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From family pairing to screen-time limits, TikTok suggests ways to keep kids safe

Published

3 months ago

August 18, 2024

As kids head back to school, many will be logging onto TikTok to connect with classmates or bust boredom with an endless scroll of videos.

To protect minors on the social media platform, Tara Wadhwa, TikTok’s global head of regional product policy, recently showcased these settings to media at a safety session.

Sign ups

TikTok users need to be at least 13 years old in most markets to create an account. The minimum age required in Quebec is 14.

To ensure minors don’t wind up with accounts for youth or on the platform when they didn’t meet the minimum age, TikTok requires all users to provide a birthdate when they join.

The platform doesn’t post the minimum age to open an account on the enrolment screen and if you provide a birthdate that doesn’t meet the threshold, it won’t let you change your answer to try to circumvent TikTok’s rules.

Because “not everyone is honest about their birthdate when they sign up,” Wadhwa says TikTok is always on alert for accounts believed to belong to someone under 13.

To detect users who don’t meet the age limit, TikTok looks for signs in their bio or posts for clues, such as someone sharing they’ve celebrated their 11th birthday or are entering grade two.

In the last six months, Wadhwa said the platform has removed about six million accounts suspected to be opened by people under the age of 13.

Family pairing

When youths start a TikTok account, Wadhwa says their parents can opt into a program called family pairing.

Family pairing allows parents to link their accounts directly with their teens’ and ensure their kids’ TikTok settings are agreed upon as a family

Through family pairing, parents can set screen-time limits for their kids, pause notifications during bedtime hours and even decide whether their kids can receive direct messages or who can comment on their content, Wadhwa said.

Screen-time limits

Users under 18 automatically have their daily screen-time limit on TikTok set to 60 minutes. To earn an additional 30 minutes of watch time, a parent or guardian will need to set or enter an existing passcode.

Settings

Users under the age of 18 don’t have the ability to use TikTok’s livestream feature. Anyone under 16 has default settings that keeps them from using direct messaging.

TikTok users are also able to toggle their settings to decide who’s able to view their videos, who can comment on their posts and who can direct message them, Wadhwa said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 18, 2024.

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Fall storm could bring ‘hurricane force’ winds to B.C.

Published

2 hours ago

November 18, 2024

Anne Joseph

VANCOUVER – Environment Canada is warning about an intensifying storm that is expected to bring powerful winds to Vancouver Island and the British Columbia coast this week.

Matt MacDonald, the lead forecaster for the BC Wildfire Service, says models predict “explosive cyclogenesis,” which is also known as a bomb cyclone, materializing Tuesday night.

Such storms are caused by a rapid drop in atmospheric pressure at the centre of a storm system that results in heavy rain and high winds.

MacDonald says in a social media post that B.C. coastal inlets could see “hurricane force” winds of more than 118 km/h and create waves up to nine metres off Washington and Oregon.

Environment Canada posted a special weather statement saying the storm will develop off the coast of Vancouver Island on Tuesday, bringing high winds and heavy rain to some areas starting in the afternoon.

It says the weather system may cause downed trees, travel delays and power outages, adding that peak winds are expected for most areas Tuesday night, though the severe weather is likely to continue into Wednesday.

B.C. has been hit by a series of powerful fall storms, including an atmospheric river that caused flash flooding in Metro Vancouver in mid-October.

A lightning storm overnight and early Monday covered parts of Metro Vancouver in hail.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 18, 2024.

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News

CBP Announces New Hours for Border Crossing Locations

Published

2 hours ago

November 18, 2024

Press Release

CHAMPLAIN, N.Y. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), in collaboration with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), will adjust hours of operation for 38 ports of entry (POEs) along the U.S. northern border, beginning at midnight, Jan. 6, 2025.

This will allow CBP to enhance border security while facilitating legitimate cross-border trade and travel. CBP officers will be deployed to busier ports of entry, enabling the agency to use its resources most effectively for its critical national security and border security missions.

These adjustments formalize current operating hours that have been in effect for more than four years at 13 ports of entry across the northern border, with eight ports of entry expanding hours. A small number of ports will see reduced hours in an effort to continually align resources to operational realities. Travelers who use these affected crossing locations will have other options within a reasonable driving distance.

Importantly, these adjustments have been made in close coordination with CBSA, to ensure aligned operational hours that further enhance the security of both countries.

CBP continually monitors operations, traffic patterns and volume, and analyzes the best use of resources to better serve the traveling public. CBP will remain engaged with local and regional stakeholders, as well as communities to ensure consistent communication and to address concerns.

The vast majority of the 118 northern border ports of entry will continue to operate at existing hours, including many with 24/7 operations. Locate ports of entry and access border wait times here.

The following are the new permanent POE hours of operation for select New York POEs:

Chateauguay, NY new hours of operation – 6 am to 6 pm
Trout River, NY new hours of operation – 6 am to 6 pm
Rouses Point, NY new hours of operation – 8 am to 8 pm
Overton Corners, NY new hours of operation – 6 am to 10 pm

Again, these changes will go into effect beginning at midnight, January 6, 2025.

Below is a listing of each location with the closest border crossing that will remain open 24/7 for appropriate commercial and passenger traffic:

Chateauguay, NY – closest 24/7 port: Fort Covington – 27 miles
Trout River, NY – closest 24/7 port: Fort Covington – 11 miles
Rouses Point, NY – closest 24/7 port: Champlain – 8 miles
Overton Corners, NY – closest 24/7 port: Champlain – 5 miles

For additional information or to contact a port of entry, please visit CBP.gov.

For more on Customs and Border Protection’s mission at our nation’s ports of entry with CBP officers and along U.S. borders with Border Patrol agents, please visit the Border Security section of the CBP website.

News

Man police linked to neo-Nazi group pleads not guilty to terrorism charges

Published

2 hours ago

November 18, 2024

Anne Joseph

OTTAWA – An Ottawa man is pleading not guilty to charges of terrorism and hate-speech related to the promotion of a far-right group.

RCMP charged Patrick Gordon Macdonald in July 2023, alleging he took part in activities of a listed terrorist organization.

It’s the first case in Canada where the government laid charges for both terrorism and hate propaganda against someone for promoting a violent, far-right ideology.

As the trial opened Monday in Ontario’s Superior Court of Justice, Crown prosecutors alleged Macdonald helped produce propaganda for the Atomwaffen Division, an international neo-Nazi organization Canada listed as a terror group in 2021.

Prosecutors alleged he aided in the production of three propaganda videos designed to recruit new members and incite hatred against Jews.

The allegations have not yet been proven in court.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 18, 2024.

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