Payments Start In $725M Facebook Settlement: How Much You Could Get Payments Start In $725M Facebook Settlement: How Much You Could Get
Payments Start In $725M Facebook Settlement: How Much You Could Get If you had a Facebook account from 2007 to 2022, you may soon see money from a massive class action settlement. Payments have begun in Facebook's $725 million privacy settlement. Every Facebook user in the US between Thursday, May 24, 2007, and Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, was eligible for payouts. The case stems from Cambridge Analytica, a political consulting firm tied to far-right strategist Steve Bannon, the Associated Press reported. Cambridge Analytica harvested data from millions of Facebook users to support President Donald Trump’s 2016 election win. In December 2022, Me…
Influencer 'Drew Disaster' Commits Arson In Botched Suicide Attempt: Affidavit Influencer 'Drew Disaster' Commits Arson In Botched Suicide Attempt: Affidavit
Influencer 'Drew Disaster' Commits Arson In Botched Suicide Attempt: Affidavit A popular content creator is facing felony charges after allegedly setting her Middletown home on fire in a suicide attempt that killed one of her cats, according to court documents obtained by Daily Voice on Thursday, Sept. 4. Drew Yvonne Mehalick-Headley, 29 — known to her hundreds of thousands of followers as “Drew Disaster” — allegedly lit the bedroom of her mobile home on Caravan Court around 4:39 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27, according to Middletown police. Flames ripped through the residence before firefighters were able to knock down the blaze and rescue Mehalick-Headley, authorities said…
Spotify Adds Direct Messages For Sharing Songs, Podcasts: How It Works Spotify Adds Direct Messages For Sharing Songs, Podcasts: How It Works
Spotify Adds Direct Messages For Sharing Songs, Podcasts: How It Works There's a new app where you can "Slide" into someone's DMs like a song by the Goo Goo Dolls or Calvin Harris and Frank Ocean. Spotify is rolling out its new Messages feature, the music streaming giant announced on Tuesday, Aug. 26. The messaging tool will help users share their favorite music, podcasts, and audiobooks without leaving the app. Free and Premium users ages 16 and older will start getting access to Messages throughout late August. The one-on-one conversations will allow friends and family to swap tracks, send texts, and react with emojis. Spotify said its direct mess…
635K Instagram, Facebook Accounts Removed For Targeting Children As Meta Adds Safety Tools 635K Instagram, Facebook Accounts Removed For Targeting Children As Meta Adds Safety Tools
635K Instagram, Facebook Accounts Removed For Targeting Children As Meta Adds Safety Tools Meta says it has removed about 635,000 Instagram and Facebook accounts for trying to exploit children as it updates its teen safety features. The tech giant announced changes to its measures aimed at protecting young users in a blog post on Wednesday, July 23. The purge comes as Meta adds new restrictions to accounts run by adults that feature children. In the first half of 2025, Meta said its enforcement teams took down nearly 135,000 Instagram accounts for leaving sexualized comments or requesting sexual images on accounts that primarily feature children under 13.…
This Man Has Recovered 200 Rings Lost At The Beach: Here's His One Tip To Help You Find Yours This Man Has Recovered 200 Rings Lost At The Beach: Here's His One Tip To Help You Find Yours
This Man Has Recovered 200 Rings Lost At The Beach: Here's His One Tip To Help You Find Yours Most people walk the beach to relax. Ed Trapper walks it to solve mysteries. The 67-year-old Forked River resident has spent the past five summers recovering wedding rings, heirloom jewelry, and priceless memories lost in the sand and surf. Better known as the NJ Ring Finder, Trapper has notched over 200 successful recoveries, many of them pulled from feet of water, feet of sand, and sometimes — against all odds — both. “I’ve been metal detecting for 35 years and picked it up again 5 years ago,” Trapper said. “It’s basically just a hobby that turned into something where you can make some he…
Billions Of Google, Facebook, Apple Passwords Breached In Potentially Record Hack Billions Of Google, Facebook, Apple Passwords Breached In Potentially Record Hack
Billions Of Google, Facebook, Apple Passwords Breached In Potentially Record Hack A newly discovered trove of stolen login credentials may represent the largest data breach in history, with billions of usernames and passwords now circulating online. Researchers with Cybernews uncovered more than 16 billion records spread across 30 databases, many of them tied to malware known as infostealers. The findings, published Wednesday, June 18, reveal that the leaked data spans social media platforms, business services, VPNs, and developer tools. The leaked datasets provide access to nearly every online service, including major platforms like Apple, Facebook, Google, GitHub, and…
Bloodied 'Protester Edition' Truck Post Sparks Backlash Against PA Sheriff Bloodied 'Protester Edition' Truck Post Sparks Backlash Against PA Sheriff
Bloodied 'Protester Edition' Truck Post Sparks Backlash Against PA Sheriff A since-deleted photo shared by Adams County Sheriff James Muller on Facebook is drawing backlash from residents and officials amid national “No Kings” protests against the Trump administration. The image showed a white pickup truck splattered in red, resembling blood, with the caption: “The All New Dodge Ram Protester Edition.” It was later deleted, but screenshots have been widely circulated in Facebook groups around central Pennsylvania, including in Gettysburg where protests have recently taken place. The photo—posted in the midst of nationwide demonstrations—sparked outrage online and …
Meta Puts Ads On WhatsApp: Here's What's Changing Meta Puts Ads On WhatsApp: Here's What's Changing
Meta Puts Ads On WhatsApp: Here's What's Changing Meta is bringing advertisements to WhatsApp, marking a major shift for the globally popular messaging app. WhatsApp will now have ads on its Updates tab, Meta announced in a blog post on Monday, June 16. Meta purchased WhatsApp for $19 billion in 2014, adding to its portfolio that includes Facebook and Instagram. The tech giant said ads won't appear in private conversations on the app. "Subscriptions, promotions and ads will appear only on the Updates tab, away from your personal chats," Meta said. "This means if you only use WhatsApp to chat with friends and loved ones, there will be no c…
Don't Fall For It: Instagram CEO Says He Almost Became Victim Of Google Phishing Attack Don't Fall For It: Instagram CEO Says He Almost Became Victim Of Google Phishing Attack
Don't Fall For It: Instagram CEO Says He Almost Became Victim Of Google Phishing Attack The tech-savvy head of Instagram says he almost fell for an elaborate scam in which a new phishing attack was posing as Google. Adam Mosseri, the CEO of Instagram and Head of Product for Instagram at Facebook, said in a social media post on Threads that the scammer contacted him by phone, with a quick follow-up email. "They said my Google account was compromised and they sent me an email to confirm my identity," wrote Mosseri, a 42-year-old New York City native who graduated from NYU. "On the phone they asked me to change my password using my Gmail app and to *not* say my new…
Massive Data Breach Exposes 184 Million Accounts: What To Know Massive Data Breach Exposes 184 Million Accounts: What To Know
Massive Data Breach Exposes 184 Million Accounts: What To Know A cybersecurity researcher has uncovered a massive trove of compromised login credentials, raising new alarms about the scope and scale of InfoStealer malware campaigns. The exposed Elasticsearch database contained more than 184 million unique usernames and passwords. It was not password-protected or encrypted, and it was publicly accessible when discovered earlier this month. The database included login details tied to popular platforms such as Microsoft, Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat.  It also contained services with potentially greater stakes, including banking portals, health …
Fake Facebook Ads Promote Bogus ‘Tariff Relief’ Offers, FBI Warns Fake Facebook Ads Promote Bogus ‘Tariff Relief’ Offers, FBI Warns
Fake Facebook Ads Promote Bogus ‘Tariff Relief’ Offers, FBI Warns Scammers are once again turning hot-button headlines into bait — this time with bogus offers of “tariff relief” payments showing up in Facebook and Instagram ads. The fraudulent posts have promised $750 in “tariff relief credit” or as much as $5,600 in “tariff relief benefits.”  But the promised payouts don’t exist. Instead, these ads are believed to be attempts to gather personal information or steer unsuspecting users into marketing calls where they could be targeted by spammers. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, confirmed that it removed the ads after being alerte…
‘Garri Master’ From Maryland Indicted For Directing Mutilation Campaign In Cameroon: ICE ‘Garri Master’ From Maryland Indicted For Directing Mutilation Campaign In Cameroon: ICE
‘Garri Master’ From Maryland Indicted For Directing Mutilation Campaign In Cameroon: ICE A Maryland man known as the “Garri Master” is accused of ordering mutilations, murders, and kidnappings in Cameroon while living comfortably in Gaithersburg, federal investigators announced.  Eric Tano Tataw has been federally indicted for allegedly financing and directing a violent separatist campaign in Cameroon from his home in Montgomery County. Tataw, 38, is accused of raising more than $110,000 to arm a brutal militia group called the Amba Boys, and calling for attacks on civilians — including orders to cut off fingers, limbs, and kill those viewed as cooperating with the go…
Meta Launches AI App To Compete With ChatGPT: Here's What It Does Meta Launches AI App To Compete With ChatGPT: Here's What It Does
Meta Launches AI App To Compete With ChatGPT: Here's What It Does Meta released its first standalone artificial intelligence app that aims to compete with ChatGPT. The Meta AI app officially launched in the US and other countries on Tuesday, April 29. The app was built off the company's new Llama 4 model, giving it the ability to respond to voice or text, generate images, and remember personal details. Meta AI connects across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger. It also serves as the companion app for Meta's smart glasses. Inspired by social media, the app features a Discover feed where users can share how they're using AI and try popu…
‘Master Of Mutilation’ In Maryland Accused Of Funding Brutal Attacks In Cameroon: DOJ ‘Master Of Mutilation’ In Maryland Accused Of Funding Brutal Attacks In Cameroon: DOJ
‘Master Of Mutilation’ In Maryland Accused Of Funding Brutal Attacks In Cameroon: DOJ A Maryland man known as the "Garri Master" — or Master of Mutilation — is facing federal charges for allegedly masterminding a brutal conspiracy to fund violent attacks, kidnappings, and mutilations in Cameroon, federal prosecutors announced. Eric Tano Tataw, 38, of Gaithersburg, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Maryland after what authorities described as a vicious, years-long plot to support violent separatist fighters known as the Amba Boys. According to the indictment, Tataw — a Cameroonian national living in Maryland — called for attacks on Cameroonian civilians, municipal offic…
Botched Circumcision 'Nightmare' Nearly Killed Newborn, Claims NY Family Demanding Answers Botched Circumcision 'Nightmare' Nearly Killed Newborn, Claims NY Family Demanding Answers
Botched Circumcision 'Nightmare' Nearly Killed Newborn, Claims NY Family Demanding Answers A Long Island couple is sharing the harrowing story of their newborn son’s catastrophic medical complications following a botched circumcision–and they’re calling for sweeping accountability in the medical system. Tim Groth, a doctor and father from Lake Grove, said his 20-day-old son Cole is now fighting for his life in the ICU at Columbia Hospital, having undergone multiple emergency surgeries and more than 20 blood transfusions — all stemming, he says, from a procedure commonly considered routine. “Yes, you heard that right — dying in a cardiac NICU at one of the ‘best’ hospital systems …
Google Gained 'Monopoly Power' With Online Ad Technology, Judge Rules Google Gained 'Monopoly Power' With Online Ad Technology, Judge Rules
Google Gained 'Monopoly Power' With Online Ad Technology, Judge Rules A federal judge ruled that Google illegally cornered the online advertising market by linking its tools together to block out competition, a major win in a broader antitrust crackdown on Big Tech. The ruling found Google liable for willfully using a series of "anticompetitive acts" to dominate how digital ads are placed across the internet. The decision was handed down in federal court in the Eastern District of Virginia on Thursday, April 17. In her decision, US District Judge Leonie Brinkema said Google's ad technology blocked out competitors and hurt consumers. "For over …
Body Of NYC Financier Washed Ashore In Spain Weeks Ago – But Desperate Family Kept Searching Body Of NYC Financier Washed Ashore In Spain Weeks Ago – But Desperate Family Kept Searching
Body Of NYC Financier Washed Ashore In Spain Weeks Ago – But Desperate Family Kept Searching A New York City banker who vanished during a sailing trip to Spain earlier this year was found dead – though his desperate family continued searching for weeks before getting the devastating news. Grant Barr, 37, disappeared on Tuesday, Jan. 28, while visiting friends and family in Estepona, a coastal town along Spain’s Costa del Sol. The discovery of his passport, boating license, and pants near a beach that same day sparked a desperate search. But on Monday, April 7, Barr’s father, Michael Carr, shared devastating news on Facebook: “It is with profound sadness that I speak of the passing…
Facebook May Send You $40 – And It's Not A Scam: Here's Why Facebook May Send You $40 – And It's Not A Scam: Here's Why
Facebook May Send You $40 – And It's Not A Scam: Here's Why Double-check your bank account, you may have gotten money from Facebook that you completely forgot was coming. Facebook users who filed claims in a $90 million privacy settlement that dates back nearly 15 years could soon start seeing payments – or may have already been paid. Many people on social media said they started receiving payments of $40.67 on Thursday, April 10. A class-action lawsuit claimed Facebook improperly tracked users' online activity without consent when users visited non-Facebook websites displaying Facebook's "Like" button. The suit said the nonconsensual tracking happe…
Meta To Limit Instagram Livestreaming For Some Teens: Here's How Meta To Limit Instagram Livestreaming For Some Teens: Here's How
Meta To Limit Instagram Livestreaming For Some Teens: Here's How Younger teens won't be able to go live on Instagram anytime soon unless they have a parent's permission. Meta has banned users under 16 from livestreaming unless approved by a parent, the tech giant said in a blog post on Tuesday, April 9. The change is part of a broader push to expand protections for teen users across Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger. There are at least 54 million active "Teen Accounts" worldwide, according to Meta. "With these changes, teens under 16 will be prohibited from going Live unless their parents give them permission to do so," Meta said "We'll …
'OG Facebook' Returns With Revamped Friends Tab In Meta's Latest Change 'OG Facebook' Returns With Revamped Friends Tab In Meta's Latest Change
'OG Facebook' Returns With Revamped Friends Tab In Meta's Latest Change Meta is hoping to bring back the original Facebook experience with a new Friends tab that shows only content from friends, removing recommended posts and ads.  The feature launched in the US and Canada on Thursday, Mar. 27. The addition is part of a broader effort to restore Facebook's original focus on connecting friends, according to Meta. The revamped feed only highlights content from friends, eliminating recommended posts and ads. "The new Friends tab is a throwback to OG Facebook when you only saw friends' status updates," CEO Mark Zuckerberg posted. "More OG Facebook coming soon…
Meta's Community Notes To Use Tech From Elon Musk's Social Media Platform Meta's Community Notes To Use Tech From Elon Musk's Social Media Platform
Meta's Community Notes To Use Tech From Elon Musk's Social Media Platform Meta's new Community Notes system will be based on algorithms developed by billionaire Elon Musk's social media platform, the company said. Meta will begin testing the crowdsourced program that aims to prevent misinformation on Tuesday, Mar. 18, the tech giant said in a blog post on Thursday, Mar. 13. The move comes as Meta replaces its third-party fact-checking program in the US for Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. Community Notes are part of CEO Mark Zuckerberg's broader shift toward what he calls "free expression" on the company’s platforms. "We’re going to take time to …
Facebook Users Reporting Outage Facebook Users Reporting Outage
Facebook Users Reporting Outage Multiple Facebook users were reporting an outage Wednesday night, Feb. 26. Down Detector showed a spike sometime after 9 p.m. As of 9:25 p.m. a message on the Facebook website, owned by Meta, reads "Sorry, something went wrong. We're working on getting this fixed as soon as we can." Meanwhile, multiple users ran to X to report, and ask about, the outage. Facebook is down. — Samantha Lee (@AsianOptionGirl) February 27, 2025 Is Facebook down? — Rodjhun B. Navarro (@Rodjhun) February 27, 2025
Expectant Dad Killed During Dispute In Maryland Expectant Dad Killed During Dispute In Maryland
Expectant Dad Killed During Dispute In Maryland Courtney Zentz and Trevor Dean Van Devander were months away from their happy ending before he became one of Montgomery County's first victims of gun violence in 2025. In early January 2025, Van Devander was involved in a dispute with Benjamin Jack Dresbach in Kensington, resulting in the expectant 29-year-old father's murder. The unexpected death left Zentz and their 6-year-old son to fend for themselves as they continue to cope with a new normal following the fatal shooting. "I’m unemployed at this time and we don’t know when we will begin receiving survivor benefits," she wrote in a GoF…
Earn Your Scroll: New App Makes You Walk To Unlock Social Media Earn Your Scroll: New App Makes You Walk To Unlock Social Media
Earn Your Scroll: New App Makes You Walk To Unlock Social Media A new app is fighting against doomscrolling and helping users get active by turning steps into screen time. Steppin' blocks you from using certain apps unless you walk a certain number of daily steps. The app was founded by Boston entrepreneur Paul English, who's also a co-founder of travel search engine Kayak.com. Steppin' rewards physical activity by tying screen time to movement. For every 100 steps, users earn one minute of access to restricted apps, including social media apps like Facebook and Instagram, as well as other platforms like Netflix. The app's settings are fully …
Meta To Cut 5% Of Lowest-Performing Workers, Zuckerberg Braces For 'Intense Year': Reports Meta To Cut 5% Of Lowest-Performing Workers, Zuckerberg Braces For 'Intense Year': Reports
Meta To Cut 5% Of Lowest-Performing Workers, Zuckerberg Braces For 'Intense Year': Reports Meta will cut thousands of employees in the latest move for the controversial company that owns platforms like Facebook and Instagram, according to reports. An internal memo sent to Meta workers said five percent of low-performing employees will be terminated, Bloomberg News reported. The company that also owns WhatsApp and Threads has more than 72,000 employees, according to Meta's most recent quarterly report. A five-percent reduction would mean about 3,600 people could lose their jobs. "I've decided to raise the bar on performance management and move out low-performers faster,…
Meta Drops Fact-Checking Program Ahead Of Trump's White House Return, Company Says Meta Drops Fact-Checking Program Ahead Of Trump's White House Return, Company Says
Meta Drops Fact-Checking Program Ahead Of Trump's White House Return, Company Says Meta is dismantling its third-party fact-checking program in the U.S. and aims to bring back political content as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House, the company said. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the changes in a video statement on Tuesday, Jan. 7. The company that owns Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads, will replace its fact-checking program with a Community Notes system similar to the one implemented on X (formerly Twitter). Zuckerberg said the new system's goal is to reduce bias and restore free expression. "Fact-checkers have be…
ChatGPT Goes Down, X Users Coming In Hot With Memes ChatGPT Goes Down, X Users Coming In Hot With Memes
ChatGPT Goes Down, X Users Coming In Hot With Memes Hours after a Meta outage left Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp users in the dark, ChatGPT seems to be following suit. Users of the AI website began experiencing technical difficulties sometime around 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11. A message on the website as of 9:20 p.m. reads: "ChatGPT is currently unavailable. Status: Identified - We have identified the issue and are working to roll out a fix." Naturally, X users had a field day. #ChatGPT is down. Looks like everyone will have to finish their assignments the old fashioned way. pic.twitter.com/68xVq9DNf8 — Xon Kurama (@XonKurama) Decemb…
Meta Outages: Thousands Experiencing Issues With Facebook, Instagram, Other Platforms Meta Outages: Thousands Experiencing Issues With Facebook, Instagram, Other Platforms
Meta Outages: Thousands Experiencing Issues With Facebook, Instagram, Other Platforms Tens of thousands of Meta users are experiencing outages across its platforms. Just before 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11, there were numerous reports of outages on Downdetector.com, including 69,000 on Instagram, over 1,000 on Facebook, and 10,000 on WhatsApp. Meta issued a statement on the outages on X at around 1:45 p.m. "We’re aware that a technical issue is impacting some users’ ability to access our apps," the statement said. "We’re working to get things back to normal as quickly as possible and apologize for any inconvenience." We’re aware that a technical issue is impacting some use…