7 – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
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Facebook

The world’s largest social network has more than 2 billion daily users, and is expanding rapidly around the world. Led by CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his chief operating officer, Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook undergirds much of the world’s communication online, both through its flagship app and its subsidiaries Instagram, WhatsApp, and Oculus. Despite huge financial success, Facebook is also confronted with questions about data privacy, hate speech on the platform, and concerns that frequent social media use can lead to unhappiness. The Verge publishes a nightly newsletter about Facebook and democracy, subscribe here.

Elizabeth Lopatto
Elizabeth Lopatto
What if the next big social media app... is nothing?

Enjoyed this Bloomberg story about the possibility that we are all old and tired, sick of seeing each other’s bad posts, and hoping to touch grass:

In 2022, according to GWI’s latest report, daily time spent [online] fell by 13 minutes. It’s now six hours and 43 minutes a day, slightly lower than it was in 2017. The drop was the biggest since the company started tracking the topic and suggested, as GWI’s report put it, “that we’ve reached a kind of internet saturation point.”

I guess I’m not the only one who’s been seasoning their cast iron!

Instagram Threads, Twitter Try to Overcome Shrinking Screen Time

[Bloomberg.com]

Meta-provided Facebook chats led a woman to plead guilty to abortion-related chargesMeta-provided Facebook chats led a woman to plead guilty to abortion-related charges
Here’s why Threads is delayed in EuropeHere’s why Threads is delayed in Europe
Elizabeth Lopatto
Elizabeth Lopatto
I have no idea if Ryan Broderick’s read on the inner workings of threads is accurate but I lol’d all the same.

Broderick didn’t follow anyone and bathed in the algorithm instead:

My verdict: Threads sucks shit. It has no purpose. It is for no one. It launched as a content graveyard and will assuredly only become more of one over time. It’s iFunny for people who miss The Ellen Show. It has a distinct celebrities-making-videos-during-COVID-lockdown vibe. It feels like a 90s-themed office party organized by a human resources department. And my theory, after staring into its dark heart for several days, is that it was never meant to “beat” Twitter — regardless of what Zuckerberg has been tweeting. Threads’ true purpose was to act as a fresh coat of paint for Instagram’s code in the hopes it might make the network relevant again.

The algorithmic anti-culture of scale

[www.garbageday.email]

Threads isn’t for news and politics, says Instagram’s bossThreads isn’t for news and politics, says Instagram’s boss
Wes Davis
Wes Davis
The Government of Canada is pulling its advertising on Facebook.

Responding to Meta blocking news on its platforms there over a new law requiring platform owners to negotiate with and pay news publishers for content, Minister of Canadian Heritage Pablo Rodriguez announced the country will no longer buy ads on Facebook:

We cannot continue paying advertising dollars to Meta while they refuse to pay their fair share to Canadian news organizations.

Two major Canadian firms, Quebecor and Cogeco Communications, also announced they and their subsidiaries are suspending advertising on Meta’s platforms.

Seven big tech companies say they’re platform gatekeepers under EU lawSeven big tech companies say they’re platform gatekeepers under EU law
Meta is planning to let people in the EU download apps through FacebookMeta is planning to let people in the EU download apps through Facebook
Meta explains how AI influences what we see on Facebook and InstagramMeta explains how AI influences what we see on Facebook and Instagram
Instagram and Messenger parental controls now show way more about what kids are up toInstagram and Messenger parental controls now show way more about what kids are up to
Jess Weatherbed
Jess Weatherbed
Meta thinks teens need help to stop using Facebook.

A new batch of parental supervision features have been created to protect minors on Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger.

The new tools allow parents to view how much time their child spends on Messenger, and who can interact with their account. Minors will also be encouraged to log off from scrolling Instagram Reels at night, and after spending 20 minutes on Facebook... which is adorable,

Meta is rolling back its covid-19 misinformation rules in the USMeta is rolling back its covid-19 misinformation rules in the US
Richard Lawler
Richard Lawler
Facebook and Instagram were having some problems.

Over the last hour or so, the Facebook page failed to load, attempts to upload Instagram Stories failed with an error message, while some reported they couldn’t send or receive messages on WhatsApp and Messenger, and Downdetector showed spikes for all of Meta’s services.

Reached for comment, Meta comms director Andy Stone told The Verge:

We’re aware that some people are having trouble accessing our products. We’re working to get things back to normal as quickly as possible, and we apologize for any inconvenience.

Things seem to be mostly back to normal, but we’ll keep an eye out. In the meantime, we also have some fresh advice about the supposedly wonderful opportunities available to people who log off.

How social networks gave up on 2020 election liesHow social networks gave up on 2020 election lies
The surgeon general’s wake-up call for social networksThe surgeon general’s wake-up call for social networks
Meta hit with record-breaking $1.3 billion fine over Facebook data transfers to the USMeta hit with record-breaking $1.3 billion fine over Facebook data transfers to the US
Richard Lawler
Richard Lawler
The Apple Watch Facebook Messenger app is going away at the end of May.

A dedicated Watch app for Facebook Messenger was important enough for Apple to highlight it in 2015, but it’s going away soon.

A Meta spokesperson confirmed the plan in a statement to Review Geek. While Watch wearers can see messages from notifications, they won’t be able to respond from their wrists anymore. It’s odd timing — yesterday, Meta announced a WhatsApp app for Wear OS 4 that will send messages and receive incoming calls.

Facebook Messenger Apple Watch App to Be Discontinued By End of May, Says Meta

[MacRumors]

Meta security analysts warn of malicious ChatGPT impostersMeta security analysts warn of malicious ChatGPT imposters
Can ActivityPub save the internet?

The tech industry is abuzz about a new standard for social networking that is more open, more user-centric, and potentially more powerful than Twitter and Facebook. But we’ve been here before.

David Pierce
Social media is doomed to die

After seven years at Snapchat, I finally learned the truth about why our most important apps seem destined to disappoint us.

Ellis Hamburger
New Arkansas bill to keep minors off social media exempts most social media platformsNew Arkansas bill to keep minors off social media exempts most social media platforms
Barbara Krasnoff
Barbara Krasnoff
Two more Twitter alternatives have raised their hands: Post and Substack Notes.

Post offers a chance to share and comment on new items from a variety of sources, including those behind firewalls, while Substack Notes now lets you write Twitter-like short entries (which may be one of the reasons Elon Musk is so pissed at it).

We’ve added them to our list of Twitter alternatives, which includes others such as Mastodon, Tumblr, and, yes, Facebook.

Social networking alternatives for the Meta- and Musk-averse

Barbara Krasnoff
Meta adds 14 free games you can play over video calls inside MessengerMeta adds 14 free games you can play over video calls inside Messenger
Sean Hollister
Sean Hollister
Facebook’s former culture of secrecy, in one Zuckerberg email.

Facebook famously provided new employees with a Little Red Book full of propaganda, designed to help establish a productive and secretive culture at the company. Among other things, it contained an email from Mark himself asking a leaker to fall on their own sword.

Now, you no longer have to be an employee to read the “Please Resign” email for yourself.

Facebook and Instagram’s paid verification launches in the USFacebook and Instagram’s paid verification launches in the US
Meta is laying off 10,000 more employees in a series of cutsMeta is laying off 10,000 more employees in a series of cuts
Meta gives up on NFTs for Facebook and InstagramMeta gives up on NFTs for Facebook and Instagram
Messenger’s finally coming back to the Facebook appMessenger’s finally coming back to the Facebook app
Facebook’s willing to reform its controversial cross-check program — but only parts of itFacebook’s willing to reform its controversial cross-check program — but only parts of it
I don’t want to log in to your websiteI don’t want to log in to your website
Elizabeth Lopatto
Barbara Krasnoff
Barbara Krasnoff
Passwords alone won’t keep your accounts secure anymore, so if you’re not using 2FA yet, it’s time.

Two-factor authentication can keep your social media, connected home, shopping, and other services a lot safer than if you just depend on simple passwords. We’ve got the directions for adding 2FA to many of the more popular apps, and the best part? You don’t have to do it via SMS.

How to set up two-factor authentication on your online services

Barbara Krasnoff
Meta has a new machine learning language model to remind you it does AI tooMeta has a new machine learning language model to remind you it does AI too
Facebook and Instagram are testing selling you blue checks for $12 a monthFacebook and Instagram are testing selling you blue checks for $12 a month
Richard Lawler
Richard Lawler
It’s always a good day to replace passwords and SMS 2FA with something stronger.

Unlike SMS, security keys are still a free way to lock down your Twitter (or Gmail, Facebook, Windows, and Apple ID) account. I’ve found they’re also easier to use than less-secure options (passkeys will help too, once they have more support).

Google security expert Mark Risher explains here why keys are better at resisting phishing attacks:

With Security Keys, instead of the *user* needing to verify the site, the *site* has to prove itself to the key.

How to use a two-factor security key

Stefan Etienne and Barbara Krasnoff
Facebook is going to explain more about how machine learning decides the ads you seeFacebook is going to explain more about how machine learning decides the ads you see
Mia Sato
Mia Sato
Facebook adds new bulk comment moderation tools.

Creators on the platform will be able to sort comments by keywords, dates, and commenter name and moderate en masse, according to TechCrunch.

The new feature gives Facebook creators the option to like or hide several comments on their posts at once.

Facebook rolls out new comment moderation tools for creators

[TechCrunch]

FTC fines GoodRx $1.5 million for sending consumer health data to Google and FacebookFTC fines GoodRx $1.5 million for sending consumer health data to Google and Facebook
Mark Zuckerberg says Meta is making this the ‘year of efficiency’Mark Zuckerberg says Meta is making this the ‘year of efficiency’
Meta is inexplicably shutting down one of the best Oculus gamesMeta is inexplicably shutting down one of the best Oculus games
Why are so many tech companies laying people off right now?

Didn’t they just have record-breaking profits?

Elizabeth Lopatto

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