Why Gen Z is ditching real friends for AI companions
Teens are turning to chatbots for comfort. It might sound dystopian, but in our increasingly isolated world it makes a lot of sense. It starts innocently enough. A 15-year-old girl downloads an AI chatbot app like Replika or Character.AI, just to see what all the TikTok buzz is about. Maybe...
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Jack Dorsey’s launches Bluetooth messaging app Bitchat
Bitchat is a decentralised and encrypted chat service able to send and receive messages through Bluetooth signal – and without WiFi or phone service. Will it become an instant hit? Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey has just launched a new peer-to-peer massaging app that works without WiFi or phone service. Bitchat...
Zuckerberg school closures reflect wider shift among US billionaires
The quiet decision to retract funding for a US primary school has caused the institution to shutter – leaving disadvantaged kids in the crossfire. By all accounts, The Primary School in East Palo Alto, California, was designed to be an ambitious experiment in breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty. Founded...
Is virality ruining everything?
As more of us turn to social media for recommendations, is the joy of a hidden gem at risk of extinction? I used to have a thing for secrecy, at least when it came to food. I revelled in the smug satisfaction of knowing about a low-lit bar that only...
WhatsApp introduces ads into its feed for the first time
After teasing possible advertisement placements for several years, Meta has finally launched an update on WhatsApp that will roll the feature out publicly. Businesses will be able to display ads in the ‘updates’ tab. The popular text-based messaging platform WhatsApp now features business advertisements for the first time. As part of...
TikTok blocks ‘skinnytok’ hashtag to curb harmful content
Popular short-form video platform TikTok has blocked searches for ‘skinnytok’ in an effort to reduce the popularity of potentially harmful content. The social media app is notorious for cultivating niche communities based on negative subject matter. TikTok has blocked users from searching for ‘skinnytok,’ a trending term that directs...
What’s the meaning behind TikTok’s ‘anti-propaganda’ trend?
From whole (or plant based) milk to conservativism and Gracie Abrams, young people are taking to social media to list off things they see as ‘propaganda’ they refuse to fall for. What does it all mean? You’d be forgiven for not fully understanding half the lingo you see online these days, with young people using ‘code speak’ to express their thoughts on the internet at higher rates than ever...
TikTok found to be breaching EU advertising rules
The short-form video platform TikTok has been cautioned over its EU digital ads by the European Commission, after failing to provide sufficient details on their content. TikTok has breached EU rules by not disclosing enough information about its advertising, the European Commission (EC) has said. According to a statement, the EC believes that the platform ‘does not fulfil the Digital Services Act’s obligation to publish an advertisement repository.’ This...
Meta to bar teenagers from livestreaming on Instagram
Those under sixteen will not be able to use Instagram’s Live feature unless they acquire parental permission. New restrictions are being introduced on Instagram for users under the age of 16. As part of Meta’s expansion of current safety measures, younger teenagers will be barred from using the platform’s ‘Live’ feature unless they have parental permission. They’ll also need approval from a guardian to manually turn off blurred image thumbnails that...
Opinion – emojis are missing the trick with hair inclusivity
Since when did representation stop at skin tone? In the distant land of pre-2015 texting, all emojis were jaundiced little blobs. That was until the great Skin Tone Update, which allowed users to transform their emojis into a spectrum of humanity – sort of. Despite these ostensibly diverse offerings, one very obvious detail has remained overlooked in the world of digital mini people: hair. Fast forward to 2025, and despite boasting a library...
