Digital life

Digital life

Google just rolled out a new Share option inside Google Maps... and yes, Reddit now has its own button and X is no longer there.

Your guide to getting the most out of the festive season without draining your bank account

A new study from researchers at Cornell University, published in Nature, shows that small technical glitches during a video call can have unexpectedly serious consequences. It was first brought to our attention by Gizmodo. According to the researchers, even minor sound or image glitches can create a sense of discomfort or unnaturalness that negatively affects how people see each other.

Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi, says ensuring that South African has access to fast, reliable internet - whether at home, work, or on the move - is essential for the country's economic participation in a rapidly evolving digital world. Speaking on Thursday during a visit to the Randburg Taxi Rank in Johannesburg, Malatsi stressed that "connectivity cannot be static", highlighting the growing demand for mobile access as millions rely on public transport daily.

At a 7-Eleven convenience store in Taiwan, you can pick up a 4-inch plushie of Miffy, the bunny character from the Netherlands, a mini bento box charm complete with a realistic chicken drumstick, or a tiny plastic rotary phone. Produced by iCash Corporation (a 7-Eleven affiliate), these keychains are more than just trinkets: Each contains a contactless chip that connects it to Taiwan's elaborate stored-value payment system.

Christmas is just around the corner and while we all try to buy things early to help spread the cost, it still adds up to the same amount in the end as Lucy Nevins knows too well. She estimates that she won't get much change from €2,000 over the festive season as she buys gifts for family and friends, and stocks up the cupboards with treats to cater for visitors and her own family.

Naomi Alderman argues that one of the most useful things to know is the name of the era you're living in, and she proposes one for ours: the Information Crisis. In fact, the advent of digital media marks the third information crisis humans have lived through: the first came after the invention of writing; the second followed the printing press. These were periods of great social conflict and upheaval.

The survey of 1,458 teens ages 13 to 17, conducted from late September through early October 2025, found that 64% of teens report using AI chatbots such as ChatGPT, Copilot and Character.ai. About 28% say they use chatbots daily, including 16% who use them several times a day or almost constantly. At the same time, social media use remains deeply embedded in teen routines.

My Gen Alpha daughter was born in 2016, but sometimes it feels like she's growing up in a different universe entirely. Her world is one where Roblox trends spill straight into our living room and where her understanding of "aesthetic" comes less from glossy magazines and more from avatar outfits. She'll discover a new style- preppy, coquette, baddie-while running around Obbys or shopping virtual boutiques, and somehow by the end of the week those trends have migrated into her real-life wardrobe debates.

The Online Nation report found on average, people in the UK spent four hours and 30 minutes online every day in 2025 - 31 minutes longer than in 2021. Psychologist Dr Aric Sigman told the BBC this was not a problem in itself, but what mattered was "what this time is displacing and how this may harm mental health". He added the "good news" was society was "beginning to question online time more critically".

Reading the news, it can feel like no one is partying anymore. People seem more excited to stay home than go out. Gen Z is drinking less than any other generation. Wellness clubs have replaced night clubs as the go-to spots to socialize. But partying is not dead - priorities have simply shifted, as highlighted in the Evite's Pregame Report 2026 released today.

It's funny. It's good videos that can go around. I don't really think it's an issue, one said. It gets to an extent, in my opinion, another said. There's, like, jokes and some people screaming out loud in public places. Like, nah, not funny.

Americans spent nearly $2.64 billion on OnlyFans in 2025, cementing the United States as the platform's largest and most lucrative market, new analysis reveals. Finbold, using data published by analytics firm OnlyGuider, calculated the figures across the first 334 days of the year, and the scale of spending is extraordinary. On average, Americans collectively shelled out $237 million per month, $55 million per week, and $7.9 million every day on the London-based subscription platform.

There is a word that has been adopted for this practice, now known as doomscrolling. This term refers to getting stuck in a social media rabbit hole, consuming more and more information. It's the act of continuing to scroll and read new content, even if that content might be upsetting or worrying. Doomscrolling was one of the Oxford English Dictionary's words for 2020, as this practice seemed to arise during the pandemic when so many people were inside and using social media more than usual.

As anyone who's ever put together a trip budget knows, daily expenses like rideshares, train fare, and refreshments can quickly add up to a staggering final cost. So it's worth making a habit of every little thing you can do to save cash while traveling. But according to a new study, most Uber and Lyft users skip a seconds-long step that could save them on every ride.

So Reddit will be using an age prediction model to determine user ages, in the hopes that this will ensure that underage users can't log into the app, though kids will still be able to view a non-logged-in version of the platform.

Of course, where you want to go on vacation has a lot to do with your personality, and that's why dream destinations tend to be different for each zodiac sign. If you're more of an adventurous type - read: an air or fire sign - you'd probably gloss over chic spas and hotel pools in favor of destinations that are a little more thrilling. You want to swim, snorkel, and go on heart-pounding hikes.

Now, with T-Mobile Fiber, you can get top-tier speeds and reliability of fiber internet, starting at just $55 per month for 500 Mbps (with T-Mobile voice line and Fiber AutoPay), or $65 per month as a standalone service with Fiber AutoPay (taxes and fees apply). Plus, there are no annual contracts or data caps, and equipment and installation are included.

Back in the early 2000s, Enlightenment was my desktop of choice. To this day, Enlightenment is still an option, and it's one that remains just as fun and unique to use. Also: MX Linux has an old-school look and feel. Here's why it's so popular Back in those days, I had to install Enlightenment manually, because there were no distributions that offered it as a default.

Do you know what your internet speed is? Are you getting the service your ISP ( internet service provider) promised when you signed that contract? Or are you dealing with slow internet? These might seem like simple questions, but they're important ones. Internet speeds affect nearly everything you do online: how smoothly your video calls run, how responsive your video games feel, and whether you can stream the latest season of "Stranger Things" without buffering. Understanding how your connection works is crucial in troubleshooting internet problems.

For families across Ansonia, having fast and reliable internet is essential to daily life. We know that our service makes it possible to learn quicker, connect easier, and share faster. With Ansonia's new infrastructure now complete, even more residents can access the fastest internet available - built to make life simpler,

Some 4.4 billion people, or about half of people worldwide, are using digital wallets, with that number expected to grow 35% by 2030, according to tech strategist firm Juniper Research. Adults 24 and younger are most likely to pay with their phones, using them to make 45% of their purchases, according to a 2025 report from the Federal Reserve (across age groups, mobile phones were used for 23% of payments).

Part of attention is sometimes conflict, provocation. We're lonely and depressed, getting more polarized every day. We're endlessly doomscrolling, bombarded by rage bait. And it's because our experience on the internet is being overrun by these attention-based algorithms controlled by tech companies that don't have our best interests at heart. I'm tired of what social media is doing to our brains. It has to be possible to have a better experience on the internet, grounded in creativity and human connection, a more human algorithm.

Remember when the internet felt like finding a secret, sprawling attic full of weird treasures? Back when you could actually stumble upon a deeply niche fan site for a forgotten TV show, or read a friend's real, unfiltered feelings on their messy personal blog? It was messy, it was personal, and honestly, it felt like freedom. Now? Now the internet feels less like a space for genuine connection

When I first heard about face book i joined because many of my friends had and it was a way to see what they were all up to. Then it became a place to share notices about my upcoming performances in the Singapore Slingers - A 1920s fox trot orchestra (think of old cartoon music) and a way to share those performance for those who could not attend. I did the video as well and the videos are a legacy which you can see here.

It's just a mom thing to be on Facebook, I guess,