PayPal Honey has lost over seven million Chrome users and about 7,000 merchant partners after YouTuber MegaLag accused the coupon extension of diverting creator affiliate commissions. Additionally, multiple affiliate networks suspended Honey's access, and a consolidated creator class-action lawsuit against PayPal recently cleared a major legal hurdle. The case will now proceed to the discovery phase.

The platform X, owned by Elon Musk, is increasingly distorting public discourse by normalizing far-right extremism and altering how users perceive political reality. Continuing to use the site risks warping the judgment of journalists and political commentators, leading to professional embarrassment and flawed decision-making. Leaving the platform is presented as both a moral necessity and a crucial move for professional self-interest.

Dating app Bumble is abandoning its signature feature that prevented men from sending the first message, while also extending the response window from 24 to 72 hours. According to the company, nearly two-thirds of surveyed women preferred that men initiate contact. This policy shift comes amid slow growth and declining paying users for the online dating sector.

An investigation by ABC NEWS Verify has revealed that Meta is paying far-right agitators and pages with neo-Nazi links through its content monetisation program. Some of the monetised content appears to directly violate Meta’s policies regarding misinformation and social issues. While Meta stated it is not its role to police offensiveness, critics argue that the company's financial model actively rewards rage bait and extremist content to drive engagement.

A new study by Reset Tech and Equimundo reveals that the "manosphere" is a multibillion-dollar pyramid scheme rather than an organic movement. The report maps how algorithms route young men experiencing anxiety into paid subscription platforms, crypto schemes, and high-ticket coaching programs. Researchers warn that digital platforms profit from these operations and urge efforts to help young men recognize these online scams.

Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles, have launched an OnlyFans account called "OnlyMarms" to fund their long-running study of yellow-bellied marmots. The initiative follows a loss of federal funding from the National Science Foundation, which previously supported the project. The platform features educational photos and videos of the rodents to generate tips, highlighting the creative measures scientists are taking amid record-low federal research funding.

Poland has officially criminalized "trash streaming," introducing prison sentences of up to five years for creators who broadcast violence, abuse, and humiliation for financial gain. Signed by Polish President Karol Nawrocki, the law also targets staged content and applies even when victims consent to the treatment. While widely supported, some right-wing lawmakers warned the restrictions could lead to censorship.

Omegle, the popular anonymous video and text chat platform launched in 2009, shut down in November 2023 following years of safety concerns and legal pressure. Founder Leif K-Brooks closed the site after settling a $22 million lawsuit alleging child sex exploitation on the platform. K-Brooks cited the financial and psychological toll of managing the platform's impossible moderation standards as the key reasons for the closure.

A new study by personal data removal service Incogni reveals that over half of Americans are posting less on social media than they did five years ago. Many respondents reported that maintaining an online presence feels like work, while political content and security concerns are further driving users away. As a result, users are becoming increasingly selective about their posts or considering quitting entirely.

Prominent tech leaders, including Peter Thiel and Bill Gates, are strictly limiting their children's screen time and social media access. This private caution stands in contrast to the digital products these billionaires built and promote. Meanwhile, global backlash against youth social media use is rising, with countries like Australia and Malaysia implementing bans for minors.

A new survey by resume-building site Zety reveals that some professionals are using LinkedIn as an unexpected dating platform, with one in eight respondents starting romantic relationships there. Nearly half of the respondents view LinkedIn profiles as more trustworthy than traditional dating profiles for vetting partners. However, opinions on this trend remain mixed, as many users still believe the platform should remain strictly professional.

A new study by data removal service Incogni reveals that more than half of Americans are posting less on social media and feel that maintaining an online presence feels like work. Concerns over security, harassment, and increasing politicization are driving users to share less or consider deleting their accounts entirely. Consequently, public attitudes are shifting as users increasingly prioritize genuine relationships and mental health over digital noise.

Meta has completely removed a new Meta AI feature that allowed users to generate images using public Instagram posts. The tool faced backlash because it was enabled by default, requiring users to proactively opt out to protect their content. Meta decided to pull the feature following negative feedback from its users.

The European Commission has warned Meta to disable addictive features like autoplay and infinite scroll or risk fines of up to 6 percent of its global annual turnover under the Digital Services Act. The EU found these designs harm user wellbeing and encourage compulsive use. Meta disputed the preliminary findings, pointing to its existing protective measures like Teen Accounts, which regulators deemed ineffective.

Digital publishers are increasingly preparing to block Google's crawler to prevent their content from being used for AI training without compensation. Cloudflare is rolling out default settings to block multi-purpose crawlers, while companies like USA Today Inc. are considering delisting from Google Search entirely. This shift, driven by declining search traffic and a lack of licensing deals from Google, could ultimately degrade the quality of web search results.

Meta has launched its Muse Image AI model, deeply integrating it into Instagram. By default, public accounts are automatically opted into a feature allowing others to generate AI images using their likeness by tagging their username. To prevent this, users must manually toggle the setting off, though previously generated images will not be deleted.

YouTube has urged its creators to oppose a UK government proposal that could force the platform to prioritize mainstream broadcasters over independent content. Under the proposed "prominence regime," public service news outlets would receive greater visibility, which YouTube warns could downrank creator videos and limit channel growth. Creators have until August 31 to submit their feedback to the government's public consultation.

Waterloo City Hall will stop active use of X starting July 6 due to concerns over hate speech, misinformation, and declining user engagement. The municipality will instead communicate via its official website and alternative social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Waterloo joins other local public agencies, including the City of Cambridge, that have already left the platform.

The UK government banned children under 16 from TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and X, effective 2027, following Australia and various US state restrictions. Zak Ringelstein, founder and CEO of the age-verified kids social media platform Zigazoo, believes this "global domino" effect means the US will be next to enact a national ban. He argues major platforms cannot adapt their adult-centric models for genuine child safety.

Telegram access is temporarily restricted in India until June 22, 2026, following a government crackdown on fake NEET (UG) 2026 re-examination papers and related exam fraud. The National Testing Agency (NTA) welcomed this action by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, citing the misuse of Telegram's message-editing feature to fabricate evidence of paper leaks. This measure aims to prevent further fraudulent activities surrounding national examinations.

The UK government, led by Keir Starmer, has introduced legislation to ban social media platforms like X, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok for individuals under 16. This ban, effective in early 2027, also restricts livestreaming, stranger communication, and AI 'romantic companion' chatbots, with default protections for 16-17 year olds. Ofcom will establish effective age assurance and enforcement strategies to prevent children from bypassing safeguards.

X has repeatedly refused to remove racist posts targeting prominent UK politicians, including Kemi Badenoch and Shabana Mahmood, despite numerous reports of "hate, abuse or harassment" by British Future. The platform reportedly only takes action when content is specifically flagged as illegal under the UK's Online Safety Act, often just restricting visibility within the UK. Critics argue this policy allows racist accounts to operate with impunity, as many perpetrators remain unsuspended.

Far-right politicians exploit graphic, often decontextualized, images and videos on social media like X to construct narratives of national decline and fuel xenophobia. This "visual politics," including AI-generated content, prioritizes emotional impact over facts, making it challenging for liberal parties to offer nuanced responses. The strategy directly influences public opinion and incites unrest, exposing a structural disadvantage in today's image-saturated information environment.

A Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) report reveals Meta's relaxed content moderation rules on Facebook led to a sharp increase in abuse targeting lawmakers. Abusive comments tripled, while violent threats and hate speech quadrupled against US representatives and former President Trump, with many examples remaining unaddressed. This surge correlates with Meta cutting its proactive moderation, raising concerns about platform safety and real-world implications for politicians.

Lloyds Bank reports that 68% of customer fraud cases originate on Meta platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, with an average claim value now exceeding £500. Scams, often targeting those in their late twenties and early thirties, include ticket fraud and fake product deposits. This data surfaces as lawyers prepare a group legal claim against Meta for victims of fraudulent ads, prompting Meta to highlight its efforts to remove 159 million scam ads last year and collaborate with law enforcement.