16 to 24 age group is the most vulnerable.
Meta has bolstered teen accounts with new parental controls and AI-powered features that, among other things, notify parents if searches for sensitive topics are detected. The tech company announced it has implemented global content classification for Instagram users over 13, introducing new account adjustments. New default settings on Facebook aim to hide inappropriate content from teens in key sections like the Feed and Reels, while also limiting interactions with profiles or groups that post such content. Messenger restrictions now limit the ability to view links to inappropriate content or chat with accounts that frequently share it. Meta is using AI to identify minor accounts through context analysis and visual analysis of physical features—not facial recognition—to verify age. Additionally, Instagram will notify parents of repeated searches related to self-harm or suicide in the EU. Centralised management is available via the 'Family Center'. Meanwhile, the UK is considering banning social media for those under 16, with some doctors comparing the potential harm of social media to that of tobacco.
Meta has reinforced teen accounts with new parental controls and AI-powered features that, among other things, notify parents if searches for sensitive topics are detected. In an online statement, the tech company said it recently implemented Instagram content classification for minors...
Furthermore, Meta will also use visual analysis, which examines photos and videos to find clues about the user's age.
Platforms may be held liable for damages caused by third-party content in cases of crimes or illicit acts, except when they demonstrate 'reasonable doubt regarding the illegality'.
The new social application WiYou has been released in Portugal, focusing on connecting users based on shared interests rather than physical looks.
Meta's social networks are experiencing issues this Friday, June 12, over the last hour. Facebook and Instagram are down or facing constraints in several countries, including Portugal.
Users were automatically logged out of the Messenger app and are unable to log back in
The decision follows a majority consensus that technology companies have a duty to act when notified of illicit content, without the need to wait for a court order.
Laws to regulate and protect the digital space, the agency notes, faced resistance in 2025 from companies and also from the United States Administration.
The rules were already being tested in the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia.
Documents analysed by the New York Times show how tech giants captured children's attention throughout the day — a strategy that, according to schools, undermined education.
