bullying Archives

AppWizard

October 26, 2025

I’m not sure what’s scarier in Bye Sweet Carole, the demonic owl or the fact that it rips apart an integral part of my childhood

The game "Bye Sweet Carole" features nostalgic 2D visuals and begins in a serene flower garden where players interact with birds and chase a rabbit. However, it quickly transitions to a darker atmosphere as the protagonist, Lana, navigates through an orphanage facing bullying and harassment. Players solve puzzles to progress, using creative mechanics like combining items to overcome obstacles. The narrative centers on Lana's quest to find her friend Carole, with hints of a deeper story. The game emphasizes narrative depth over jump scares and offers a unique horror experience while maintaining a classic 2D animation style.

AppWizard

September 26, 2025

Meta rolls out teen accounts globally to boost safety on Facebook & Messenger

Meta is expanding the Teen Accounts feature across Facebook and Messenger after a successful introduction on Instagram, integrating hundreds of millions of teens into these accounts. The Teen Accounts come with automatic protections to limit interactions and exposure to harmful content, addressing parental concerns about safety and screen time. Enhancements include limits on live streaming, increased restrictions in direct messages, and improved age-appropriate experiences. Moreover, Meta has launched a School Partnership Program for middle and high schools in the U.S. that allows educators to report safety concerns, with a prioritized review within 48 hours. This program was piloted over the past year and is now accessible through a waitlist system.

AppWizard

September 25, 2025

Meta rolls out teen accounts for Facebook and Messenger across the world

Meta is transitioning more teenagers on Facebook and Messenger to specialized "teen accounts," which include enhanced parental controls and protective measures. Hundreds of millions of teenagers are using these accounts across Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger. The rollout, which began on Instagram a year ago, has expanded globally and is now mandatory for all teens, requiring parental consent for younger teens aged 13 to 15 to modify safety-related settings. Meta uses artificial intelligence to identify users misrepresenting their age. Parents can monitor their children's interactions, screen time, and messaging insights through these accounts, which also feature stricter privacy settings. Additionally, Instagram is expanding its program to facilitate the reporting of bullying in US middle and high schools. Meta's efforts to enhance parental control features and youth safety come amid ongoing lawsuits and investigations regarding the company's protection of children online.

AppWizard

September 25, 2025

Meta rolls out Teen Accounts on Facebook and Messenger globally

Meta has expanded its Teen Accounts to Facebook and Messenger globally, initially launched in the U.S., U.K., Australia, and Canada. These accounts include built-in protections and parental controls, requiring parental consent for users under 16 to modify settings. Key features include messaging restrictions, limited story visibility, confined tags and comments, daily usage reminders, and a "Quiet mode" for healthier habits. Despite these measures, a study indicates ongoing risks of distressing content for young users, which Meta contests. Additionally, Meta has launched the School Partnership Program for educators to report safety issues directly to Instagram, now open to all U.S. middle and high schools.

AppWizard

May 29, 2025

Ubisoft denies reports that Yves Guillemot has been summoned in upcoming trial

Ubisoft has denied claims that CEO Yves Guillemot was summoned to court in connection with a trial involving former executives, labeling the reports as "unfounded." The rumors originated from the French union Solidaires Informatique, which suggested that Guillemot, HR director Marie Derain, and Ubisoft as a corporate entity had received summonses related to allegations of sexual harassment and bullying against former executives. A Ubisoft representative confirmed via email that neither Guillemot, the HR team, nor the company is involved in the proceedings and stated their commitment to cooperate with authorities during the investigation.

AppWizard

May 24, 2025

Ubisoft CEO Guillemot to be summoned for trial involving former execs

The trial involving three former high-ranking executives at Ubisoft, including Serge Hascoët, Tommy François, and Guillaume Patrux, has been rescheduled to June 2nd due to delayed information from Ubisoft. CEO Yves Guillemot and HR director Marie Derain will testify, though they are not accused of direct involvement in the alleged sexual harassment and bullying. The trial aims to explore Ubisoft's broader responsibility in creating a workplace culture that allowed such behaviors to persist.

AppWizard

April 16, 2025

‘A Minecraft Movie’ is fun but disappointing

Sean Mandell, a writer for the New York Post, described “A Minecraft Movie” as “Gen Z, Alpha’s ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show.’” The film follows Steve, voiced by Jack Black, who becomes disenchanted with adult life and journeys into the “Overworld,” encountering individuals who rely on creativity and resourcefulness. However, character development is lacking, with characters introducing themselves through exposition and showing no growth. The main child protagonist, Henry, constructs a jetpack at both the beginning and end of the story without real challenges. The film attempts to convey themes of creativity and imagination but falls short, leaning heavily on comedic performances. Despite moments of humor, the film is considered superficial and unlikely to resonate with future audiences. The reviewer rates “A Minecraft Movie” a modest 5/10.

AppWizard

March 12, 2025

Playdead founder dispute goes legal

Dino Patti and Arnt Jensen, founders of Playdead, are in a public dispute over intellectual property issues stemming from a LinkedIn post by Patti in 2024, where he shared an image originally owned by Jensen. Jensen is demanding DKK 500,000 (approximately ,600) as compensation. Jensen's legal team claims Patti's use of Playdead's assets and disclosure of confidential information breaches confidentiality agreements. Patti has accused Jensen of bullying him, prompting him to make the situation public. Playdead has stated they have formally addressed concerns regarding Patti's alleged infringement and unauthorized use of their trademarks and copyrighted materials. Patti left Playdead in 2016 following internal discord.

AppWizard

February 14, 2025

‘Minecraft’ Gets Free “CyberSafe AI” DLC, Teaching AI Literacy to a New Generation

Mojang Studios and Microsoft released the "CyberSafe AI" DLC as part of their educational content series, aimed at teaching users about the applications and challenges of artificial intelligence. The DLC is free and available on the Minecraft Marketplace. A Microsoft Global Online Safety Survey indicates that in 2024, 51% of individuals reported using generative AI, up from 38% in 2023, with Generation Z leading at 64%. The DLC allows players to simulate AI usage while learning about the importance of verifying AI-generated information. The CyberSafe series has achieved over 80 million downloads since its launch in 2022, focusing on digital citizenship skills. The experience encourages critical questioning of AI content and emphasizes the need for human oversight in AI systems. Families can access additional resources through the Minecraft Family Cyber Toolkit and Xbox's family gaming platform.

AppWizard

February 12, 2025

Minecraft is a digital playground for learning and growth

Minecraft has over 141 million active players and serves as a platform for children to explore, create, and interact, significantly impacting child development, social interactions, and cognitive learning. Researchers from the University of South Australia found that collaborative play in Minecraft fosters skills such as teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. Dr. Vincenza Tudini highlights that the game encourages creativity and social growth, promoting pro-social behavior among players. Minecraft enhances language development and digital literacy through gameplay interactions. The game cultivates problem-solving and teamwork skills as children collaborate to overcome obstacles. However, there are risks associated with its open online environment, including cyberbullying and interactions with strangers. Parents and educators are encouraged to implement safety measures, such as using private servers and teaching responsible online behavior. Minecraft Education Edition is being used in classrooms to teach subjects like coding and mathematics, transforming learning into an interactive experience. The study on Minecraft's impact is published in the journal Children’s Online Learning and Interaction.