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Snap confidentially settled a case alleging its platform caused severe psychological distress to two teenage users, following similar settlements by Meta, TikTok and YouTube in the same litigation. Separately, Google was sued this week by parents who say their child suffered a psychological crisis after interacting with the Gemini chatbot through Google Classroom.
The European Commission has issued preliminary findings that TikTok's For You algorithm creates a 'rabbit hole effect,' repeatedly pushing users toward content tied to sadness, isolation and body image, in violation of the Digital Services Act. Officials say TikTok's existing safeguards against this effect are not working. The company must redesign the feed or face fines of up to 6% of its global annual turnover.
The European Commission issued preliminary findings accusing TikTok of breaching the DSA because its For You recommendation system can trap users in 'rabbit holes' of repetitive content tied to sadness, isolation or body image. The Commission said TikTok failed to properly assess or mitigate these risks, noting that the 'not interested' button may not meaningfully change a user's feed. TikTok disputed the findings as inaccurate, while the case stems from a broader ongoing EU investigation into the platform.
The European Commission said preliminary findings show TikTok's recommendation algorithm creates a 'rabbit hole effect,' repeatedly exposing users to content tied to sadness, isolation, or body image. The Commission says TikTok's existing mitigation controls are insufficient and the platform must redesign its For You feed or risk fines up to 6 percent of global annual turnover.
Snap has settled a lawsuit filed by two teens, identified as K.D.B. and S.J., who alleged Snapchat use contributed to self-harm and mental health problems. The settlement came after jury selection had already begun and just before trial was set to start this month, with terms undisclosed. Meta had settled its portion of the same case shortly before, leaving Snap as the sole remaining defendant.
TikTok launched a new in-app restaurant discovery feature called 'Must Eat,' which pulls from more than 40 million posts and comments to let users browse and filter restaurant recommendations by city, cuisine, price and rating. The company has also been spotted testing a feature that would let users send money to each other via direct messages, building on earlier additions like TikTok Shop, local maps and expanded search.
A tech reporter spent a five-day vacation testing Apple's new iPhone Duo, a $2,000 loaner device, alongside a familiar iPhone 17 Pro Max as backup. Despite early frustrations with broken apps, unfamiliar gestures like Touch ID, and camera issues, the reporter ended up favoring the Duo over the trip's course and chose not to revert to the older phone.
TikTok creators are increasingly posting videos that build suspense before revealing their Halloween costumes, rather than simply showing the finished look. The format turns the costume reveal itself into the main content, with creators using editing and pacing techniques to maximize anticipation.
Reddit is dividing its home page feed into two separate tabs: For You, which blends posts from communities you've joined with algorithmic recommendations, and Following, which shows only posts from communities you've actually joined. The change is rolling out globally over the coming weeks.
Reddit announced a redesigned homepage with two feed options: 'For You,' which blends posts from joined communities with algorithmic recommendations, and 'Following,' which shows only subscribed communities. The company says the feeds are meant to boost discovery, connection and participation, and users can toggle between them with their last choice remembered on return visits.
TikTok rolled out a new feature called 'Must Eat' on Wednesday, aggregating restaurant recommendations from more than 40 million posts and comments into browsable city guides. Users can filter listings by cuisine, price, rating and location, with results split into 'Everyday Eats' and 'Elevated Dining' categories, and some restaurants can be booked via OpenTable integration. The feature is debuting in New York City, Los Angeles and San Francisco, accessible through search, the Local feed, restaurant pages and video location links.
Crumbl, the cookie chain known for its rotating menu and oversized treats, has been shutting down locations across the US this year, with closures reported in more than a dozen states. The closures mark a reversal for a brand that expanded rapidly after gaining popularity on TikTok following its 2017 founding.