X has launched a History tab that brings together bookmarks, liked posts, watched videos and read articles into one easy-to-find place. https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/13/x-launches-a-history-tab-for-bookmarks-likes-videos-and-articles/ #Media #SocialMedia #Platform

Meta has added an incognito mode to WhatsApp that prevents its AI chatbot Meta AI from accessing chat history. The feature allows users to disable the AI entirely, addressing concerns that the chatbot was reading conversations to train its models. It follows similar moves by Snap and Microsoft to limit AI data access after user backlash over privacy. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/meta-unveils-incognito-mode-for-whatsapp-to-address-privacy-concerns/820196/ #Media #SocialMedia

Former Meta news chief Campbell Brown has founded Forum AI to evaluate how AI models perform on high-stakes topics like geopolitics and mental health. Her company recruits experts including former Secretary of State Tony Blinken to create benchmarks and train AI judges. Brown says accuracy was never a priority for AI companies focused on coding and math. https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/13/who-decides-what-ai-tells-you-campbell-brown-once-metas-news-chief-has-thoughts/ #Media #SocialMedia #AI

Instagram has introduced a new Instants feature for sharing real-life moments, but many users are searching for ways to turn it off after accidentally sharing photos with others. The feature, which allows users to send photos that disappear after being viewed, has raised privacy concerns among users who do not fully understand how it works. https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/14/how-to-turn-of-instagrams-new-instants-feature-and-retract-photos-you-accidentally-shared/ #Media #SocialMedia #Instagram

DOGE cuts to USAID linked to 6.5% higher conflict risk in Africa - study. Regions most dependent on US aid saw sharp rise in violence after aid cuts. https://www.404media.co/doge-cuts-unleashed-a-deadly-wave-of-violence-across-africa-study-finds/ #Media #SocialMedia #AI

Overseas social media accounts spreading anti-UK narratives traced to Sri Lanka and Vietnam used AI-generated videos, BBC finds. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgpyn30dp3o #Media #SocialMedia #AI

ArXiv, the open-access preprint repository, will ban researchers for a year if they submit AI-generated papers judged to contain "incontrovertible evidence" of unchecked LLM output. The new policy targets hallucinated references and meta-comments from AI. https://www.404media.co/new-arxiv-rules-ai-generated-papers-ban/ #Media #SocialMedia #AI

X has pledged to review reports of suspected illegal hate and terrorist content in the UK within 24 hours on average, under commitments accepted by Ofcom. The platform will submit performance data every three months for a year to monitor whether it meets the targets. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyp9652v18o #Media #SocialMedia

Undercover investigation reveals parties spent thousands on AI-generated content targeting Welsh voters on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok and Snapchat during the Senedd election campaign. A researcher created six fictional voters to track what content appeared in their feeds.https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czd2j37n3vpo #Media #SocialMedia #SocialNews

The AI skills arms race is coming for automotive. General Motors has laid off more than 10% of its IT department - about 600 salaried employees - in a deliberate skills swap to recruit workers with AI-focused backgrounds. Companies including Ford, GM and Stellantis have cut a combined 20,000 US salaried jobs this decade, with AI driving the changes. https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/17/techcrunch-mobility-the-ai-skills-arms-race-is-coming-for-automotive/ #Media #SocialMedia #AI

YouTube is adding Chapters and Title Cards to its Connected TV app, along with Like Counts and Immersive Headers, designed to improve the experience for living room viewers. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/youtube-adds-chapters-and-title-cards-to-ctv/820441/ #Media #SocialMedia #Video

Meta is introducing AI-powered age checks that scan photos, videos and profile content to estimate user age and identify underage accounts. The new Family Centre will let parents monitor topics their teens follow across Facebook, Instagram and Messenger. However, success depends on teens accepting parental invitations and the known limitations of age assurance technology. https://theconversation.com/metas-new-tools-allow-parents-to-better-supervise-their-kids-social-media-accounts-will-they-work-283073 #Media #SocialMedia #DataPrivacy

Amazon's Alexa+ can now generate custom podcast episodes on demand. Users simply ask the assistant to create a show about any topic, and AI-generated host voices narrate the result. The feature rolls out in the US today. https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/18/amazons-new-alexa-powered-feature-can-generate-podcast-episodes/ #Media #SocialMedia #AI

LinkedIn is rolling out AI-generated targeted outreach to top candidates for promoted roles via its Hiring Pro tool. Recruiters can now send AI-composed InMail messages, automating candidate vetting with minimal manual input. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/linkedin-adds-ai-powered-job-outreach/820548/ #Media #AIMedia #LinkedIn

SBI Group plans crypto ETFs via a Franklin Templeton joint venture, targeting 31.5B USD AUM within three years. The FSA aims to enable crypto ETF trading on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by 2028, tapping Japan’s 14.8 trillion USD household savings through 28 million NISA accounts. https://cryptoslate.com/bitcoin-etf-japan-sbi-household-savings/ #Blockchain #Crypto #Institutional

Status AI raises 17M USD to turn social media into interactive entertainment, where users become characters in user-generated worlds and play inside their favourite TV shows, films or as celebrities with millions of followers. The app has seen 13M worlds created and 5M character profiles, aiming to replace passive feed-scrolling with immersive social gaming. https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/19/gamified-social-media-network-status-announces-17m-funding-to-help-usher-in-new-era-of-social-networking/ #Media #SocialMedia #Gaming

Meta is reassigning 7,000 workers to AI projects and cutting 8,000 staff as the social media giant replaces human roles with AI systems. The company is creating four new AI-focused organisations with fewer managers per employee. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/meta-reassigns-workers-to-ai-projects-cuts-8k-staff/820660/ #Media #AI #Meta

A realtime deepfake app called Delulu allows streamers to impersonate celebrities in live video. A streamer used it to appear as Mr Beast and make false abuse claims, sparking fresh concerns about AI-powered impersonation misuse. https://www.404media.co/streamer-realtime-deepfakes-himself-into-mr-beast-says-he-loves-touching-little-boys/ #Media #SocialMedia #AI

Township leader resigns in tears after receiving death threats over OpenAI and Oracle's Stargate data centre project in Michigan. The planned facility has sparked fierce local opposition. https://www.404media.co/township-leader-resigns-in-tears-over-openai-data-center-death-threats/ #Media #SocialMedia #AI

Researchers analysed real TikTok viewing histories of 142 young men in Australia, the US and UK. The study identified three tiers of masculinity content on the platform, from innocent fitness tips to harmful material. It is the first research to use actual user data instead of simulations. https://theconversation.com/we-analysed-the-tiktok-history-of-142-men-heres-what-it-taught-us-about-the-manosphere-282156 #Media #SocialMedia #TikTok