941 tacks
Facebook told advertisers it can identify teens feeling 'insecure' and 'worthless'
Facebook reportedly showed advertisers how it can identify when teenagers feel insecure and worthless by monitoring their posts and photos. The leaked document, prepared by Facebook executives, claims the company has detailed information on mood shifts of young users, including relationship status, location, and frequency of platform access. Facebook apologised for the research, stating it was conducted without proper oversight, but later claimed the article was misleading and that the research was based on anonymous, aggregated data.
Atlantic Reads: Screen People with Megan Garber
In Screen People, Atlantic staff writer Megan Garber examines how the internet — once brimming with democratic promise — has quietly reshaped human behavior through the architecture of its platforms. From social media algorithms designed to provoke outrage, to the subtle habit of treating real people like fictional characters, Garber traces what went wrong and why. But she's not without hope: if we ask the right questions about who we want to be, a better internet is still within reach.
Explainer: what is surveillance capitalism and how does it shape our economy?
Surveillance capitalism is a market-driven process where personal data is the commodity, collected through mass internet surveillance by companies like Google and Facebook. This data is used for commercial purposes, often without users’ full understanding. The term was coined by Shoshana Zuboff, who highlights the power dynamics and the role of “Big Other” actors like Google, Amazon, Facebook, and Apple in this economy.
Did a human write this?
What happens when the majority of content on the internet tips over into AI slop? On this episode of Galaxy Brain, Charlie Warzel talks to Max Spero, a co-founder of Pangram, an AI-detection company. They discuss how AI-detection tools work and how effective they can be at identifying what’s made by humans and what comes from a chatbot. They explore the cultural concerns around authenticity in the large-language-model era, and whether detection can keep up as models improve.
Why Rich People Post Differently
Is your Instagram "low class"? While we like to think of the internet as a universal playground, a new digital class war is emerging. From the way you use filters to the number of emojis in your bio, your digital habits are increasingly signaling your socioeconomic status to the world. In this episode of Power User, Taylor Lorenz sit down with etymologist and cultural commentator Adam Aleksic to decode the hidden semiotics of "Low Class Instagram."
Trump administration labels Australia’s media bargaining laws ‘foreign extortion’
The Trump administration criticised Australia’s proposed media bargaining laws, calling them “extortion” and suggesting retaliatory trade measures. The laws would require Meta, Google, and TikTok to negotiate deals with Australian news publishers or face a levy, aiming to protect and reward media outlets for their work. While the Coalition and Greens are likely to support the plan, concerns remain about its impact on smaller publishers and the potential for retaliatory actions from the US.
Why becoming a YouTuber is not what you think
In this essay, Andres Acevedo examines why YouTube’s dominance, and the power of its parent company Google, is a problem for viewers, creators, and the open internet. YouTube is the world’s second most visited website and perhaps the closest thing the world has ever had to a global broadcaster. But it exists inside one of the most powerful corporate empires ever built: one that has systematically crushed competitors, exploited users, and now faces antitrust proceedings on both sides of the Atlantic. The essay features Acevedo’s interview with Nicholas Shaxson, investigative journalist, Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School, and co-author of Google’s Hidden Empire.
Trump administration labels Australia’s media bargaining laws ‘foreign extortion’
The Trump administration criticised Australia’s news bargaining incentive plan, calling it “foreign extortion” and a potential violation of trade agreements. The plan, which aims to make Meta, Google, and TikTok pay for news content, has also faced opposition from the tech industry and some political parties. Despite this, the plan is likely to pass with support from the Coalition and Greens.
Why Spotify has no button to filter out AI music
Spotify has no AI-music filter because labelling is technically, ethically and commercially difficult. AI use exists on a spectrum, detection risks false positives, and industry standards remain unsettled. Critics argue Spotify is avoiding transparency to protect growth and recommendation systems. Deezer already labels and limits AI tracks, while Apple and Spotify are testing disclosure features. Listeners increasingly want clearer labels, especially as AI-generated music floods streaming platforms.
Tech giants face new levy to pay for Australian news as Meta calls position ‘simply wrong’
The Albanese government proposes a 2.25% levy on local revenues for Google, Meta, and TikTok to compensate Australian media outlets. Google and Meta oppose the levy, arguing it’s unnecessary and unfairly targets them.
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