🚫 Florida’s social media ban

It’s Sunday, February 25 — people are talking about the hoax regarding Gmail’s shutdown, Florida’s bill to ban kids from social media, and more.

As always, we’ve summarized and organized the different shades of perspective, so you can see the big picture quickly. Here at Shades we believe that seeing multiple points of view is the best way to stay informed.

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- Jeff (co-founder of Shades)

📧 Gmail shutdown hoax

A viral tweet warning of a Gmail shutdown sparked some laughs and real talk on tech reliance.

📧 A recent online hoax claimed Gmail was shutting down, causing mass confusion. But Business Insider says it's fake news: Gmail is here to stay.

📧 But maybe the hoax wasn't so obvious. @BillyM2k on X thinks it was so believable because of Google's reputation for discontinuing products!

📧 And PhoneArena says there's a *small* grain of truth to the Gmail shutdown rumors: The basic HTML view is being sunsetted.

📧 Gizmodo: The panic following the hoax underscores our dependency on technology — and the amount of viral misinformation on X.

🚫 Florida’s social media ban

Is Florida's bill to ban under-16s from social media protection, or overreach?

🚫 The Florida House passed a bill that would ban kids under 16 from social media. Axios says it's an effort to protect minors and address addiction concerns.

🚫 And Fox News was all for it: Florida's move shields kids from the dangers of social media.

🚫 But @RepMaxwellFrost was against it: The bill is “lazy and unconstitutional” — parents should decide if their kids get on social media.

🚫 But maybe all the debate is for nothing. The Tampa Bay Times thinks the measure may not make it past Gov. DeSantis — he's been critical of the bill in the past.

Quick hits

🇺🇦 Ukraine's defense minister states that delays in Western military aid are resulting in soldier deaths and loss of territory.

🏘️ Oregon's landmark land use law may be amended to address the state's affordable housing crisis and homelessness.

🇵🇹 Corruption scandals and public disenchantment loom over Portugal's snap election, with populist party Chega gaining traction.

🕊️ Reports indicate a potential cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas conflict, with discussions on hostage and prisoner exchanges.

Thanks for reading. If you have any feedback or want to share your thoughts or ideas, please email me at [email protected].