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Sweeping Change: Instagram Moves Teens Into Private Accounts 'Guided By Parents' Sweeping Change: Instagram Moves Teens Into Private Accounts 'Guided By Parents'
Sweeping Change: Instagram Moves Teens Into Private Accounts 'Guided By Parents' Millions of teenage Instagram users are being forced into private accounts with enhanced security features aimed at limiting their exposure to harmful content. Meta, the social media platform’s parent company, unveiled its “Teen Accounts” feature on Tuesday, Sept. 17, automatically placing anyone under the age of 18 into a default private account. Teens with a private account must accept new followers and people who don’t follow them can’t see their contact or interact with them. It also comes with strict messaging settings, making it so they can only receive messages from people they foll…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
New York's Sean 'Diddy' Combs Arrested, Charged With Sex Trafficking, Racketeering: Feds New York's Sean 'Diddy' Combs Arrested, Charged With Sex Trafficking, Racketeering: Feds
New York's Sean 'Diddy' Combs Arrested, Charged With Sex Trafficking, Racketeering: Feds Following several lawsuits accusing him of sexual assault and other abuses, successful hip-hop producer and New York native Sean "Diddy" Combs now faces federal sex trafficking charges, officials announced.  Combs, a 54-year-old New York City native who grew up in Westchester County in Mount Vernon, was arrested on Tuesday morning, Sept. 17 on a three-count indictment, according to the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.  According to federal officials, beginning as far back as 2008, Combs ran a criminal enterprise that involved sex trafficking, forced…

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by Ben Crnic
Politics
Social Media Sites Should Be Forced To Display Warning Labels, NY AG Argues Social Media Sites Should Be Forced To Display Warning Labels, NY AG Argues
Social Media Sites Should Be Forced To Display Warning Labels, NY AG Argues You’ve seen them on cigarettes and alcohol – now social media accounts could come with their own warnings if New York Attorney General Letitia James gets her way. James was among a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general who sent a letter to Congress on Tuesday, Sept. 10, urging lawmakers to approve US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy's request for warnings on sites like TikTok and Instagram about potential adverse mental health effects for minors. Murthy made the request in June, citing new research showing that adolescents who spend more than three hours per day on social media face an incr…

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by Michael Mashburn
Sports
LI Singer Aims To Perform National Anthem At Every MLB Stadium LI Singer Aims To Perform National Anthem At Every MLB Stadium
LI Singer Aims To Perform National Anthem At Every MLB Stadium New York’s Ali Berke is hoping for a grand slam of her own. The 23-year-old Long Island resident, from Oceanside, is crisscrossing the country on a mission to perform the national anthem at all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums. She got the wild idea after landing a singing gig at Boston’s Fenway Park before a Red Sox game in 2023. “Me and my dad started thinking, 'how cool would it be if I could sing at all 30 MLB parks?'” Berke told Daily Voice. Instagram/alitheanthemgirl As of early September, she's well on her way. The pop singer/songwriter has already wowed crowds at 12 MLB stadium…

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by Michael Mashburn
Lifestyle
'Best I've Had:' This Long Island Shop Scoops Up Greatest Cones, Voters Say 'Best I've Had:' This Long Island Shop Scoops Up Greatest Cones, Voters Say
'Best I've Had:' This Long Island Shop Scoops Up Greatest Cones, Voters Say When customers want to escape the heat with a sweet treat, ice cream is one of the best choices — and this creamery is the number one place to get it, Long Islanders said. Port Washington-based Douglas & James Homemade Ice Cream, also known as Sweet Treats on the Wharf and located at 405 Main Street, makes the greatest ice cream around, according to the 2024 Bethpage Best of Long Island results. Winning the title of “Best Ice Cream on Long Island” for the sixth year in a row and entering its thirtieth year in business, Douglas & James’ reputation may precede it. With homemade ic…

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by Sophie Grieser
News
Westchester's Sean 'Diddy' Combs Subject Of New Federal Criminal Investigation: Report Westchester's Sean 'Diddy' Combs Subject Of New Federal Criminal Investigation: Report
Westchester's Sean 'Diddy' Combs Subject Of New Federal Criminal Investigation: Report A federal criminal investigation is focusing on well-known hip-hop artist and longtime New Yorker Sean "Diddy" Combs, according to a report by NBC.  Combs, a 54-year-old New York City native who grew up in Westchester County in Mount Vernon, was told that he is a focus of an ongoing criminal investigation being conducted by federal authorities in the Southern District of New York, NBC reported.  The outlet added that as part of the probe, a federal grand jury is hearing evidence. There is nothing to suggest that charges are coming, though.  Combs has not received a lett…

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by Ben Crnic
News
Long Island 'Dance Instructor' Sought Sexual Photos From 10-Year-Old Girls, DA Says Long Island 'Dance Instructor' Sought Sexual Photos From 10-Year-Old Girls, DA Says
Long Island 'Dance Instructor' Sought Sexual Photos From 10-Year-Old Girls, DA Says A Long Island man is accused of posing as a dance instructor in order to solicit sexual photos from young girls. Taner Ocal, age 22, of Lindenhurst, was arraigned on 30 criminal counts, including possessing child pornography, in Suffolk County Court on Thursday, July 11. According to prosecutors, Ocal contacted two 10-year-old girls in Texas on Instagram in June 2024 while pretending to be a dance instructor.  He allegedly asked them to film themselves dancing and later requested that they send him sexually explicit photos of themselves, prosecutors said. The children blocked his acc…

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by Michael Mashburn
Politics
Hochul Signs Bill Restricting 'Addictive' Social Media Feeds Targeting Children Hochul Signs Bill Restricting 'Addictive' Social Media Feeds Targeting Children
Hochul Signs Bill Restricting 'Addictive' Social Media Feeds Targeting Children Big changes are on the horizon for those TikTok and Instagram feeds. Gov. Kathy Hochul signed new legislation Thursday, June 20, meant to combat what lawmakers called “addictive” social media algorithms aimed at minors, the first such law in the country. Under the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) For Kids Act, social media companies will be required to display content chronologically for users under 18 unless they get parental consent allowing them to show content that is selected algorithmically instead. Content that is algorithmically curated relies on a user’s behavior and past …

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
New Update: Lindenhurst Man Who Posed As Female Dance Instructor Nabbed For Child Porn: Police New Update: Lindenhurst Man Who Posed As Female Dance Instructor Nabbed For Child Porn: Police
New Update: Lindenhurst Man Who Posed As Female Dance Instructor Nabbed For Child Porn: Police Reports from out of state have resulted in child pornography charges for a Long Island man who allegedly created a fake online profile. Following tips from the Fort Worth Police Department in Texas, Suffolk County Police Digital Forensics Unit detectives arrested the Lindenhurst resident for sexually explicit conversations he had with two 10-year-old girls from Texas on social media and through text messages.  The girls notified Fort Worth Police of her interactions with Taner Ocal, age 22, in May and June 2024, Suffolk County Police said. During the investigation, it was determi…

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by Joe Lombardi
Lifestyle
'Excellent' Pizzeria Opens Sixth Long Island Location 'Excellent' Pizzeria Opens Sixth Long Island Location
'Excellent' Pizzeria Opens Sixth Long Island Location A popular pizzeria has opened yet another location on Long Island — and so far, it seems to be just as popular as its prior eateries. The Pizzeria of Babylon, located at 606 Montauk Highway, officially opened its doors in April, marking the business’ sixth spot. In its first few weeks of operation, it appears that The Pizzeria of Babylon has left hungry customers satisfied. “Summer vibes are on point. [The] menu is extensive and more than just pizza for sure!” wrote Michael Anthony in a Facebook post to the Long Island Restaurant Group. He continued that the bar area of the new buildi…

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by Sophie Grieser