Social media

TikTok isn’t above cloning BeReal

TikTok Now, the new feature (and standalone app) is basically BeReal by another name.

I can’t stop watching fitness influencers risk life and limb for viral fame

People have been embarking on outlandish exercises in the gym for views, and the trend has reached a boiling point.

Tech CEOs come together to rail against TikTok, ignoring domestic threats

Big Tech loves to hate on TikTok, but there are plenty of privacy threats that live much closer to home.

Her dad’s killing made headlines. Now she’s creating content about it.

On TikTok and a new podcast, 21-year-old clothing brand head Eva Benefield is charming true crime fans with her dark sense of humor.

Instagram reminds users of exhausting feed curation tools

The company says it's important that we "feel good" about the time we spend on Instagram.

How one TikToker convinced folks he was an AI-generated character

“The goal was never to trick people,” creator Curt Skelton tells Input. “They did that to themselves.”

Can dopamine dressing be more than just a colorful TikTok trend?

More people are dressing to feel good, but one psychologist suggests it really can make a difference in your brain chemistry.

Phew, Capitol Records has already been bullied out of deal with ‘AI rapper’

Digital blackface is not a new phenomenon but the virality of FN Meka is particularly bleak.

Are Syrian refugees begging on TikTok Live real or fake?

Critics say the videos, which usually involve children, are scams. Not everyone is so sure.

Oracle hit with class-action privacy lawsuit as TikTok data review begins

The lawsuit alleges that Oracle is running a "worldwide surveillance machine."

Schizophrenic influencers feel abandoned by TikTok

Creators were upset by the platform’s near-ban of the #schizophrenia hashtag, which TikTok has reversed thanks to Input’s investigation.

TikTok bans paid political influencer posts leading up to midterm elections

With the U.S. midterm election cycle ramping up, TikTok is ready to squash misinformation before it spreads.

Oracle begins reviewing TikTok algorithms as data security doubts intensify

TikTok’s “Project Texas” rehab campaign has officially begun.

Tickle fetishists say their kink is no laughing matter

People into tickling are sick and tired of being either ignored or mocked by more “hardcore” BDSM practitioners on TikTok.

Has TikTok surpassed Instagram as fashion’s favorite social media app?

Instagram has been a leading fashion source for over a decade. But algorithm changes are pushing stylish users away.

Permashifters want out of this reality for good

TikTok popularized the concept of “shifting” one’s consciousness. But some people want to take it a huge step further.

TikTok isn’t above cloning BeReal

TikTok Now, the new feature (and standalone app) is basically BeReal by another name.

I can’t stop watching fitness influencers risk life and limb for viral fame

People have been embarking on outlandish exercises in the gym for views, and the trend has reached a boiling point.

A surveillance artist shows how Instagram magic is made

Using AI and open cameras, Dries Depoorter is matching influencers’ Insta pics to behind-the-scenes video footage. Not everyone is happy.

Inside a highly lucrative, ethically questionable essay-writing service

Killer Papers is a seven-figure academic “paper mill” business. But its products are just for inspiration, its founder insists.

Twitter mercilessly mocked her peach comic. Now she’s speaking out.

In an exclusive interview, Mary Catherine Starr, creator of Instagram’s @momlife_comics, discusses “Peachgate” and how it changed her.

Instagram reminds users of exhausting feed curation tools

The company says it's important that we "feel good" about the time we spend on Instagram.

How the internet turned dadcore staple, ‘fish fear me,’ into viral fashion

Once a fixture of fishing dads, the wry motto has become a favorite among young people.

How one TikToker convinced folks he was an AI-generated character

“The goal was never to trick people,” creator Curt Skelton tells Input. “They did that to themselves.”

‘I thought my life was over’: Male sextortion victims speak out

For many, the nightmare lasts for months — or even years.

Has TikTok surpassed Instagram as fashion’s favorite social media app?

Instagram has been a leading fashion source for over a decade. But algorithm changes are pushing stylish users away.

This hybrid beauty brand wants to do your makeup digitally and IRL

Bakeup’s first offering will be a physical product, NFT, and Instagram filter.

Meta celebrates unholy Coinbase union with NFT of baby Zuck

Dapper Labs is also part of the development, which was announced over Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook account.

Meet the volunteers fighting the most vile misogyny on Reddit

Members of r/BanFemaleHateSubs say the platform too often fails to do anything about vulgar and unlawful communities.

Instagram CEO responds to Kim and Kylie's disdain for app's many changes

"I love photos. I know a lot of you out there love photos, too," Adam Mosseri attempts to explain.

Instagram's pivot to Reels tanked general engagement, study shows

Average Instagram engagement has decreased by about 44 percent since 2019.

The charming ‘70s love story behind that viral surfing teacher photo

California teacher Marc Degen had no idea his photo would spark a lifelong love story, let alone charm the internet.

Interns thought they could count on return offers. Then Meta dropped them.

“ATTENTION @meta interns. Now that we got fired by Facebook does anyone wanna come together to create a startup?? Serious inquiries only.”

Meta’s next big VR headset is officially coming in October

Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg confirmed the upcoming release while on Joe Rogan’s podcast.

Messenger's default end-to-end encryption can't come fast enough

Meta will test defaulting Messenger to encrypt chats automatically just days after it was revealed that the company handed over data to police in Nebraska.

Meta celebrates unholy Coinbase union with NFT of baby Zuck

Dapper Labs is also part of the development, which was announced over Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook account.

Meta illegally shared health info for targeted ads, lawsuit alleges

Two class-action lawsuits have been leveled against Meta Pixel, the company's analytics tracking tool.

Facebook might stop removing so much COVID-19 misinformation

Meta is asking the Facebook Oversight Board to make the call. Is "free expression" more important than public health?

Instagram CEO responds to Kim and Kylie's disdain for app's many changes

"I love photos. I know a lot of you out there love photos, too," Adam Mosseri attempts to explain.

Instagram's pivot to Reels tanked general engagement, study shows

Average Instagram engagement has decreased by about 44 percent since 2019.

Facebook pivots away from news after shoving it in our faces for years

Execs are chasing influencer and metaverse profits instead.

The charming ‘70s love story behind that viral surfing teacher photo

California teacher Marc Degen had no idea his photo would spark a lifelong love story, let alone charm the internet.

Meta finally stops foisting Facebook onto Oculus users

Meta accounts are rolling out in August and offer a more diverse array of pre-set privacy options.

Meta plans to chase NFTs on their spiral down the drain

Stephane Kasriel, the head of fintech at Meta, spoke to the 'Financial Times' and doubled down on the platform's commitment to NFT integration.

New lawsuit claims Facebook could still access deleted user data for cops

A former employee says Meta fired him after he raised concerns about a 'protocol' allowing the company to access deleted Messenger data.

Check out an online art exhibit of the censored and shadowbanned

Rankin Creative’s new project shines a light on what Instagram and TikTok don’t want you to see.

Meta says it removed posts about mailing abortion pills by accident

Facebook and Instagram haven't shown the same passion for removing posts selling marijuana or painkillers, however.

Facebook ads are targeting cancer patients with risky treatments

Facebook and Instagram have ads for treatment retreats with pseudoscientific treatments like coffee enemas

This Tumblr girl got the internet obsessed with medieval art

Weird medieval guys — they’re just like us!

Twitter shareholders tell Elon Musk they'll gladly take his $44 billion

Musk still won't pull out his wallet.

Here’s every tech company conducting mass layoffs right now

The tech labor movement is on the rise, but the industry itself is down bad. From Tesla to Patreon to HBO Max, here’s a list of all the tech companies undergoing layoffs.

Twitter's crowdsourced fact-checkers included QAnon supporters

A leaked audit reveals Twitter only noticed the QAnon account the night before Birdwatch launched.

Twitter is finally testing an edit button — for paid subscribers only

The most asked-after Twitter feature is finally landing on the platform.

Twitter mercilessly mocked her peach comic. Now she’s speaking out.

In an exclusive interview, Mary Catherine Starr, creator of Instagram’s @momlife_comics, discusses “Peachgate” and how it changed her.

How the internet turned dadcore staple, ‘fish fear me,’ into viral fashion

Once a fixture of fishing dads, the wry motto has become a favorite among young people.

This tweet conflating student loan debt with abortion rights gave me the spins

“Pardon my reach.”

Twitter can play podcasts now, too

Twitter is testing a redesign of its Spaces tab that puts recorded audio conversations and professional podcast side by side.

Another NFT venture disappeared hours after launch, this time with $815K

SudoRare pulled off what has to be the quickest rug pull so far.

Former Twitter security chief alleges rampant security negligence

Peiter Zatko says Twitter purposefully misled federal regulators about the platform's security measures.

Internet-famous erotica writer pens new book about sentient lesbian em-dash

The cult favorite punctuation mark finds love.

Elon Musk revives fake Manchester United crypto token with one bad tweet

Trades involving Manchester United Fan Token skyrocketed after Musk joked about buying the world-famous soccer club on Twitter.

The internet is losing its mind over the U.S.A. Mullet Championship kids

Get your votes in by Friday!

The guy who threw a plushy toy at Lady Gaga explains himself

Confused and/or outraged by that viral video of Gaga getting hit in the head by a doll? Turns out, it’s all a Mexican meme.

The Eve 6 Guy advises a married guy obsessed with another woman

Also, ’90s rocker Max Collins weighs in on whether a writer should take a soul-sucking corporate job.

Inside the world of sim racing, the next best thing to Formula 1

VR drivers gather on YouTube to watch each other race and show off rigs worth tens of thousands of dollars.

YouTube coin-pusher videos are huge. But what’s real and what’s fake?

Honest creators are frustrated with scammers who solicit funds for their high-stakes “gambling.”

Influencers earn big bucks for shilling shady crypto projects, report finds

A CNBC report has highlighted a number of YouTubers who advertised scammy ventures without disclosing their affiliation(s) to them.

How social media is misleading beginner strippers

Veteran dancers say TikTok and YouTube make stripping look like easy money, glossing over the very real dangers of the job.

How DoorDash delivery drivers became the new YouTube stars

The gig workers who get your food to you on time (hopefully) are sharing behind-the-scenes footage on social media.

Meet the men who fetishize obscure pro wrestlers on YouTube

Middle-aged gay guys congregate in the comments sections, reliving the glory days of watching “jobbers” grapple on fuzzy TV screens.

Lofi Girl’s 28-month stream was wrongly paused for false copyright claims

YouTube apologized for the error and said the music would come back soon.

YouTube won't let creator correct horror video's 'For Kids' rating sans appeal

Any fan of Kris Straub's long-running cult horror project, Local 58, will know 'Show for Children' is anything but that.

This YouTuber's DIY PS5 is impossibly thin

DIY Perks detailed his lengthy journey that ended with a custom PS5 that is a fraction of the size of the original.

The disgustingly appealing world of YouTube’s drain unblockers

Plumbers are making bank (and becoming sex symbols) showing off their skills online. But why do we like to watch?

Devon Larratt and the dramatic rise of arm wrestling YouTube

On the eve of the biggest match of his life, the champ reflects on the video platform’s role in making him a star.

John Hinckley Jr. speaks: ‘I’m trying to not dwell on the past’

The man who shot Reagan is now totally free. He talks about his music career and the concept of redemption with Eve 6 frontman Max Collins.

TikTok’s trans and nonbinary dads are challenging gender norms

They’re out and proud on social media, transphobes be damned.

Inside the toxic subreddits dedicated to influencer Eugenia Cooney

She’s an object of fascination — and the subject of abuse — in the eating disorder community.

Amazon's been offering fat paychecks to attract live shopping influencers

Amazon Live is just too QVC to really bring in social media stars, though.

Meet Mina Le, the YouTuber making fashion history more accessible

What do 2010s Tumblr and Shakespeare have in common? Mina Le will tell you.