AI ‘content creators’ are getting harder to spot
AI ‘content creators’ are getting harder to spot

This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on AI confusion, follow Robert Hart. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers’ inboxes at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here. How it started At first, AI influencers were relatively easy to identify – and to […]

Netflix says there is no future for theatrical releases in its streaming universe

Mr. Lin emphasized that “Narnia” was an exception and insisted that the company’s perspective on movie theaters had not changed. “There is a group of filmmakers who still want theatrical. Those are filmmakers that we’ve accepted we just won’t work with…

Beyond Instagram: Introducing the next generation of social apps

These newer social apps offer alternatives to Big Tech’s feeds, focusing on interests, creativity, and community.

‘Let it be their undoing’: Instagram Plus is rolling out globally, and users aren’t happy about the idea of paying for an app that’s always been free

Instagram Plus bulks up the app with numerous new and improved features for those prepared to pay, and early reactions haven’t been positive.

Snap sent alerts to students during class hours despite knowing the risk of distraction

Internal documents from lawsuits filed by 1,400+ school districts reveal how Meta, Snap, TikTok, and YouTube deliberately targeted students, even during school hours.

Google makes it easier to follow the social media shenanigans of your favorite personalities

Google is giving creators a fresh spotlight in Search, and it could change how you keep tabs on your favorite online personalities. The update brings a new way to discover content without endlessly jumping between apps.

Facebook’s new AI Creator Assistant wants to be your personal content strategist

Meta has launched Creator Assistant, a conversational AI tool built into the Facebook creator dashboard that analyzes your content performance, explains why it worked, and suggests new ideas based on trending content.

Cyberdecks used to look like little laptops, but now they’re getting more personal
Cyberdecks used to look like little laptops, but now they’re getting more personal

DIYer and TikTok user Annike Tan, who goes by @ubeboobey, can carry her cyberdeck around without anyone noticing because it doesn’t look like a computer at all. Tan, who has been featured in The Cut and Wired, went viral earlier this year with a mermaid-themed cyberdeck she made inside an old purse. She has since […]

Meta launches an AI assistant that tells Facebook creators why their content works, not just that it did
Meta launches an AI assistant that tells Facebook creators why their content works, not just that it did

Knowing that a reel performed well has never been the hard part. The hard part is understanding why. Was it the hook, the timing, the format, the audio? Creators have spent years toggling between analytics dashboards trying to reverse-engineer answers …

Hackers asked Meta’s AI chatbot to hand over Instagram accounts, and it did
Hackers asked Meta’s AI chatbot to hand over Instagram accounts, and it did

No phishing link. No malware. No SIM swap. Hackers took over high-profile Instagram accounts over the weekend by doing something disarmingly simple: they asked Meta’s AI customer support chatbot to change the email address on someone else’s account. Th…