Would you pay for a Twitter undo button? Is Instagram-for-under 13s safe? Vertical Hold Ep 321

Should Twitter offer an undo or edit button — and would anyone pay extra for it? Why is Facebook trying to build up a version of Instagram for under-13s? Guest Fairfax tech columnist Peter Wells.

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Twitter is reportedly looking into implementing an “undo” button, but reports suggest that it might be hidden behind a subscription layer. Is that a useful feature? Can twitter survive without paying customers, and if not, what kinds of features would you want to see in a “paid” Twitter subscription?

Meanwhile in the social media world, Facebook subsidiary is finally facing down its Instagram problem — well, specifically the one where loads of under-13s are on the platform in defiance of the account rules — by proposing a “my first Instagram” tailored for the kids.

Is that a good idea? How can Instagram keep kids safe online through machine learning alone, and what age is the “right” one to allow your kids onto social media anyway? It’s a tricky problem.

We’re joined this week by Peter Wells, who writes frequently for the SMH and Age on tech topics, as well as producing two podcasts of his own. If you want a daily tech news fix, check out The Helpdesk, or if you want to get meta and listen to a podcast about podcasts, give Metapodcast a listen!

Vertical Hold: Behind The Tech News – podcast hosts Adam Turner and Alex Kidman speak to Australia’s leading technology journalists every Friday to get the stories behind the tech news of the week.