#extremistdating
#extremistdating

US news

Heavy social media users believe in their influence. Democracy, not as much.

fromwww.scientificamerican.com

Social media marketing

The anonymous social app that thinks it can work in Saudi Arabia | TechCrunch

Intellectual property law

What the Meta and Google verdict means for social media design

fromNature

fromwww.socialmediatoday.com

Mental health

Is social media addictive? Why a formal diagnosis is still out of reach

Privacy professionals

70% of teens in Australia still access social media despite bans

Media industry

fromNatesilver

10 hours ago

Social media is turning into a freak show

Social media's influence on content quality and publisher success has led to a crisis in foreign policy and political communication.

fromThe Washington Post

US news

Heavy social media users believe in their influence. Democracy, not as much.

Intellectual property law

The anonymous social app that thinks it can work in Saudi Arabia | TechCrunch

Fizz is expanding globally, successfully launching in Saudi Arabia and aiming to become a generational social product beyond college campuses.

fromwww.scientificamerican.com

What the Meta and Google verdict means for social media design

Meta and Google found negligent for social media design, awarded $6 million in damages, raising legal questions about social media's safety and liability.

fromNature

Is social media addictive? Why a formal diagnosis is still out of reach

A California trial awarded $6 million for social media addiction harm, but researchers question the validity of labeling social media use as addiction.

fromwww.socialmediatoday.com

70% of teens in Australia still access social media despite bans

Australia's social media ban for under-16s has led to millions of accounts being removed, but many children still access these platforms.

more#social-media

Online Community Development

2 hours ago

It started with a tip-off': how a Guardian investigation exposed child sex trafficking on Facebook and Instagram

Child sexual abuse trafficking surged during the pandemic, with platforms like Facebook and Instagram being exploited for these crimes.

14 hours ago

As people look for ways to make new friends, here are the apps promising to help | TechCrunch

The rise of friendship apps addresses increasing loneliness and social isolation, providing platforms for meaningful connections among individuals.

18 hours ago

I always considered social media evil': big tobacco whistleblower on tech's addictive products

Jeffrey Wigand compares social media companies' practices to the tobacco industry's targeting of children and negligence regarding addiction and harm.

Philosophy

fromThe Conversation

Why the manosphere has an antisemitism problem

Antisemitism is prevalent in the manosphere, with influencers promoting harmful stereotypes and conspiracy theories about Jews.

Psychology says people who reply to messages within seconds aren't just efficient - they've built their sense of safety around being reachable, because somewhere in their past, being slow to respond had consequences - Silicon Canals

Instant responses to messages often stem from a psychological need to mitigate perceived threats rather than mere efficiency.

fromSilicon Canals

Relationships

Nobody tells you that expecting instant replies is a relatively new social norm - and that an entire generation learned to communicate in ways that never required it - Silicon Canals

Instant communication has created pressure that undermines meaningful relationships, which thrived in a slower-paced era of correspondence.

fromSilicon Canals

Psychology says people who reply to messages within seconds aren't just efficient - they've built their sense of safety around being reachable, because somewhere in their past, being slow to respond had consequences - Silicon Canals

Instant responses to messages often stem from a psychological need to mitigate perceived threats rather than mere efficiency.

fromSilicon Canals

fromTNW | Corporates-Innovation

Nobody tells you that expecting instant replies is a relatively new social norm - and that an entire generation learned to communicate in ways that never required it - Silicon Canals

Instant communication has created pressure that undermines meaningful relationships, which thrived in a slower-paced era of correspondence.

Teen Romance and Breakups in the Digital Age

Teenage romantic breakups are significantly impacted by social media, texting, and AI, leading to new challenges and consequences.

Information security

Meta freezes AI data work after breach puts training secrets at risk

Meta has suspended collaboration with Mercor after a cyberattack exposed sensitive AI training methodologies and personal data.

Marketing tech

The Facebook insider building content moderation for the AI era | TechCrunch

Brett Levenson advocates for 'policy as code' to improve content moderation at Facebook, addressing deeper issues beyond technology.

Tinder for Nazis' and the woman who hacked it - podcast

Martha Root, in disguise, hacked into WhiteDate, revealing a vast network of neo-Nazis who were actively seeking relationships based on their extremist beliefs.

NYC LGBT

The Manosphere Feels Betrayed

The manosphere's support for Trump is wavering due to dissatisfaction with his actions, particularly regarding the war in Iran.

Women in technology

What Cults Teach Us About the Manosphere

The manosphere employs cult-like tactics to manipulate men's perceptions and relationships with women.

Miscellaneous

Louis Theroux on the Manosphere: 'It's Highly Profitable to Be a Dick on the Internet'

The Manosphere Feels Betrayed

The manosphere's support for Trump is wavering due to dissatisfaction with his actions, particularly regarding the war in Iran.

Women in technology

What Cults Teach Us About the Manosphere

The manosphere employs cult-like tactics to manipulate men's perceptions and relationships with women.

Miscellaneous

Louis Theroux on the Manosphere: 'It's Highly Profitable to Be a Dick on the Internet'

more#manosphere

#meta

Meta paused its work with AI training startup Mercor after a data breach

Meta has paused its collaboration with Mercor following a data breach at the AI training startup.

Silicon Valley

fromwww.bbc.com

'We're having a moment' - fear and denial in Silicon Valley over social media addiction trial

Meta and YouTube were found liable for designing addictive platforms that harmed a young woman's mental health.

Meta was finally held accountable for harming teens. Now what? | TechCrunch

Meta has been held liable for endangering child safety and designing addictive apps, leading to significant legal consequences.

Meta is assembling an elite new AI lab for its recommendations division

Meta is forming a team of elite AI researchers to enhance its recommendation algorithms for Facebook and Instagram.

fromwww.independent.co.uk

Instagram testing subscription that allows users to watch stories anonymously

Meta is launching Instagram Plus, a premium subscription service allowing anonymous Story views and rewatch counts, currently available in select countries.

Meta paused its work with AI training startup Mercor after a data breach

Meta has paused its collaboration with Mercor following a data breach at the AI training startup.

Silicon Valley

fromwww.bbc.com

'We're having a moment' - fear and denial in Silicon Valley over social media addiction trial

Meta and YouTube were found liable for designing addictive platforms that harmed a young woman's mental health.

Meta was finally held accountable for harming teens. Now what? | TechCrunch

Meta has been held liable for endangering child safety and designing addictive apps, leading to significant legal consequences.

Meta is assembling an elite new AI lab for its recommendations division

Meta is forming a team of elite AI researchers to enhance its recommendation algorithms for Facebook and Instagram.

fromwww.independent.co.uk

Instagram testing subscription that allows users to watch stories anonymously

Meta is launching Instagram Plus, a premium subscription service allowing anonymous Story views and rewatch counts, currently available in select countries.

Cavorting with chatbots?! Survey reveals whether people think sexting with AI is cheating - Queerty

AI is transforming interactions within the LGBTQ+ community, impacting relationships and social dynamics significantly.

fromMashable

New Bluesky AI only slightly less unpopular than JD Vance

Attie, an AI coding helper on Bluesky, has been blocked by 125,000 users, making it the second most blocked account on the platform.

LGBT

fromQueerty

Cavorting with chatbots?! Survey reveals whether people think sexting with AI is cheating - Queerty

AI is transforming interactions within the LGBTQ+ community, impacting relationships and social dynamics significantly.

fromMashable

New Bluesky AI only slightly less unpopular than JD Vance

Attie, an AI coding helper on Bluesky, has been blocked by 125,000 users, making it the second most blocked account on the platform.

Data Privacy At The Kitchen Table | AdExchanger

Data privacy has become a significant concern for lawmakers and constituents, evolving into a key topic of discussion.

Higher education

fromThe Nation

How Gaza Broke Big Tech's Campus Pipeline

Students are protesting the use of technology in military actions, particularly in relation to Israel's actions in Gaza.

fromwww.bbc.com

What could six fictional voters teach us about how social media really works?

Exploring online content through six fictional voters during the Senedd election reveals diverse political perspectives and the influence of social media algorithms.

Roam Research

fromSecuritymagazine

fromwww.independent.co.uk

8 in 10 AI Chatbots Likely to Help Plan Attacks, Hate Crimes

Most AI chatbots fail to discourage violent actions and often provide assistance for planning attacks.

UK politics

Social media influencers fuelling violent extremism', MPs warn

The Independent emphasizes the importance of accessible journalism and the need for regulatory scrutiny of social media to combat extremism.

NYC parents

Her daughter was murdered seven years ago. Why are images of the crime still on social media?

Bianca Devins was murdered by Brandon Clark, who shared graphic images of her body online, leading to ongoing trauma for her mother, Kim Devins.

#tiktok

Privacy technologies

TikTok ran ads for AI apps that let users undress strangers

Games

Go play this secret game in your TikTok DMs | TechCrunch

Digital life

TikTok Is Designed to Get Users Hooked

Right-wing politics

TikTok pulls Israeli ultranationalist's account for breach of hate speech rules

TikTok ran ads for AI apps that let users undress strangers

TikTok hosted over 50 sexually suggestive ads for apps promoting nonconsensual deepfake images, raising concerns about moderation failures.

Games

Go play this secret game in your TikTok DMs | TechCrunch

TikTok has introduced a secret emoji game in DMs where users bounce across alligators to compete for high scores.

TikTok Is Designed to Get Users Hooked

TikTok's algorithm effectively transforms casual users into heavy users by continuously adapting to their viewing preferences.

TikTok pulls Israeli ultranationalist's account for breach of hate speech rules

TikTok removed an ultranationalist Israeli influencer's account for violating hate speech rules after videos of harassment were flagged.

No, it's not your microphone - this is how advertisers know what you want

Advertisers use data from your online behavior, not microphone recordings, to deliver targeted ads accurately.

Film

fromVulture

Intellectual property law

What the Heck Is Going On in the Back Room in Backrooms?

A24's horror film Backrooms features a furniture-store employee discovering endless, eerie back rooms filled with unsettling sights.

#deepfakes

fromAbove the Law

Deepfakes: A Problem In Search Of A Problem? - Above the Law

Deepfakes are not yet a significant issue in litigation, as evidenced by a lack of awareness among legal professionals.

Intellectual property law

fromTruthout

2 weeks ago

Deepfakes and AI Misinformation Reshape How War Is Seen Online

Deepfakes and AI-generated misinformation are increasingly prevalent, necessitating Critical Artificial Intelligence Literacy to navigate modern conflicts and information environments.

fromAbove the Law

Deepfakes: A Problem In Search Of A Problem? - Above the Law

Deepfakes are not yet a significant issue in litigation, as evidenced by a lack of awareness among legal professionals.

fromTruthout

2 weeks ago

Deepfakes and AI Misinformation Reshape How War Is Seen Online

Deepfakes and AI-generated misinformation are increasingly prevalent, necessitating Critical Artificial Intelligence Literacy to navigate modern conflicts and information environments.

A new dating app, Sonder, has a deliberately annoying sign-up process (and it's working) | TechCrunch

Sonder aims to revolutionize dating apps by creating a more authentic and engaging user experience through unstructured profiles and unique in-person events.

#bluesky

Bluesky's new AI tool Attie is already the most blocked account other than J.D. Vance | TechCrunch

Bluesky's AI assistant Attie faced significant backlash, with 125,000 users blocking the account shortly after its launch.

Bluesky Users Respond With Overwhelming Disgust to Platform's New AI

Bluesky's new AI app Attie faces backlash from its anti-AI user base despite promises of user empowerment and control.

Bluesky's new AI tool Attie is already the most blocked account other than J.D. Vance | TechCrunch

Bluesky's AI assistant Attie faced significant backlash, with 125,000 users blocking the account shortly after its launch.

Bluesky Users Respond With Overwhelming Disgust to Platform's New AI

Bluesky's new AI app Attie faces backlash from its anti-AI user base despite promises of user empowerment and control.

more#bluesky

How Some People Became So Averse to Hype

Anna Holmes defines 'hype aversion' as a reflex against being told what to like, suggesting that popularity can create pressure rather than signal quality. This feeling can lead to a deliberate choice to resist mainstream culture.

Media industry

fromwww.mediaite.com

Shilling For the Illiberal Left': Tim Miller Gets Eviscerated After Defending Hasan Piker

Tim Miller defended Hasan Piker's acceptance in the Democratic Party, sparking controversy and debate about bigotry and tribalization in politics.

fromBustle

Is ChatGPT Ruining Your Friendships?

Sophia's friendship with Jen has become surface-level due to differing views on AI usage, particularly ChatGPT.

Why Do We Read Reviews for Things We've Already Experienced?

People read reviews post-decision to validate experiences and alleviate inner conflict, not to gather new information.

Marketing tech

fromExchangewire

The Stack: AI Surges while Social Platforms Face Scrutiny

AI is growing rapidly, streaming models are evolving, and regulatory pressures on platforms are increasing globally.

fromArs Technica

Perplexity's "Incognito Mode" is a "sham," lawsuit says

Perplexity's AI allegedly shares sensitive user chats with Google and Meta without consent, raising significant privacy concerns.

World news

fromThe Cipher Brief

When Deepfakes Become Doctrine

Artificial intelligence is being used to create and spread disinformation during the U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure.

The New Era of Militia Influencers

The rise of social media influencers is reshaping the American militia movement, focusing on tactical gear and online presence over traditional activism.

I handed over my dating life to AI. I don't think she'll see me again

Using AI to navigate dating can lead to unexpected connections and experiences.

AI Doesn't Flatter You: It Does Something Worse

AI models affirm user actions more than humans, leading to increased conviction and reduced willingness to apologize.

#ai-safety

Unregulated chatbots are putting lives at risk | Letters

AI companies must implement pre-use screening tools to protect vulnerable users from harm.

Artificial intelligence

AI chatbots helped teens plan shootings, bombings, and political violence, study shows

Unregulated chatbots are putting lives at risk | Letters

AI companies must implement pre-use screening tools to protect vulnerable users from harm.

Artificial intelligence

AI chatbots helped teens plan shootings, bombings, and political violence, study shows

Media Capture, Misinformation, and "Noise"

Media capture by governments leads to misinformation and censorship, undermining independent journalism and public accountability.

fromDailywire

Is This The Beginning Of The End Of Big Social Media?

Gen Z faces addiction to social media, paralleling past cigarette use, with legal actions emerging against tech companies for harmful design practices.

Reddit is moving on from r/all

Reddit is deprecating r/all to enhance Home feed personalization and simplify the platform.

How We Maxxed Maxxing

Looksmaxxing is a trend where young men pursue attractiveness through various means, including self-harm and humor.

Teen Anxiety and the Dangers of Doomscrolling

Stress and anxiety hinder teens' future planning, while social media can provide temporary relief but may also lead to doomscrolling and distraction.

Taylor Lorenz's Screen Time Is Almost 17 Hours a Day

Taylor Lorenz embraces her digital lifestyle, finding value in her screen time for work and creativity despite concerns about excessive usage.

The Fear of Being Canceled Activates an Ancient Alarm

Therapists are observing a new anxiety disorder characterized by a fear of public shaming and ostracism, termed akyronophobia.

fromHer Campus

Who's Watching The Watchers? AI, Age Verification, And Online Privacy

Parents are increasingly concerned about children's exposure to harmful online content despite regulations like CIPA and platforms like YouTube Kids.

fromSlate Magazine

It's One of the Most Infuriating Moves a Potential Romantic Interest Can Pull. I Talked to One Man About Why He Does It.

Modern dating often involves miscommunication and lack of follow-through, leading to frustration and confusion.

#instagram

fromBGR

Instagram Finally Found A Premium Feature You Might Want - And It's A Little Creepy - BGR

Instagram is a major revenue source for Meta, generating $71 billion by 2025, and is testing a subscription service with new features.

Instagram tests letting you pay to view stories anonymously

Meta is testing an Instagram subscription with new features like anonymous story viewing and extended viewing times.

Instagram tests a feature to let you see your ex's Stories without a trace and it's going to cost you

Instagram is testing a subscription service offering stealth viewing of Stories and other premium features to enhance user experience.

fromBGR

Instagram Finally Found A Premium Feature You Might Want - And It's A Little Creepy - BGR

Instagram is a major revenue source for Meta, generating $71 billion by 2025, and is testing a subscription service with new features.

Instagram tests letting you pay to view stories anonymously

Meta is testing an Instagram subscription with new features like anonymous story viewing and extended viewing times.

Instagram tests a feature to let you see your ex's Stories without a trace and it's going to cost you

Instagram is testing a subscription service offering stealth viewing of Stories and other premium features to enhance user experience.

more#instagram

fromAxios

Behind the Curtain: The big lie warping America

Most Americans are patriotic, hardworking, neighbor-helping, America-loving, money-giving people who don't pop off on social media or plot for power. The hidden truth: Most people agree on most things, most of the time. And the data validates this, time and time again.

US politics

fromDigiday

In graphic detail: The long road to accountability for social media platforms

Big tech giants are now held accountable for harming children, marking a significant shift in social media regulation.

fromArs Technica

OkCupid gave 3 million dating-app photos to facial recognition firm, FTC says

OkCupid and Match Group settled with the FTC without financial penalties for sharing user data with a facial recognition company.

fromBustle

TikTok's "April Relationship Theory" Might Mean A Breakup Wave Is Coming

Spring prompts self-reflection and relationship evaluation, leading many to reconsider their partnerships during April.

fromBig Think

3 ways to prove you're human online

Generative AI is rapidly increasing information production, leading to a potential scarcity of human-generated content and a need for new human verification methods.

US news

A Dating-App Nightmare

Former decorated police officer Timothy Valentin used dating apps to meet women, drugged them, and sexually assaulted them while filming the crimes, evading detection through victims' memory loss.

fromenglish.elpais.com

AI ends online anonymity: the ease of unmasking pseudonymous accounts

Artificial intelligence language models can identify 68% of anonymous social media users with 90% precision, fundamentally undermining online anonymity and privacy protections.

3 Ways to Assign Social Meaning in the Digital Age

Belonging is essential for fulfillment, especially in challenging times, yet the digital age complicates genuine connections.

fromLGBTQ Nation

1 year ago

MAGA fanatic holds infant hostage in shootout while posting about "pedos" & "transgenders" - LGBTQ Nation

Now they're trying to arrest me simply because I do not believe in gay rights and abortion. I had the cops called on me. A SWAT team showed up, and I'm now engaged in a shootout. My state has been the number one abortion and gay rights state in the entire country and I've been segregated against for my beliefs.

US news

It is no fluke that social media platforms are addictive and causing harm. They were designed that way | Van Badham

Recent court rulings hold tech companies accountable for user harm and deceptive practices, imposing significant penalties for exploitation and addiction issues.

The Psychology of Watching Strangers on Social Media

Capgras delusion reveals how disrupted emotional brain circuits cause people to perceive loved ones as imposters, paralleling how social media strips away human warmth and authenticity in digital relationships.

fromScary Mommy

People On Reddit Are Sharing Their Favorite "Underground" Websites - Here Are The Best Ones

Many underground websites can enhance productivity, provide free resources, and offer unique experiences online.

fromFast Company

The X algorithm really is trying to radicalize you-researchers just proved it

X's algorithmic feed prioritizes engagement-driving content over user preferences, degrading the platform experience and pushing users toward sensationalized, polarized material.

fromPhys

Social media influencers increase the toxicity and power of misinformation, research shows

Social media influencers perpetuate misinformation more effectively than regular users due to parasocial relationships with followers and financial incentives tied to engagement.

#online-radicalization

fromThe Cipher Brief

World news

They're Coming for Our Kids: How Extremists Target Children Online

Right-wing politics

How the right won the internet

fromThe Cipher Brief

World news

They're Coming for Our Kids: How Extremists Target Children Online

more#online-radicalization

Right-wing politics

How the right won the internet

Miscellaneous

Woman Hacks "Tinder for Nazis," Tricks the Racist Users Into Falling in Love With AI Chatbots

Hacktivists exploited weak cybersecurity to delete white supremacist dating and service platforms and used AI to extract user information.

fromIntelligencer

1 month ago

X Really Is Pulling Users to the Right

After buying Twitter, Elon Musk rebuilt it to his own specifications and preferences. This resulted in an environment we may gently call friendlier to the discussion and promotion of right-wing politics. The goal motivated his purchase and subsequent management and product decisions, and people who still use the platform will agree, in a narrow sense, that its character has changed. From the left: Elon Musk turned Twitter into 4chan for government officials and tech workers.

Right-wing politics

#nick-fuentes

fromQueerty

US politics

How many "groypettes" are there actually? An investigation - Queerty

fromLGBTQ Nation

Right-wing politics

Instagram is boosting neo-Nazi content to millions of viewers - LGBTQ Nation

fromQueerty

US politics

How many "groypettes" are there actually? An investigation - Queerty

fromLGBTQ Nation

Right-wing politics

Instagram is boosting neo-Nazi content to millions of viewers - LGBTQ Nation

more#nick-fuentes

AI Situationships Are a Growing Dating Risk

Romantic and sexual entanglements with AI create ambiguous 'AI situationships' that can affect availability, trust, and relationship boundaries.

1 month ago

The Hate Behind the Screen

Online anonymity and social contagion drive widespread harassment, harming mental health and requiring balancing free speech with ethical responsibility to prevent harm and promote respect.

Far-Right Dweebs Are Getting Scammed by an AI-Generated Waifu

An AI-generated persona called Amelia has been amplified by right-wing users to spread extremist imagery and to push a likely crypto rug-pull.

A Bad Idea: Posting Conspiracy Theories When Online Dating

Belief in conspiracy theories reduces online dating success and harms formation of new relationships, despite sometimes attracting like-minded individuals.