8 – 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.

Facebook threatens to ban news in the US over journalism billFacebook threatens to ban news in the US over journalism bill
Meta is expanding its use of AI face scanning to verify users’ age on Facebook DatingMeta is expanding its use of AI face scanning to verify users’ age on Facebook Dating
Nilay Patel
Nilay Patel
Mark Zuckerberg says Reels is about half as big as TikTok.

Zuck is speaking at The New York Times’ DealBook conference today, and said that Reels is growing, according to Meta’s internal metrics.

It’s hard to track how we’re doing against TikTok, but metrics suggest Reels is half the time of TikTok globally, outside of China. We don’t aspire to be half of anything but that’s better than we were a year ago.

That’s quite a bit different than the picture painted by The Wall Street Journal in September: it reported on internal Meta docs that indicated Reels usage on Instagram was less than one-tenth the size of TikTok.

Tax filing websites have been sending users’ financial information to Facebook

The Markup found services including TaxAct, TaxSlayer, and H&R Block sending sensitive data.

Simon Fondrie-Teitler, Angie Waller and 1 more
Facebook is making teens’ accounts more private by defaultFacebook is making teens’ accounts more private by default
Platforms take action against Trump after Capitol mob attackPlatforms take action against Trump after Capitol mob attack
Meta is working with FIFA to curb online harassment at the World CupMeta is working with FIFA to curb online harassment at the World Cup
Meta reportedly punished dozens of employees for offering an inside line to account recoveryMeta reportedly punished dozens of employees for offering an inside line to account recovery
Why can’t pollsters reach Gen Z?Why can’t pollsters reach Gen Z?
Makena Kelly
The midterms turned politicians into content creatorsThe midterms turned politicians into content creators
Meta’s reportedly planning to lay off ‘thousands’ of workers this weekMeta’s reportedly planning to lay off ‘thousands’ of workers this week
Meta’s fixed the Instagram and Facebook outageMeta’s fixed the Instagram and Facebook outage
Thomas Ricker
Thomas Ricker
Facebook now worth less than Home Depot.

One company is focused on building materials for your home, the other is newly obsessed with building virtual homes in a metaverse. Guess which business model investors value more?

Everything you need to know about The Wire’s retracted reporting on MetaEverything you need to know about The Wire’s retracted reporting on Meta
Zuckerberg is all in on the metaverse whether you like it or notZuckerberg is all in on the metaverse whether you like it or not
Facebook and Instagram are making it easier for brands to file IP takedownsFacebook and Instagram are making it easier for brands to file IP takedowns
WhatsApp is back online after a major two-hour outageWhatsApp is back online after a major two-hour outage
Facebook warns it could block news in Canada over proposed legislationFacebook warns it could block news in Canada over proposed legislation
WhatsApp is getting Facebook’s Bitmoji-style avatarsWhatsApp is getting Facebook’s Bitmoji-style avatars
Mitchell Clark
Mitchell Clark
Now Facebook Groups have Reels too, and some new admin features.

Facebook’s community feature is getting Reels — the pivot to video never sleeps — letting people create and post Meta’s version of TikToks straight to a Group. It’s also testing new admin features that are supposed to help keep members engaged with the group (and, of course, with Facebook).

Introducing New Features to Facebook Groups | Meta

[Meta]

Inside the messy fight between Meta and The Wire

The journalists behind a controversial series of stories tell us they haven’t been hoaxed. We’re not so sure

Casey Newton and Zoë Schiffer
Mark Zuckerberg is about to reveal Meta’s next VR headsetMark Zuckerberg is about to reveal Meta’s next VR headset
Facebook warns 1 million users whose logins were stolen by scam mobile appsFacebook warns 1 million users whose logins were stolen by scam mobile apps
Meta’s flagship metaverse app is barely used by the employees building itMeta’s flagship metaverse app is barely used by the employees building it
Now Instagram’s bringing ads to profiles and the Explore page, tooNow Instagram’s bringing ads to profiles and the Explore page, too
Facebook adds ‘show more’ and ‘show less’ controls to adjust what you see on your FeedFacebook adds ‘show more’ and ‘show less’ controls to adjust what you see on your Feed
Facebook Oversight Board to review Iranian protest contentFacebook Oversight Board to review Iranian protest content
A new Facebook Marketplace rule could make it harder to find legit car listingsA new Facebook Marketplace rule could make it harder to find legit car listings
Mitchell Clark
Mitchell Clark
Sheryl Sandberg is officially no longer a Meta employee.

The company’s long-time COO announced she’d be stepping down from her position earlier this year, and Friday is her last day as an employee. She is, however, still on the board.

In June, she told The Verge that she “wanted to make more room in my life to do philanthropy.” You can find the full interview below.

Sheryl Sandberg on leaving Meta

Alex Heath
Mitchell Clark
Mitchell Clark
Who’s behind those deeply upsetting Facebook ads?

Forbes has done a deep-dive into the sometimes explicit and disturbing Facebook and Instagram ads for erotic fiction apps, and the connections those companies have to ByteDance and Tencent.

The piece also looks into how Meta’s failing to uphold its guidelines. Some of the examples in the report are very disturbing, and it’s hard to believe they were ever allowed to run.

Facebook And Instagram Are Full Of Violent Erotica Ads From ByteDance- And Tencent-Backed Apps

[Forbes]

Oh goodie, now everyone can share NFTs on Instagram or FacebookOh goodie, now everyone can share NFTs on Instagram or Facebook
Meta is freezing hiringMeta is freezing hiring
Richard Lawler and Alex Heath
Instagram test feature lets you post text statuses for your followersInstagram test feature lets you post text statuses for your followers
Meta’s new switcher puts all of your Facebook profiles and finstas in one placeMeta’s new switcher puts all of your Facebook profiles and finstas in one place
Meta ordered to pay Voxer $175 million for violating live-streaming patentsMeta ordered to pay Voxer $175 million for violating live-streaming patents
Facebook is experimenting with letting users help write speech rulesFacebook is experimenting with letting users help write speech rules
Nintendo is cutting off Facebook and Twitter logins soonNintendo is cutting off Facebook and Twitter logins soon
Facebook and Messenger take a hint from Discord for new Community ChatsFacebook and Messenger take a hint from Discord for new Community Chats
Meta will reveal its new high-end VR headset on October 11thMeta will reveal its new high-end VR headset on October 11th
Meta is planning more paid features for Facebook and InstagramMeta is planning more paid features for Facebook and Instagram

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