Instagram Adds Mental Health Support; Teen App Helps Isolated Kids

Posted October 19th, 2016 at 12:49 pm (UTC-5)
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Today’s Tech Sightings:

FILE - A screen displays the Instagram logo during a presentation in New York. (Reuters)

FILE – A screen displays the Instagram logo during a presentation in New York. (Reuters)

Instagram Introduces Support Tool to Anonymously Help Those in Distress

Social networking service Instagram is rolling out a new tool that will allow users to reach out to help people suffering from mental health issues who might be in danger of harming themselves. The new feature allows users to alert Instagram to any posts about self-harm. The service then lets the person know there are people out there who would like to help and offers a local helpline and a support page with additional resources.

Bullied Teen Creates App So No Kid Ever Has to Sit at Lunch Alone Again

“Sit With US’ is a new app designed to help ostracized or isolated kids find new people to sit with. It was created by 16-year-old Natalie Hampton, who had a tough time with isolation at school. The app includes a club feature that lets kids sign up as ambassadors and post open lunches that anyone who has the app can join and hopefully, make new friends in the process.

Endorse a Presidential Candidate on Facebook (What Could Go Wrong?)

Facebook now lets users publicly endorse a particular candidate in this year’s U.S. presidential election, if they don’t mind declaring that to the world. All you have to do is go to the candidate’s Facebook page. Once there, Select “Endorsements” and click the blue “Endorse” button to write a few words about the reason for your support. Be prepared to see your endorsement on candidate’s timeline if you make it fully public.

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Aida Akl
Aida Akl is a journalist working on VOA's English Webdesk. She has written on a wide range of topics, although her more recent contributions have focused on technology. She has covered both domestic and international events since the mid-1980s as a VOA reporter and international broadcaster.

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