Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp users have reported that the platforms have suffered outages. Thousands of users reported issues at around 11.45am PST, according to DownDetector, which monitors tech outages. Users in Indiana, Washington state, Florida, Nebraska and New York all stated on DownDetector that their service had been impacted. More than 12,000 users reported having trouble accessing Facebook, while over 6,600 users were having trouble with Instagram. WhatsApp also had more than 1,300 outage reports. Meta, which owns all three platforms, addressed the issue in a statement to The Independent. “We’re aware that some people are having trouble accessing our products. We’re working to get things back to normal as quickly as possible, and we apologize for any inconvenience,” the company stated. Read More Meta scrambles to fix Instagram algorithm connecting ‘vast paedophile network’ Google revenue from anti-abortion campaigns and ‘fake’ clinics ‘topped $10m’ Police warn about dangerous emergency setting on Android phones

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Facebook users have reported that the social media platform is down in the US. Thousands of users reported an outage with Mark Zuckerberg’s platform at around 11.45am PST, according to DownDetector, which monitors tech outages. Users in Indiana, Washington state, Florida, Nebraska and New York all stated on DownDetector that their service had been impacted. Thousands of users also complained about an issue with Facebook Messenger, while Twitter users posted that they were experiencing issues with WhatsApp and Instagram, which are both also owned by Meta. The Independent has reached out to Facebook for comment. Read More Meta scrambles to fix Instagram algorithm connecting ‘vast paedophile network’ Google revenue from anti-abortion campaigns and ‘fake’ clinics ‘topped $10m’ Police warn about dangerous emergency setting on Android phones

(Reuters) -Meta Platforms-owned Facebook and Instagram were down for thousands of users on Friday, according to outage-tracking website Downdetector.com. More

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A potentially dangerous setting on Android phones means that emergency phone lines are being pocket dialled, a Metropolitan Police officer has warned. Android devices have a setting called ‘Emergency SOS’ that is intended to make it easier for people to call for help. If a person presses the power button fives times or more, it starts a series of emergency actions like calling for help. Users can choose what that setting does. But by default the phone calls the police number, so that they will be alerted to any issue. The ease with which the setting can be activated means that 999 lines in the UK are getting called by accident, according Met Police chief superintendent Dan Ivey. The button is being pressed while people’s phones are in their pockets, further filling up already stretched emergency call handlers. He asked that people disable the feature to help reduce demand. He described the setting as a “problem”, though some users may opt to keep it active if they feel that it is likely to be used in an emergency. Mr Ivey said that on Saturday the Met Police had received an “unprecedented” 9,500 calls through 999, and 3,000 on non-emergency lines. Only 20 per cent of them had required police to be sent in emergency response mode, he said. “There is a problem with SOS auto mode on Android devices, so we are asking for your help,” Mr Ivey said, describing the issue. He asked that people turn off the feature by going to settings and then choosing “Emergency SOS”, where the feature can be turned off or changed so that it does not ring 999. He asked people to ensure they only call 999 when they need police urgently, on blue lights, in situations where there is a danger to life, someone is using or there is immediate threat of serious violence, or there is serious injury to a person or serious damage to a property. Mr Ivey was responding a to post from the London Ambulance Service in which it said it was also receiving historic numbers of calls. It said that on Monday it had received 7,751 999 calls, the highest since New Year’s Eve 2021, and also asked people to keep 999 for life-threatening emergencies only. The iPhone also has its own Emergency SOS feature, though its design may mean that it is less likely to be triggered by accident. On newer phones it is activated by pressing a volume and power button, and on older ones it is used by pressing the power button fives times; in both cases, however, it also requires users to then push across a slider that will actually activate the emergency call. Read More Reddit says people will get over outrage and causes further outrage LinkedIn bans ‘wonder kid’ SpaceX engineer, 14, hired by Elon Musk Reddit hit by more outages as the fight over its future escalates