The UK has become the latest country to ban social media for under-16s, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer announcing today that "children will be given back their childhoods thanks to government action".

Following Australia's decision to lock teens out of popular social media apps in December 2025, the UK has promised "world-leading additional restrictions" on features like live streaming and strangers communicating with children.

The landmark legislation, which the UK government says is "backed by 9 in 10 parents", is expected to be brought before Parliament before Christmas, and could then come into force in Spring 2027.

So how exactly will the social media ban work, and what does it mean for children in the UK? You can follow all of the latest updates here live...

UK social media ban — a quick primer

Hello, and welcome to our liveblog on the UK's landmark social media ban for under-16s.

We'll be rounding up all of the latest news, reactions and more here today, but first a quick primer on what's happened.

The UK announced the social media ban for under-16s this morning. The statement says that social media is "designed to be addictive" and that the restrictions will give mean "less time for scrolling and more time for play".

The government says it will "use the same model for a social media ban as Australia" and that means the platforms will include Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X. It won't include private messaging apps likes of WhatsApp and Signal.

If it's passed by Parliament later this year, the ban is expected to come into force from Spring 2027.

Which platforms are affected?

The UK government's statement lists some of the major platforms that will be affected by its proposed ban. These are

• Snapchat
• TikTok
• YouTube
• Instagram
• Facebook
• X

The UK government says that "we do not intend for messaging services like WhatsApp and Signal to be included in the social media ban".

However, there are also planned restrictions for "so-called AI ‘romantic companion’ chatbots – designed to simulate sexual relationships or roleplay with users", which will "have to enforce a minimum age of 18".

The statement adds that "similar intimate functionalities will be restricted for under-18s on AI chatbots more widely".

This is an 'Australia plus' ban

As expected, the UK's proposed social media ban for under-16s is following a so-called 'Australia plus' model. That means it's following the thrust of Australia's legislation by restricting access to social media apps for children, but also adding extra restrictions for platforms that aren't banned.

The UK says this will include "world-leading blocks on harmful functions such as livestreaming and stranger communication with children for under-16s" and will affected "a wider range of online services, including on gaming sites".

And that's not it — the government says it will "also be looking in more detail at overnight curfews and breaks in infinite scrolling for under-18-year-olds". Exactly how this might be implemented isn't clear, which is why Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said the UK will "set out more detail in July".

UK says it will "learn the lessons" of Australia ban

Reports have claimed that Australia's social media isn't proving very effective, with research from the Molly Rose Foundation claiming that over half of under-16 users were still on TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram.

The UK government says it will "learn the lessons from Australia’s experience" by introducing "more highly effective age assurance (HEAA) measures to support compliance, making it far harder for children to bypass safeguards". Exactly what that entails, and how it will be balanced with privacy concerns, isn't yet clear.

Ban is "backed by 9 in 10 parents"

The UK government is pretty confident its social media ban for under-16s has public support and will be passed by Parliament "before Christmas".

It says the announcement follows "one of the biggest national conversations held by this government" with over "116,000 responses submitted by parents, children and experts across the country".

In those responses, "9 in 10 parents said they would support a social media ban for children under 16s", it said. Surprisingly, the government added that most "young people" also backed action" with "two-thirds agreeing that children younger than 16 should not be allowed to use at least some social media platforms".

That said, it didn't clarify exactly what it meant by "young people" and some inevitable controversy will arise more from its implementation than the broader idea.

How will the ban work?

The specifics of how the UK's social media ban will work is down to the country's communications regulator, Ofcom. The government says "Ofcom will conduct a rapid study on what is effective age assurance for verifying whether someone is over 16".

Ofcom has said it's been behind "some of the strongest changes" for online safety regulation, which includes porn sites being required to carry out age checks.

This means the UK social media ban will likely rely on technologies like digital ID and face scans — techniques that'll no doubt kickstart another privacy debate. VPNs will also likely in the spotlight, given their role in allowing people to get around similar blocks.

Not everyone backs the ban

The UK's proposed social media ban for under-16s isn't backed by all experts, despite the government's confidence that it has public support.

Professor David Ellis, Chair of Behavioral Science at the University of Bath and a member of the Institute for Digital Security and Behavior, said: "This ban is based on worry, not evidence. The evidence base as it stands suggests social media has a minuscule effect, if any, on teenagers — particularly once you account for the other factors we know shape childhood development".

"It's also unlikely to be straightforward to enforce, given what we've seen elsewhere, and it risks pushing teenagers towards less regulated parts of the internet," he added. "Worse, it lets social media companies off the hook: they can divert resources away from making platforms safer, despite the fact that many young people will simply remain on them".

Is there more to come?

While the ban is currently aimed at under-16s, Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel De Souza wants measures extended to 18-year-olds across several key areas.

“Any online service – not just social media, but gaming and other platforms – that uses harmful features should be banned from accessing under-18s unless and until it can prove it is safe.”

‘Harmful features’ is the term being used throughout this process, likely to allow further features to be added in the future should they be deemed applicable. That said, the Commissioner explicitly mentions addictive scrolling, explicit content, and unwanted strangers in her statement.

Measures surrounding under-18s are to be looked into in more detail in July. However, there’s currently nothing to suggest this will extend to a full ban like that enforced today.

Do you need to do anything?

Thankfully, for now, all you need to do is sit tight and wait for new information. The Government has said it will provide details to families and children ahead of the ban's enforcement.

If you're an adult, the ban will likely take a similar shape to the enforcement of the Online Safety Act age verification measures last year. This means that most likely, your account will automatically be deemed to comply if:

• It's been open for 16 years or longer
• it's linked to an email account that can prove you are over 16
• A bank card is associated to the account that can prove your age

Should you be required to verify your age, it will likely use methods including ID checks, facial scanning, or bank card verification.

If you've already verified your age for services as a result of the Online Safety Act, you shouldn't need to do them again either!

Will it work? Parents are split in polling

More responses to the UK government's plan are coming in.

YouGov has just released a poll that shows while 77% of UK parents with children under 18 support the ban (a point over all Britons in general at 76%), only 45% think it will be very or quite effective at curbing social media use.

59% of the population as a whole think the ban will be not very effective at stopping under-16s from using social media.

Greens say offline support is needed

How are the UK's other parties responding to the ban?

The UK's Green Party has said it "welcomes action to address the harms social media can cause to young people. The impact on mental health and online safety is well documented as is the huge concern among parents, teachers and many young people themselves. Stronger safeguards are clearly needed."

However it added, "organisations including the NSPCC and the Molly Rose Foundation have warned that a blanket ban could leave some young people, particularly disabled and LGBTQIA people, more isolated and cut off from support. We also need to see real investment in youth services and creative activities for young people to fill the void that will be created by this ban."

This echoes the words of Lisa Nandy, the UK's Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, who said "Keeping children safe online must go hand in hand with giving them more opportunities offline."

More UK party leaders weigh in

Sentiment among other parties and their leaders is spilt.

Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative party leader, has called the ban "fantastic news," saying it's "an important step in helping parents protect childhood for children."

Meanwhile Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey noted that while "families have been crying out for action to protect children from harmful social media" he and his party are "really worried that the government hasn't listened, and has instead come up with a half-baked policy that won't keep children safe."

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage doesn't think the ban will work "given the mass adoption of VPNs" adding that this move is "the introduction of Digital ID via the back door." He instead says that "handsets for children with limited features" are the best option — suggesting he's either yet another dumb phone fan, or isn't entirely aware of modern phone's parental controls like the ones Apple just added to iOS 27.

Meta and YouTube respond

Platforms are also sharing their thoughts on the UK's plans.

Speaking to the media a YouTube spokesperson has said "YouTube is a vital resource for young people, educators and parents, external. Blanket bans push kids out of such curated, supervised, beneficial experiences and towards anonymous, less safe services."

Meta (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp) has echoed YouTube's response, adding that any targeted age based restrictions should be done on device "so people aren't asked to hand over ID to dozens of individual services to prove their age.”

How will 16 and 17-year-olds prove their age?

When you're trying to prove you're over 18 there are a few methods like a driver's licence or a credit card check that can be used to verify your age. For people aged 16 or 17 there are fewer options, and we'll need to wait and see what Ofcom proposes they use as details of the UK government's plans are hashed out.

Options they could use include provisional driver's licences, bank account information, or passports if they have them.

Whatever verification method is proposed could go hand-in-hand with the UK's legislation to lower the voting age from 18 to 16 by the next general election.

We have our first viral reaction

The mood in UK classrooms today appears to be somber, as this BBC report captures brilliantly.

First, the reporter asks under-16 students to raise their hands if they support the ban — a request that's inevitably met by stunned silence.

Then, when asked what she will do instead of the nine hours per weekend she typically spends on social media, the student Isabella replies "stare at a wall". It's fair to say this isn't going down well with many — and if you've grown up with social media and use it as a communications tool, that's understandable.

Is the evidence really there?

Is there any scientific evidence that social media use harms the brains of children? Not really, as academics told a Science, Innovation and Technology Committee this week.

Professor Denis Mareschal, who is the director of the Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development at Birkbeck College, said "There is very little, if any, causal research in the early years".

And those views were echoed by University of Cambridge Professor Sarah-Jayne Blakemore, who said that the impact of "digital devices or social media" on adolescent brains amounted to "almost nothing".

That's not to say there's no impact, of course, just that the data doesn't yet support the theory that social media's impact on young brains is causational, not just correlational.

• Read more: Brain experts tell the UK government there's 'very little' scientific evidence that phones are harming kids — but a social media ban is going ahead anyway

Bluesky is also included in the ban

The dust is starting to settle on yesterday's bombshell announcement of a UK social media ban for under-16s — and more details are emerging.

For example, Liz Kendall (Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology) has just confirmed (below) that Bluesky will be included in the age restrictions, as it's on Australia's list of affected apps.

If you want to see the full list of affected apps, check out our guide on 5 things you need to know about the UK social media ban.

• Read more: How will the UK's social media ban actually work? Here's the full list of affected apps — and 5 things you need to know

• A medical report compares the threats of social media to smoking
• Medical professionals are being encouraged to ask young patients about their screen time
• The UK government is weighing a blanket ban on social media use for under-16s, but some are calling for a different approach

Health experts have likened the health risks of social media use by young people to the dangers of smoking, as the UK government moves closer to introducing a social media ban for under-16s.

The UK’s Academy of Medical Royal Colleges says in a report that social media use poses significant damage to children who are “continuously exposed to hateful, addictive and grossly distressing content”. The report, submitted as part of the government’s consultation process, also says social media use by young people now sits alongside smoking and wearing seatbelts “as a unifying force for the medical profession”.

The report also highlights the responsibility of medical professionals in protecting children, saying doctors should now be asking children about their screen time and social media use when they first assess them. Half of the 454 medical professionals surveyed by the academy said they treated a child with social media-linked mental ill health at least once a week.

The guidance would make it easier for doctors to quickly assess if a child’s social media use is excessive and unhealthy, encouraging medical professionals to record any long-term health issues that could arise in their younger patients. “The difference now is that the harm being done to children online is not hypothetical … It is immediate, it is documented, and it is happening at scale,” the report adds.

One of the leading supporters of government action, former Health Secretary Wes Streeting, also said social media should be treated in a similar way to tobacco. “It’s extremely addictive, bad for our health, and big tech is borrowing the big tobacco playbook to avoid regulation”, he added.

The government’s consultation period, which received contributions from more than 70,000 individuals and groups, ends today (May 26), with Technology Secretary Liz Kendall telling the BBC: “The question isn't whether we're going to act — we will.”

She said the government would respond to the consultation over the summer, with measures being introduced before the end of the year.

As part of the consultation process, a number of bereaved parents who believe social media contributed to the loss of their children will meet with Prime Minister Keir Starmer to share their experiences. Starmer was initially opposed to an outright ban for under-16s, but has since said he is “open-minded” about enacting stronger measures.

Weighing the pros and the cons

While many parents, family groups, and health professionals favor some form of government action, opinion is divided on what form it should take.

Some argue that imposing a blanket ban for under-16s could backfire and actually cause greater harm, as it could cause young people to seek out banned content on the dark web, or even leave them unequipped to navigate online content when they turn 16.

The chair of the Molly Rose Foundation, Ian Russell, said that instead of an outright ban, existing laws should be enforced for a more holistic approach. The organization was founded and named after Molly Rose, a teenager who lost her life in 2017 after being exposed to harmful content through social media.

Critics of a blanket ban have pointed to Australia, which introduced a wide-ranging crackdown on social media use by young people in December 2025, banning children under 16 from holding accounts on major social media platforms.

A recent study conducted by the Molly Rose Foundation revealed that 60% of under-16s were still using platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, even though these services were required to shut down the accounts of under-age users.

Since that study was published, the UK has been experimenting with restrictive features before it considers a wider ban. In March, the UK government kick-started a pilot scheme, where it tested screentime limits and curfews in 300 teenage homes to trial different kinds of bans.

To add to this, further restrictive measures are also being considered including auto-play functions and infinite scrolling being disabled to stop young users from being caught in endless webs of potentially harmful content.

• ThreatFabric spotted new TrickMo.C variant targeting Android users in Europe
• Disguised as TikTok/streaming apps, it steals credentials, intercepts SMS, suppresses OTPs, and enables live surveillance
• Victims are mostly situated in France, Italy and Austria

Android users across Europe are being targeted with a new variant of a decade-old banking trojan, researchers have revealed.

ThreatFabric has explained how it has been tracking a banking trojan called TrickMo.C, since January 2026.

TrickMo is an Android banking trojan that was first spotted in September 2019, but since then has been in active development, constantly receiving upgrades and new features. By 2024, there were more than 40 TrickMo variants in existence, being delivered through more than a dozen droppers, and communicating with 22 separate command-and-control (C2) infrastructures.

Extracting secrets from the French, Italians, and Austrians

This latest version is being disguised as TikTok and streaming apps. The exact deployment mechanism is unknown, but it’s safe to assume the crooks are advertising it on third-party app repositories, on Telegram and social media channels, as well as through phishing and SEO poisoning.

When installed on the target device, TrickMo.C creates a phishing overlay through which it can harvest login credentials and other valuable secrets. It can also log keys, taps, and strokes, record the screen, livestream the contents directly to the attackers, and intercept SMS messages. It can suppress OTP notifications, modify the users’ clipboard, filter notifications, and send screenshots.

All of this allows the attackers to steal credentials, log into people’s bank accounts and crypto wallets, make payments and wire transfers, while keeping the victims entirely in the dark. The victims are mostly located in France, Italy, and Austria, it was said.

What makes TrickMo.C stand out compared to previous versions is that it communicates with its operator via TON, a decentralized peer-to-peer network originally developed around the Telegram ecosystem. Instead of using publicly exposed servers, users communicate with the web through an encrypted overlay network.

The operators use ADNL addresses routed through an embedded local TON proxy that runs on the infected endpoint.

• TikTok has been testing AI summaries for its videos
• The feature is throwing up wildly inaccurate text captions
• TikTok says it will now pull back on the technology

In the age of AI deepfakes, it's a good idea to treat everything you see on social media with a certain degree of skepticism, but the misinformation problem on TikTok has been made worse with some wildly inaccurate AI captions — and it's bad enough that the video platform is now scaling back this captioning technology.

As reported by Business Insider, TikTok had been testing AI-powered text summaries for videos with a limited number of users. However, after numerous mistakes and hallucinations, the technology is going to be limited to identifying products in videos, rather than fully describing the video's contents.

Those mistakes and hallucinations included describing a video of celebrity Charli D'Amelio talking to the camera as showing a "collection of various blueberries with different toppings", and labeling a dog-training video as "a captivating display of intricate origami art, meticulously folded from a single sheet".

You don't have to look far on social media to find further examples: there's what seems to be an image of two cats with the caption "a person demonstrating an impressive new robot arm with multiple dexterous fingers", for example.

'Garbage that has nothing to do with the video'

It's not clear exactly what's been going wrong that's causing TikTok's AI summaries to get the wrong idea so regularly (though presumably the feature did work at least some of the time). Recognizing the contents of images and videos is usually something AI can do pretty reliably.

That clearly hasn't been the experience of many TikTok users, however. One Redditor described the captions as "completely off the rails", while another said they were seeing "garbage that has nothing to do with the video" — with the AI summary also serving to distract from the actual caption on the video.

Other examples online show a Kentucky Derby horse race video described as "showcasing an intricate piece of calligraphy", and a cookery video with an overhead shot of a gray pan getting the label "a single ball bouncing and rolling on a green surface" — although these screenshots could also be faked, of course.

Even as AI is pushed into more and more of our apps and devices, hallucinations and errors remain a significant problem, which AI companies don't like admitting to. Whether it's a TikTok video or a legal document, if you're getting AI to summarize something, you'd be wise to run additional checks.

• Vine is being relaunched as a new app called Divine
• It's being funded by Jack Dorsey, who acquired the original Vine platform in 2013
• It's invite-only for the time being, but a wider rollout is on the way

Vine was the social media platform that defined the 2010s, and it’s making a comeback after a nearly 10-year absence. Well, kind of.

The platform that spearheaded short-form vertical feeds with its iconic six-second looping videos is being relaunched as Divine and funded by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, AKA the same guy who acquired Vine in 2013, and later put it to sleep in 2017. But the funniest thing about the reboot is that Dorsey has beaten Elon Musk to the punch, who previously teased restoring user access to the 2010s social media staple.

While this sounds like a dream come true for those who lived through the Vine days, Divine is invite-only for now, but the company is planning a wider rollout in the coming months. The company has also noted that while Divine is inspired by the original Vine platform, it operates entirely independently and has no affiliation with Twitter/ X.

That said, a lot has changed since Vine was shut down. Social media algorithms are smarter, and consumer habits have shifted — so how will Divine live up to TikTok, Instagram, and other rival kingpins?

Divine’s aim is two-fold: the first being nostalgia, which I think will be the catalyst for luring users. Divine will play host to an archive of over 500,000 videos from Vine’s golden days, giving you a one-stop place to relive some of the most famous online videos you probably still reference with your friends today, as well as allowing you to create and upload new content.

As far as its algorithm goes, Divine is taking an alternative approach and will let users choose how content reaches them, offering four options: Home feed, Discovery, Trending, and Hashtag feed.

“We believe that the monoculture of a single advertising-oriented algorithm is responsible for many of the issues experienced by other social media,” Divine details in its FAQs page.

The second part of Divine’s goal is to take a stance against AI-generated content, which involves combining a plethora of methods to create a robust AI detection tool.

ProofMode, the main component of this, is a tool that inspects metadata to detect AI that's used to generate audio, images, and videos. On top of this, Divine has a user reporting system in place in addition to machine-learning detection and human-in-the-loop (HITL) techniques.

Despite having to wait for the broader rollout, there’s no denying that Vine’s relaunch will excite an entire generation of internet nerds who got their first online video kick from Vine. Unlike the old musical.ly platform, which was then merged with TikTok, this is a different scenario.

It’s a full-on resuscitation of an app that, despite having a significant influence on the evolution of short-form videos, was quite short-lived, and you can best believe you’ll be getting a full review when I finally get my hands on it.

Following months of rumors, the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 has finally landed to succeed the best-selling Pocket 3 vlogging camera, and I expect it to be equally popular.

It’s not a huge upgrade; nonetheless, the Pocket 4 looks like a more polished vlogging camera that could be worth swapping out the Pocket 3 for. This article covers the 7 most notable improvements in the latest model.

And if you are on the hunt for your first vlogging camera, either model is well worth a look. I've shot plenty of content with the Pocket 4 ahead of its launch — look out for my in-depth review, coming soon — and consistently with its predecessor over the last two years, and they are excellent smartphone alternatives for video, combining an exceptionally discreet and tiny body with sharp, gimbal-stabilized 4K video, complete with the tools needed for clear vocals, especially using DJI's own wireless mics.

The Pocket 4 costs £429 / AU$749 for the Essential Combo, or £549 / AU$949 for the Creator Combo, which adds a battery handle, wireless mic, and a new magnetic fill light, among other extras. There’s no US pricing or availability at launch.

Without further ado, let's dive into the key differences between the DJI Osmo Pocket 4 and Pocket 3.

1. Video quality

The spec sheet suggests little change on the image quality front – like its predecessor, the Pocket 4 shoots 4K video and features a 1-inch sensor. However, DJI says the sensor is new, and its 4K video output is optimized with 14 stops of dynamic range which is further expands by 2 stops in the low light mode.

There's also 10-bit color depth and a revised D-Log color profile available in the Pro setting. Want a baked-in look? There are six new film tones to choose from. There are a bunch of new beauty filters, too, if that's your thing, found in the revised DJI Mimo app.

2. Slow motion

One of the headline-grabbing upgrades is 8x slo-mo recording in 4K – that’s 240fps, which is up from the Pocket 3's maximum 120fps. Most other cameras that offer such slow frame rates, including the Pocket 3 tend to do so just for 1080p, but DJI has expanded these frame rates from 1080p to 4K in the latest model. The 2x zoom function (scroll down for more details) doesn't work in this mode, mind you.

3. Subject tracking

DJI’s next-gen Active Track 7.0 features in the Pocket 4, for some of the stickiest subject tracking I’ve experienced. Simply double-tap your subject and the Pocket 4 will keep them in the centre of the frame, with support for people, vehicles, pets, and more.

Subject tracking works in photo mode, with the 2x lossless zoom and for the D-Log color profile, none of which is true of the Pocket 3's Active Track 6.0 feature.

4. Photo skills

Photo resolution has been increased from 9.4 megapixels in the Pocket 3 and up to 37 megapixels in the Pocket 4 for more detailed snaps, provided you select the SuperPhoto mode. You'll get the maximum resolution for 1:1 aspect stills, which drops to 33 megapixels in the 16:9 format. In the regular photo mode, the resolution is the same as before, being roughly equivalent to 4K.

Photos can be captured in JPEG or RAW format, or both simultaneously. The 2x lossless zoom can now be used in photo mode and when active track is in play, whereas this function is not available in the Pocket 3.

5. Controls

Less measurable on a spec sheet but of infinite help in actual use, the Pocket 4 has some welcome design tweaks.

The joystick, which controls the camera's gimbal, has been upgraded, and the speed of its movement responds to how firmly you push it. There are also two new buttons under the screen, which are visible when the display is horizontal, providing shortcuts to useful controls such as zoom.

The gimbal arm has been fitted with electronic contacts and a magnetic surface, which can be used to pair a new magnetic fill light accessory, which is part of the Creator Combo kit. The light is powered by the camera and its output is minimal, only being of real use in dimly lit spaces or at night, but it's certainly a useful extra.

6. Battery life

DJI has fitted a higher capacity 1,545mAh battery in the Pocket 4 – that’s 20% more juice compared to the Pocket 3’s 1,300mAh unit. With this new battery unit, the Pocket 4 has been tested for up to 4 hours run time, when recording 1080p video at 24fps and with wireless connections and screen turned off. 4K recording run time will be significantly less.

Charge time has been reduced, too. Using DJI's 65W PD charger (sold separately), the Pocket 4 can gain a 100% charge in 32 minutes, or an 80% charge in just 18 minutes. We don't have the numbers for regular USB-C charging.

7. Memory

The Pocket 4 features 107GB of built-in storage, which is sufficient for many hours of 4K video files, while the Pocket 3 has none. Both can record onto micro SD. Oh and praise be, DJI has added a protective door over the micro SD card slot, which is fully exposed in the Pocket 3.

There’s next-gen Wi-Fi 6 and USB 3.1 support in the Pocket 4 too, plus faster wired transfer speeds, making for a speedier workflow on the move.

There are a few more additional features in the Pocket 4, but those 7 are the big ones, and it feels like an all-around more polished vlogging cam.

What do you reckon, does the Pocket 4 sound like a vlogging camera worth upgrading for? Let me know in the comments below!

• Research shows that Australia's social media ban isn't the most effective
• Some under-16s say platforms haven't taken action to deactivate their accounts
• Despite the failure, the UK government is still considering a similar ban

The UK government is still mulling over a proposed social media ban following Australia becoming the first country to implement the ban — but it turns out, this ruling is failing for the people down under.

In a recent story from Sky News, the outlet revealed that research shows over 60% of underage users in Australia still have access to a range of their social media accounts on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. The research was carried out online by the Molly Rose Foundation between March 12 - 31.

Australia’s social media ban for under-16s has been in effect since December 2025, targeting 10 of the biggest platforms. But even though platforms are now required to close existing underage accounts and prevent the creation of new ones by law, 53% of users were still on TikTok, while 53% used YouTube, and 52% of Instagram users still had access, the research reveals.

Beyond this, the study showed something deeper about these platforms’ efforts to enforce restrictions. According to the research, “two-thirds of YouTube users, 61% of Snapchat users, and 60% of both Instagram and TikTok users” claimed that these platforms didn’t take action to deactivate their accounts, which were created before the ban was issued, leaving users feeling more unsafe post-ban compared to before.

Each of the platforms mentioned above have yet to comment on why restrictive measures haven’t succeeded, but for those who have been signed out of their accounts, parents have apparently noticed positive behavioral changes according to a YouGov poll from March. But while Australia still finds its footing with the ban (it could be targeting VPNs next), the UK is still deliberating a similar ruling, even though research suggests Australia's ban hasn't been that effective.

‘Addictive scrolling mechanisms are really problematic’

Since Australia introduced the ban, the UK government has been seriously considering a similar approach. While it rolled out a slew of age verification requirements last year, it has yet to take action on an official social media ban, but it’s not completely off the cards for Prime Minister Keir Starmer who shared to the BBC "But I think ​equally important, the addictive scrolling mechanisms are really problematic to ​my mind. They need to go."

As it stands, the government is currently experimenting with tools such as curfews and screen time limits for apps to examine their impact on things such as education and family life, as Reuters shares. However, aside from this, the government wants to hear directly from parents and teenagers alike.

This would allow the government to see things from both perspectives. On the one hand it gives parents the opportunity to express any concerns they have regarding their child’s screen time and the type of content they can be exposed to. Consulting teenagers on the other hand would offer an explicit insight to the reality of growing up in the age of social media, especially if teenagers provide account of their own personal experiences.

• Push Security uncovers phishing campaign targeting TikTok Business accounts
• Attackers use Google Storage links and AITM kits to steal credentials, cookies, and MFA codes
• Compromised accounts exploited for fraudulent ad campaigns and infostealer distribution via fake TikTok content

If your business is running a TikTok account, be careful - hackers are going after your login credentials with a sophisticated phishing attack.

A new report from Push Security outlines a campaign which most likely starts with a phishing email. Although this is not confirmed, Push found a malicious link that routes victims through a legitimate Google Storage URL to appear trustworthy, before redirecting to one of almost a dozen malicious landing pages, all registered with the same shady registrar (Nicenic International Group, allegedly commonly abused for bulk phishing domain registration).

When the victim clicks the link, a Cloudflare Turnstile check is first triggered to block security bots, after which the victim is shown a fake landing page. This page mimics either TikTok for Business, or sometimes Google Careers. They are then asked to fill out a basic form (for scheduling a call, or similar), and later redirected to a fake login page.

Stealing both TikTok and Google

The login page is actually an Adversary-in-the-Middle (AITM) phishing kit acting as a reverse proxy, capturing login details and session cookies in real time. Furthermore, the kit also allows the attacker to steal MFA codes, work around them, and gain full access to people’s accounts.

The problem is further exacerbated for people who use Google’s single sign-on feature, since they give away access to both platforms, and allow the attackers to run fraudulent ad campaigns through their (vetted) accounts, and using their funds:

“It’s worth pointing out too that many/most business users will opt to “log in with Google.”

This means that anyone using Google to login to their TikTok account will effectively have both accounts used to distribute ads compromised in one go, opening up the typical Google Ad Manager exploitation playbook — as well as accessing any further apps accessible via SSO for data theft and extortion,” Push explained.

“This has become the standard MO for attackers, in campaigns such as the Scattered Lapsus$ Hunters AITM phishing spree earlier this year, and their recent spate of device code phishing attacks.”

Weird choices

The researchers also said that while it makes sense to target Google accounts - TikTok was a “weird choice at first glance”. However, knowing how TikTok’s been historically abused, with great success, changed their perspective.

What they’re referring to is the fact that there are plenty of fake instruction videos on TikTok. They’re saying that there are countless AI-generated and otherwise manipulated clips on the platform, where users are explained to to “activate” Windows, or turn on “hidden”, “premium”, or bonus features for Spotify, CapCut, and other apps, tools, and services.

The descriptions of these fake instruction videos often come with download links, where victims think they’ll be getting these premium tools for free. However, what they’re actually getting are infostealers - Vidar, StealC, Aura Stealer, and many others, are powerful tools that can exfiltrate login credentials, cryptocurrency wallet data, cookies and session tokens, and much, much more.

One such video, Push Security says, has more than 500,000 views and more than 20,000 likes.

Another way of abusing TikTok is to promote fake campaigns through “influencers” and other popular individuals, such as Elon Musk, or Michael Saylor. These campaigns often invite people to register accounts on fraudulent cryptocurrency exchanges, or otherwise “invest” their money into scam projects.

Via BleepingComputer

It's hard to find anyone who doesn't believe that too much social media is a bad thing. Social media companies now urge you to take breaks, and even Apple's Tim Cook, whose ultra-popular iPhone hosts all these platforms' apps, wants people to look less at their phones and more at other human beings. Now, though, the courts have weighed in, and Meta and YouTube just lost a landmark case that could take casual concern and make it tangible in the form of fundamental changes to how we view and use social media.

On Wednesday, an LA Superior Court Jury ruled in favor of a 20-year-old plaintiff who claimed that Meta and YouTube were negligent and that their platforms caused her mental health issues. It's one of many such cases popping up around the US, and less than 24 hours earlier, Meta lost a case in New Mexico, which claimed that Meta's apps failed to protect users from online predators. Even though these cases are not connected in the courts, the pair of them may point to some rapidly changing attitudes toward social media and its use.

This LA case, which originally also included TikTok and Snap (they settled out of court) is more notable since, by not focusing on the content that might have led to harm but on how the systems are built (algorithms that keep you engaged, endless scrolls, notificatons to return), the case skirted around the US's long-standing Section 230 (part of the US 1996 Communications Decency Act) that essentially protects these platforms from the content that third-party individuals' post on them. So, unlike a publisher that might be liable for a story in their newspaper, YouTube is not directly liable for false and inflammatory remarks made in a YouTube video.

In this case, the content that might have influenced the plaintiff's body dysmorphia is immaterial. What matters is that Instagram and YouTube felt inescapable because of how they work.

Let's not be naive

Whether or not that's true (yes, the jury believes it is), what we should be able to agree on is that the algorithms in Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok are powerful, and personalized to even your most fleeting interests. They're not just measuring if you actively click on a like button. They can see time spent, where you paused, commented, and other metrics that tell them how you feel about that content. More positive signals will lead to you seeing more of that content, even if it's not good for you. Just last year, Instagram added a tool to let you curate your own algorithm.

If you have notifications on, these platforms will reach out and try to pull you back in. There's also the social construct around them. Our cultural language is now intertwined with social media; to be off of it is to be wildly out of touch. That's not something a teen feels they can afford to do.

One of the questions here, and I don't know that this case makes it clear, is if Meta and YouTube are being held negligent for not knowing what their systems were doing or if they willfully designed systems, as some reports have alleged, and algorithms that would keep us coming back and on platform as long as possible, serving you whatever content engaged you most and not discerning between healthy and unhealthy content.

Cases like this make me feel for the affected teens, and how they must've felt trapped by the content and their response to it. I know that Meta and YouTube argued that the harm this young woman felt was tied to her home life and not their platforms. I would guess that played a part.

The role parents play

Which leads me to think about parents and guardians. Before any of us understood the impact of these platforms, most of us threw up our hands and "let teens be teens." Social media wasn't for us, although now many adults are just as addicted to it as teens.

I've often counseled parents on how they can't leave their kids alone with phones, tablets, and social media. These tiny screens are doorways to a vast and unknowable world, often featuring content, ideas, and people they are not ready to handle.

Post-millennial teens (let's just call them 'digital natives') are often smarter than their parents about technology, running rings around their rules and creating fake Instagrams (Finstagrams) to hide what they were really doing on the platform: parents saw the main Instagram account, their friends saw their real lives in Finstagram.

It took more than a decade for Meta, YouTube, and others to admit that these platforms needed to offer parents some modicum of control.

They moved slowly at first, but in the last few years, Meta has become particularly aggressive, even applying AI to identify potential teens on the Instagram and then automatically shifting them into more limited access (yes, I've heard of adults who've been swept up in this automation, but then I have to ask, why does an AI think you're a teen? What are you doing on there?).

What's next

Meta is appealing in New Mexico and will surely appeal this case, as well. But a loss like this could be the beginning of a landslide where Meta, YouTube, TikTok, and others suffer more losses and have no choice but to rewrite algorithms (what if they have to insert content they know you'll dislike after every fifth post?), pause or limit auto scrolling for everyone, and remove everyone under 18 from these platforms.

That's also all unlikely but not impossible. It's hard to imagine these platforms emerging unscathed. The sentiment has changed. Action will be warranted.

At the same time, they cannot afford to lose their teen user bases. Meta and YouTube need these younger users because they will eventually become their adult customers with buying power. Most of Meta's revenue still comes from advertising, which is somewhat effective on kids and teens, but far more impactful for adults with money in their pockets.

Change is coming, but I can't conceive yet how it will manifest; I just know it's coming.

• Oracle's Ashburn data center went down, taking TikTok with it
• US users were experiencing issues posting content on the app
• This is Oracle's second TikTok blunder since it took partial ownership

After TikTok went down in the US for a number of users, Oracle has been identified as the cause yet again after being linked to another outage a month ago.

"An issue with an Oracle data center is impacting some parts of the TikTok U.S. user experience," a post on the official TikTok USDS JV X page reads, noting that some users have been experiencing lags when posting content.

Oracle also acknowledged the outage, attributing it to connection timeouts, errors and increased latency at its US East (Ashburn) region.

Oracle takes down parts of TikTok again

Looking at Oracle's status page, it looks like the "issue" was first identified at 1:24PM UTC on March 3. The Ashburn site was identified in a 5:24PM update, and the cause had been pinpointed by 12:44AM on March 4. The status page was returning regular 'monitoring' updates from 7:03AM.

The issue was marked as 'resolved' by 9:18AM on March 4 after around two hours of monitoring, but Oracle has not explicitly confirmed what the root cause was.

A separate January 26 issue was the result of severe winter weather, which caused a power outage.

For context, Oracle's ties to TikTok are far greater than just serving as its core cloud provider in the US. It makes up a group of investors that own 80% of the TikTok USDS Joint Venture after ByteDance was forced to divest its US operations in the interest of national security.

The US joint venture was launched in January 2026, barely weeks before it experienced its first Oracle-related outage.

Neither TikTok or Oracle has posted an update following the outage to confirm full restoration yet, but it's assumed that the data center's restoration has fixed issues on the user end.

Whenever I see a piece of weird new tech on social media, I immediately become obsessed with it. Just a few weeks ago, I wrote a feature on the kids’ sticker maker Stickerbox, saying I couldn't wait to get my hands on one. Thankfully, I didn’t have to wait long.

For those who haven’t seen Stickerbox, it’s a small $99 digital sticker maker from Hapiko that takes your voice prompts and uses generative AI to create a custom image you can print out, color in and stick wherever you want.

To say that Stickerbox lived up to my expectations is underplaying the experience – it unleashed my inner child. My biggest concern going into the hands-on was that the novelty would wear off after 10 minutes. Yet, 45 minutes and 40-something stickers later, I was still going, chuckling at every design it produced from my voice commands.

A fiddly setup, but worthwhile results

Before you can enjoy the fun, there’s the setup process, which wasn’t as straightforward as I’d imagined — but I got there in the end. Stickerbox works over a Wi-Fi connection and, much like how you’d set up one of the best smart speakers, you need to download the accompanying Stickerbox app, which will prompt you to scan the QR code on the device and follow the instructions.

After you’ve selected your Wi-Fi network and entered the password, you’ll need to enter the 6-digit code that pops up on the Stickerbox screen, and here’s where I ran into some issues. There were a few instances where the device would decide to update itself, resulting in it rebooting and taking me back to the QR screen at the start of the setup process. I also ran into glitches during the very last setup steps.

It could have been a case of weak Wi-Fi signal on my end, but based on my experience, it was a little challenging to get started. Even after I completed the setup, I had to reconnect the Stickerbox to my Wi-Fi each time I wanted to use it, though this issue resolved itself after a few uses. With the setup completed, it was time to get stuck in.

One tiny box, a million possibilities

Now that my Stickerbox was ready for action, I suddenly felt the pressures of creativity hit me. What do you say to a sticker maker that can produce pretty much anything? But once I got the ball rolling, I couldn’t stop.

This is first and foremost a kids’ toy, so there are content moderation filters in place to block inappropriate requests. With that in mind, a great way to start is by asking Stickerbox to create images of animals in comical situations. For example, I tried ‘a dolphin drinking coffee with a badger in a coffee shop’, and it produced just that. I then prompted ‘a suave turtle writing a novel’, and I was presented with yet another cute illustration — it even gave the turtle an adorable little bow-tie.

Animals will always make good prompts for your sticker creations, but what about places, people, and even text? Stickerbox can do it all.

As for locations, when you give it a place name, Stickerbox will create an image of that location including its most notable landmarks. Take a look at the cities below, can you guess which one’s which?

From famous places to famous faces, Stickerbox can interpret anything from historical figures to modern-day celebrities, although prompts for the latter don't always produce the most recognizable results. Ask it to print an image of someone from history, like Henry VIII, William Shakespeare, or Joan of Arc, and it pretty much nails it, but it's not so spot on with contemporary figures.

When it comes to singers, Stickerbox does better at generating an image if the subject has a distinct look, like David Bowie, Freddy Mercury, or Bob Marley. Other modern public figures, such as Taylor Swift, won’t be as accurate – Stickerbox will produce only a loose interpretation, but you can generally tell who it is – with notable exceptions; Barack Obama was scarily spot-on.

Overall, this is a pretty neat gadget that – thankfully, if you're looking to keep kids entertained – has enduring novelty. You can even say the same prompt multiple times, and it will generate slightly different images, so I can see why children and adults alike are loving it. As kids' toys go, it’s one of the most unique offerings out there right now. There’s definitely room for a dedicated adult version with some of the content moderation filters removed, too. I hope Hapiko is listening.

• TikTok took six days to fully restore services after an Oracle outage took parts of the app down
• Severe winter weather caused a power outage, and several knock-on effects
• This happened in the same month that TikTok's US ownership was complete

TikTok has confirmed its recent downtime was due to a power outage at one of its primary US data centers, operated by Oracle, which triggered knock-on effects for tens of thousands of servers.

The company outlined how a "major infrastructure issue" on January 26 caused "multiple bugs, slower load times, or timed-out requests," leading some creators' videos to show 0 views or likes.

Although the primary caused was identified and fixed pretty quickly, it took TikTok nearly a week to fully restore connections in some geographies.

TikTok outage caused by Oracle data center power issue

The company has since confirmed the power outage at Oracle's data center was caused by severe winter weather.

"The winter storm led to a power outage which caused network and storage issues at the site and impacted tens of thousands of servers that help keep TikTok running in the US," it noted.

"Over the weekend, an Oracle data center experienced a temporary weather-related power outage which impacted TikTok," Oracle spokesperson Michael Egbert said separately by email (via Reuters).

It's unclear which Oracle data center was impacted.

While full restoration was complete by Sunday, February 1, "significant progress" had been made one day after the incident was identified.

"We've made significant progress in recovering our US infrastructure with our U.S. data center partner," TikTok said on January 27, promising to deliver ongoing updates. The next update came five days later upon full restoration, triggering questions over the company's transparency and commitment to keeping customers informed.

The timing is also interesting – the US takeover was also complete in January, largely driven by Oracle data centers. TikTok USDS, an American consortium, now owns 80% of the company within the United States. ByteDance, the original owner, now only has a 20% share.

• TikTok appears to be censoring all anti-Trump and anti-ICE content, California Governor Gavin Newsom claims
• Newsom's press office received reports of TikTok suppressing content critical of Trump, and is launching an official review
• More users are reporting similar occurrences, which have risen since the recent US TikTok deal was finalized just days ago

TikTok has found itself in the middle of yet another controversy, and this time the platform is coming under fire for allegedly censoring content that’s critical of President Donald Trump, California Governor Gavin Newsom claims.

Newsom has been outspoken over TikTok’s possible violations after his office received “reports and independently confirmed instances” revealing TikTok has potentially been suppressing or reviewing anti-Trump and anti-ICE content, which comes just days after the platform finalized a new $14 billion deal that was backed by Trump.

The governor shared a post to X, saying “it’s time to investigate”, followed by a post from the Governor Newsom Press Office announcing he’s officially “launching a review of this conduct” and will be “calling on the California Department of Justice to determine whether it violates California law". What evidence does Newsom's office have that TikTok is allegedly censoring this anti-Trump content?

On Governor Newsom’s X account (see above), he reposted an image shared by the user @intelligentpawg showing a private TikTok DM message featuring the word ‘Epstein’ – which failed to send due to what TikTok says was a violation of community guidelines, the Newsom Press Office claims. Since this was shared online, more users have come forward reporting similar occurrences, like the Reddit user below.

We’re being censored from r/TikTok

Although the White House and TikTok have yet to issue a statement about the possible rise of censorship, the outlet Politico spotted an X post from the TikTok USDS Joint Venture account drawing attention to recent in-app bugs. According to the statement, TikTok has been experiencing “major infrastructure issues” as a result of a data center power outage.

Though this has been fixed, TikTok says that users are still likely to run into temporary issues such as slower loading times, and even seeing 0 likes and views on certain videos – but many aren’t convinced by this.

“I’m done with the app”

TikTok can blame bugs and outages all it wants, and although Newsom's claims have yet to be proven correct, TikTok is failing to convince frustrated users otherwise. And given the people behind the latest deal that’s extended TikTok’s US lifespan once again, some are finding it hard to pin their censorship suspicions on bugs.

Comment from r/TikTok

The biggest and most influential name behind the $14 billion deal is Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, who, aside from being a billionaire, is a long-time supporter of Trump. This alone raised a lot of eyebrows, and now the apparent rise of anti-Trump censorship is being pinned on TikTok’s new investors. It's worth remembering, though, that this isn’t the first time Ellison has contributed to a major social media investment.

In 2022, when Elon Musk bought what is now known as X, Ellison contributed a generous amount of funding to ensure Musk’s acquisition would go through. Since then, Ellison’s son has even dipped his toe into the media waters, acquiring Paramount Global and its subsidiaries, including Paramount+, Comedy Central, and the CBS Network.

• French MPs voted to pass a social media ban for minors into law
• It isn't law yet; it must first pass through France's Senate
• Once enacted, under-15s would no longer be able to access social platforms

French MPs just voted 116-23 in favor of a social media ban aimed at minors – in what is being heralded as a “major step” towards protecting kids and teenagers online.

As you can imagine, not everyone is happy with the proposed rules.

The bill hasn’t been passed into law yet – France’s Senate must also approve it, and some wonder if it will be blocked under European law after a similar bill was stopped in 2023 – but it follows in the footsteps of similar rules we’ve been seeing in Australia, the United Kingdom, and some US states.

Speaking in a video broadcast about the bill, French President Emmanuel Macron said, “The emotions of our children and teenagers are not for sale or to be manipulated, either by American platforms or Chinese algorithms” – clear references to the likes of Instagram, X, and TikTok.

Once introduced, these and other social media services will need to verify the age of French users or bar them from accessing content. Given that some kind of age verification system may be coming at the European level, France will probably be just the first EU nation to impose such a ban – case in point, Ireland, Spain, and Denmark are also considering such rules.

While many parents, lawmakers, and even some children have reacted positively, others have had fewer kind words to share.

Scrolling through (ironically) social media, you’ll find plenty of comments calling this “legislative overreach.” While others are concerned about needing to share their IDs online – especially following various data leaks involving IDs from countries that have imposed similar rules (such as a Discord breach which saw hackers steal thousands of government-ID photos)

The better of two evils

You don’t have to look far to find reports showing the harmful effects of social media on mental health – some of which come from the companies themselves. Nor to find examples of the ways platforms could be used and abused by users and their own creators – such as the recent example of Grok being used to create explicit images of women and children, or whistleblower claims that Meta platforms can target users with ads based on their emotional state (something Meta has denied doing, but did admit to researching across a series of statements back in 2017).

At the same time, I know how valuable social media can be. YouTube and TikTok can be incredible educational platforms, social media can provide access to invaluable news sources, create spaces for people to organize action around an important cause they care about, or simply give people the chance to find a crowd they can fit in with that they might not be able to find locally.

But does this good outweigh the evils?

Honestly, I’m not sure. If asked to choose one extreme or the other, I’m in favor of a ban – in part because widespread bans could be what forces platforms to finally clean up their act.

I’d still prefer a more nuanced approach.

Something which involves identity verification that’s secure and private to check age and that someone is a human, which addresses the issues plaguing social media that go beyond those simply affecting minors to those affecting users of all ages too, and that gives parents the ability to make decisions for their child (choosing to allow access to certain platforms when they believe their kid is ready).

Though that might be too much to ask of politicians who aren’t as internet savvy as they should be. Maybe as we see more bans over the coming year, they’ll prove me wrong and find an approach that works for everyone.

• US TikTok users are reportedly uninstalling the app at a far higher rate than usual
• This seems to mostly be down to concerns about the privacy policy
• Three lesser known apps are surging in popularity as a result

TikTok has had a troubled time recently in the US, with ByteDance (the original company behind it) having to sell a controlling share of the US version to an American-owned venture.

That deal has allowed it to continue operating in the US, albeit with a new algorithm. But it’s seemingly not the end of TikTok’s problems, as according to Sensor Tower – a market intelligence firm – in a comment to CNBC, the daily average of US users deleting TikTok has increased nearly 150% over the past five days relative to the last three months.

There are likely multiple reasons for this, but a lot of it appears to come down to the new privacy policy, which states that TikTok might collect data including “your racial or ethnic origin”, and your “sexual life or sexual orientation, status as transgender or nonbinary, citizenship or immigration status, or financial information.”

As CNBC notes, this language isn’t actually new, so it’s unclear whether people are only noticing it now or whether they’re more concerned by it now that this data will be in the hands of a US company.

But either way, users are understandably vocally opposed to this data being collected, with for example creator Dre Ronayne posting on Threads that they “just deleted TikTok with nearly 400k followers, good riddance”, and following it up with “if I can delete my biggest platform because their terms of agreement and censorship have gotten out of control, so can you!”

Troublesome tech and rising rivals

That privacy policy may not be the only issue though, as this new version of TikTok is also reportedly dealing with bugs and a lack of clarity on what the changes to the platform will mean for creators.

If you’re among those feeling disillusioned though, there are alternative apps you could turn to, and in fact three rivals have seen major gains as users seemingly leave TikTok in droves.

The biggest winner is UpScrolled, which according to Sensor Tower has seen a more than tenfold increase in US downloads this week, and with the makers posting on X that it's now the third most popular social media app in the US. Skylight Social meanwhile has risen by a similarly impressive 919%, and Rednote by 53%.

So these seem to be three of the main apps that ex-TikTok users are flocking to – though of course it’s likely that big names like Instagram are also benefitting.

Of those three lesser known apps, UpScrolled and Skylight Social in particular seem to have more agreeable privacy policies, of the kind that don’t mention capturing seemingly unnecessary private data. Rednote seems to collect more, but doesn’t appear to make mention of TikTok’s more troubling things like immigration status.

Despite these tempting alternatives we doubt this is the end for TikTok – its user base is surely still enormous, and the technical issues it’s facing will likely be ironed out. But it’s less clear whether changes will be made to the privacy policy, so if you don’t like what you’re reading, consider giving one of the options above a try instead.

• TikTok has faced app issues for U.S. users since January 25
• The problems followed TikTok’s U.S. spinoff into a new joint venture
• TikTok says a U.S. data center power outage is to blame

While the official spinoff of TikTok’s U.S. operations into the TikTok USDS Joint Venture closed last week, things in the first few days under this new ownership have been less than perfect. Mainly, the platform has been disrupted since yesterday, January 25, 2026, resulting in the app not functioning properly for many users.

I’ve experienced the feed displaying older videos, pausing in the middle of content, sound not syncing, and even videos not fully uploading. I’ve heard similar tales from friends who use TikTok – one who saw a video post that wasn’t visible to other users – and Down Detector shows a spike that started early on the morning of January 25, 2026.

It could be that, after the TikTok USDS Joint Venture was formalized, it’s experiencing growing pains as this new entity takes control of the algorithm and moves operations to new data centers. Remember, in the middle of last week, after the deal was announced, new terms and conditions were rolled out to TikTok users in the United States.

The TikTok USDS Joint Venture’s X (formerly Twitter) account posted earlier today, January 26, to address the issues. “Since yesterday, we’ve been working to restore our services following a power outage at a U.S. data center impacting TikTok and other apps we operate,” noting that the issues folks have been experiencing were due to a power outage at a data center in the United States. These issues also correlate with a spike in reports for CapCut, the editing app owned by ByteDance – TikTok’s parent company and still a partial owner of the TikTok USDS Joint Venture.

The post ends with, “We’re working with our data center partner to stabilize our service. We’re sorry for this disruption and hope to resolve it soon.” This was posted at 10:21 a.m. ET on January 26, 2026, and as of this publishing, there are still over 1,000 reports of issues with TikTok. That’s more than an average day but less than the nearly 8,000 reported last evening.

Hopefully, TikTok US will be able to share a bit more about what’s going on in the hours or days after this is fully resolved, but it’s been a tough start for the platform so far. If you’re still having issues with your FYP feed, uploading videos, loading comments, or just using the app in general, let us know in the comments below.

The timing of these functional issues also coincides with increased scrutiny of the new terms and conditions – specifically around how the app will collect location data and use user data for AI training – as well as the platform’s updated content moderation policies.

At a minimum, let’s hope that the TikTok USDS Joint Venture can get these issues related to “a power outage at a data center in the United States” fixed soon, so we can all get back to scrolling on the app.

• TikTok has finalized a deal to keep operating in the US
• Original owner ByteDance retains a 19.9% share
• The TikTok algorithm will be retrained for users in the US

It's been a long time coming, but TikTok has now officially completed the process of spinning off its US operations, which means the video-based social media app will continue to remain accessible to hundreds of millions of users in the United States.

Reports last month suggested a deal might be done in January, and now here we are. Chinese TikTok owner ByteDance has a minority 19.9% share in the new American-owned venture that controls US TikTok, with other investment coming from companies including Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX.

In a press release, TikTok said the deal will enable "more than 200 million Americans and 7.5 million businesses to continue to discover, create, and thrive as part of TikTok's vibrant global community and experience".

Here are five things to know about the US TikTok deal, now that it's finalized.

1. This was signed into law in 2024

You'd be forgiven for having forgotten how we got here. For years now, US authorities have been worried about the security and privacy implications associated with having such a successful and widely used Chinese-owned app operating in the US, and under President Biden, a law was signed to force ByteDance to get out of the US or hand over some control.

The main claim leveled at ByteDance – which has been strongly denied – is that it's collecting and storing a whole host of data on American citizens, in partnership with the Chinese government. The same sort of security concerns have led to devices from DJI – another Chinese company – being banned in the US.

2. TikTok US will use a different algorithm

One of the changes that TikTok users in the United States are now going to see is a different, or at least retrained algorithm: this will be controlled and secured by Oracle using its cloud technology, and protected by the privacy laws of the US. The new algorithm will be trained on US data, according to the agreement.

It's difficult to say exactly how the typical TikTok feed in the US might change as a result, but we know that the quality of the recommendation algorithm is a key part of TikTok's success. "One thing's certain: TikTok in America won't be the same," Forrester analyst Kelsey Chickering told the BBC after the news was announced.

3. TikTok content won't be geo-fenced

While the US TikTok algorithm and user data will be locked away by Oracle in the United States, the content that users see in their feeds isn't going to be geo-fenced: if you're in the US, you're still going to see videos from all across the world, and if you're outside of the US, you'll still be able to see content made by creators in America.

That's good news for content creators and advertisers, but it also means there's going to be a lot of uncertainty about reach. With the algorithm changes, it may be that going viral – and getting all the benefits that go along with it – is more difficult than it was before, but we're going to have to wait and see how this plays out over the coming months and years.

4. Data security is a crucial part of the deal

As you would expect, considering what drove this deal to happen, much is being made of the data security protections that now apply to TikTok's US operations. The new consortium of companies says "comprehensive data privacy and cybersecurity measures" will be put in place, and these measures will be audited by third-party security experts.

That doesn't mean that TikTok users in the US aren't going to be tracked and targeted by advertising, though – look at the operations of US companies like Facebook and Google, for example. Again, this is something that will become clearer over time in terms of the details, but it's one of the key controls that ByteDance has given up.

5. This isn't just about TikTok

This new TikTok deal comes in the context of ongoing tensions between the US and China. The White House has been slapping hefty tariffs on goods being imported into the United States, and relationships between the two countries aren't the most cordial at the moment, which is something that this agreement over TikTok might ultimately help with.

President Trump is expected to visit China at some point during 2026, at which point we may well hear more about TikTok and how the two countries can work together. Even if an addictive video-sharing app isn't top of the priority list when it comes to global deals and diplomacy, a ban for TikTok in the US has now been officially avoided.

• TikTok’s US sale could close on January 22, 2026
• A new US-led joint venture would take control of operations
• ByteDance would hold a minority stake

TikTok’s fate in the United States has been in flux since Congress passed a law compelling its sale to U.S. owners, and after several deadline extensions by Trump’s White House, the long-awaited deal may finally be in motion.

According to reports from CNBC and Axios, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew confirmed that in a deal set to close on January 22, 2026, TikTok in the US will be a part of a new joint venture dubbed ‘TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC.’ Oracle, Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi-based MGX will be the three main partners, among other new investors, but it will be shared with China-based ByteDance – the original owner of TikTok – which will still retain a percentage.

This is a big change for TikTok, which has had a tumultuous year in the United States. That kicked off with a ban and then the Trump Administration offering a few extensions and a promise of US ownership on the horizon – not full, but at least 80% ownership in the US. That will effectively keep TikTok available, but it will change the app's experience, as the algorithm likely won’t remain intact.

In the memo, which was seen by CNBC, it’s reported that Shou Zi Chew wrote that the venture will be “majority owned by American investors, governed by a new seven-member majority-American board of directors, and subject to terms that protect Americans’ data and U.S. national security.”

A large portion of this venture is focused on US operations, and a key tenet would be solving – or at least alleviating – national security concerns in the United States, which were the original reason behind the proposed ban and led us down this path.

The joint venture will be charged with protecting US data on the app, including the all-important algorithm, which powers the ‘For You’ feed and what each user sees in the app, as well as content moderation. Axios, which has seen the memo, reports that it reads, “retraining the content recommendation algorithm on U.S. user data to ensure the content feed is free from outside manipulation."

TikTok’s global aspects won’t be entirely going away, though. ByteDance, TikTok’s current parent company, will still retain a percentage of ownership over the ‘TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC’ and will also ensure that US TikTok works with the other versions of the app.

It remains to be seen whether this deal officially closes, but also what this truly means for TikTok and how it might change the experience for the countless users in the United States. TechRadar has reached out to TikTok for further comment on the reports and for details on this sale.

As a reminder, the last major update came in September 2025, when the White House said it had worked through a deal with China to sell TikTok’s US operations to a new venture and a US group. In 2020, the first Trump Administration issued an executive order mandating a sale, which initiated this years-long process.

It seems, though, that TikTok’s US operations may soon shift from China-based ByteDance to a new US-operated venture — a change that could take effect on January 22, 2026.

• TikTok videos trick users into running malicious commands disguised as software activators
• Aura Stealer malware steals passwords, cookies, and crypto wallet data from infected systems
• Avoid suspicious links, use official software, and keep security tools fully updated

The dreaded ClickFix malware attacks are now targeting TikTok users, tricking them into installing infostealers and losing sensitive files, access to accounts, and possibly even money.

Security researchers, including Trend Micro, Xavier Mertens and others have all reported seeing multiple TikTok videos offering instructions on how to “activate” popular software such as Windows, Microsoft 365, Adobe Premiere, and others. In some cases, the videos are instructing viewers on activating product packs that don’t even exist, such as on Netflix or Spotify.

The “activation” is the usual ClickFix trick - users are instructed to copy and paste a command in Windows Run which, in reality, is a malicious PowerShell command that deploys and runs Aura Stealer.

How to stay safe

Aura Stealer is an infostealer malware that grabs passwords stored in browsers, authentication cookies, cryptocurrency wallet data, and credentials from other applications. Xavier Mertens also added the ClickFix code also downloads an additional piece of malware, whose purpose is currently not clear.

As a scam technique, ClickFix has been around for decades. It works by tricking people into thinking they have a problem with their computer and then offering a quick and easy solution.

It started with browser pop-ups, back in the early 2000’s, when the scam revolved around fake virus notifications. In more recent times, ClickFix evolved, and now tricks people with fake “locked” documents, exclusive offers, software activators, and similar.

To stay safe, be skeptical of random links or buttons in emails or websites, especially those who ask you for urgent fixes or updates. Always visit official websites and use legitimate software. Furthermore, make sure your browser, operating system, and security software is up to date, and use a reliable ad blocker (if possible).

Finally, be cautious when giving permissions to websites or apps - If something feels suspicious or too convenient, close the page and verify it first.

Via BleepingComputer

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The White House has yet to deliver full details of the deal that will bring at least 80% of TikTok ownership into the US, but there is one bit that, if it comes to pass, could fundamentally change your TikTok experience: a retrained, rebuilt, and redistributed algorithm.

I've been on TikTok since 2019, and one thing I've long marveled at is the quality of the algorithm. It's the kind of programming that's so good you barely notice it; it just silently curates your TikTok experiences based on untold signals, including how long you spent on a post, previous posts you've viewed, what you favorite, what you share, what you've quickly dismissed, and far more.

It's one of the few algorithms that is almost instantly customizable. Want to see more restoration or parrot TikTok in your feed? Just find one DIY or parrot content and watch all of them, like them, and you will quickly be fed another with similar content, if not in the next TikTok, then within the next five.

The US White House said this week that Oracle, which will invest in the US version, will also be the keeper of the US TikTok data. That's actually not an update. Nor is the lack of access to US data by ByteDance's Chinese counterparts.

The true size of this agreement

When TikTok launched Project Texas three years ago (and in response to growing US security concerns), it launched a subsidiary called "TikTok US Data Security (USDS)"

It was overseen by an independent board of directors and led by security experts Andy Bonillo and Will Farrell. Together, these groups assumed control of all US Data, which was shifted from servers outside the US to Oracle's cloud services.

At the time, TikTok promised that even though the US data would be ringfenced in the US and inaccessible to Chinese-based ByteDance employees, "U.S. users of the TikTok platform can still communicate and interact with global users for a cohesive global experience."

Again, if this all sounds familiar, it's because it mirrors much of what the White House says it will sign as an agreement later this week.

The two primary changes, then, and they are significant, are the ownership, which will shift from ByteDance to a consortium of US companies and investors, as well as the algorithm rewrite.

It's that last bit that has me concerned. The White House has yet to name a company or group tasked with rewriting the TikTok algorithm. With its handpicking of the board of directors and the US government's deep involvement in the process and oversight, we have no assurance that the US Government will not force someone to write an algorithm that suppresses certain kinds of content and voices.

At a more prosaic level, we have no idea if anyone in the US is capable of rewriting the TikTok algorithm so that the experience remains the same.

A new TikTok app?

There have also been discussions that the TikTok app will be relaunched (perhaps rewritten) as a new app. Put another way, we may all have to delete ByteDance's TikTok app and install the new US-approved one, again, without assurances that it will operate in the same way and still include the freedom of expression the app has enjoyed for almost a decade.

Interestingly, the White House has not mentioned any of Byte Dance's other apps, like CapCut, which many TikTokers use to edit and upload videos. Or Lemon8, a social media app. Will those also be rewritten and rereleased, or will they simply disappear?

Aside from questions about the algorithm and future TikTok experience, there is the most basic one: Is China agreeing to any of this? ByteDance and China have yet to publicly acknowledge the details of the agreement. According to Reuters, this is China's official stance:

"China's position on TikTok is clear: The Chinese government respects the wishes of the enterprise, and welcomes it to carry out commercial negotiations in accordance with market rules to reach a solution compliant with China's laws and regulations, and strikes a balance of interests."

That does not sound like agreement. "China's laws and regulations" when it comes to business are wildly different than those in the US. It maintains access to businesses run within China, but has carved out this special space for TikTok, wherein it's being run as a separate US entity. All indications are that China believes it's done enough (I've long contended that having such a successful business in the US – 170M users, 5M small businesses – is a point of pride for the Chinese government). But Trump's White House insists a deal is about to be signed.

I'll believe it when the ink's dry. After that, I don't think we can count on the new TikTok experience being just like the old one. Whatever that may mean.

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• Trump says TikTok deal “puts America first”
• Oracle will be responsible for data management in the US
• Larry Ellison, Michael Dell and Lachlan Murdoch could all be involved

President Trump has claimed he and Chinese President Xi Jinping had “approved the TikTok deal” following months of negotiations, with several heavyweight American investors would be at the forefront of the US-China deal.

Speaking with Fox News following Trump’s declaration, US Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed: “We are 100% confident that a deal is done… A deal that puts America first.”

Leavitt acknowledged the importance of the platform, noting the nation’s small businesses had benefitted from TikTok’s ecommerce opportunities, hence the importance that a deal be struck up.

America has reached a TikTok deal, finally

Although details of the deal remain under wraps as the two nations finalize details and sign agreements, Leavitt did confirm that Oracle will be responsible for the platform’s data in the US.

American investors are also said to be integral to the deal, with Trump indicating the likes of Oracle’s Larry Ellison and Dell’s Michael Dell could both be involved.

Trump also alluded to the potential involvement of Lachlan Murdoch, who has huge influence over much of the world’s media including Nova Entertainment, News Corp and Fox Corporation.

The deal ensures TikTok’s US entity will be majority US-owned, with six of the seven board seats held by US citizens. It would also comply with US laws requiring TikTok to be sold to a US buyer amid security concerns.

This comes after lawmakers and intelligence agencies worried that TikTok could allow the Chinese government to access US user data, and that China could influence what content Americans see via algorithmic manipulation. Leavitt confirmed the US would retain control over UT users’ algorithms.

The White House has not yet confirmed the closure of the deal, but we expect to hear details very soon.

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• TikTok to be saved in the US as Trump confirms a deal with China ahead of upcoming ban

• US and Chinese officials confirm they have reached an ownership agreement over TikTok
• The deadline for TikTok to divest or be banned in the US was set to expire on Wednesday, September 17
• US President Donald Trump is expected to meet with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, on Friday, September 19

US and Chinese officials confirmed they have finally reached an agreement over TikTok's ownership.

The move is set to bring an end to the US TikTok ban saga after about nine months of debate.

The popular Chinese video-sharing platforms went dark for about 24 hours on January 19, 2025, provoking a spike in usage of the best VPN services.

The Trump administration would then extend the deadline for TikTok to divest or be banned in the US three times, with the latest extension set to expire on Wednesday, September 17.

The push for banning TikTok stems from national security concerns. Especially, critics have argued that Beijing could access American users' data while using the platform to push Chinese propaganda.

The details of the deal are yet to be made public, but US President Donald Trump is expected to meet with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, on Friday, September 19.

US-China TikTok deal - what we know

TikTok's ownership agreement was set during a trade meeting in Madrid on Monday (September 15) and confirmed by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent – the BBC reported.

US President Trump also confirmed that the meeting went "very well" on his official Truth Social account.

"A deal was also reached on a 'certain' company that young people in our Country very much wanted to save. They will be very happy! I will be speaking to President Xi on Friday," he also wrote.

While what the final deal will look like is still unclear, CBS News reported that the US tech company Oracle "could play a key role if a TikTok deal is finalized between the Trump administration and China."

It still remains to be seen the extent to which TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, is ready to give up and what this would mean to the data security of American users.

The prospect of a U-turn on the ban is, however, a welcome development for the over 170 million individuals and businesses actively using the platform in the US.

As we pointed out before, banning TikTok (or any other platform for that matter) could bring more harm than good by negatively impacting people's digital rights, like free speech and access to information, while setting a legal precedent for more countries to follow.

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• China opens two investigations into U.S. chip policies and alleged dumping practices
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• Trade talks in Madrid expected to address tariffs, export curbs, and TikTok deadline

China has opened two investigations into U.S. chip trade practices, Reuters reports.

According to the Ministry of Commerce, the first inquiry will focus on whether Chinese firms have faced unfair treatment under Washington’s chip policies.

The second investigation concerns claims that some U.S. analog chips, including those found in hearing aids, and Wi-Fi routers, are being dumped into the Chinese market.

Protectionist practices

Officials say the United States has imposed multiple restrictions on China’s access to advanced technology in recent years, ranging from export limits to targeted trade reviews.

The ministry describes these as “protectionist practices” that “are suspected of discriminating against China and are intended to curb and suppress China’s development of high-tech industries such as advanced computing chips and artificial intelligence.”

The U.S. has introduced and tightened a series of restrictions on the export of advanced AI chips to China, including high-end Nvidia processors used for training large AI models.

The American government claims the action is necessary to prevent Chinese firms from getting their hands on technology that could enhance China’s military capabilities.

The measures, first introduced in 2022 and expanded in the years since, block sales of Nvidia’s A100 and H100 chips as well modified versions made for the Chinese market.

U.S. officials argue the controls are necessary for national security, while Beijing says they unfairly target Chinese companies and disrupt global supply chains.

Reuters reports that Beijing is sending a delegation to Madrid for trade talks with U.S. officials, with the agenda set to cover tariffs, export controls, and the future of TikTok, which is facing a September 17 deadline to divest its U.S. operations.

“What is the U.S.’s intention in imposing sanctions on Chinese companies at this time?” the ministry asked in a statement.

“China urges the U.S. to immediately correct its erroneous practices and cease its unwarranted suppression of Chinese companies. China will take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies.”

The ministry’s comments follow Washington’s move to expand its restricted trade list by 32 entities, including 23 from China.

Among them, Reuters says, are two companies accused of sourcing chipmaking tools for SMIC, China’s largest contract chip producer.

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Nepal is just the latest in a long list of countries shutting down access to social media platforms during times of political instability – and at least the 8th nation to do so in 2025 so far.

Authorities in Nepal began enforcing a ban on all major social media apps and websites starting from Thursday, September 4. 26 social media platforms were impacted, including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X. The government justified the ban by saying that these companies failed to comply with local registration rules – TechCrunch reported – as well as the ban serving as a way of tackling fake news, hate speech, and online fraud, according to the BBC.

However, the ban would then be lifted on Tuesday, September 9, and, as when similar incidents have occurred elsewhere, Nepalese citizens have turned en masse to the best VPN services to stay connected.

One of the most secure and reliable free VPN apps on the market, Proton VPN recorded spikes in usage of over 8,000% across the country starting from Thursday.

A company spokesperson told TechRadar that, at the time of writing, Proton VPN usage still remains above baseline in Nepal, despite the rate of downloads starting to decrease as the ban was loosened.

How a VPN can help?

A virtual private network (VPN) encrypts all users' internet connections, while masking their IP address for extra privacy and security.

The latter skill is exactly what's needed to be able to bypass otherwise geo-blocked content online, such as a censored website, like in the case of Nepal.

All that's needed is connecting to a VPN server based outside of Nepal (and any other country enforcing similar restrictions) to trick the local internet service provider (ISP) into granting access to censored sites.

Social media bans – a quick 2025 overview

Nepal is the 8th example in 2025 so far of a government opting to restrict social media access as political tensions grow across the country, impacting people's right to free speech and access to information.

Only this week, Turkey enforced a 24-hour blockade on all major social media apps on Monday, September 8, throttling access to X, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and WhatsApp. That was at least the second time it happened this year, with a similar ban occurring in March.

Proton VPN downloads also skyrocketed in Indonesia at the end of August, with spikes of "+1300% overnight amid reports of social media blocks during anti-government protests," wrote Proton VPN's General Manager, David Peterson, on a post on X.

Social media restrictions also occurred in 2025 across Kenya, Tanzania, Togo, DR Congo, and Venezuela. The latter country even targeted VPN usage by blocking over 20 VPN websites.

In 2024, Proton recorded spikes in VPN usage across 119 countries during times of political crisis, over what experts at Access Now described as "the worst year on record for internet freedoms," yet again.

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• Turkey blocked access to all main social media platforms for about 24 hours since the evening of Sunday, September 7, 2025
• X, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and WhatsApp have all been impacted, according to an internet watchdog
• Proton VPN has recorded a spike of over 500% on an hourly basis on the night of Sunday

Update: Access to social media was restored on September 8, 2025, after publication. We made some edits to the copy to reflect this.

Turkey has enforced a 24-hour blockage to prevent access to all main social media platforms as political tensions grew in the country.

X, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and WhatsApp all went dark on multiple networks starting from the evening of Sunday, September 7, 2025, as recorded by internet watchdog NetBlocks. "The incident comes as the main opposition party CHP [Republican People’s Party] calls for rallies after police blockade its Istanbul headquarters," explained NetBlocks.

Isik Mater, Director of Research at NetBlocks, confirmed to Techradar that the situation remained unchanged in the afternoon of Monday, September 8, "with networks in Istanbul specifically targeted," she added. Restrictions would then be lifted a few hours later – precisely "a day after broad restrictions were imposed," NetBlocks reported.

Citizens have not wasted time, immediately turning to the best VPN apps to retain access to blocked social media platforms. Proton VPN, for example, recorded a spike in signups of more than 500% on an hourly basis on the night of Sunday.

Talking to TechRadar, a Proton spokesperson suggests enabling its Stealth protocol and the alternative routing option for a better chance of evading social media blocks. "It may require a few extra steps and a few tries, but this is the optimal way to connect in these circumstances."

Proton also recommends downloading its virtual private network (VPN) app only via the official app store. On desktop, users can do so via Proton's GiftHub page in case its official website is also blocked.

Not the first time

This is far from the first time Proton VPN, currently ranked as one of the best free VPN services on the market, has recorded similar spikes in usage in Turkey as citizens attempt to navigate online disruptions.

In March, the provider registered a spike of +1100% as the government shut down all main social media platforms for 42 hours.

Before that, in 2024, Proton VPN signups skyrocketed by 1,400% in October and 4,500% in August amid similar blocks on social media services.

Citizens increasingly turned to Proton VPN in 2023, too. The company recorded a staggering 15,000% increase in February after Twitter was blocked following a deadly earthquake and a 2,100% spike in May as citizens prepared for potential blocks ahead of the presidential elections.

All this means, Proton explains, that many internet users in Turkey have already downloaded Proton VPN over the years. Therefore, "the increases are typically smaller than in other regions," a Proton VPN spokesperson told TechRadar.

Some people may have turned to other VPN services, too. Surfshark, for example, also confirmed to TechRadar an increase in VPN usage starting from Sunday night.

These spikes have occurred despite both Proton VPN and Surfshark being among the 27 VPN providers restricted in Turkey, alongside NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and others. Specifically, their official websites are blocked in the country.

All in all, according to Surfshark's data, this newest case marks Turkey’s 18th internet restriction since 2015, affecting X, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and WhatsApp.

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I’ll be honest: I turn to my TikTok For You Page (FYP) for every possible reason you can think of. If I’m sad, FYP. Happy? FYP. Trying to extract myself from a conversation I don’t want to be a part of? You already know the answer. So, why have I never thought about letting my tailored algorithm decide exactly what I should watch on the best streaming services in the world? I’ll do (almost) anything for my beloved readers, so I conducted a week-long experiment to see exactly what the app wanted me to watch.

Let’s set the scene. I’m working with active streaming subscriptions for Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+ and Apple TV+. I’m not opposed to getting another or finding the best streaming deals to add to the pile, but if one of the new movies or TV shows can be on what I’ve already splashed out on, even better. I’m open to all genres here, the only rule is that I can’t have seen it recently, or at all. As someone who is currently stuck in a never-ending cycle of only watching The Simpsons reruns, some change is needed.

I’ve chosen one new movie or TV show for each weekend, and boy were the results a wild ride. I’ve listened to stories from forgotten pasts, learned that being high-maintenance is something you’ve gotta be, and seen a girl with a butthole for a mouth (I’ll explain this a little later on). I’m left bamboozled, exhilarated, and of the genuine belief that TikTok should be held responsible for what we watch more often.

Fried Green Tomatoes

Release date: 1991
Cast: Kathy Bates, Jessica Tandy, Mary Stuart Masterson, Mary-Louise Parker
Available on: Buy/rent on Prime Video (US), ITVX (UK), SBS (AU)

Watching a brief clip of Kathy Bates serving her ungrateful husband a delicious meal only to be completely ignored reminded me that this isn’t the first time that TikTok has recommended Fried Green Tomatoes to me. We all know how good the platform is at cutting up scenes and re-describing them as if it’s the cultural equivalent of Chrisopher Columbus, and somehow Bates’ face is frequently used in them. I can’t believe this is a Bates blind spot for me, but even though the movie is adapted from the awkwardly named novel Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, I was incredibly surprised that it has such a dark undertone.

For every twee and life-affirming moment in Fried Green Tomatoes, it’s offset by something from the nefarious underbelly of Whistle Stop town. It’s not too much of a spoiler to tell you someone meets their maker by being cooked into a pie after they’d kicked the bucket, with Cicely Tyson’s Sipsey fending off an attack by the Ku Klux Klan single-handedly. Kids die in tragic accidents, adults succumb to painful deaths. Surprising, right? You’ll be left as shaken as you are stirred after watching this 1990s movie. Indeed, it goes far beyond the scene where Bates gleefully rams her car into that of a stranger’s after they insult her. Shoutout to Mary Stuart Masterson playing the most 1990s looking closeted lesbian (Idgie) trying to convincingly pass for a genuine 1920s period drama character.

Kath & Kim

Release date: 2002
Cast: Gina Riley, Jane Turner, Magda Szubanski, Glen Robbins, Peter Rowsthorn
Available on: Netflix (US, UK, AU)

This is another title I’m ashamed to admit that I’ve never seen in full, especially because I’m so well versed in Kath & Kim’s best moment compilations on TikTok that I think I’ve got my “yes I am high maintenance, but I think you’ve gotta be” impression down pat. This week, the series is saying look at moi, ploise, and I have to indulge. Frankly, I can’t believe the Australian sitcom only had four seasons, though I think Netflix is almost solely responsible for giving it a second lease of life two decades on. After bingeing it, the Kath & Kim renaissance is truly deserved.

The dysfunctional mother-daughter duo are Aussie to their roots, and their very specific sense of humor is exactly what translates so well. Their scathing back-and-forths are next level, its silliness never takes anything too seriously and the more you watch, the more you pick up on the carefully placed jokes that you missed the first time around. To top it all off, they’ve got a stonking list of celebrities to cameo, hitting its peak Australian stride by having Kylie Minogue in a Neighbours-style 1980s wedding dress. Kath & Kim is truly a lesson that being yourself is the best way to win people over, even if you have the most ridiculous garbage leaving your mouth on the daily.

Hightown

Release date: 2020
Cast: Monica Raymund, Atkins Estimond, Riley Voelkel, James Badge Dale
Available on: Netflix (US), NOW TV (UK), Stan (AU)

Interestingly, TikTok sold me Hightown as the ideal TV show to watch after The Hunting Wives, even though it’s billed as a crime-thriller and not Brittany Snow snogging random hot women with husbands. Jackie (Raymund) is an alcoholic federal officer, whose life changes for good when she finds a body washed up on the beach. It’s the catalyst for realizing how much her addiction has affected her life, starting on the long path to sobriety. I thought I had crime drama fatigue, much like superhero nerds feel about Marvel, but the slick pacing and vulnerable look at addiction in law enforcement won me over.

It’s clear to see why people are comparing the two Netflix shows (well, for subscribers in the US at least) when they’re both incredibly explicit. They’ve also both been created by the same showrunner (Rebecca Cutter), so the intense spirals almost mirror each other. There’s completely different perspectives, though, and Hightown is undoubtedly darker than the ludicrous scenes we see in The Hunting Wives. I’m not surprised that Hightown is now going to see a resurgence in popularity on the streamer… it’s unhinged chaos you just have to roll with.

Skins

Release date: 2017
Cast: Macarena Gómez, Ana Polvorosa, Carolina Bang, Jon Kortajarena
Available on: Netflix (US, UK, AU)

There was always going to be one FYP recommendation that disturbed me more than it should have, and sadly, I’m not talking about the 2007 British drama about teens in England here. Originally titled Pieles in its native Spanish, Skins is a movie telling the story of a group of people shunned by society for their extreme physical deformities, chasing love and acceptance as they try to assimilate. I don’t mean a film like The Elephant Man when I say this though, as Skins is neither that tame nor profound. Instead, I mean people like a young girl with a butthole for a mouth, having to eat through her actual mouth… which is in her butt.

I can feel my editorial standards slipping as I write this. When I envisaged myself in this role, in this industry, writing about butthole people wasn’t something I ever aspired to. What does this mean about who I am, if this is what my algorithm is recommending? What’s even worse is the fact that I felt completely desensitized to Skins, as I’ve honestly seen a lot worse when it comes to the all-out disgusting branch of the horror genre. As you can imagine, these people do not get the love or acceptance they’re looking for, and you don’t really feel sorry for them either. If there is ever a freak tech accident where embarrassing body parts are morphed on people’s faces in real life, maybe I’ll change my mind.

Motherland

Release date: 2016
Cast: Anna Maxwell Martin, Diane Morgan, Lucy Punch, Paul Ready
Available on: Prime Video (US) BBC iPlayer (UK), Stan (AU)

Okay, I’ll admit… I’ve seen Motherland more times than I can count. However, it hasn’t been for a while, and I can’t pass up an opportunity to recommend the hit British sitcom to my US friends across the pond. The comedy essentially follows a group of strung-out mothers (and Kevin!) as they navigate life, their kids and each other, and the social politics that come into play as a result. I’m getting to the stage where I can basically quote the script without thinking about it, which means that if you haven’t seen it, you’ve got so many comedic gems to come.

Created by Bad Sisters’ Sharon Horgan, she’s assembled a writers room of some of the wryest female comedy writers in the UK to create a script that’s so relatable yet completely irreverent all at once. Watching Martin’s Julia grapple with her in-laws while her husband back-handedly refuses to help out to shepherding parents through her house for a nit kit party (a group of people coming together to clean head lice is not actually a thing in London, as far as I’m aware) is side-splittingly hilarious when you’re not in the thick of mundane drama yourself, and our other parents are fit the archetypes of who we see at the school gates. Punch’s Amanda was scathingly oblivious enough to land her own spinoff Amandaland, while Morgan’s Liz might actually rival Philomena Cunk as her best comedy character of all time. Moral of the story? Don’t throw poo at Hygge Tygge’s storefront, chop off your own finger or ask for the recipe for an omelette.

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• Fraudulent TikTok Shops driving victims into fake portals designed to steal cryptocurrency and data
• Scammers mimic trusted seller profiles and lure shoppers with unrealistic discounts across popular platforms
• SparkKitty malware secretly collects sensitive data from devices, enabling long-term unauthorized surveillance and control

Cybercriminals are now making use of TikTok Shops to spread malware and steal funds from unsuspecting young users of the platform.

The campaign, revealed by security experts at CTM360, mimics the profile of legitimate ecommerce sellers to build its credibility, often using AI-generated content.

In addition to TikTok, these fake shops can also be found on Facebook, where their modus operandi is to advertise massive price cuts to lure potential victims.

Exploiting brand trust for profit

The main target of these malicious actors is not only to defraud users, mostly in cryptocurrency, but also to deliver malicious software and steal login details.

At the moment, TikTok Wholesale and Mall pages have been linked to over 10,000 such fraudulent URLs.

These URLs, which look like official platforms, offer “buy links” that redirect visitors to a criminal phishing portal.

Once users click the link and enter the portal, they will be made to pay a deposit into an online wallet or purchase a product – the online wallet is fake and the product does not exist.

Some operations take the deception further by posing as an affiliate management service, pushing malicious apps disguised as tools for sellers.

More than 5,000 app download sources have been uncovered, many using embedded links and QR codes to bypass traditional scrutiny.

One identified threat, known as SparkKitty, is capable of harvesting data from both Android and iOS devices.

It can enable long-term access to compromised devices, creating ongoing risk even after the initial infection.

The malware is often delivered through these fake affiliate applications, turning what appears to be a legitimate opportunity into a direct path for account takeover and identity theft.

Because cryptocurrency transactions are irreversible, victims have little recourse once funds are transferred.

A common thread in the campaign is the use of pressure tactics, with countdown timers or limited-time discounts designed to force quick decisions.

These tactics, while common in legitimate marketing, make it harder for users to pause and assess the authenticity of an offer.

Domain checks reveal many of the scam sites using inexpensive extensions such as .top, .shop, or .icu, which can be purchased and deployed rapidly.

How to stay safe

• Make sure you check the website address carefully before entering your payment information. Every detail of the website should match the legitimate domain.
• Ensure that you use secure HTTPS encryption
• If the price cut feels too huge, follow your gut and stay away.
• Do not allow a countdown timer to pressure you into making payment; this pressure is a common tactic my malicious actors
• Always insist on the standard payment methods and avoid direct wire transfers or cryptocurrency, as these are harder to trace and often used in scams.
• Install and maintain a trusted security suite that combines robust antivirus protection with real-time browsing safeguards to block malicious websites.
• Configure your firewall to actively monitor and filter network traffic, preventing unauthorized access and blocking suspicious connections before they reach your device.
• Pay close attention to alerts from reputable security programs, which can detect and warn you about known phishing sites or fraudulent activities in real time.
• Remain cautious even when shopping on professional-looking platforms, as well-designed storefronts can still conceal sophisticated attempts at theft.

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• Phishing emails "notify" victims of an active $50 subscription
• Victims can "cancel" the subscription, by clicking on a link in the email body
• The link leads to a fake login page where Apple ID credentials are harvested

Cybercriminals are impersonating a popular video editing app to steal people’s Apple ID logins, security researchers are warning.

Earlier this week, the security outfit Cofense warned about spotting a new phishing campaign. In it, the attackers would spoof CapCut, a video and graphic editing app developed by ByteDance, the company behind TikTok.

CapCut is immensely popular, boasting hundreds of millions active users. It offers both a free tier, and a paid tier, which is what the attackers are now abusing.

Stealing credentials

The spoofed email imitates CapCut’s branding to boost legitimacy, and “notifies” the victim that they just subscribed to the paid version, costing $50.

Further in the email, the victim is offered to “cancel subscription” if it was made by mistake.

With many mobile apps charging for their services by default, it’s not completely irrational to trust the email, and rush to cancel the subscription.

However, clicking on the link redirects the victim to a fake Apple login page, where they are asked to provide their Apple ID credentials.

These credentials are then relayed to the attackers, which they can use to access people’s images, messages, and other sensitive data. They can also use it to make purchases, causing direct financial harm, as well.

The best way to defend against these attacks, Cofense says, is to be skeptical of all incoming emails, especially those that require people to urgently do something:

“This phishing campaign highlights how easily trust can be manipulated through familiar branding and urgency. By imitating CapCut’s/Apple’s identity and dangling the threat of unwanted charges, attackers guide victims through a seamless two-stage credential theft process,” the researchers explain.

“The use of a fake verification step at the end is a subtle yet strategic move to delay suspicion and extend the attack window. As always, skepticism is a critical defense—check URLs carefully, question unexpected prompts for sensitive information, and report suspicious messages.”

Via Cybernews

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• Someone put an AirTag in a pair of sneakers and donated them to a charity
• The shoes ended up traveling 800km across Europe
• This experiment shows just what can happen to your donated clothes

When you donate clothes to a charity, do you actually know where they end up? In most cases you don’t, but one TikTok user decided to find out by fitting a pair of sneakers with an Apple AirTag tracker and seeing where they went – and the result was pretty surprising.

The experiment was carried out by Moe.Ha on TikTok. They slipped an AirTag into a pair of donated sneakers, then placed them into a Red Cross collection bin in Munich, Germany.

Across the span of five days, the footwear left Germany and crossed through Austria, Slovenia and Croatia, before eventually arriving in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 800km from their starting location. Once there, they wound up on a shelf in a second-hand store.

Moe.Ha decided to follow the donated sneakers to Bosnia and Herzegovina and managed to locate the store, where the shoes were found sitting on a shelf, waiting to be bought for about 10 euros. According to an employee in the store, the items were brought in by their boss, who lives in Germany.

How did this happen?

You might wonder how a pair of donated shoes ended up so far from their original location – after all, wouldn’t it make more sense to send them to a goodwill store in the local area to be sold there?

The reality, however, is more complicated. According to the German Red Cross’s website (via translation), there are two different routes donated clothes can take. One option is the “recycler model,” which results in the entire contents of a donation collection being sold to a recycling company.

The other model is the “clothing depot model,” where clothes are sorted by the Red Cross and suitable items are distributed to depots and thrift stores, with excess pieces being sold to a recycler. This route appears to be the process that Moe.Ha’s sneakers underwent. Whichever route is taken, though, the proceeds go towards the Red Cross’s work.

An experiment like this shows the value in attaching a tracker like an AirTag to an important item, just in case you lose it. Even though the shoes traveled 800km across Europe, Moe.Ha was still able to follow them using Apple’s Find My app.

Hopefully any items you lose won’t go quite so far, but if you’ve got an item tracker attached to them, you might be able to hunt them down regardless.

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• Iran VPN usage has been skyrocketing since Friday, reaching peaks of over 700% increase so far
• Authorities imposed new internet restrictions on Friday following Israeli airstrikes
• Online commentators have also reported some VPN throttling issues

VPN usage in Iran has been skyrocketing since Friday, June 13, 2025, as citizens are looking for ways to keep accessing the global internet.

Iranian authorities imposed new internet restrictions on Friday following the first Israeli airstrikes. These measures follow threats of legal actions coming from Iran's Prosecutor General against media and social media users for content that "disrupts society's psychological security," IranWire reported.

According to the latest data coming from Top10VPN, the demand for the best VPN apps in Iran has seen peaks of up to 707% over the baseline level.

Specifically, VPN usage began rising on Friday by 425%, reached a 530% increase the following day, and over 700% on Sunday. While the data for Monday remains incomplete, experts recorded a rise in demand of at least 623% at the time of writing.

Commenting on the findings, the Head of Research at Top10VPN, Simon Migliano, told TechRadar: "The decision by the Iranian authorities to impose internet restrictions as its citizens suffer such incredible upheavals is simply cruel. It’s no surprise then that Iranians are turning to VPNs in such huge numbers, given the circumstances."

Despite these numbers, there have also been some reports of VPN throttling as users lamented that their VPN apps are not working at all times.

Are VPNs legal in Iran?

A virtual private network (VPN) encrypts all internet connections while spoofing a user's real IP address location. This skill is exactly what's needed to bypass geo-restrictions like those in place in Iran.

Iranian authorities know this very well and have been busy preventing the use of Iran VPN over the years.

For example, in 2023, Iran was second only to China for VPN censorship. This also occurred in 2024, when Iran topped the VPN censoring list across the country's official app stores.

Not only VPN-targeted blocking, though. The regime has even challenged the legality of using a VPN in the first place. In February 2024, Iran outlawed "unauthorized" VPNs, banning their usage without a legal permit. Three months later, the government also resurrected an internet bill that could put VPN usage at risk even more.

Despite all these efforts, the usage of VPN-like tools remains high even after authorities lifted the 2-year blockage on WhatsApp and Google Play last January. Now, people have been turning to this circumventing software en masse, no matter the consequences.

"When your home is at risk and loved ones are in danger, it’s critical that you can reliably access messaging apps, social media, and international news sites. That VPNs are banned will be the last thing on anyone’s mind right now in Iran," said Migliano.

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• Trend Micro saw a new malware campaign on TikTok
• The videos demonstrate how to activate "premium" features in different software
• The clips were AI-generated and trick the victims into downloading infostealers

Hackers are posting AI-generated videos on TikTok to trick users into downloading infostealing malware, cybersecurity researchers Trend Micro have warned.

The premise is simple: the attackers use AI to generate numerous videos demonstrating how to easily “activate” Windows and Microsoft Office, or enable “premium features” in apps such as Spotify or CapCut.

They then share these videos on TikTok, whose algorithm makes it more likely to turn the video viral, making the success of the attack more likely.

A new spin on old tricks

In the clip, a person is shown bringing up the Run program on Windows, and then executing a PowerShell command.

While in the video the command results in the activation of special features, in reality, users running the command would download a malicious script which, in turn, deploys Vidar and StealC infostealers.

These infostealers can take screenshots, steal login credentials, grab credit card data, exfiltrate cookies, cryptocurrency wallet information, 2FA codes, and more.

"This attack uses videos (possibly AI-generated) to instruct users to execute PowerShell commands, which are disguised as software activation steps. TikTok's algorithmic reach increases the likelihood of widespread exposure, with one video reaching more than half a million views," Trend Micro said.

"The videos are highly similar, with only minor differences in camera angles and the download URLs used by PowerShell to fetch the payload," the researchers added.

"These suggest that the videos were likely created through automation. The instructional voice also appears AI-generated, reinforcing the likelihood that AI tools are being used to produce these videos."

One of the videos has roughly 500,000 views, more than 20,000 likes, and more than 100 comments, making it quite successful.

Videos were being used to deliver malware in the past, too, but this new campaign is a significant departure from earlier methods.

The difference is that before, the link to the malware was shared in the video’s description, or comment, where it could still be picked up by security solutions. By delivering the bait in a video format, the attackers successfully bypass almost all security measures.

Via BleepingComputer

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• Security researchers found three malicious PyPI packages
• The packages had around 7,000 downloads
• They were designed to check for active email accounts

Security researchers have found some of the tools cybercriminals are using to steal people’s Instagram and TikTok accounts - on PyPI.

The Python Package Index (PyPI), one of the world’s biggest repositories of Python code, is often abused to holst malicious code, or trick software developers into downloading and running tainted code in their projects.

In this case, security researchers from Socket found three packages, named “checker-SaGaF”, “steinlurks”, and “sinnercore”. Cumulatively, these three had around 7,000 downloads before being pulled from the platform.

Credential stuffing and password spraying

The first two acted as email address validators, cross-referencing supplied email addresses with TikTok and Instagram APIs, to see if they are associated with accounts on the platform. While simply checking if an email address is valid doesn’t seem to be particularly harmful, it is an important step in cybercriminal activity, the researchers explained.

"Once threat actors have this information, just from an email address, they can threaten to dox or spam, conduct fake report attacks to get accounts suspended, or solely confirm target accounts before launching a credential stuffing or password spraying exploit," said Socket’s Olivia Brown.

"Validated user lists are also sold on the dark web for profit. It can seem harmless to construct dictionaries of active emails, but this information enables and accelerates entire attack chains and minimizes detection by only targeting known-valid accounts."

The third package, “sinnercore”, triggers the “forgot password” flow for a given username on Instagram.

The news comes roughly a month after researchers found two malicious packages on PyPI, posing as fixes for a popular, legitimate package. The malware was designed to steal people’s cryptocurrency, which is a popular attack vector on PyPI. In this case, the legitimate package is used in building “hot wallets” - software wallets for cryptocurrencies. Despite being obvious malware, the two packages still managed to rake in more than 37,000 downloads before being pulled.

Via The Hacker News

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• TikTok has launched AI Alive
• The new AI tool brings your images to life directly from within TikTok Stories
• AI Alive is available for free

TikTok has launched a new AI feature that can turn your photos into videos, and it's available for free within TikTok Stories.

The new feature, called TikTok AI Alive, allows you to transform static photos into "dynamic, immersive videos directly within TikTok Stories."

TikTok says AI Alive "uses intelligent editing tools that give anyone, regardless of editing experience, the ability to transform static images into captivating, short-form videos enhanced with movement, atmospheric and creative effects."

The press release for the launch emphasizes TikTok's aim to spark creativity within users, although we've yet to see how the platform's biggest creators take to this new AI tool.

Some examples of how users can use AI Alive include "capturing a serene sunset photo and effortlessly turning it into a cinematic clip," or taking '"a group selfie and bringing it to life as a lively, animated memory that highlights the subtle gestures and expressions of friends or family."

You can try AI Alive today for free, and it's surprisingly easy to use directly from within TikTok Stories:

How to use TikTok AI Alive

AI Alive is very easy to use – you just need a device with the TikTok app installed. Once you've logged in and have everything ready to go, follow these steps below to bring your image to life:

1. Open Story Camera by tapping the blue + on the top of the Inbox page or Profile page.
2. Choose a single photo from your Story Album.
3. The AI Alive Icon will appear on the right side toolbar on the photo edit page.
4. After creating and posting your AI Alive Story, people can view the story from within the For You and Following feeds, as well as on your profile page, giving your followers a variety of ways to connect with your content.

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• TikTok has been fined €530 million for illegally sending Europeans' data to China
• TikTok now has six months to bring its data processing into compliance or suspend any transfers to China
• TikTok has rejected the EU data regulator's decision and plans to appeal in full

The Irish EU Data Protection Commission (DPC) has fined TikTok a total of €530 million (the equivalent of a bit more than $600 million) for illegally sending Europeans' data to China, where its parent company, ByteDance, is based.

Specifically, TikTok was found in breach of two articles of the EU data protection law, GDPR, for not fulfilling its obligations concerning data transfers to China and transparency. The video streaming app now has six months to bring its data processing into compliance or suspend any transfers to China.

TikTok has firmly rejected the data regulator's decision and plans to appeal in full.

TikTok vs the EU

As the DPC Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle highlights in an official statement, the GDPR requires that the high level of protection provided within the European Union continues where personal data is transferred to other countries. That's something TikTok seems to have failed to do.

"TikTok’s personal data transfers to China infringed the GDPR because TikTok failed to verify, guarantee, and demonstrate that the personal data of EEA users, remotely accessed by staff in China, was afforded a level of protection essentially equivalent to that guaranteed within the EU," said Doyle.

Specifically, the EU data watchdog found TikTok to have breached two GDPR articles: Article 46(1), which regulates its transfers of EEA User Data to China, and its transparency obligations ruled by Article 13(1)(f). The DPC then issued two administrative fines of €485 million and €45 million, respectively.

Such a failure to fulfill GDPR requirements, Doyle noted, didn't enable the video streaming platform to address potential access by Chinese authorities to EEA personal data under Chinese anti-terrorism, counter-espionage, and other laws.

The problem for TikTok may not end here, though.

TikTok was also found guilty of giving the DPC erroneous information about where Europeans' data where stored. The company first ensured these were not stored on servers based in China. Yet, this allegation was then contradicted in April 2025 when TikTok admitted to having discovered in February 2025 some limited EEA user data on Chinese servers. The DPC is set to publish a decision on this matter in due course.

Commenting on this point, Doyle said: "Whilst TikTok has informed the DPC that the data has now been deleted, we are considering what further regulatory action may be warranted, in consultation with our peer EU Data Protection Authorities."

TikTok said to disagree with the DPC decision and be ready to appeal all charges.

"The decision fails to fully consider Project Clover, our €12 billion industry-leading data security initiative that includes some of the most stringent data protections anywhere. It instead focuses on a select period from years ago, prior to Clover’s 2023 implementation and does not reflect the safeguards now in place," said Christine Grahn, TikTok's Head of Public Policy & Government Relations for Europe, in an official statement.

This isn't, however, the first time TikTok has been fined in Europe for breaching data protection law. In 2023, the DPC issued a €345 million fine against TikTok for violating children's privacy.

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• Instagram Edits is out now as a free video editor on Android and iOS
• It's Meta's answer to CapCut with a major emphasis on integration with the main Instagram platform
• Edits also features some AI-powered tools like Cutouts and Animate

Instagram’s answer to CapCut is finally here. Edits was first teased by Adam Mosseri, the Meta-owned social media giant's head, in mid-January, as TikTok was facing its first ban in the US. It was originally supposed to launch in February, then March, but here we are in April, and today’s the day.

As initially promised, Instagram Edits is available for free on Android and iOS. It lands as a familiar timeline-based editor offering deep integration with Instagram, meaning you can view your metrics, watch other Reels, browse through all the available sounds and audio clips, and even apply popular effects.

Unlike CapCut, which is owned by TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, or other video-editing apps for mobile, Instagram is billing Edits as a one-stop shop. As you can see from the screenshots below, there's a lot of focus on creation and ideation.

Beyond importing video, making cuts, adding text, and implementing effects, you can use sticky notes of sorts to create lists of ideas or manage various projects.

As noted above, you can watch other Reels and browse for them without leaving the app. Plus, you’ll have the ability to save notes associated with them – maybe it’s one you want to remix or just an excellent custom audio you want to use in your next video.

The big appeal, though, for the Instagram faithful is a promised high-quality camera for "enhanced video recording." This way, you can capture and edit right in the app, versus shooting in another app and then moving it into Instagram. Again, as a trend for Meta, the goal is to own the whole process.

Now, whether you shoot in the app or import, there are plenty of editing tools available. Mosseri initially teased that Edits would have all the tools you’d expect, and those are here. Instagram is tossing in some more unique ones, though, including the ability to pull from popular effects like a green screen.

More advanced effects, like Cutouts, which allows you to isolate a person or object on screen with tracking, or Antimate, which likely utilizes a Meta LLM, can turn images into video for engaging moments, are also included.

Both seem pretty handy, and are located at the very bottom of the interface as a row of tools. Above it, you’ll have a classic timeline that harkens back to iMovie and looks quite reminiscent of CapCut. You’ll have your main video track with audio below it, as well as room for on-screen elements like text or overlays.

While I haven’t tried Edits yet, the core functions seem to be on a par with those of other video editors, and it should be easy enough to quickly create an edit with drag-and-drop, cuts, splits, and more. Edits also has a Captions tool, as well as options to record a voiceover and add other elements.

Instagram is also promising to listen to feedback, and already has a list of features that are set to arrive in the next few updates to Edits, including the ability to use AI to modify videos, likely with a prompt; keyframes, collaboration features, and an expansion to built-in elements like fonts, filters, and voice effects, among other things.

The platform also promises to listen to feedback on Edits and use it to inform the development roadmap. I'm curious to see how Edits stacks up, given that CapCut, which I use quite a bit, disappeared for a while TikTok was banned. You can edit up to 10 minutes of video, and Instagram promises watermark-free exports to its own platform as well as general saves to the device.

Additionally, while the AI features aren’t make or break, they could let creators spice up content, and I like the promised functionality of Cutouts. So, yes, while the design does resemble CapCut, that platform didn’t necessarily reinvent the wheel of video editing on the fly.

If anything, Instagram launching Edits as a free video editor on iOS and Android should inspire some new features for competing apps to help level the playing field. If you’re interested in trying Edits, it’s rolling out now for Android and iOS.

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• Instagram is launching Blends, a new custom Reels feed
• The idea is you add this to a DM or Group Chat and watch Reels that will appeal to the people who make up the group
• You can react and add comments that live within the DM

If you’re anything like me, you can spend maybe too much time (though I’ll never admit it) scrolling through Reels on Instagram, and clips on TikTok. But not so surprisingly, Instagram wants to keep you within the walls of its app and has a new feature that lets you make a custom Reels feed for you and your friends.

Dubbed Blend, and launching right now, you can set up this custom feed for you and a friend and be served Reels that match both of your interests. It’s an invite-only Reels feed that you can scroll within your chat window and reply to at the bottom to strike up a conversation about whatever you’d like.

And if you were guessing it lives within DMs, you’d be right, as that's where Instagram invites you to keep the conversation going. Further, if you’re concerned that the Reels will live in line next to your messages, GIFs, and potentially other shared Reels … fear not.

Blend will live via an icon at the top of the chat that looks like a merge of two basic emojis. You’ll tap on that to access your Blend, which is a Blended feed of Reels that hit your interests, and it’s also where you can invite someone to join your blend.

Another important note – you can’t force someone to join your Blend on Instagram; whoever you invite will need to accept it. Instagram also says you can set up blends for you and one other person or for a group of people.

Here’s how Blend will work

So once you’ve set up a Blend with, say, two of your besties, you’ll open that group message within Instagram and tap the new icon next to the call buttons on the top right of the chat.

Tap that, and you’ll be taken to your customized Reels feed. It should look pretty similar. You’ll see the Reel creator’s username, the audio used, a snippet of the caption, and the ability to like it, comment, and even share it.

The difference is that you’ll see a bubble that says “Suggested for [insert username here],” so Instagram will clue you in as to who it thinks will like the Reel the most. And yes, this is based on whatever Reels you’ve engaged with and what Instagram knows about you.

More specifically, Instagram says “Suggested are based on each person’s activity on Instagram, including the reels they watch and interact with. They can also be based on reels sent in the chat.”

As you scroll, if you feel compelled to, you can send a message back to your group about the Reel you’re watching or even drop a reaction like an emoji. For instance, if it’s a particularly epic one, you might use the fire emoji.

It’s pretty neat and a new way to explore Reels with friends on your own time, while still interacting with each other. Not for nothing, you won’t need to risk SharePlaying on iOS or screensharing on Android, not knowing what might appear in your regular feed.

However, since this is based on your interests, your friends might learn something – those I invite to Blend will know I like Bruce Springsteen, Disney Parks, Lego, and Star Wars.

That’s the risk of the Blend: it essentially shows your Instagram Reels interests to a friend (assuming they accepted the invite). If you’re up for the fun and the challenge, you can give Instagram’s latest feature a try as it’s rolling out now.

Just make sure that the Instagram app on your iOS or Android device is up to date.

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Multiple internet providers went dark in Gabon on August 26, 2023, the last time citizens headed to the polls. A measure, as the over 50-year-long government of President Ali Bongo put it, intended to "prevent the spread of calls for violence," NetBlocks reported.

Restrictions would be lifted only four days later, when the military seized the power in a coup.

Now, after two years of a transition government, Gabon citizens are called to vote for their next democratic president on Saturday, April 12, 2025. The stakes are high, and free access to information is crucial.

Yet, "Our monitoring over the years shows that governments that have shut down the internet during key national events are likely to repeat their actions," #KeepItOn Campaign Manager at Access Now, Felicia Anthonio, told TechRadar.

Digital rights advocates are now urging authorities to ensure unrestricted access to the internet and digital platforms throughout the electoral period and beyond.

How likely is an information blackout?

Under the leadership of former President Ali Bongo, people in Gabon suffered government-imposed internet disruptions on several occasions in response to protests and elections.

For example, reports of internet throttling were recorded during protests related to government COVID-19 measures in 2021. Gabonese authorities cut off access to the internet and broadcasting services in 2019, too, following an attempted coup d’etat.

The internet went dark in Gabon for the first time in 2016, during the violent clashes over disputed election results.

That said, Anthonio confirms that the first action the military did after seizing power in 2023 was to restore internet access across the country.

"The military has not imposed any internet shutdowns since it came into power in 2023 following the coup d'état. Internet access and quality have been stable, with no reports of major disruptions even as the country held its constitutional referendum in 2024," she said.

Nonetheless, Anthonio and the #KeepItOn coalition – a global network of more than 345 organizations from 106 countries advocating against internet shutdowns – recently signed an open letter to remind Gabonese authorities to keep upholding people's fundamental rights.

Free access to information is essential for both journalists and regular citizens alike, especially during an electoral period. Internet and social media platforms can enhance transparency and participation, helping to document the events as they occur and hold governments accountable.

During the biggest year for democracy, however, increasingly more governments restrict the internet in some forms – mostly during elections or protests linked to it.

As per Access Now's data, 2024 was the worst year on record for internet freedoms, with seven governments joining the internet shutdown perpetrators' list for the first time.

"Internet shutdowns should not be on the table in the first place, and we hope authorities will heed our call and #KeepItOn," said Anthonio.

Get ready for the worse

Given the unpredictable nature of government-imposed restrictions, Anthonio also urges all people in Gabon to prepare for the worst-case scenario.

For starters, she suggests downloading and installing one of the best VPN services ahead of the elections.

People turned en masse to VPNs ahead of the 2023 elections fearing potential internet blocks. Proton VPN alone, one of the most secure free VPN services, confirmed at the time a 25,000% spike in sign-ups from the country.

VPNs and the Tor network are great ways to evade online censorship, but they rely on a working internet connection.

In the event of a complete internet shutdown, Anthonio suggests finding an alternative way to connect to the web. This may be a roaming SIM card from a neighboring country or an encrypted mesh network like Briar or Bridgefy.

Anthonio recommends using end-to-end encrypted messaging apps like Signal to secure all online communications ahead of the big day. For more technical tips, you can head to #KeepItOn's digital safety guide.

Beyind tech tools, Anthonio said, "People in Gabon need to engage with their authorities to prevent a shutdown from happening in the first place and remind them about the crucial role of the internet in advancing inclusiveness, transparency, and fairness during elections."

• Instagram has never released a native app for Apple’s iPads
• That might soon change, as a leak claims an iPad app is coming soon
• For now, you can install an Instagram web app while you wait

Instagram has long lacked a native iPad app, but that could soon change, at least according to a claim from The Information. That could be welcome news for iPad and Instagram fans who are tired of having to use a different device for their favorite social media site.

The Information’s report cites an Instagram employee who supposedly has knowledge of the plans. This worker states that Instagram developer Meta is hoping to take advantage of the turmoil facing TikTok – which could be forced to sell its American business under pressure from US president Donald Trump – to target TikTok users who might be looking for an alternative app.

While Instagram has never had a native iPad app, you’ve been able to run it on Apple’s tablets for a while. That’s because iPads are able to run apps designed for the iPhone, although in Instagram’s case the experience is not well optimized for Apple’s tablet.

Instagram recently took aim at TikTok owner ByteDance in another way, debuting a video-editing app called Edits that's designed to compete with ByteDance’s CapCut. CapCut was recently removed from Apple’s App Store due to federal restrictions on its parent company’s apps.

How to install Instagram on your iPad

While we wait for a native Instagram app on the iPad, you can actually add the social media site to your Apple tablet in the form of a web app. This works like a normal app, so it can be added to your iPad’s Dock and found in the App Switcher.

First, go to instagram.com in Safari and log in. Tap the share sheet button and select Add to Home Screen > Add. This places a web app on your iPad that launches Instagram. Tap the app icon that has appeared and log in again.

That’s all you need to do. The web app has a few restrictions compared to Instagram’s native iPhone app – you can’t post images, for example, but you can browse feeds, send direct messages, like posts and add comments.

For now, this method will have to suffice if you want an Instagram app on your iPad. But with a native app supposedly on the way, workarounds like this might not be needed for much longer.

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Many of us remember January 19, the day TikTok was erased from app stores before being reinstated approximately 12 hours later.

We were told TikTok had a new shelf life of 75 days, and promised a US buyer would soon swoop in to save the day.

But today, April 4, is 75 days after January 19 - and we still don't have a finalized deal in place for one of the world's largest social media platforms with over 175M US users.

Is TikTok actually getting banned in the United States again?

No, TikTok won't disappear from app stores - yet

Even though that initial 75 day grace period, issued by Presidential executive order decree, has now passed, TikTok is here to stay...for now.

The Trump administration has issued yet another executive order to keep TikTok in US app stores for another 75 days, which makes the new deadline June 18.

He explains in a post on Truth Social, "My Administration has been working very hard on a Deal to SAVE TIKTOK, and we have made tremendous progress. The Deal requires more work to ensure all necessary approvals are signed, which is why I am signing an Executive Order to keep TikTok up and running for an additional 75 days."

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More importantly, ByteDance sent us their first public comment on the potential sale, and, to be honest, it sounds no more certain that what we''re hearing from President Trump:

"ByteDance has been in discussion with the U.S. Government regarding a potential solution for TikTok U.S.  An agreement has not been executed.  There are key matters to be resolved.  Any agreement will be subject to approval under Chinese law," said a ByteDance spokeperosn in an email sent to TechRadar.

The question remains: How many 75-day extensions will we get before the long-awaited deal is finalized?

Trump mentions his administration does "not want TikTok to 'go dark,'" but at this time, we have very few details on the potential deal in place, and ByteDance notes there are "key matters" they still have to resolve.

While we wait for the pair to reach an agreement, there are numerous TikTok suitors in the mix.

We're aware of some interested parties, namely:

• Mr Beast
• Perplexity AI
• Oracle
• A consortium that includes Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary
• The White House

But TikTok's fate ultimately still looms in the balance as nothing concrete has come from any of these potential buyers.

Governments, Tariffs, and TikTok

President Trump also touches on tariffs, which have been making waves recently as popular tech companies deal with the rising costs of production and transit.

Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders were just announced as delayed in the US "amid tariff uncertainty" for example, and it's possible the Chinese government isn't interested in approving a sale with these hefty fines in place.

Trump explains, "We hope to continue working in Good Faith with China, who I understand are not very happy about our Reciprocal Tariffs (Necessary for Fair and Balanced Trade between China and the U.S.A.!). This proves that Tariffs are the most powerful Economic tool, and very important to our National Security!"

It's undoubtedly a rocky sea to navigate, but at least we know we have another 75 days of doom scrolling ahead of us.

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Remember that time TikTok shut down and disappeared from app stores? It wasn't that long ago. For roughly 12 hours on January 19, TikTok was stripped away from roughly 175M US users only to be saved by a Presidential executive order decree that extended the ban deadline by 75 days. Don't worry; the White House promised we'll have a sale in place by then.

Guess what? While TikTok has multiple suitors, no US company, and certainly not the White House, has purchased any portion of ByteDance's popular social media content-sharing platform.

Throughout this process, ByteDance – a Chinese company – has yet to comment directly on the potential of a sale to a US firm. TikTok's US leadership and its CEO, Shou Zi Chew, have publicly praised President Donald Trump for his intervention but have been mostly silent since then.

In the meantime, TikTok has spent millions on televised ads and infomercial segments touting TikTok's positive impact on people and US businesses, specifically small businesses. The company currently says it has roughly 7.5M businesses on the platform. In a recent economic impact report, TikTok claims small businesses drove $15B in revenue in 2023.

There's no question that TikTok has had a significant impact on US business and, especially, culture (remember the pivotal role it played during COVID?). However, the US climate and appetite for a last-minute save of the social media platform may have shifted since January.

After all, that was the literal dawn of President Trump's second term. Since then, there have been dozens of Executive Orders touching almost every part of American life (including technology; see this AI-related order), and there's a chance consumers may have bigger fish to fry.

Even so, the fate of one of the world's most popular social media platforms does hang in the balance. Here's what we know about what comes next:

I did reach out to the White House, Apple, Google, and TikTok about the current state of negotiations and what might happen if the ban does not get another extension. As of this writing, only Google responded, but it had nothing new to share.

While there have been no public indications of any real progress or movement in the TikTok sale negotiation process, we do know that multiple suitors include:

• Mr Beast
• Perplexity AI
• Oracle
• A consortium that includes Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary
• The White House

Oracle is already managing TikTok's US data, so it might be the leading prospective buyer.

The White House has often been mentioned as acquiring a partial stake in the US-owned version of the company. here are already legal hurdles involved with a sitting President also running a private or non-public-sector business.

Perplexity AI is the most interesting suitor. In a lengthy blog post, the AI search company made an impassioned case for "Rebuilding TikTok in America."

While ByteDance and the White House remain mum on deal details or progress, multiple US senators are still urging the White House to extend the ban postponement to October of this year.

The White House stated this week that a deal would be done before the April 5 deadline but has yet to offer any further details beyond reiterating that there are "lots of potential buyers" and they have "tremendous interest."

What's next?

If the deal does not happen by then, TikTok could face a new ban, and that might mean the removal not only of TikTok but all of ByteDance's US apps, including Lemon8 and the popular video-editing app CapCut.

Apple and Google removed the apps, and even after the US president extended the ban, they remained unavailable on the app stores for weeks.

Apple did not respond to my request for comment. As I noted above, Google told me it had nothing new to share at this time.

So, the current state of play is that while there's a lot of sale chatter from some major US business players and investors, there is nothing solid. There are not even leaks of a deal being close. All we have is Trump's promises and mostly silence from TikTok and ByteDance.

What this boils down to is that you can't buy something that isn't for sale. ByteDance has never publicly stated that it is open to a sale. TikTok in the US, which has publicly appreciated the extension, may not have control of the situation without a sale agreement from its parent company. TikTok might be out of options.

With five days left, anything could happen, but realistically, it's been almost a year since Former President Joe Biden signed the bill that triggered the ban countdown.

Nothing material has changed, and time is running out.

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• Access to social media platforms in Turkey has been restored after 42 hours of shutdown
• Proton VPN has recorded a spike of +1100% starting from March 19, 2025, the day restrictions were enforced
• Many X accounts have then been blocked upon Turkish authorities' orders

On March 21, 2025, Turkish authorities lifted the ban on social media platforms after 42 hours of being enforced. Yet, VPN usage remains high as mass demonstrations continue.

Citizens began turning to the best VPN apps to keep accessing the likes of X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and WhatsApp from March 19, the day restrictions were enforced. Proton VPN, for example, recorded a spike in signups of +1100%.

As protests sparked by the arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu, the Mayor of Istanbul, and his opposition counterpart, continued, many X accounts of opposition figures and independent news outlets were reportedly blocked on government orders.

Turkey VPN usage skyrocketed

"Protecting free speech and fighting censorship is a core part of our mission, and we're committed to doing what we can to help people around the world. Unfortunately, Turkey is one such country with a poor recent history of censorship," David Peterson, General Manager of Proton VPN, told TechRadar in a statement on Friday.

This isn't the first time Proton VPN has recorded similar spikes in usage in Turkey.

Only in 2024 did Proton VPN signups skyrocket by 1,400% in October and 4,500% in August amid similar blocks on social media services. Also, in 2023, citizens increasingly turned to Proton VPN. The company recorded a staggering 15,000% increase in February after Twitter was blocked following a deadly earthquake and a 2,100% spike in May as citizens prepared for potential blocks ahead of the presidential elections.

The spikes in usage have occurred despite Proton VPN being one of 27 VPN providers restricted in Turkey, alongside NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, and others. Specifically, their official websites are blocked in the country.

"Because of this, many people – especially those who aren’t familiar with VPNs – hadn’t heard of Proton VPN," Turkish journalist Ali Safa Korkut told TechRadar, explaining that interest in the software grew following a Swiss provider's tweet shared on March 22.

"I know people around me who are using Proton VPN without any issues," he added.

While access to social media was restored around 1 am local time on Friday, internet censorship hasn't completely stopped.

X blocked multiple accounts of political figures and students involved in the protests upon the government's request, alongside those of journalists and independent news organizations like Bianet.

Korkut, who closely tracked these blocks from the beginning, has counted 309 X accounts blocked so far. "These include well-known journalists with 1.5 million followers as well as anonymous accounts with no followers at all," he said, adding, "new accounts are being blocked by the minute."

Isik Mater, Director of Research at internet watchdog NetBlocks, explains that this trend aligns with past instances where X complied with takedown requests from the Turkish government, raising concerns about platform neutrality and freedom of expression.

She told TechRadar: "Access to social media is a fundamental pillar for freedom of speech and the right to information, especially in moments of political tension or crisis. Restrictions like these not only limit public discourse but also undermine citizens’ ability to organize, communicate, and stay informed during critical events."

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If you’re hoping to create some videos for TikTok then you may want to know how to edit TikTok videos – and the best and easiest way to do this is within the TikTok app itself.

You have a range of editing options built into TikTok including editing clip length, using templates, adding text or stickers, adding effects or filters, recording a voiceover or adding captions.

One of the benefits of knowing how to edit TikTok videos is being able to post these videos straight to the platform when you’re done. Using some of TikTok’s editing features can even help boost the popularity of your video, like using trending sounds or adding captions which then allows the platform to categorise your video.

Tools and requirements

• Smartphone with TikTok installed
• Internet connection

Steps for how to edit TikTok videos

• Press the Plus icon on TikTok and record or upload your video
• Hit the Tick button in the lower-right corner when you’re done
• You’ll then find a range of editing options on the right-hand side of the screen, and you can edit as required

Step by step guide on how to edit TikTok videos

Final thoughts on editing TikTok videos

Knowing how to edit TikTok videos is a great skill to have. Whether you want to become a content creator or you just want to create some videos to share with friends and family, editing your videos is a great way to cut out unwanted bits or add fancy effects.

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• The app has until April 2025 to divest to a US company
• Oracle CEO Larry Ellison is a known Trump ally, and the companies have worked together in the past

As TikTok continues to face an uncertain future in the US, a new report suggests that the social media platform might use Oracle as its American cloud technology partner.

The app must finalize a sale to a US-based buyer by April 2025 to continue operating in the US, however, it’s uncertain whether the company will reach an agreement by the deadline.

TikTok has already been using Oracle’s cloud services since 2022 to store US user data, making it a logical choice rather than moving to an entirely new provider.

TikTok could live on in the US under Oracle

“Oracle has emerged as a leading contender to help run TikTok as part of a deal President Donald Trump is orchestrating to satisfy last year’s divest-or-ban law, say investors, bankers and former executives familiar with the Chinese tech giant,” a report from The Information states.

Despite the potential Oracle partnership, reports suggest ByteDance might still want to maintain some control over the app’s operations.

Politically, US President Donald Trump has shown support for Texas-based Oracle’s role in the deal. The company’s CEO, Larry Ellison, is a known Trump ally, and could have an advantage in securing a deal.

Despite the fact that plans are starting to formulate on US shores, it remains to be seen how the Chinese government will react to the sale of operations to a US-based company – or whether it will even be allowed. As the deadline looms closer, US citizens are set for a suspenseful wait to see whether they can continue using the app which supports creators and businesses across the world.

TechRadar Pro has asked TikTok and Oracle to share any details regarding a potential deal, but neither company immediately responded.

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Downloading TikToks can be an easy way to send your friends a funny video that isn’t on the platform, or a way to repost your own content across different social media sites.

However, if you’re looking for how to download a TikTok video without a watermark, since the overlay TikTok adds can be quite intrusive, then we’ve got you covered.

Unfortunately, TikTok doesn’t currently have a way to do this within the app itself, which means you have to use a third-party app or website to download a TikTok video without a watermark.

But don’t worry, we’ve linked out to the sites which allow you to do this.

Tools and requirements

• PC, laptop, or phone to access TikTok
• Internet access

Steps for how to download TikTok videos without a watermark

• Find the TikTok video you want to download without the watermark and copy the link
• Open up the downloader website, there are a range you can use but we are using SnapTik
• Paste the link into the box on screen and hit Download
• Click the Download button again

Step by step guide on how to download TikTok videos without watermark

Final thoughts on downloading TikTok videos without a watermark

Downloading TikTok videos without watermarks is a great way to share your content on other platforms without having the TikTok logo plastered all over the video .

You can also do this to download videos to share with friends without having to deal with ugly watermarks obscuring the video.

Hopefully, this is a feature TikTok brings to the platform soon so you don’t have to use a third-party website, but for now this is the easiest way to download TikTok videos without watermarks.

Of course, watermarks can be used to identify who created a video, so if you are downloading and sharing videos from other people and creators, be sure to correctly credit them in another way.

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In 2024, the internet went dark on 296 occasions across 54 countries, with seven governments joining the internet shutdown perpetrators' list for the first time, making last year the worst on record for internet freedoms – again.

This is the shocking toll from the latest yearly report published by Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition. A campaign started in 2016 to fight internet shutdowns worldwide, the coalition now includes 345 organizations across 106 countries.

Beyond the numbers, however, "there are the people," said Carolyn Tackett, Access Now Director of Campaigns and Rapid Response, commenting on the findings during the RightsCon 25 conference in Taipei. "Millions have had their lives offended by being cut off from the world and from access to the platforms they rely on," she added.

More countries, beyond borders

As mentioned, seven countries have joined the list of offenders. Comoros, El Salvador, France, Guinea-Bissau, Malaysia, Mauritius, and Thailand all imposed some forms of internet shutdown for the first time in 2024.

Among these, France, which issued a TikTok blocking order in its New Caledonia territory during anti-government protests in May, was especially significant. It marks, in fact, the very first time a Western democracy – and member of the Freedom Online Coalition – turned to the internet-blocking playbook mostly reserved for authoritarian governments.

As Felicia Anthonio, #KeepItOn Manager at Access Now, put it: "[Internet] shutdowns are at the brink of being normalized by offenders."

Not only did more governments pull the plug on the internet, 2024 also saw the rise of cross-border shutdowns. Experts recorded at least 25 such incidents implemented by eight offenders – including Russia, Israel, and Thailand. These impacted people in 13 countries.

Myanmar, which has been an internet shutdown offender since the coalition began tracking down these incidents in 2018, was the biggest perpetrator in 2024 with 85 shutdowns imposed during the year, replacing India (84 incidents) in the top spot for the first time.

All in all, 2024 was the worst year on record for internet shutdowns, censorship, and social media blocks. It even beat the worrying 2023 toll of 283, which was, at the time, the highest number of incidents ever recorded.

The number may be higher, but the motivations behind government-imposed shutdowns are always the same. Conflicts (103 incidents) and protests (74) are, yet for another year, the main triggers for these actions. Exams (16) and elections (12) followed suit.

"Platforms blocks are internet shutdown"

In the stricter description, government-imposed internet shutdowns refer to preventing internet access – whether regional or national, targeting mobile data or wider connectivity.

Increasingly more governments, however, have been resorting to a "softer" form of shutdown: social media blocking. Yet, "Platforms blocks are [also] internet shutdowns," said Tackett from Access Now, explaining that many people worldwide were denied access to critical platforms to express themselves freely and access information.

In 2024, experts recorded 71 of these blocks across 35 countries, with X being the main target of censors. This represents an increase from 53 blocks in 25 countries in 2023, exceeding the previous highest toll on record of 57 blocks in 28 countries in 2019.

It isn't so surprising then that people worldwide increasingly turned to the best VPN services to stay connected and bypass censorship and social media blocks. Proton VPN recorded VPN usage spikes across 119 countries throughout the year.

A virtual private network (VPN) encrypts all users' internet connections to boost their online privacy while masking their ID address. The latter skill is what's needed to bypass this type of internet geo-restriction.

While people living under a restricted internet environment learned how to use VPN-like tools to navigate blocks, governments enforcing them are also working hard to prevent this. 2024 marks a bad year for VPN censorship as well, in fact.

Examples include Russia passing a new law in March that criminalizes the spread of information about ways to circumvent internet restrictions, while forcing Apple to kill about 60 VPN apps from the country's App Store. Venezuela blocked access to VPN websites, too. While, Myanmar began stopping citizens on the street to check if they had the unwanted app on their phone, threatening people with fines and even prison sentences.

This is why in 2024, Proton VPN decided to double down on its fight against online censorship by integrating new tools and expanding existing censorship-resistant technology. Among these, Discreet Icon – an option to customize the VPN app's icon and name to make it look like any other app – came as a direct response to the events in Myanmar.

"We prioritize the development of the feature and were able to launch it within two weeks after learning about this need to help keep our community in Myanmar safe," said Christine Bannan, Senior Public Policy Manager at Proton.

What's next for 2025?

Access Now's report surely depicts a grim scenario for internet freedoms worldwide. Yet, there was also some good news from this front throughout the year.

For starters, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights adopted a landmark resolution urging member states to not shut down the internet during elections. Authorities in Mauritius, one of the first-timer offenders, rescinded the order to ban social media during their election after just 24 hours amid pressure from social societies. World leaders also committed to “[r]efrain from internet shutdowns and measures that target internet access” at the 2024 UN Summit of the Future.

Nonetheless, it remains to be seen whether France's TikTok blocking order in New Caledonia – and the ongoing pressure to ban TikTok in the US – will pave the way for further social media blocking and internet shutdown orders among democracies across the world.

Asked about this, Anthonio from Access Now said: "It's going to make our work very difficult. This is why we are calling on the FreedomOnline Coalition to make sure that their members [France], which are supposed to be promoting internet freedom, do not normalize the use of shutdowns. What [the US TikTok ban] would also mean for us going forward is a question we are yet to find answers to, but it's also on our radar."

South Korea's data protection regulator has accused DeepSeek of sending citizens' data using its AI chatbot to TikTok's parent company ByteDance. This accusation comes a day after ordering a temporary block on new DeepSeek downloads over privacy concerns.

"We confirmed DeepSeek communicating with ByteDance," an official at the country's Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) told Yonhap News Agency, adding that it is "yet to confirm what data was transferred and to what extent."

While not directly commenting on such allegations, DeepSeek reportedly acknowledged "shortcomings in considering local protection laws" and expressed the commitment to cooperate with the regulator on the matter.

Chinese tech under increased scrutiny

South Korea may be the first to formally accuse DeepSeek of illegally sharing users' data with the controversial TikTok owner, but it's not the only country going after the new Chinese AI chatbot on privacy grounds.

DeepSeek has sent some serious shockwaves across the globe since January's release, in fact. With 12 million curious people worldwide downloading the new app within 48 hours of its launch, governments have been increasingly looking at DeepSeek's phenomenon with suspicion.

Italy, France, Germany, the US, Taiwan, Australia, and South Korea are only some of the countries targeting DeepSeek AI. Most are accusing the new Chinese AI chatbot of violating the country's data protection laws.

DeepSeek's issues are mainly linked to the fact the chatbot stored all users' data on its Chinese servers and, as per the platform's privacy policy, will be used to "comply with our legal obligations, or as necessary to perform tasks in the public interest, or to protect the vital interests of our users and other people."

Now, South Korea's PIPC allegations are reinforcing growing concerns among Western governments about how their citizens' data is processed by such companies.

Concerns about Americans' data ending up in the Chinese government's hands are one of the reasons behind the push for a TikTok ban in the US.

Outside the US, many countries including the UK and some European nations have also banned TikTok from officials' devices over security concerns.

ByteDance, however, has long dismissed these risks – and it did so also for the new accusation brought toward by South Korea.

As The Independent reported, TikTok's parent company believes its link with DeepSeek is simply because the AI chatbot uses the cloud services provided by Volcano Engine, which is owned by ByteDance. Yet, this "does not mean it has access to DeepSeek data," the paper notes.

South Korea's data regulator isn't the only one suggesting the two Chinese companies are communicating. A recent report published by cybersecurity firm SecuirtyScorecard has also found "integration with ByteDance‘s services" within DeepSeek's code.

What's certain now is that the provider operating Deepseek will have to respond to South Korean officials' clarifications over the matter now that an official investigation into its data handling practices has been launched.

• TikTok is now available again on the App Store and Google Play Store in the US
• This follows a 75-day delay to the banning of the app, which saw service paused on January 18
• It's not entirely clear whether a deal will be reached to ensure TikTok's continued availability

TikTok has been made available on the App Store and Google Play Store again in the US, after the app was delisted when a ban upheld by the Supreme Court went into effect on January 18.

This means that you can once again download TikTok for free, whether you’re on an iOS device like the iPhone 16 or an Android handset such as the Google Pixel 9 or Samsung Galaxy S25.

The app, which boasted more than 150 million users in the US as of March 2023, was banned nationwide due to concerns over user privacy and interference by elements of the Chinese state.

However, President Donald Trump has made it something of a personal mission to keep TikTok available in the US; he signed an executive order to delay the ban by 75 days during his first days back in office, and ultimately hopes to force the sale of at least 50% of TikTok’s US business to an American owner.

Though TikTok was able to resume service on January 19, the app has been missing from app stores until now.

As The Guardian notes, the wait between Trump’s delaying of the TikTok ban and the app’s return to digital stores may have come as a result of Apple and Google's desire for assurances that they would not be prosecuted for hosting it.

TikTok is owned by Chinese media company ByteDance, which is not owned by the Chinese state or Chinese Communist Party, but is subject to the laws and regulations set in place by both. This has been a point of contention in US politics since TikTok came to prominence in the late 2010s.

Ironically, the idea of banning TikTok was initially floated by President Donald Trump towards the end of his first term in office – due to national security concerns, Trump signed an executive order to force ByteDance to divest from the service, but this was overturned by a court injunction and scuttled by the incoming Biden presidency.

TikTok is back – what now?

So, what now for the world’s fifth most-used social media platform?

If the current arrangement holds, ByteDance will have until April 5 to divest half of TikTok to US ownership or face having the app be banned once again.

However, Trump recently signaled that an extension to the deadline could be on the cards. As Reuters recounts, Trump suggested to reporters in the Oval Office that an extension would be considered, but that he didn’t believe it would be necessary.

Trump added that he would “make it worthwhile for China to do”, and suggested a partial sale of TikTok to the US would be in the interest of the Chinese state.

ByteDance has thus far remained adamant that TikTok is not for sale.

However, Trump also seemed to have his timeframes confused during the same press conference, referring to an as-yet unexplained period of “90 days”.

Few potential buyers have stated any sort of serious intention to purchase TikTok. According to AP, the currently small list includes investors Frank McCourt and Kevin O'Leary, former treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin, and internet personality Jimmy Donaldson (better known as MrBeast).

There have also been murmurs suggesting that Elon Musk may step in to purchase the site, but this is a quieter rumor.

Ultimately, it’s hard to predict whether TikTok will stick around for good, as this depends on mutual agreement between a potential buyer, the US government, ByteDance, and the Chinese state.

Bad luck for TikTok phone resellers

One of the most bizarre effects of the TikTok ban was the emergence of a second-hand market for smartphones with the app still installed.

As noted by Game Rant, TikTok phones were being listed on eBay for as much as $25,000 (roughly £20,000 / AU$40,000) in the wake of the ban, ostensibly targeting users who had no other access to the app.

While it’s hard to assess how many – if any – of these phones actually sold, one can imagine that the reappearance of TikTok on official app stores for free will cause a major price collapse for these ludicrously expensive second-hand devices.

At least, that’s what I’m hoping for – nobody in their right mind should be selling or buying a smartphone for this kind of money.

Anyhow, whether you’re sporting one of the best phones money can buy or keeping it simple with one of the best cheap phones, TikTok is available once again. What do you make of this whole situation? Do you think TikTok is sticking around for good? Let us know in the comments below.

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In 2024, increasingly more people worldwide turned to VPN apps to bypass internet censorship and social media blocks.

Proton VPN alone recorded a spike in usage across 119 countries. These include six countries with at least one spike in signups of over 5,000% above baseline and four with at least one spike in signups of over 10,000%.

One of the best VPN providers on the market, Proton has heavily invested in the fight against internet censorship over the years, making it one of the most popular circumvention tools for users battling against internet restrictions.

Reflecting on the findings from the company's end-of-the-year 2024 report, David Peterson, Proton VPN's General Manager, said: "Social media blocks and internet blackouts have sadly become normalized and are now viewed as simply another tool governments can turn to. VPNs give everyday citizens the ability to fight back against this encroaching censorship."

Why did people turn to VPNs in 2024?

With 64 countries across the world hosting elections last year, it's no surprise that most internet censorship and VPN usage spikes happened around these events.

These include Senegal, as authorities disrupted the internet amid protests over postponed elections in February, and Mauritius, where the social media shutdown ahead of the big day in November caused Proton VPN's largest spike amounting to 182,890% increase in signups within 48 hours, but also Mozambique, Pakistan, and Venezuela.

According to Peterson, the Venezuela case is one of the most striking examples. In an attempt to clamp down on protests contesting the election results, President Maduro blocked X and Signal, while even calling for a boycott of WhatsApp. Access to the Proton VPN website was also restricted as the virtual private network (VPN) app became a "lifeline for many Venezuelans."

"We observed an unprecedented demand, and Proton VPN became the most downloaded app in the country on both the Google Play and Apple App stores," Peterson told TechRadar, explaining that the team had to expand server capacity to help people in Venezuela and ensure servers were not overloaded. "Our teams worked tirelessly to keep the internet lights on."

Proton VPN even launched its election support initiative in March to offer a free network of local anti-censorship servers to all users logging in from at-risk countries two weeks before and after the big day. At the core of Proton's election support initiative was Proton's very own Smart Routing technology. This allowed the provider to offer local coverage in countries where servers cannot be physically installed due to the sensitive nature of the location.

As per Proton's data, more than a million people worldwide made use of these servers to circumvent censorship and access free and fair internet in the lead-up to elections.

Not all Proton VPN spikes that occurred throughout the year were linked to election campaigns, though. As Proton's team puts it, "all kinds of crises can convince the government to censor the internet."

People in Brazil turned en masse to VPNs, for example, to evade the X ban despite the risk of being fined up to $9,000 a day. At that time, Proton recorded a spike in usage of 1840% above normal levels.

VPN usage skyrocketed in New Caledonia, too, as citizens tried to bypass the TikTok ban imposed during anti-government protests. Crucially, this case represents the very first time a Western democracy (France) has resorted to a social media shutdown to placate dissent.

Pakistan, Kenya, Bangladesh, Turkey, Myanmar, Kyrgyzstan, and even Spain are other countries where people flocked to Proton VPN in 2024 intending to bypass increased censorship.

A change in attitude

2024 was also characterized by a change in attitude among VPN users.

Instead of seeing short-term spikes following government censorship or internet blocks, Peterson explains, the team recorded more users signing up in advance of defining events like national elections.

Not only that, but people were also more and more keen to continue using VPN apps even after temporary blocks were lifted, probably in an attempt to protect themselves against potential future internet blocks. This happened, for example, in Turkey, Senegal, and Mozambique.

"People are also, unfortunately, getting accustomed to authoritarian regimes' heavy hand and know alternative ways to download our apps in the cases where app stores are blocked," said Peterson.

While people are getting better and better at finding ways to bypass online restrictions, governments are also moving beyond just blocking access to certain websites.

For example, authorities may block access to alternative DNS services as well as attempt to block access to VPNs themselves. The latter can occur by forcing app stores to remove the VPN apps (like in Russia, where over 60 VPN apps disappeared from the local Apple App Store last year), blocking the VPN websites directly (like in Venezuela), or using advanced technologies with network-level blocking of VPNs, such as those used in Iran, Russia, China, Myanmar, and, most recently, in Belarus.

The aim? "Trying to scare citizens away from using VPNs," said Peterson.

What's at stake for internet freedom in 2025?

With internet censorship steadily advancing in both reach and techniques, experts expect this trend to continue in 2025 as well.

"Social media blocks and internet blackouts are sadly becoming more normalized, and it's no longer just the preserve of authoritarian regimes – just last year we saw blocks in Spain, and in the French territory of New Caledonia," Peterson told Techradar.

It's with this in mind that Proton invests in censorship-resistant technologies. Back in August, in fact, the provider added support for its Stealth VPN protocol, which is designed to bypass sophisticated government censorship also for Windows. It also launched a new Discreet Icon feature for its Android app to allow users to customize the app's icon and name to make it look like another unrelated phone application.

"While our work sometimes makes headlines, it's often the projects we can't talk about, as it would put our users in danger, that we are the most proud of," said again Peterson. "To our community the world over, we just want to say that wherever there is persistent internet censorship, we are working and will keep working to provide a solution."

People across the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have turned to VPN services en masse as access to TikTok and X apps has been restricted.

Proton VPN, one of the best VPN services to bypass these types of internet blocks, recorded a spike in sign-ups of 7000% above baseline, starting from Saturday, February 1, 2025 – the day restrictions allegedly began.

"As conflict intensifies in the Democratic Republic of Congo, people are turning to VPNs to get around rumored blocks to X and TikTok," David Peterson, General Manager of Proton VPN, told TechRadar.

The shutdown came only a few days after the M23 rebel group (supposedly backed by Rwanda) gained control of Goma in a major escalation to the ongoing years-long conflict, Al Jazeera reported.

At the time of writing, the real cause of the blockage isn't clear, as no official statement has been released. Congolese social media users, however, are recording difficulties in accessing social media across the country for at least two days.

As local news website Actualite.cd reported, the Central African nation's Higher Council of Audiovisual and Communication said it does not have precise information on the origin of these blockages. Nonetheless, Congolese authorities have recently criticized social platforms, especially TikTok, for the lack of control over their content.

Peterson said: "Governments and regimes blocking access to social media to control their citizen's access to information and communication is now sadly all too common at times of crisis around the world. But people, in turn, look to VPNs to preserve their access to the free internet, as we are seeing here in DR Congo."

A virtual private network (VPN) is, in fact, security software that encrypts your internet connections, while also spoofing your real IP address location. The latter skill is exactly what's needed to bypass restrictions like those in place in DR Congo.

Google Play restricted

While citizens across DR Congo are increasingly looking to download VPN apps, access to these resources may also be restricted.

On Monday, February 3, 2025, internet watchdog NetBlocks reported that the Google Play Store is also blocked "in an apparent bid to stop users downloading VPN apps to bypass restrictions targeting X and TikTok."

Commenting on this, Peterson from Proton VPN said the team is closely monitoring the situation, pointing out how an impediment to VPN access "would constitute a further blow to people's right to access information."

He said: "As of right now, Proton VPN appears to be working well in DR Congo. If a block to VPN apps on the Google Play Store or the Proton VPN website does materialize, we recommend people download the Proton VPN app directly from Github."

In case the grip on VPN apps intensifies, I suggest checking out alternative circumventing software. Tools like Tor Browser and FreeBrowser (Android only), for example, can also help you bypass internet restrictions and are completely free to use.

• NPR claim to have intel on a new plan for Oracle to be part-buyers in TikTok
• The President is denying any knowledge, but Congressional staffers are less tight-lipped
• At press time, TikTok is still unavailable on Google and Apple's app stores due to imminent ban

Oracle could be next in line to take over ownership of embattled social media giant TikTok from ByteDance, if new reports are to be believed.

An NPR exclusive, fuelled by correspondence with “two people with direct knowledge of the talks”, claims that a murky deal involving the cloud storage titan is in the early stages; albeit complicated by President Trump’s own desires for the US itself to have a 50% equity stake in the company, and “a group of outside investors”, including Microsoft, also showing interest.

The new deliberations offer TikTok a stay of execution after it was supposed to have been banned in the US in the event of no plan for a sale to American buyers being in place (a process known as qualified divestiture), thanks to a law passed by Congress in April 2024.

Oracle TikTok deal?

Given the speculation, it’s no surprise President Trump reportedly refused to comment when asked about prospective talks supposedly held with Oracle chief Larry Ellison about the deal, meaning ultimately, we just don’t know all that much about the plan - yet.

One of NPR’s sources, however, did claim, at present, the deal would give the US direct oversight over TikTok as a platform, but that ByteDance ”wouldn’t completely go away”.

Though the original deadline for a sale to occur before a ban was January 19, 2025, the newly-sitting President signed an executive order that provided a 75-day extension - despite the contention of legal scholars.

Though TikTok service is still operational in the US as a result of the order, Google and Apple have both delisted it from their respective mobile app stores, most likely to toe the line of the law.

A Congressional staffer involved in the talks said that "a key part [of the new deal winning approval despite passing a deadline] is showing there is no operational relationship with ByteDance [...] there needs to be no backdoors where China can potentially gain access."

White House negotiators are reportedly under the impression that TikTok could well be worth $200 billion USD, so perhaps it’s no surprise that certain forces want to keep the deal alive.

Plus, Chinese opposition to TikTok’s sale is thought to have eased recently as thoughts turn to it being used as a bargaining chip to relieve trade tariffs; a stance that would appear to make a deal going through that much more likely.

Oracle, meanwhile, has its own well-established interests in a deal. In its annual report to the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2024, it claimed a TikTok ban could hurt the cloud giant's business, as ByteDance is a customer and, in June 2022, moved its US user data to Oracle servers after initial concerns were raised about its data-handling practices in the territory.

This isn’t the first time tech giants such as Microsoft and Oracle have been named as part of prospective deals that would transfer TikTok to American ownership; in August 2020, both companies, plus such names as Walmart, Google and Twitter were named as part of a deal that could have turned the app into a creator-oriented ecommerce platform.

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