Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has announced the temporary suspension of its social media platform Threads in Turkey, according to a Reuters report.
TakeAway Points:
- Meta has stated that its social media platform, Threads, has been temporarily suspended in Turkey, which is to commence on April 29.
- According to the report, aiming to impede data exchange between the Instagram and Threads platforms, the Turkish competition regulator issued this temporary prohibition due to possible exploitation of Meta’s strong market position.
- Meta has disclosed its intentions to incorporate virtual reality (VR) headsets into educational settings.
Meta Suspends Threads in Turkey
This move is in response to a temporary directive from the Turkish Competition Authority, which required Meta to comply by closing Threads within the nation on April 29.
According to the report, aiming to impede data exchange between the Instagram and Threads platforms, the Turkish competition regulator issued this temporary prohibition due to possible exploitation of Meta’s strong market position.
It was made clear by Meta Platforms that Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and other social media platforms will not be impacted by the suspension of threads in Turkey.
Additional information about Threads’ suspension in Turkey was released by the firm in a blog post on the Meta Newsroom. Before April 29, users in Turkey will receive notification via the Threads app regarding this decision.
Users will also be able to remove their Threads profile completely or disable it. This ruling was made in response to Meta’s declaration that they would be appealing the Turkish Competition Authority’s ruling and their disagreement with the interim order.
Meta Introduces Virtual Reality to Education
In the meantime, Meta has disclosed its intentions to incorporate virtual reality (VR) headsets into educational settings. The business is going to release an educational product that will let students use educational apps and go on virtual field trips, even at the age of 13.
The move into education comes at a time when technology in the classroom is gaining prominence, particularly due to the shift to remote learning during the pandemic.
Meta’s educational VR product is expected to enable teachers to manage multiple student headsets and access educational apps seamlessly. While the company aims to boost visibility and familiarity with VR technology among younger users, there is limited research on the benefits of immersive VR in education.
“We want it to be something that makes it easier for students to learn, apply, and practice new skills; feel a sense of presence with teachers and classmates; and visit places or experience things that would otherwise be impossible,” Nick Clegg, Meta’s president of global affairs, said.
Furthermore, Meta revealed on its Newsroom that it will introduce a new educational package for Quest devices, modelled after its Quest for Business offering from the previous year. In an effort to improve the educational experience for kids 13 years of age and older, this product will give teachers access to education-specific apps and the ability to manage numerous Quest devices at once.
In the upcoming months, the educational product’s name and features will be revealed. Its initial release is scheduled for markets that support Quest for Business.
