1. CEOs that run Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Discord, Snapchat and X sat with Congress for a long day of questioning yesterday amid child exploitation on the platforms and increasing levels of findings that social media can have harmful and dangerous consequences for minors. Lawmakers accused the companies of prioritizing profit over safety and putting kids in harm’s way to make money. (WGME)
2. February is Black History Month, a good time to rediscover the Portland Freedom Trail, established in 2007. The trail’s 13 sites were important because of their role in the Black community and in the Underground Railroad. (PH) You can download and print the Portland Freedom Trail guide and map at the website of the Maine Historical Society, mainehistory.org.
3. The Maine DOT is preparing to launch a pilot commuter bus service between Portland and Lewiston-Auburn and is seeking bids from companies interested in winning the minimum two-year contract. The goal is to begin service by June and attract some of the hundreds of workers who are traveling that route daily. (PH)
4. The University of Southern Maine plans to open the “Collab Esports Arena by Town and Country” next fall. The federal credit union gifted $750,000 to the USM Foundation to build the arena and help fund the esports program. 170 students take part in USM’s Esports club. (WGME)
5. Hulu has become the latest streaming service to warn its customers about illegally sharing passwords. Users were reminded via e-mail, “Unless otherwise permitted by your Service Tier, you may not share your subscription outside of your household.” Hulu also said, “If we determine, in our sole discretion, that you have violated this Agreement, we may limit or terminate access to the Service.” Disney Plus and Netflix have also sent similar warnings to its customers. (TheWrap)
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