Sixty percent get their news from TikTok, YouTube and Instagram. Here’s why that has experts alarmed.
Wi-Fi in the sky without paying a dime (or close to it)
ChatGPT
Is it just me, or does it feel downright offensive to pay $25 for in-flight Wi-Fi that barely loads your email?
Here’s the nasty truth: Some folks on your flight are scrolling TikTok or answering emails for free.
The secret? A mix of loyalty perks, smart credit card picks and a little insider know-how. Let me break it down.
🆓 Airline freebies
You might already have free Wi-Fi and not even know it.
- Delta now offers free Wi-Fi on most domestic flights if you’re a SkyMiles member. No catch. Just log in, and it’s free to sign up.
- JetBlue offers Fly-Fi that’s free internet from gate to gate.
- Hawaiian Airlines is rolling out free Starlink service on its flights.
- Southwest isn’t free, but they offer all-day Wi-Fi for $8 per device. That’s cheap if you’ve got layovers.
- Some airlines let you stream movies and TV shows for free with ads. All you need is your phone, tablet or laptop. No Wi-Fi purchase needed.
🎬 Pro tip: Don’t count on the plane’s Wi-Fi working. Been there, it’s hell on wings. Before you take off, set your Google Drive to offline access and download a couple of Netflix movies or Spotify playlists to your device, so you’re not stuck staring at the seat back in front of you.
💳 Credit card or service
Some credit cards include free or discounted Wi-Fi perks that can pay for themselves after a few trips.
- The Southwest Performance Business Card covers up to 365 in-flight Wi-Fi purchases a year. That’s a free login every day.
- AAdvantage Aviator Red gives you $25 in Wi-Fi statement credits on American Airlines flights.
- United Explorer Card gives you 25% back on in-flight Wi-Fi.
Also, T-Mobile users, you get free texting and Wi-Fi on Alaska, Delta, American and United flights. Just enter your phone number midair.
👉 Pro tip: Buy Wi-Fi ahead of time if you’re not covered. Airlines like Alaska offer preflight passes for less than what they charge on the plane.
🚨 Don’t fall for it: Scammers are posting AI videos on TikTok promising free versions of Microsoft Office and Spotify. All you had to do? Run a short line of code. Plot twist: It installed malware that could steal your passwords and credit card info. And with no links involved, it was harder to detect.
$50,000
That’s how much a 20-year-old makes monthly on TikTok Shop. Grayson Finks treats TikTok like a 9-to-5, but with better lighting and fewer naggy coworkers in 10 videos a day. She’s made more than $3 million in revenue, with 176,000 followers.
🔞Texas going hardcore parental: Texas wants to ban all minors under 18 from using social media. That means no Instagram, no TikTok, not even Facebook (RIP). Kids would need an ID to make accounts, and platforms would have to delete profiles if parents ask. Lawsuits incoming from tech giants and probably teenagers themselves.
58%
Lower risk of cognitive decline for older folks who use tech like smartphones and computers. A study says learning new tools and staying connected online can actually help keep your brain sharp. So much for “digital dementia.” Just maybe don’t spend six hours a day on TikTok.
🤖 Fake dog alert: Those viral ads slinging “military-grade robot dogs” for $49? Total scam. They’re Frankensteining DARPA clips, festive music and lies at scale. YouTubers are debunking it so you don’t spend your rent money on a vibrating Furby with one wheel. And yeah, TikTok is letting it happen anyway.
Dumb TikTok prank: Kids are sneaking up behind people in stores, tapping their phone to your phone and playing the Apple Pay “ding” sound. No, they’re not stealing your money. They’re just faking it with a sound clip. It gets worse. Someone’s filming your reaction. Because apparently, that counts as great content now.
46%
The increased risk of hemorrhoids if you scroll on your phone while on the toilet. A new survey found that prolonged scrolling sessions on the porcelain throne might be more dangerous than you think. Maybe it’s time to swap the TikTok binge for, I don’t know, getting off the toilet. What’s it called when you get a hemorrhoid in space? An assteroid. (That was a good one!)
Cavemen love rock music: Have a teen? Know that TikTok viral videos are telling teens to do absolutely nothing to their face. No products, not even water. The idea? Let the skin barrier heal naturally. But dermatologists say it leads to acne, clogged pores and infections. Cavemen also didn’t have mirrors. Just saying. Can a joke about dinosaurs make you laugh? You bet jurassic can.
TikTok’s got a pulse: TikTok just dropped its “AI Alive” feature, which animates photos into surreal little videos with sound, motion and vibes. Your beach pic now sighs wistfully, your group selfie smiles mid-scroll. It’ll be labeled AI-generated. Here’s to hoping it can also animate my will to fold laundry.
🍆 Hard pill to swallow: Scammers on TikTok are using AI deepfakes to sell Viagra-like pills. One classic? A jacked guy holding a giant carrot, saying the product boosts testosterone and energy levels. PSA: They’re using fake doctors and celebs, too. Don’t buy it, you never know what they are putting in those pills.
🔞 Sick social media trend: Awful accounts are using AI filters to make the women in overly sexual TikTok and IG gym videos look as if they have Down syndrome. They’re adding captions like “Syndrome is down but your d is up.” Why? It goes viral, and they try to redirect people to adult sites. And yes, the original clips are stolen.
🔮 Pet psychics on TikTok: Suckers, I mean people, are paying up to $250/hour to have strangers “speak” with their pets (paywall link), alive or dead. According to one dubious Dolittle, a cat told its owner he’s “very handsome.” I saw a heavyset woman doing this with 220,000 followers. She’s definitely a four-chin teller.
ChatGPT ruined my husband — May 10th, Hour 2
Her ex quit his job and now spends his days talking to AI. Then I talk to Michaela, a bride-to-be using ChatGPT for a wedding glow-up. Plus, why your smart TV might already be obsolete, and TikTok pet psychics charging $100 a session.
🚫 No ban, no problem: TikTok’s execs are telling advertisers to relax, promising the app’s staying power despite that little thing called a federal ban potentially kicking in next month (paywall link). With 170 million U.S. users and Super Bowl ad ambitions, TikTok says it’s too big to flinch.
Cash dive: It’s happening across the country. The NY Times spotlighted how UNC is turning its diving team into influencers with sponsorships, style guides and TikTok training. It’s all part of the school’s push to make every athlete a content creator. Imagine getting cut from the team for poor engagement and bot followers.
Sam Altman wants your eyeballs — May 3rd, Hour 2
Forget passwords. The creator of ChatGPT is scanning irises to build a global crypto economy. Also, Noah from Virginia bought an old laptop and found a kid’s ’90s homework saved on it — so he read it on TikTok and made the internet cry. Plus, an Apple AirPlay hack and the chance to buy your own Waymo.
💀 DIY neck crack: Chiropractic neck “adjustments” are all over TikTok. So are reports of strokes, nerve damage and ruptured arteries. The internet’s favorite crack (not that one) could basically snap your brain off. So before you adjust yourself straight into the void based on something you saw online, heed my words: Please don’t.