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New York, New york 10th Septermber 2026 - Social media is changing quickly. For years, Snapchat helped define how teens communicate online: camera-first messaging, disappearing content, Stories, private conversations, and quick visual interactions. But in 2026, a new generation of social apps is taking a different approach. Instead of building everything around public feeds, follower counts, and endless scrolling, newer platforms are experimenting with private friend networks, AI-powered creativity, temporary content, interactive messaging, and new ways to make digital conversations feel more immediate. That raises an obvious question: What are the best new social apps for teens in 2026, and what are the best alternatives to Snapchat? There isn't one answer for everyone. Snapchat remains a major social platform, while Instagram, TikTok, Discord, BeReal and other services each offer different experiences. But a new category is emerging: teen-first social apps designed specifically around how younger users communicate today. Here are the most interesting options to know. What Are Teens Looking for in Social Apps in 2026? The social media experience of the past decade was heavily focused on public visibility. Followers. Likes. Views. Public profiles. Algorithmic feeds. But social interaction doesn't always need to be public. For many younger users

Sep 10, 2026 |Updated Sep 10, 2026 5:38 p.m. Richard Chumney Reporter Richard Chumney covers breaking news across Connecticut. He previously covered local news in Bridgeport, Stratford and Norwalk. He was previously a reporter at the News & Advance in Virginia where he covered the city of Lynchburg.

CANTON, New York (WWNY) - An Ogdensburg man has admitted that he was using Snapchat when he drove through a stop sign, killing two people in 2024. Connor Graveline was in St. Lawrence County Court on Wednesday to take a plea deal. He pleaded guilty to two counts of criminally negligent homicide, failing to stop at a stop sign, and using an electronic device while driving. In return, he will be sentenced to one year in jail. Graveline was 19 years old when, in December 2024, he drove a pickup truck through a stop sign at the intersection of State Highway 310 and County Route 34 in the town of Potsdam. The truck struck an SUV, killing Real Coupal, 84, and Loretta Perez, 73, both of Massena. Graveline was originally charged with two counts of criminally negligent homicide. According to a criminal complaint, he was using a “non-hands-free electronic device,” driving “in excess of 60 miles per hour,” and failed to stop at a stop sign. Graveline’s lawyer later claimed that his client was alleged to have used a diabetes monitoring device at the time of the collision. During his plea Thursday, Graveline admitted to using the social media app

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Snap has experienced a lot of turnover in its top commercial role over the last few years but has posted strong growth recently amid improvements ...

Calgary Hammad Shaikh, 26, faces 28 charges. The alleged victims in this case range in age from 12 to 17 years old. Hammad Shaikh, 26, accused of sexually assaulting girls ages 12-16 Meghan Grant · CBC News · Posted: Sep 08, 2026 4:30 PM EDT | Last Updated: 7 hours ago Listen to this article Estimated 2 minutes The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results. A Calgary man is on trial, accused of luring and sexually assaulting underage girls he met on Snapchat. (Richard Drew/AP) A four-week trial got underway Tuesday for a Calgary man accused of sexually assaulting seven underage girls whom he met on social media, primarily over Snapchat. Hammad Shaikh, 26, faces 28 charges, including sexual assault, sexual interference, luring and child pornography-related offences.  The alleged victims in this case range in age from 12 to 17 years old. A publication ban protects their identities. The girls will testify from a separate, child-friendly courtroom. Shaikh is accused of using “the promise of access to alcohol, vapes and marijuana” to coax the girls to meet in person, according

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Smartly, the leading AI-powered adtech company, has announced that multi-platinum, four-time Grammy Award-winning producer and Songwriters Hall of Fame member Timbaland will headline ADVANCE, Smartly's flagship industry event, on September 29 at Spring Studios in New York City, bringing together senior leaders across brands, agencies, media and technology . Timbaland will join Smartly CEO Laura Desmond on the mainstage for a conversation exploring creativity in the age of AI and the role of taste and originality as technology reshapes the advertising industry. At ADVANCE, he will explore what happens to creativity when new technology becomes more available to everyone: what makes an idea distinctive, how creators preserve a recognizable viewpoint, and where human judgment, taste and collaboration matter most. Timbaland joins a lineup spanning the marketing, media, technology and agency ecosystem, including Sean Downey, president, Americas and Global Partners at Google; Bob Lord, president of Horizon Media; Judy Toland, vice president of marketing at Meta; Lee Brown, chief business officer of Pinterest; Bill Ready, CEO of Pinterest; Jen Wong, chief operating officer of Reddit; Mary Ann Belliveau, president of Americas at Snapchat; Grace Kao, chief marketing officer of Snapchat; David Kaufman, global head of monetization product partnerships at TikTok; Amy

Australians could be given the option of opting out of powerful social media algorithms under new legislation cracking down on big tech, a minister said Monday. The draft law requiring a "digital duty of care" is expected to be introduced to Australia's parliament this week. It would require firms like Meta to give users the option of turning off algorithms that tailor recommendations to their personal taste. "A lot of Australians appreciate the algorithm, both for the enjoyment they get out of it or the utility they get out of it," Communications Minister Anika Wells told national broadcaster ABC. "A lot of Australians will want to choose the algorithm -- but we think that big tech should offer them the choice in the first place, and they should respect that choice." "We should give Australians more choice over what they should see on their feeds," she said. Social media firms have long faced scrutiny over their use of allegedly addictive algorithms and stand accused of directing users to sensational or extreme content to keep them scrolling. Australia implemented legislation barring children from social media platforms in December, part of a world-first crackdown designed to protect children from online bullying and

    Arkansas is on track to receive at least $172 million in a landmark multistate settlement over online child safety. But the state’s other cases against social media platforms are still winding through the courts. Attorney General Tim Griffin and Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders have been pushing for more scrutiny on social media firms through lawsuits and legislation. The Republicans hailed the settlement with the parent company of Facebook and Instagram as a win for that effort. Meta’s $17.1 billion settlement with 51 attorneys general requires the company to enact new safety measures. The agreement requires court approval. Here’s a look at where the state’s other cases involving social media stand: TikTok Griffin in 2023 filed lawsuits against TikTok in Cleburne and Union counties, accusing the social media platform of misleading parents about the availability of mature content. The lawsuits accused TikTok of violating the state’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act. TikTok argued that the lawsuit was barred by Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, which protects Internet companies from being sued because of users’ posts. But a Cleburne County judge rejected TikTok’s motion to dismiss the case, and a trial is scheduled in March 2027. The Union County