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Paid over six months to TikTokkers willing to jump ship and go Instagram-exclusive. Meta’s contracts, which were sent to certain influencers with 1 million followers or more, are broken down into tiers (paywall link). The top one pays $50,000 a month to post 10 Reels between 15 seconds and 3 minutes in length. I’d take that hourly rate.
Tags: influencers, Meta
I’ve been saying it for years: The country that masters AI will dominate the world economically, politically and militarily. Since ChatGPT dropped, the U.S. seemed untouchable. Most of us Americans assumed we were a couple of years ahead of China in terms of AI, but the game has changed — and fast.
💸 Good news, shoppers: Amazon is now legally required to post recall notices and product alerts on its site. If you purchased a recalled or defective item, whether from Amazon or a third party, you’ll be notified via email, and recall details will be on your orders page or this recalls page.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Under the radar: A flaw in Microsoft’s Windows BitLocker encryption system could expose your sensitive data, including passwords in unencrypted form. BitLocker is meant to protect your data if your laptop or PC is stolen by encrypting your hard drive. The fix? Update to the latest version of Windows. PSA: I only work with brands I trust to keep you secure. Hit this page to see the five must-have tools I recommend.
💀 Dreadful discovery: A Maryland woman went to get a new driver’s license, only to find she’d been declared legally dead. The culprit? A typo that registered her Social Security number to someone who’d passed away. The mistake led to her health insurance being canceled and her medical bills piling up. What a nightmare.
Age isn’t a number; it’s a word: Several states now require you to verify your age before accessing porn. To do this, you’ll need to upload a government ID, submit a facial scan or other biometric data, or let a third party verify your identity. That sounds great, but these sites store your data, making it vulnerable to hackers and potentially exposing the fact you watched “The Boobyguard,” not “The Bodyguard.”
🚀 Own a piece of SpaceX: Earlier this month, SpaceX tested its Starship for the seventh time, and the upper half of the rocket exploded over the Turks and Caicos. Folks there are finding pieces on the beach and selling them on eBay. Sellers are asking for anywhere from $200 to $5,000 for a chunk of the debris (paywall link).
Drones are back: Folks in the Northeast are seeing more mysterious drones since the FAA lifted its temporary ban. Enigma Labs, a research company studying unidentified phenomena, says they’ve received 49 reports this month alone in New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia and Pennsylvania. I still say they’re hobby drones pulling a prank.
🚨 A new AI-based hoax: Don’t fall for a news video claiming you’re wanted for a crime. These videos look real, complete with legitimate branding like CNN logos, on-screen text describing the incident with your name and an AI newsreader reporting it. The scammers threaten to share it with your friends and family unless you pay up.
🚊 All aboard: The rail system in Japan is amazing. Now, passengers can use facial recognition to pay for tickets. Here’s how it works: Book a seat online and register an image of your face. When you get to the gate, a tablet scans your face and prints out a seat number — no waiting. Don’t be surprised if this tech makes its way to the U.S. for airline tickets.
A grave situation: People are turning to grief apps like Untangle to cope with the loss of loved ones. These apps let you connect with other mourners, share stories and get advice from AI chatbots. But what about data collection? Many of the apps’ developers sell your info to third parties, who could exploit your mental state.
