Facebook adds new AI features, animated profile photos, and backgrounds for text posts

Facebook’s new AI features let users animate their profile pics, restyle their Stories and Memories, and add backgrounds to text posts.

Telegram is reportedly being slowed down and restricted in Russia
Telegram is reportedly being slowed down and restricted in Russia

Telegram users in Russia may begin noticing service disruptions on Tuesday after Russia’s communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, reportedly moved to slow down and restrict access to the app, as reported by Russian news outlet RBC. Roskomnadzor said in a statement to RBC, translated using machine translation, that it “will continue to introduce successive restrictions” on Telegram, […]

Google expands tools to let users remove sensitive data about themselves from Search

Users will be able to more easily request the removal of results that include private information or non-consensual explicit imagery.

Spotify hits a record 751M monthly users thanks to Wrapped, new free features

Spotify credited a successful Wrapped campaign and new features in its free tier for its rapid user growth

Discord’s age verification mandate is a leap toward a gated internet
Discord’s age verification mandate is a leap toward a gated internet

Discord is about to force some of the people who use its messaging app to make a choice: Use the platform with restricted features, or prove their age. It’s a move that platforms have been slowly approaching, but Discord’s teen-by-default rollout is a stronger clampdown that could offer a glimpse at an age-gated future on […]

YouTube rolls out an AI playlist generator for Premium users

YouTube Music is rolling out a new AI-powered playlist-generation feature that allows Premium users on iOS and Android to use text prompts to create playlists.

India makes Aadhaar more ubiquitous, but critics say security and privacy concerns remain

India’s Aadhaar is moving into wallets, hotels and policing through a new app. Critics say that amid the broader Aadhaar rollout, it’s unclear how data shared through the new app would prevent breaches or leaks.

MrBeast just bought a banking app
MrBeast just bought a banking app

Beast Industries, owned by YouTuber Jimmy “MrBeast” Donaldson, announced on Monday that it has acquired Step, a banking app designed for teens and young adults. The move comes a couple of months after Donaldson announced plans to start a new YouTube channel centered on personal finance and investing. His main channel has 466 million subscribers […]

MrBeast’s company buys Gen Z-focused fintech app Step

YouTube megastar MrBeast announced on Monday that his company, Beast Industries, is buying Step, a teen-focused banking app.

Bluesky finally adds Drafts

The move comes as Bluesky’s competitors, X and Threads, have long supported drafts.