Video-sharing app TikTok says it is "sorry" that some children and other young people have felt pressured into sending money to their favourite influencers on the app.

TikTok lets fans send their favourite videomakers "digital gifts", which can cost up to £48.99.

'Claire, 12, who lives in the north-west of England, sent TikTok star Sebastian Moy a £48.99 "drama queen" gift to show her appreciation for his videos.'

12 years old.

The company says it is most popular with 16- to 24-year-olds but there is evidence that many users are under 13, which is against the app's rules.

Rhys, 20 said he had spent more than £1,000 without realising it.

"Gifting on TikTok is a little bit like gambling," he said "It gets addictive. I really didn't see anything wrong with it at the time but now I don't think it's worth it.

"I have nothing to show for it.

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'Abusive phone-snooping, they point out, doesn't necessarily require software explicitly built for that purpose. Mainstream app stores are well-stocked with what those researchers call "dual-use" applications..'

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If you have concerns about a victim of stalking here's some help I've collated. (I also deliver courses for front line professionals who support victims of cyberstalking)

Bella Hadid, a human supermodel, has been accused of “queerbaiting” after making out with Lil Miquela, a computer-generated influencer, in order to sell designer underwear.

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Fears than being hooked on social media is creating a generation of depressed and anxious teenagers have been overstated, according to a study which found it has a "trivial" effect on life satisfaction.

Ministers and parent groups have raised the alarm about excessive time spent on sites like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

But University of Oxford researchers found little evidence to support it making heavy users less content.

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From trialling the removal of "likes" from Instagram to taking cues from China's superapp WeChat, Mr Zuckerberg heralded a number of changes to Facebook's broader social network.

Proclaiming "the future is private", Mr Zuckerberg signalled that Facebook's News Feed would be de-emphasised in favour of revamping its messaging app, online marketplace and video-on-demand site.

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People’s faces are being used without their permission, in order to power technology that could eventually be used to surveil them, legal experts say.

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