Big promises, no results: There are some big opinions on Meta ditching its fact-checking program, but here’s the joke: It didn’t work in the first place. An analysis found only 14% of posts pushing foreign enemy state narratives were flagged as false on Meta. The new plan of action? Community notes … because that’s totally working out for X.
A father’s love
An IT director from Toronto called corporate life quits after doctors told him his son had an ultra-rare neurodegenerative disease with no cure. They said his boy would be paralyzed from the waist down by 10 and quadriplegic by 20. Dad liquidated his savings and teamed up with researchers working on a promising gene therapy. Years later, his son received the treatment and can now stand up.
60 million
Students and teachers impacted by a massive software breach. PowerSchool, used by 16,000 schools for grades and administration, was hacked. Cybercriminals got Social Security numbers, medical records and home addresses. In some cases, the data went back to the ‘80s. You should get a call if your info is impacted.
🚗 270,000 Ford models recalled: Certain 2021-2023 Bronco Sport SUVs and 2022-2023 Maverick trucks could stop suddenly, making them a scary crash risk. It’s an issue with their 12-volt batteries degrading. Own one? Look for a letter in the mail around Feb. 3 with info on dealer inspections and replacements.
⚠️ Don’t click Google ads: Mac owners searching for Homebrew, an open-source download installer, are getting ads for a fake. The ads display the correct URL, brew.sh, but clicking redirects you to a copycat site. When you install the phony software, you’ve just welcomed info-stealing malware. Argh. Make sure you’re using antivirus software.
64
iPhones filmed OK Go’s new music video. The indie rock band arranged them into a mosaic of split screens for their track “A Stone Only Rolls Downhill” and edited them into a single take. It took their 31-person team over 1,000 takes and 577 hours of prep to nail the four-minute video. Even Tim Cook was impressed. You’ve gotta see it for yourself.
❄️ 8.9 inches of snow: Blanketing Pensacola, Florida, and the pictures on social media are a riot. My favorites: A gator lounging in the snow and the coldest-looking beach I’ve ever seen! Stay safe, folks. Time to pull out a big heated blanket.
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Welcome to the future: Wish you had an assistant to update your website or plan your summer trip? That’s what AI operators do, taking control of your tech to get stuff done. Code leaked from OpenAI’s macOS app shows options like “Toggle Operator” and “Force Quit Operator,” so theirs may be coming soon.
$18
New monthly price for Netflix’s ad-free Standard plan. Oh, goodie, another $3 price hike. The ad tier is now $8 (up from $7), and Premium is $25 (from $23). Account sharing went up a buck to $9. In the final quarter of 2024, Netflix pulled in $10 billion, and its revenue shot up 16%.
😅 I can’t believe I’m typing this: Women on TikTok are pouring castor oil into their belly buttons every night to help with digestion and bloating. Castor oil does have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, so maybe they’re onto something. No crude jokes, OK?
🎓 Absolutely ridiculous: AI detection software is flagging loads of false positives. A University of North Georgia student accused of cheating on an assignment lost her scholarship. The crime? She turned on Grammarly for spellchecking, something the university recommends. Parents, tell your kids to leave a trail of proof they did their own work, like a Google Doc with a draft history.
Color me surprised: Samsung just dropped the details about its new Galaxy S25 smartphones, and they’re basically S24 models with better processors to handle the real upgrade: Samsung AI. Neat, new features include a lock screen summary with info to help you plan your day; Photoshop-level editing with a swipe of your finger; and cross-app actions that let you layer multiple requests into one, like, “Find a well-rated coffee shop nearby and text the address to Barry.”
Tragic and chilling: This is so sad. A 63-year-old North Carolina man shot his wife, then confessed to the murder in a Facebook group he was an admin for before taking his life. “My wife admitted to cheating on me so I killed her, I’m about to kill myself. Figure this group out for your selves,” he wrote. The couple was married for over 34 years.
🚨 Botnet alert: Researchers found a botnet called “Murdoc” targeting security cameras and routers worldwide. Over 1,000 devices are compromised; AVTECH IP cameras and Huawei HG532 routers are the main targets. Once hackers take control, they can launch DDoS attacks or steal your info. Fixes are coming from the manufacturers, so keep your router (steps here) and security cams updated.
44%
Percentage of young Americans who don’t want to own a car. Adults ages 18 to 34 would rather call an Uber or Lyft or rent a ride on Turo. But we’re not heading to a robo-taxi future just yet; a solid 52% of all folks don’t trust self-driving cars. I won’t get in one.
64 iPhones, one music video
OK Go’s new music video for “A Stone Only Rolls Downhill” was filmed on 64 iPhones. arranged them into a mosaic of split screens and edited it all into a single take. It took their 31-person team of 31 over 1,000 takes and more than 577 hours of prep to nail the 4-minute video. Even Tim Cook was impressed.
🌠 The sky is falling: On Prince Edward Island in Canada, Laura Kelly’s doorbell cam caught the exact moment a meteorite fell. In a big first, the cam also caught the sound it made on impact. This happened last July, but scientists just released their findings. Huh … sounds different than I expected.
🛑 Stop letting Big Tech decide what you see: StartMail is my pick for privacy-first email. It’s super easy to switch over your contacts and mail, or you can treat it as a fresh inbox for only your VIPs. Save 60% now with my special link.
Adult diaper influencer: You read that right. It’s 27-year-old YouTuber Bumble Pree, who has trouble controlling her bladder as a result of multiple sclerosis. Her two diaper companies, InControl and Rearz, make options with trendy designs like kawaii-style cats and unicorns. Their ads feature cute gals in crop tops. The adult diaper biz is set to hit $24 billion by 2030. Hooray, I wrote all that without making a poop joke!