Happy Wednesday and welcome back to Common Sense with Ally Sammarco. Let’s break down the latest news.
Meta agrees to $18 billion settlement over teen social media use…Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has agreed to an approximately $18 billion settlement with California and 28 other states over allegations that its platforms were designed to be addictive and harmful to children. Meta denies liability. Under the deal, teen accounts would default to a two-hour daily limit across Facebook and Instagram, require parental permission to disable the limit, hide likes on teens’ posts, block certain extreme makeup filters and allow users to opt for a non-algorithmic feed. The company will also add stronger age verification and parental controls. The settlement still requires a judge’s approval. Meta says it hopes TikTok and YouTube will adopt similar safeguards, too.
Common Sense Takeaway: Meta knows exactly what it’s doing. Everything about Instagram, Facebook, and Threads is designed to keep people on the platform as long as possible. Hell, it works on me too. I was a kid who grew up during the rise of iPhones and social media—I can tell you firsthand how harmful it is. Maybe the government should have figured out sooner that designing something to keep kids glued to their screens 24/7 isn’t exactly a great thing for them.
Darline Graham Defeats Ralph Norman in S.C. Senate Runoff…Trump-backed Sen. Darline Graham defeated Rep. Ralph Norman in South Carolina’s Republican Senate runoff marking a major victory for President Trump. Graham, who was appointed to her late brother Lindsey Graham’s seat just days after his death, won roughly 52% of the vote to Norman’s 48%. Trump went all-in for Graham, holding rallies, endorsing her and deploying allied super PAC money to boost her campaign. Graham will now face Democrat Annie Andrews in November. The victory also marks a defeat for Norman, a former Trump critic who had backed Nikki Haley in 2024 and clashed with the president over his agenda.
Common Sense Takeaway: Darline “I don’t know much about foreign policy” Graham Nordone has no business being anywhere near the United States Senate. Lindsey Graham was not even in the ground yet when Darline started soft-launching her campaign and immediately dropped her last name Nordone. This woman is still forming her opinions, while Annie Andrew is a seasoned candidate who will be ready on day one. Let’s not make nepotism a bigger thing than it already is. Vote Annie Andrews.
Dolly Parton, Country Music Legend and Philanthropic Icon, Dies at 80….Dolly Parton, one of the most beloved and influential figures in music and entertainment, has died at 80 after a brief battle with cancer. Over a career spanning six decades, Parton sold more than 100 million records, won 10 Grammys and became a cultural icon through hits like “Jolene,” “9 to 5” and “I Will Always Love You.” But her legacy extends far beyond music: through the Dollywood Foundation and her Imagination Library, she donated hundreds of millions of books to children, and she donated $1 million to COVID-19 research at Vanderbilt University that helped support development of the Moderna vaccine. Dolly Parton leaves behind a legacy that is virtually impossible to match.
Common Sense Takeaway: Dolly Parton is one of those people that you just can’t help but love. She brought joy everywhere and was a force for good in our world. She will be missed greatly.
Side note: I think God misunderstood when we said blonde-haired 80-year old whose name starts with D.
That’s it for today. Thanks for reading Common Sense with Ally Sammarco. Check back tomorrow for more.
"She brought joy everywhere and was a force for good in our world." We always needed Dolly in our lives, maybe now more than ever.
Should be why do you mention god……… Jim Gordon