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Lawsuit: Meta allowed sex-trafficking posts on Instagram as it put profit over kids’ safety

Lawsuit: Meta allowed sex-trafficking posts on Instagram as it put profit over kids’ safety

A significant new court filing claims Facebook and Instagram owner Meta had a “17x” policy allowing sex traffickers to post content related to sexual solicitation or prostitution 16 times before their accounts were suspended on the 17th “strike.” The allegation is one of many in the filing claiming Meta chose profit and user engagement over the safety and well-being of children.

The description of the purported sexual content policy at Instagram is contained in a new court filing by plaintiffs in an ongoing lawsuit against Meta, Google’s YouTube, Snapchat owner Snap and TikTok brought by children and parents, school districts and states — including California. They accuse the companies of intentionally addicting children to products they knew were harming them.

The filing makes the same general allegations against the four companies — that they targeted children and schools, and misrepresented their social media products — along with company-specific claims.

“Despite earning billions of dollars in annual revenue — and its leader being one of the richest people in the world — Meta simply refused to invest resources in keeping kids safe,” claimed the Friday filing in Oakland’s U.S. District Court. The lawsuit also targets products it deems harmful from Facebook, YouTube, Snapchat and TikTok. The plaintiffs seek unspecified damages, and a court order requiring the companies stop alleged “harmful conduct” and warn minor users and parents that their products are addictive and dangerous. read more

Airlines adopt software fix for Airbus A320 after plane has sudden altitude drop

Airlines adopt software fix for Airbus A320 after plane has sudden altitude drop

By AUDREY McAVOY

An aircraft heavily used by commercial airlines around the world needs a software fix to address an issue that contributed to a sudden drop in altitude of a JetBlue plane last month, the manufacturer and European aviation safety regulators said Friday.

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The step may result in some flight delays as U.S. travelers return home from the Thanksgiving holidays.

Airbus said an analysis of the JetBlue incident revealed intense solar radiation may corrupt data critical to the functioning of flight controls on the A320 family of aircraft. read more

Spirit, Frontier offer steep air travel discounts in Black Friday dogfight

Spirit, Frontier offer steep air travel discounts in Black Friday dogfight

A Black Friday airfare dogfight appears to have broken out between rival discount carriers Spirit and Frontier airlines, as both announced Friday they are briefly selling one-way tickets for $30 or less under for cold weather travel.

Spirit and Frontier, a multi-time Spirit acquisition suitor, also said members of their loyalty programs can get lower prices than the ones advertised for non-members.

The offers are a continued test of the airlines’ low-price business models which are designed to attract leisure travelers.

Here are details of the deals:

Spirit

Dania Beach, Florida-based Spirit calls its program “Black & Yellow Friday,” after the black lettering and yellow paint jobs on its jetliners. The deals, the carrier said, are designed to give travelers savings during the holiday season and into March.

From the airline, here are Spirit’s sales terms:

One-way flights start as low as $25 for members of Sprit’s Saver$ Club program, and $30 for non-members.

“All fares must be booked on spirit.com between 12:01 a.m. Eastern time on Nov. 28, 2025, and 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on Dec.1, 2025 [this coming Monday], for travel on the dates as specified by individual market and by market direction on nonstop flights only. Seven-day advanced purchases are required. Fares valid for travel from Dec. 6, 2025, through March 4, 2026 (No Friday through Sunday travel). Blackout Dates: Dec. 20, 2025, through Jan. 5, 2026. Fares may be combined with other valid and applicable Spirit Airlines fares on other dates of travel. Lower fares generally available at the airport and all fares are subject to availability. Not all markets are operated on a daily basis during the travel period, or necessarily for the entire travel period.” read more

Snapchat is nearing 1 billion monthly users. Why can’t it turn a profit?

Snapchat is nearing 1 billion monthly users. Why can’t it turn a profit?

By Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times

Snapchat, an app whose disappearing messages and silly face filters made chatting with loved ones more casual, is close to a milestone that few social media platforms achieve: reaching 1 billion monthly users.

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But Snap, the Santa Monica company behind the app, faces a crucial test. The 14-year-old tech company is still losing money and has seen its share price tumble as it barrels forward to popularize augmented reality glasses next year.

And even though more people in developing countries are using the app, Snapchat usage in markets where the company makes more revenue per user, including the United States and Europe, has dropped. read more

Boar’s Head among cheese brands in listeria recall from Walmart, Target, others

Boar’s Head among cheese brands in listeria recall from Walmart, Target, others

By David J. Neal, Miami Herald

Grated cheese sold under four brands has been recalled at various stores nationwide, including Walmart, Sam’s Clubs and Target, after testing found listeria.

The Ambriola Company’s FDA-posted recall notice said the recall is limited to grated Pecorino Romano cheese made at its West Caldwell, New Jersey facility.

What’s recalled and where?

Locatelli Pecorino Romano Grated in a 4 oz. cup, expiration dates 05/03/26, 05/10/26 and 05/17/26.

Locatelli Grated Pecorino Romano in a 8 oz. cup, expiration dates 04/06/26, 04/11/26, 04/12/26, 04/15/26, 04/17/26 05/05/26, 05/06/26, 05/07/26, 05/10/26, 05/12/26, 05/14/26 and 05/17/26. This weight is sold at Fresh Market.

Wegmans said its stores in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., sold the Locatelli brand between Nov. 14 and Monday.

Boar’s Head Grated Pecorino Romano in a 6 oz. cup, expiration dates 03/04/26 and 03/12/2026. Target said it sells the Boar’s Head. read more