Month: October 2023

Temu’s meteoric growth – and its astronomical marketing budget – has experts asking whether its business model is sustainable A chicken-shaped lamp. A toilet paper holder in the shape of a smiling velociraptor. An apron that catches beard hair during shaving. The list of unusual products goes on. Among the more everyday items are cleaning …

Addictive, absurdly cheap and controversial: the rise of China’s Temu app Read More »

Securities and Exchange Commission inquiring whether Musk broke federal law in 2022 when he bought stock in the platform Elon Musk is under investigation by the US Securities and Exchange Commission over his $44bn takeover of social media giant Twitter, it was revealed on Thursday. The investigation concerns whether Musk broke federal securities laws in …

Elon Musk under investigation by US agency for $44bn takeover of Twitter Read More »

The millennial tech journalist speaks with the activist about surviving merciless harassment, the media’s double standards on gender, and why they still have hope Occasionally, during an otherwise impassioned conversation about mental health, social media and the perils of being online while female, Taylor Lorenz and Monica Lewinsky will start laughing. It is usually Lewinsky …

‘The internet is vicious and toxic, but I’d never go back to the 90s’: Taylor Lorenz talks to Monica Lewinsky Read More »

In this week’s newsletter: Guests from John Oliver to Jen Brister join the comedian to select their most precious possessions in Wonderbox. Plus: five of the best podcasts about sporting heroes • Don’t get Hear Here delivered to your inbox? Sign up here WonderboxWidely available, episodes weekly from WedSam Ryder’s obsession with mid-90s F1, Munya …

Best podcasts of the week: Russell Howard and friends reveal their most precious possessions Read More »

Hilarity and pathos intertwine in this likable comedy as the smartphone creators go loopy with wealth – and slack-jawed when the iPhone spoils the party Here is a punchy Canadian comedy-drama in that burgeoning true-life genre which could loosely be called Tech Startup Hubris; we’ve seen Dumb Money (about GameStop), WeCrashed (about WeWork), and The …

Blackberry review – souped-up account of the rise and fall of ‘Crackberry’ Read More »

The change came after owner Elon Musk said it would ‘improve the esthetics’ as platform becomes increasingly hostile for news organisations X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, has stopped showing headlines for links posted on the site, after site owner Elon Musk said it would make posts look better. Links posted on Twitter now …

X, formerly Twitter, strips headlines from news story links to improve their look Read More »

Readers argue that Gillian Keegan’s plan to ban mobile phones in schools is not needed and won’t work Your editorial on phones in schools (2 October) makes the point that most secondary schools already have clear policies to deal with this issue. The comprehensive school with 1,800 pupils that I last taught at allowed pupils …

Proposed school phone ban is another pointless Tory policy | Letters Read More »

New phones with better cameras and heat sensing announced alongside Pixel Watch 2 and Android 14 Google’s latest smartphone launch packs its Pixel devices with AI, an object-measuring temperature sensor and extended software support for up to seven years. Announced alongside the second-generation of its Pixel smartwatch and the launch of Android 14, the Pixel …

Google Pixel 8 Pro launched with thermometer and seven years of updates Read More »

US student safety not improved by surveillance technology such as cameras and facial recognition software, research shows An ACLU report has found that despite claims from companies, surveillance technology in US schools does not improve student safety and constant surveillance can, in fact, cause a number of harms to students including making students less likely …

School surveillance tech does more harm than good, ACLU report finds Read More »

For 15 years, Brent Lee spent hours each day consuming ‘truther’ content online. Then he logged off. Can he convince his former friends to question their worldview? Brent Lee struggles to explain why he used to believe that a cabal of evil satanic paedophiles was working to establish a new world order. He pauses, looks …

Escape from the rabbit hole: the conspiracy theorist who abandoned his dangerous beliefs Read More »