48% of TikTok users

Under age 30 use it to keep up with politics and news. Frightening. This is why it’s so important to understand the role Communist China has in this app and its data. The older Americans get, the less they rely on TikTok for news; 36% of 30- to 49-year-olds get their news from TikTok, as do 22% of those ages 50 to 64 and 24% of folks 65 and older.

Tags: apps, China, data, TikTok, users


🧑‍⚖️ Minding my own bid-ness: Christie’s is auctioning off some insanely rare items from the collection of late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. Highlights include an Apple-1 from Steve Jobs’ desk (valued up to $800,000) and a signed letter from Albert Einstein to then-President Franklin Roosevelt (worth an estimated $6 million). Full details here if you have a few million lying around.

Naan compare to you: Rumor has it Apple will manufacture its most expensive iPhone Pro models in India this year. Finally, they’re trying to diversify production beyond China. They say it’s about supply shortages, but politics and national security definitely play into this.

🏠 Off the grid: More folks are blurring their homes and businesses on Google Maps. With burglaries and break-ins on the rise, thieves can easily use Maps to scout properties and find the best way in. Protect yourself: Search for your address on Google Maps Street View, click Report a problem in the bottom right, select what you want blurred and answer the questions.

🌲 Donate to your favorite nature-ity: A 53-year-old Colorado hiker was rescued after four days missing in the backcountry. She was on a “spiritual retreat” without food or her phone. If you think this sounds like fun (and, if so, ask a friend), toss this Spot Satellite (33% off today) in your pack. You can send an SOS to friends, family or authorities.

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Drive-by theft: Thieves are snatching $550 AirPod Max headphones right off people’s heads. As your music blasts, they sneak up on a peddle bike or moped, and before you realize it — poof! — those pricey headphones are gone.

🚨 Wookie mistake: You’ve probably heard about the recent National Public Data breach, which exposed the deets of 2.9 billion people. Now, a sister site with access to the same consumer records as NPD accidentally published passwords in a publicly accessible file. Nutso. It was available until Aug. 19. If you haven’t yet, I strongly advise you to freeze your credit.

I’ve seen it: Photos of a Pennsylvania man, Brian Posch, are all over Facebook with the message “HELP FIND HIM.” Sadly, Brian passed away months ago. So why are messages still being shared? Because scammers are posting them to trick others into sharing their link. Once the post gets a ton of shares and follows, they change their page to a scammy site where they steal your money. Gotta be on your toes!

Need a good story? I sat down with Noland Arbaugh, the first Neuralink brain chip implant patient. This brave guy shared the risks, including the possibility of the device being hacked, the application process and his hopes for the future. Check out the full exclusive interview on The Daily Mail. Give it a share and comment for me so my editor there asks me for more fabulous interviews like this one!

Stop mining my business: An Airbnb host got a nasty shock when guests used her house to mine $100,000 in crypto, sticking her with a $1,500 electricity bill. External security cameras caught them hauling out 10 computers and charging their EV. She got them to pay up, but now she’s got a strict “no crypto mining” rule. It’s a new world.

Soap-erstar: Jessica Serfaty of “Days of Our Lives” fame discovered a hidden tracker in her Range Rover. Her iPhone tipped her off about an Apple AirTag nearby that was news to her. She called the cops because, you know, stalker vibes, but they couldn’t find it. Here’s help if you get an alert like this.