Tag: Instagram

Men Are Betting on WNBA Players’ Menstrual Cycles

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The “woosh” of a dildo flying past your face. Tribalistic chants. Men making bets on your bodily functions.

This isn’t a cult—this is a day in the life of a modern-day WNBA player.

That last indignity on the list? It’s a sports betting strategy that’s been getting increasing play over the course of this WNBA season, which is wrapping up as the Las Vegas Aces and Phoenix Mercury face off in the finals. Dozens of dedicated gamblers online are making bets on players’ potential performance based on their “predictions” (or, rather, assumptions) about their menstrual cycles. Some actually call it “blood money,” because … of course they do.

One prominent figure making and predicting these wagers, who goes by FadeMeBets online, has garnered thousands of likes and shares on Instagram for his menstrual cycle betting strategy. He claims he’s been correct on 11 out of 16 of his period-related predictions, with about 68.75 percent accuracy. “What’s kind of good, but also kind of bad, is it brings more people to watch the WNBA, but, on the downside of that, it’s usually just all gamblers,” says FadeMeBets, who declined to be named, citing privacy concerns.

This WNBA season has been a record-breaker—more fans in the stands, more eyes on the screen, more viral moments. The league announced that attendance passed a historic 2.5 million earlier this summer. Meanwhile, high-profile players like Angel Reese, Paige Bueckers, and Caitlin Clark have added a boost and become household names.

The newfound interest in the league has more men watching the sport than women, and the overwhelming rise of sports gambling means some of them are betting on the games—and the players’ periods—which experts warn isn’t just pseudoscientific, but sexist, too.

“Not every woman is the same. Yes, there’s the traditional 28-day cycle, but everyone’s is different, and it varies person to person, month by month,” says Amy West, a sports medicine physician. “Someone being able to predict that? Someone who’s not very close to the menstruating person? It’s actually kind of silly.”

Methods to the Madness

FadeMeBets admits that predicting WNBA player performance based on menstrual cycle assumptions is more art than science. His typical menstrual cycle prediction videos all start with the vaguely menacing phrase: “We’ve got a victim, boys.” (By this, he says the victim is the betting line—the odds set out by sportsbooks that determine a person’s payout—not the player herself.) He then shares predictions about whether a specific player is menstruating, ovulating, or in their late luteal phase, which occurs after ovulation and before the period comes. For instance, he said this summer of Clark: “She is on the end of her late luteal phase, meaning a decrease in cardio, decrease in strength, decrease in aerobic system, she’s going to be tired more often than in a normal game.”

FadeMeBets told viewers to “bet the under” on Clark that game, projecting that she’d score lower than the number predicted by oddsmakers on sports betting apps, and, in this case, Clark did.

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Molly Longman

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October 10, 2025
How to Create AI Videos For Insta Stories Using Meta AI
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Yes, you can either save and then post it as a reel, or you can directly add the AI video to your Instagram story.

Now, as you can see in the final video, the details are a bit blurry, and the movement is not that precise.

You have to pay a decent amount of money to get thier access, and while Meta is free, the result it is producing is not great, but not bad either.
Meta is rolling out new updates, and this time, the latest addition is in the Meta App itself. With this new update, you will be able to create some super cool AI-generated videos and also share them for engagement. The Meta app also has a separate feed where you can see videos from other creators. You can now directly share or create these videos from Instagram, and the process is seamless. If you are wondering just how good the videos are, then rest assured. This article will tell you how you can create your own AI videos and whether they are actually good.

Use AI to Create Instagram Story Videos

In the coming years, I can see AI agents and AI avatars replacing human creators. Meta is a perfect case study. First, they embedded AI chatbots onto their platforms, then they introduced AI chatbots, and now they have opened the channels for everyone to create their own AI videos and post them for engagement. However, the quality of the said videos is not that great if you compare them with other video generators such as Sora 2 or HeyGen. However, both Sora and HeyGen are not that accessible to the general audience; you have to pay a decent amount of money to get thier access, and while Meta is free, the result it is producing is not great, but not bad either. You can create some fun videos, but if you are looking to get hyper-realistic images, then you are shaking the wrong tree.

How you can Create Your Very Own AI Videos

This is a fairly simple process. All you need to do is head over to the Story section of Instagram and then follow the steps mentioned below.

1. Swipe right and tap on AI Images.

2. Then you will land on a preview page, and on that page tap on the Blue Try It button.

3. Doing this will land you on the Meta App and then tap on the ‘+’ icon on the top right.

4. Enter your prompt into the text box below and then tap on the Blue arrow on the bottom right.

5. You will get four images, and if you want to convert them into a video, then tap on the image of your choice.

6. From the extended menu, click on the Animate button. Enter the prompt for your video.

7. Once it is done processing, you can add music to the video. Simply tap on the Music icon.

8. You also get other options like Edit, Restyle, and Extend.

9. To share the video, click on the icon on the top right and choose your preferred option.

Now, as you can see in the final video, the details are a bit blurry, and the movement is not that precise. However, if you prompt it correctly and do some editing, you will have a better result. Also, for a feature that is still in development, it is quite good and will keep on getting better with updates.

FAQs

Q. How many videos in a day can we create using the Meta app?

As of now, there is no limit on the video generation feature. I have generated more than five videos in a day and also edited them.

Q. Can I share the AI videos directly on my Instagram Story?

Yes, you can either save and then post it as a reel, or you can directly add the AI video to your Instagram story. Simply tap on the Share button and then choose the option to Add to Instagram Story.

Wrapping Up

This article covers the new video generation feature of the Meta App. Meta is trying to build its own ecosystem of AI platforms and use cases. There is a dedicated feed in the Meta app that allows you to see the creations of other creators. With the right updates, this feature can be the next big thing for Meta.

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Dev Chaudhary

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October 8, 2025
North Texas content creators: from side hustles to successful influencer careers

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Social media content creators and influencers are all over Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

It’s estimated that thousands of them are living in North Texas. But how much are they earning from it, and could anyone be successful at it?

Meet the DFW content creators and influencers

You’ll find Courtney Stensland at the fair, on the field and and anywhere there’s good food.

You might find Krystyan Lazarin there as well, or promoting a sports line and skin care.

Cord Green is a chef cooking up classics and cashing in while doing it from the comfort of his own kitchen.

They are DFW social media influencers who took a big risk leaving behind 9-to-5 office jobs to build what have become successful careers in a growing industry.

“You know, I worked in corporate America, different jobs, and then, during the pandemic, is when I came back around to trying to do our YouTube,” said Green.

“I’ve been in that 9-to-5 job,” said Lazarin, a social media creator/influencer. “You know, I had a job where I was traveling an hour to and from work, and it was almost like, ‘wow, I’m making great money, but I’m not happy because I’m not able to use it.’”

“I actually was really scared to go, you know, more full-time,” said Stensland, a social media creator/influencer. “I quit my corporate job two years ago.”

Getting started: advice from content creators and influencers

These content creators say they are now getting by on the income from being online entrepreneurs. We spent time with them to find out how they do it and how you can as well.

In Green’s case, he’s now authored a popular line of cookbooks for his YouTube followers because he looks at them as more than just numbers.

“Focus on community is not about the number of followers that you have, but the quality of followers that you have,” Green said.

Stensland says the key to standing above others in her profession, as she has, is to know your audience and only promote what you actually like.

“Since I’m from Dallas, I want people to love Dallas as much as I do,” said Stensland. “It’s easy when you’re promoting things you use every day.”

Lazarin evolved from being a top amateur tennis and pickleball player, and now, with more than 400,000 followers, says he has more branding opportunities to make money than he can handle.

But he says you have to be willing to invest in quality equipment.

“So a lot of people don’t know, you know, like that will come out of my pocket, but I want to make sure I give the best quality content, whether it’s on my page or for a company I’m working with,” said Lazarin. “But I have probably four or five different editing apps that I will use in terms of video or photo.”

You might have to settle for just getting free products or services at the beginning of a content creator career.

But those who do it say, as their base grows, the $200, $500 and $1,000 payments for postings start adding up.

There are 50 million global content creators, according to research by the Wall Street Journal, which found that only 13% earn over $100,000 annually.

From side hustle to full-time job

But the money people make from it is expected to double in 2 years to $480 billion.

It started out as a side hustle for these North Texans who say if you post consistently and follow their paths, it can eventually pay off.

“You’re not going to know what you’re doing, but that’s the beauty of it,” said Green.

More from CBS News

J.D. Miles

J.D. Miles is an award-winning reporter who has been covering North Texas for CBS 11 since 1996.

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October 7, 2025
Meta strengthens teen safety with expanded accounts
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Meta is rolling out new protections aimed at making social media safer for young people. In September 2024, Instagram introduced Teen Accounts, which come with built-in safeguards that limit who can contact teens, what content they see and how long they spend on the app.

Since then, adoption has been strong: 97% of teens ages 13-15 kept the default settings, and 94% of parents say Teen Accounts are helpful. Now, Meta is expanding those protections beyond Instagram. Teen Accounts are coming to Facebook and Messenger worldwide, bringing stronger safety standards to more of the apps teens use every day.

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Meta’s new Teen Accounts automatically limit who can contact teens online. (Meta)

Meta Teen Accounts bring stronger safety tools

Teen Accounts automatically apply safety limits, including:
- Restrictions on who can send direct messages.
- Filtering to reduce exposure to sensitive or harmful content.
- Time management tools to encourage healthier app use.
Meta says these measures address parents’ top concerns, giving teens more control while reassuring families that their online experiences are safer.

Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, emphasized the goal, saying, “We want parents to feel good about their teens using social media. … Teen Accounts are designed to give parents peace of mind.”

Critics and researchers question Meta’s teen safety tools

However, not everyone agrees that these protections go far enough. Research regarding the effectiveness of Instagram’s teen safety features, as reported by child-safety advocacy groups and corroborated by researchers at Northeastern University (Sept. 25, 2025), paints a different picture. The study found that only eight of 47 safety features tested were fully effective, and internal documents suggest that Meta was aware of some shortcomings. Critics also argued that certain protections, like manual comment-hiding, place the burden on teens themselves rather than preventing harm upfront. They questioned whether time management tools were robust enough, giving some features middling grades despite functioning as described.

“Misleading and dangerously speculative reports such as this one undermine the important conversation about teen safety,” Meta told CyberGuy, “This report repeatedly misrepresents our efforts to empower parents and protect teens, misstating how our safety tools work and how millions of parents and teens are using them today.

“Teen Accounts lead the industry because they provide automatic safety protections and straightforward parental controls. The reality is teens who were placed into these protections saw less sensitive content, experienced less unwanted contact and spent less time on Instagram at night. Parents also have robust tools at their fingertips, from limiting usage to monitoring interactions. We’ll continue improving our tools, and we welcome constructive feedback. But this report is not that.”

INSTAGRAM FRIEND MAP FEATURE SPARKS PRIVACY QUESTIONS

Parents have more peace of mind because they can add a guardian to the account. (Meta)

Meta expands teen safety with school partnerships

Meta is also extending protections to the classroom. The School Partnership Program is now available to every middle school and high school in the U.S. Through this program, educators can report issues such as bullying or unsafe content directly from Instagram.

Reports receive prioritized review, typically within 48 hours. Schools that join also get:
- Access to educational resources on online safety.
- A banner on their profile signaling official partnership.
- Faster escalation paths to address urgent safety concerns.
Educators who piloted the program praised the improved response times and stronger protections for students.

There are more protections for teens in the Teen Account than a normal account. (Meta)

Meta launches online safety lessons for students

Beyond apps and schools, Meta partnered with Childhelp to create a nationwide online safety curriculum tailored for middle schoolers. The lessons cover how to recognize online exploitation, what steps to take if a friend needs help and how to use reporting tools effectively.

The program has already reached hundreds of thousands of students, with a goal of teaching one million middle school students in the coming year. A peer-led version, developed with LifeSmarts, empowers high school students to share the curriculum with younger peers, making the safety conversation more relatable.

META DELETES 10 MILLION FACEBOOK ACCOUNTS THIS YEAR, BUT WHY?

Meta’s curriculum includes settings for children to stay safer online. (Meta)

What this means for you

For parents, Teen Accounts mean extra protection is in place without needing a complicated setup. Your teen gets safer defaults by default, giving you peace of mind. For educators, the School Partnership Program provides a direct connection to Meta, ensuring reports of unsafe behavior get attention quickly. Students benefit too, with a curriculum designed to give them practical tools for navigating online life safely.

At the same time, the pushback from critics highlights that there is still debate about whether these safeguards go far enough. While Meta insists its tools work as intended, watchdogs argue that protecting teens online requires even stronger measures.

Take my quiz: How safe is your online security?

Think your devices and data are truly protected? Take this quick quiz to see where your digital habits stand. From passwords to Wi-Fi settings, you’ll get a personalized breakdown of what you’re doing right and what needs improvement. Take my Quiz here: CyberGuy.com/Quiz

Kurt’s key takeaways

Meta’s expansion of Teen Accounts marks a major shift in how social platforms approach safety. By adding built-in protections, the company reduces risks for teens without requiring parents to manage every setting. At the same time, the School Partnership Program gives educators new tools to protect students in real time. The online safety curriculum goes one step further by teaching kids how to recognize threats and respond confidently. Still, advocacy groups and independent researchers question whether these efforts are enough, and Meta’s strong defense shows just how high the stakes are in the teen safety debate. As teens spend more of their lives online, the responsibility to protect them grows. The real test will be how well these tools hold up against evolving online threats.

Do you think Meta’s new measures are enough to protect teens, or should tech companies do even more? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com/Contact

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Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.

Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.
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October 4, 2025
Meta account suspension scam hides FileFix malware

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NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Cybercriminals continue to find new ways to target social media users, and Meta accounts remain one of the most common lures. Losing access to Facebook or Instagram can have real consequences for both individuals and businesses, making people more likely to fall for urgent security warnings. Attackers exploit this by sending convincing notifications that pressure you into taking quick action without thinking.

That’s exactly what makes the new FileFix campaign so dangerous; it looks like routine account maintenance, but it’s really a trap.

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HOW FAKE MICROSOFT ALERTS TRICK YOU INTO PHISHING SCAMS

Cybercriminals are targeting Facebook and Instagram accounts by sending fake security warnings. (Fox News)

How the FileFix attack works

As reported by researchers at Acronis, a leading cybersecurity and data protection company, the attack begins with a phishing page that looks like a message from Meta’s support team, claiming that your account will be disabled in seven days unless you view an “incident report.” Instead of providing an actual document, the page disguises a malicious PowerShell command as a file path.

Victims are instructed to copy it, open File Explorer, and paste it into the address bar. While it appears harmless, this action secretly runs code that starts the malware infection process.

This method is part of a family of attacks known as ClickFix, where people are tricked into pasting commands into system dialogs. FileFix, created by Red Team researcher mr.d0x, builds on that idea by exploiting the File Explorer address bar instead. In this campaign, the attackers improved the trick by hiding the malicious command behind long strings of spaces, so only the fake file path is visible to the victim.

A hidden script then downloads what looks like a JPG image from Bitbucket, but the file contains embedded code. Once executed, it extracts another script and decrypts the final payload, bypassing many security tools in the process.

DON’T FALL FOR THIS BANK PHISHING SCAM TRICK

FileFix sends out fake alerts urging users to review their account security. (Acronis)

What StealC tries to steal

The malware delivered by this campaign is StealC, an infostealer that collects a wide range of personal and organizational data. It is designed to grab browser credentials and authentication cookies from Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and other browsers.

It also targets messaging apps like Discord, Telegram and Pidgin, along with cryptocurrency wallets such as Bitcoin, Ethereum and Exodus. StealC goes further by attempting to compromise cloud accounts from Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Azure, VPN services like ProtonVPN and even gaming accounts from Battle.net and Ubisoft. In addition, it can take screenshots of the victim’s desktop, giving attackers a live view of sensitive activity.

Acronis reported that the campaign has already appeared in several different versions over a short period, with changes in payloads and infrastructure. This suggests that the attackers are actively testing and refining their methods to avoid detection and improve success rates.

META DELETES 10 MILLION FACEBOOK ACCOUNTS THIS YEAR, BUT WHY?

StealC also targets VPN software and cryptocurrency wallets. (iStock)

5 ways you can protect yourself from FileFix attacks

To stay protected against attacks like FileFix and prevent malware such as StealC from stealing sensitive information, you need to combine caution with practical security measures. The following steps can help safeguard accounts, devices, and personal data.

1) Be skeptical of urgent warnings

Attackers rely on panic. Treat any message claiming your Meta account or other services will be disabled within days with caution. Verify the alert directly through official platforms rather than clicking links or following instructions from an email or web page.

2) Avoid copying commands from unknown sources

FileFix relies on convincing you to paste hidden PowerShell commands disguised as file paths. Never paste commands into system dialogs, File Explorer, or terminals unless you are absolutely certain of their origin.

3) Invest in personal data removal services

FileFix and StealC thrive on the information they can extract from a device or linked accounts. By using data removal services, you reduce the amount of sensitive personal information that can be found online or left exposed on old platforms. This minimizes what attackers can exploit if they manage to gain access.

While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice. They aren’t cheap, and neither is your privacy. These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. It’s what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you.

Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com/Delete

Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com/FreeScan

4) Install reliable antivirus software

A strong antivirus software can detect malware like StealC before it fully executes. Many solutions now include behavior-based detection that can flag suspicious scripts or hidden downloads, helping catch threats even when attackers try to disguise commands as harmless actions.

The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.

Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com/LockUpYourTech

5) Use a password manager

While FileFix targets stored credentials, using a reputable password manager reduces risk by creating unique passwords for every site. This way, even if one browser or app is compromised, attackers cannot access your accounts elsewhere.

Next, see if your email has been exposed in past breaches. Our #1 password manager (see Cyberguy.com/Passwords) pick includes a built-in breach scanner that checks whether your email address or passwords have appeared in known leaks. If you discover a match, immediately change any reused passwords and secure those accounts with new, unique credentials.

Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2025 at Cyberguy.com/Passwords

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Kurt’s key takeaway

Cybercriminals keep finding creative ways to trick social media users, and FileFix proves how convincing these scams can look. A fake Meta alert may feel urgent, but pausing before you click or copy anything is the best defense. Relying on strong habits and security tools gives you the upper hand. Data removal services, antivirus software, and password managers each reduce risk in different ways. When you combine them, you make it much harder for attackers to turn a scare tactic into a real threat.

Should platforms like Meta do more to warn users about these evolving phishing tactics? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com/Contact

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Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts, and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide — free when you join my CYBERGUY.COM/NEWSLETTER

Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.

Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

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October 3, 2025
ICE Wants to Build Out a 24/7 Social Media Surveillance Team

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United States immigration authorities are moving to dramatically expand their social media surveillance, with plans to hire nearly 30 contractors to sift through posts, photos, and messages—raw material to be transformed into intelligence for deportation raids and arrests.

Federal contracting records reviewed by WIRED show that the agency is seeking private vendors to run a multiyear surveillance program out of two of its little-known targeting centers. The program envisions stationing nearly 30 private analysts at Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities in Vermont and Southern California. Their job: Scour Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and other platforms, converting posts and profiles into fresh leads for enforcement raids.

The initiative is still at the request-for-information stage, a step agencies use to gauge interest from contractors before an official bidding process. But draft planning documents show the scheme is ambitious: ICE wants a contractor capable of staffing the centers around the clock, constantly processing cases on tight deadlines, and supplying the agency with the latest and greatest subscription-based surveillance software.

The facilities at the heart of this plan are two of ICE’s three targeting centers, responsible for producing leads that feed directly into the agency’s enforcement operations. The National Criminal Analysis and Targeting Center sits in Williston, Vermont. It handles cases across much of the eastern US. The Pacific Enforcement Response Center, based in Santa Ana, California, oversees the western region and is designed to run 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Internal planning documents show that each site would be staffed with a mix of senior analysts, shift leads, and rank-and-file researchers. Vermont would see a team of a dozen contractors, including a program manager and 10 analysts. California would host a larger, nonstop watch floor with 16 staff. At all times, at least one senior analyst and three researchers would be on duty at the Santa Ana site.

Together, these teams would operate as intelligence arms of ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations division. They will receive tips and incoming cases, research individuals online, and package the results into dossiers that could be used by field offices to plan arrests.

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Dell Cameron

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October 3, 2025
Meta Will Soon Personalize Ads Based on What Users Type Into Its AI Tools

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Meta Platforms said on Wednesday it would begin using people’s interactions with its generative AI tools to personalize content and advertising across its apps such as Facebook and Instagram starting on December 16.

Users will be notified of the changes from October 7 and they will not have an option to opt out, the social media giant said, though the update applies only to those who use Meta AI.

Meta said users’ interactions with its AI features, whether by voice or text, would be added to existing data such as likes and follows to shape recommendations for content and ads, including Reels and ads. For example, a user talking about hiking with Meta AI could later be shown hiking groups, friends’ trail updates or ads for boots.

“People’s interactions simply are going to be another piece of the input that will inform the personalization of feeds and ads,” said Christy Harris, privacy policy manager at Meta. “We’re still in the process of building the first offerings that will make use of this data.”

An Inc.com Featured Presentation

When people have conversations with Meta AI about more sensitive topics such as their religious views, sexual orientation, political views, health, racial or ethnic origin, Meta will not use those topics to show them ads, it said.

The rollout will begin in most regions on December 16 and expand over time, excluding the UK, the European Union and South Korea.

Meta AI now has 1 billion monthly active users across the company’s family of apps.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg said at the company’s annual shareholder meeting this year that the “focus for this year is deepening the experience and making Meta AI the leading personal AI with an emphasis on personalization, voice conversations and entertainment.”

Meta launched its first consumer-ready smart glasses with a built-in display at its annual Connect conference last month.

The company’s use of AI interactions for ads comes as other tech giants, including Google and Amazon, have begun monetizing AI tools, often through cloud-based services. But few have used AI chat interactions to personalize content and advertising across multiple platforms at the scale Meta is attempting.

Reporting by Echo Wang in New York; Editing by Jamie Freed.

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October 2, 2025
Instagram head says company is not using your microphone to listen to you (with AI data, it won’t need to) | TechCrunch

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Instagram head Adam Mosseri posted on his account on Wednesday to dispel the myth that the social networking giant is actively “listening” to its users surreptitiously, in order to target them with relevant ads. The idea that Meta would secretly turn on the microphones on users’ phones to record their conversations is an age-old conspiracy theory — and one that the company has disputed before.

But, ironically, Mosseri’s new myth-busting claim comes just as Meta has announced it will soon target ads to users across its social apps using data collected from their interactions with its AI products.

In other words, if Meta didn’t need to record your conversations via your microphone before to produce eerily accurate recommendations, it definitely won’t need to now.

On Instagram, Mosseri says he’s had a number of conversations about Meta listening to its users, many of whom can’t believe how well the company’s ad targeting actually works. (Even his wife has brought up the topic, he says.)

By now, most of us have either had the experience ourselves or at least know someone who claims that Meta must have been secretly recording them to know what they were likely to click on. Sometimes, you are only thinking about a topic or product, and then see the content appear in your feed, making it seem as if Meta is a mind reader.

The company has repeatedly disputed these claims, trying to explain that it doesn’t have to record your conversations to make its recommendations so successful. (Mosseri also says that would be a “gross violation of privacy,” but Meta is not a company that typically drives decisions with user privacy in mind.)

Still, the company doesn’t necessarily have to “listen” to users to listen to them.

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In 2016, Meta (then known as Facebook) published a blog post that outright stated that it didn’t use your phone’s microphone to determine what ads to show users or what content appears in their News Feed. Years later, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified before Congress, denying once again that the company was collecting users’ audio data for this purpose.

Happy to have something it can deny on the privacy front, just as it’s about to scoop up more data than ever before, Mosseri reiterates these points in his post on Instagram.

He says that, for starters, users would know if their phone’s microphone was on because they would see a light at the top of their screen, and the phone’s battery would drain faster.

Instead, Mosseri explains that the tech giant’s recommendation system is so powerful because of how it works with its advertisers, who share information with the company about who has visited their websites. That information helps Meta target users with relevant ads. In addition, the company shows people ads that it thinks they may be interested in based on what similar people with similar interests are also interested in. This algorithm-based ad tech has made Meta a money-printing machine over the years.

Now Meta is going to leverage AI to make these ad-targeting decisions. So if people thought they were being listened to before, it will only get worse. The company said its new privacy policy, which is being released on December 16, will allow it to use data from consumers’ interactions with its AI products in most markets as another signal. And it’s a potentially even more powerful one than the “people who like this also like that” system, given that users are engaging in far more personal conversations with AI chatbots like Meta AI about their interests, ideas, and activities.

Mosseri also points out that sometimes it’s not technology alone that’s driving the hyper-accurate recommendations — it’s either just a coincidence or a bit of human psychology at play.

“You might have actually seen that ad before you had the conversation and not realized it,” he points out. “We scroll quickly. We scroll by ads quickly. And sometimes you internalize some of that, and that actually affects what you talk about later,” Mosseri says.

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Sarah Perez

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October 1, 2025
Cat Stevens Postpones North American Tour Over Visa Issues, Future Dates Uncertain

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Visa troubles have forced Cat Stevens to cancel his North American book tour, as the singer announced through his website and on social media on September 29.

After months of waiting for visa clearance, Stevens had to scrap the planned events. “At this point, the production logistics necessary for my show cannot be arranged in time,” he posted online. “I am really upset! Not least for my fans who have bought tickets and made travel plans to see me perform.”

The tour would have visited cities across North America, from October 2 in Philadelphia until October 22 in Los Angeles. Each stop planned to blend talks about his new book Cat on the Road to Findout with stripped-down musical sets.

The memoir will still hit U.S. bookstores on October 7 as scheduled. “Tour delays should not affect the book, which you’ll still be able to enjoy… the obvious benefit of it being — books don’t need visas!” Stevens wrote in his message.

Stevens, who is a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, started making music in the 1960s. His path took an unexpected turn when he converted to Islam in the late 1970s, leading to a 20-year break from the stage. He returned to making mainstream music in the 2000s and last played six North American cities in 2014.

British fans attended Stevens’ book events earlier in September. While he hopes to set new dates once visas clear, the wait could stretch on due to prior commitments.

Event staff will send updates to ticket buyers soon. If shows get new dates, existing tickets will stay good, tour officials confirmed. In the meantime, fans can get more info on his new book from the artist’s official website.

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Dan Teodorescu

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October 1, 2025
Meta announces paid subscriptions for both Instagram and Facebook in the UK

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Facebook and Instagram users in the UK will soon be offered that remove ads. In the coming weeks, those over the age of 18 can pay £3 ($4) per month on the web, or £4 ($5) per month when using Meta’s iOS or Android apps. If you’re wondering why the mobile version is more expensive, Meta blames that on fees levied by Apple and Google in their respective app stores.

A no-ads subscription will apply to any Facebook and Instagram account added to a , which is what Meta uses to let users connect various Meta logins on its different platforms. Any additional account listed in a user’s Accounts Center will automatically gain their own subscription for an extra £2 ($3) per month on the web or £3 ($4) per month for iOS and Android. Anyone who chooses to decline Meta’s offer will continue to see ads on its free platforms as normal, and can still use Ad Preferences to choose which ads they would prefer to see more or less of.

Meta the change is a response to new regulatory “consent or pay” from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), whereby users are given the choice between consenting to an organization using their data to personalize ads, or paying to avoid it. Meta previously introduced a similar change for its EU users, offering an ad-free subscription option for €10 ($11), but was by the European Commission for allegedly failing to comply with its stricter Digital Markets Act (DMA) laws. The company later a revised, cheaper, ad-free plan that was still being assessed by the EC earlier this year.

Meta praised the ICO for its “constructive approach” to personalised ads, which it insists provide the best experience for both its users and businesses, and criticised EU regulators for continuing to “overreach” with its privacy regulations. As reported by , digital advertising accounted for around 97 percent of Meta’s revenue in 2024.

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Matt Tate

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September 26, 2025
Trump’s billionaire backers will now ‘actually control’ Tiktok’s algorithm, JD Vance says | Fortune

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President Donald Trump on Thursday afternoon signed an executive order clearing the way for a deal to put TikTok in U.S. hands, with some of his closest billionaire allies poised to take the reins.

“This is going to be American-operated all the way,” Trump said during the signing, adding that the agreement had been greenlit by Chinese President Xi Jinping. “I have great respect for President Xi, and I very much appreciate that he approved the deal, because to get it done properly, we really needed the support of China and the approval of China.”

Who’s in the deal

The ownership structure is still being finalized, but Trump revealed that Oracle, and its co-founder Larry Ellison would play a “big” role in managing the app, given that they had already stored much of Tiktok’s U.S.-based data in their servers. Ellison has been an ally of the President, raising millions for the president’s campaign and advising him during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He also added that conservative media mogul Rupert Murdoch, the owner of Fox corporation – which runs Fox News – would be an investor, and computer billionaire Michael Dell would also sit on the board. He hinted that three more “blue chip” backers were also part of the group, but did not announce who they were.

For Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch, a stake in TikTok could provide a way to reach younger audiences beyond traditional TV and print, where the family’s News Corp empire dominates — and perhaps redeem their disastrous MySpace purchase nearly 20 years ago. The terms of Fox’s role remain unclear, but a TikTok tie-in would join minority stakes the Murdochs already hold in betting companies Flutter and FanDuel, and further cement Lachlan’s control of the empire after a recent family trust restructuring ensured his succession as Rupert’s heir.

Vice President JD Vance asserted that the agreement gives Americans authority over TikTok’s prized algorithm; the system that dictates what over 170 million U.S. users see on their feeds. Speaking as the president signed the executive order in the Oval Office, Vance pegged Tiktok’s worth at $14 billion — significantly below earlier estimates that placed TikTok’s U.S. assets as high as $100 billion depending on algorithm access.

“This deal will allow for the U.S. to control the app’s algorithm,” he said. “It’s actually going to be American-operated all the way.”

For Trump, the signing was about more than national security – he linked it to his broader trade agenda, boasting about tariffs and their windfall.

Still, concerns are surfacing about what it means for Trump allies to control a platform with such influence over American political discourse.

Trump himself joked about algorithmic favoritism: “I always like MAGA-related. If I could make it 100% MAGA, I would, but it’s not going to work out that way, unfortunately. No, everyone’s going to be treated fairly. Every group, every philosophy, every policy will be treated very fairly.”

Vance also stressed that business would drive the app’s content decisions: “We want the business to make decisions about content based on the interest of the business and based on the interest of the users, and that’s what we think will happen.”

The signing also lays the groundwork for Trump’s first in-person meeting with Xi since returning to office. The two leaders are expected to discuss the deal further at the upcoming APEC Summit in South Korea.

Tiktok did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Fortune Global Forum returns Oct. 26–27, 2025 in Riyadh. CEOs and global leaders will gather for a dynamic, invitation-only event shaping the future of business. Apply for an invitation.

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Eva Roytburg

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September 25, 2025
WIRED’s Politics Issue Cover Is in a City Near You

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Here at WIRED, we tend to stick to journalism. We talk about our work to anyone who will listen—during podcasts, on social media, over dinner with our politely listening friends—but we tend to confine our bragging to the scoops we get, the stories we write. For our new politics issue, though, we decided to do something different and bring WIRED’s work outside, to you, directly.

Over the past few days we’ve been posting the cover of our latest issue in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Austin, and Washington, DC. It’s being displayed as wheatpasted posters, digital billboards, and even a mural. Hopefully, they’re easy to spot if not downright hard to miss.

Here’s where you come in. We’re not going to tell you exactly where the cover is displayed. (Where’s the fun in that?) Instead, we want you to go on a treasure hunt. If you live in or near one of the five cities listed above, keep your eyes peeled. If you see WIRED’s new cover out in the wild, snap a photo, tell your friends.

Also, scan the QR code to read the stories in the politics issue, like editor at large Steven Levy’s deeply reported piece on watching Silicon Valley transform from a countercultural tech utopia to a business sector looking to curry favor with President Trump. Or, perhaps, our investigation into how much geopolitical power Elon Musk is amassing through his SpaceX rocket launches and Starlink satellites.

One more thing: If you do see one of WIRED’s covers, let us know. Tag us on Instagram, TikTok, Bluesky, or X. Or, of course, leave a comment below. See you out there.

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Angela Watercutter

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September 25, 2025
Rihanna’s New 3rd Baby’s Name Brings Us One Step Closer to a Unified Theory of Kardashianism

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On Wednesday, Rihanna and partner A$AP Rocky announced via Instagram that they’d welcomed their third child together, the couple’s first daughter. The baby’s biological sex isn’t the only thing different this time around: The happy parents unveiled the baby’s name at the same time they revealed the baby, too, less than two weeks after her birth. “Rocki Irish Mayers,” Rihanna wrote in her caption. “Sept 13 2025.”

Baby Rocki’s arrival and the subsequent heraldic announcement of her birth follows one family tradition, that of R-names (Rihanna’s legal name is Robyn, and Rocky’s is Rakim, and big brothers RZA and Riot Rose continued the line), and supports the idea one can be both a baddie and a Pinterest mom. The third time around, this is the most timely reveal of a Rihanna offspring’s photo, name, and birth date thus far.

Remember that it was nearly a year (two days short, to be exact) after eldest son RZA’s birth that his name and birth date were revealed, and newly minted middle child Riot Rose’s name was kept under wraps for a bit over a month.

On Instagram Wednesday, Rihanna shared photos of herself cradling the snoozing infant (the delight is in the details here, Rih is sporting a baby-pink manicure, a gold watch with a pale pink face, and a gold “MOM” ring, plus arm cuffs affixed with oversized pink bows, lest the rosiness of the situation be overlooked), and a pair of teeny tiny, silky blossom pink boxing gloves, ribbons artfully trailing, perhaps an homage to another famous Rocky, the boxer played by Sylvester Stallone. (Some parents just use socks to stop their newborns from accidentally scratching themselves with their tiny fingernails, but Rihanna is, as usual, doing Rihanna stuff. It works.)

Of course, three is a trend, and Rihanna warned in a June red carpet interview with Entertainment Tonight that when it comes to her kids, “it’s always going to be an R name. That’s the one thing me and Rocky don’t fight over,” she said.

Rocki was following family custom before she even made her debut: Like her big brothers before her, even her impending arrival was announced in showstopping fashion. Rihanna revealed her first pregnancy with a Chanel-bedecked street style photo, and her second pregnancy while performing the halftime show for the Super Bowl 2023. Never one to repeat a schtick, Rihanna debuted her latest bump on the Met Gala 2025 red carpet, making a strong case for the Marc Jacobs maternity corset.

Rocky the elder told Elle in a profile interview, published Wednesday, that he and Rihanna hadn’t known the sex of the baby before birth, but that he had his fingers crossed for a little girl. “I feel like it’s going to be a girl,” he said. “This pregnancy is so different from the other two. You can tell from the experience. I hope it’s a baby girl, man. I need that.”

Baby Rocki’s arrival also brings science and society one step closer to a definitive proof of a Unified Theory of Kardashianism: Kris Jenner revolutionized the alliterative naming convention for future famous siblings, borrowing her own first initial for Kourtney, Kim, Khloé, Kendall, and Kylie’s names (sorry, Rob). The most recent famous baby Rocky is also a fruit of that particular genetic loom: Kourtney’s child with husband Travis Barker, Rocky Thirteen Barker, born in November 2023. That Rocky has already made his reality TV debut (albeit with his face obscured) on The Kardashians, portending a possible future in the family business. Will the newest Rocki in the quarry follow suit?

Reps for Rihanna and Rocky did not immediately respond to Vanity Fair’s request for comment, their hands perhaps full with their three kids.

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Kase Wickman

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September 25, 2025
Meta rolls out Teen Accounts on Facebook and Messenger globally | TechCrunch

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Meta announced on Thursday that its Teen Accounts are now being expanded to teens on Facebook and Messenger globally, after initially only being available to users in the U.S., U.K., Australia, and Canada. The accounts, which feature built-in protections and parental controls for younger users, first launched on Instagram last fall.

Teen Accounts were originally launched shortly after Meta and other popular social networks were grilled by U.S. lawmakers for not doing enough to protect teens on their services.

With the global expansion on Facebook and Messenger, teens will now automatically be placed into an experience that is designed to limit inappropriate content and unwanted contact. Teens under the age of 16 need their parents’ permission to change any of the settings.

Additionally, teens will only receive messages from people they follow or have messaged before. Only teens’ friends can see and reply to their stories. Plus, tags, Mentions, and comments will also be limited to people they follow or who are their friends.

Teens will also receive reminders to leave the social networks after using them for an hour a day, and they’ll be enrolled in “Quiet mode” overnight.

The expansion of Teen Accounts comes as research led by a Meta whistleblower recently found that children and teens are still at risk from online harm on Instagram, even after the company has rolled out protections. The study found that despite being placed into Teen Accounts, young users can still come across suicide and self-harm posts, along with posts describing demeaning sexual acts. Meta has disputed the claims and said its protections have led to teens seeing less harmful content.

Image Credits:Meta

Meta also announced on Thursday that it’s officially launching the School Partnership Program, which allows educators to report safety concerns, like bullying, directly to Instagram for quicker review and removal.

The company says it piloted the program earlier this year and heard positive feedback from participating schools. Now, all middle and high schools in the U.S. can sign up for the program to receive prioritized reporting and education resources. Schools that are part of the program will receive a banner on their Instagram program to notify parents and students that they are an official Instagram partner.

Thursday’s announcement marks Meta’s latest step toward addressing teen mental health concerns tied to social media. These concerns have been raised by the U.S. Surgeon General and several states, some of which have even started restricting teens from using social media without a parent’s consent.

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Aisha Malik

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September 25, 2025
Confessions of a Black Looksmaxxer

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Stephen Imeh wanted to make history. He’d never really dreamt of being an influencer, but in April he noticed an opportunity to break through.

There were virtually no looksmaxxers—people who spend enormous amounts of effort to glow up—who looked like him, and he wanted to change that. So he made a plan. Imeh posted a workout video on TikTok, with plans for more, and updated his bio to “FIRST BLACK LOOKSMAXXER.”

But as soon as the 20-year-old Houston-based college student posted the video, he was bombarded by racist comments. “I don’t think even an hour went by and I was getting comments like, you’re a monkey, you’re an n-word hard r,” he says. Another comment suggested Imeh “just be white,” or “jbw” as it’s known in incel circles. None of it made sense to him. “I was like, wait, what?”

It wasn’t Imeh’s first encounter with looksmaxxing, the online movement most prominent among young men that emerged from incel culture and took off on TikTok in 2023, which promotes maximizing your physical attractiveness. In 2022, Imeh was a junior at a predominantly white high school in Texas that only had “three other Black kids,” and he wasn’t fitting in. He decided to search for self-improvement tips online. “I googled ‘How to look better’ and the number one thing was looksmaxxing,” he says. Suggestions included a tongue exercise called mewing, working out, healthier eating habits, even plastic surgery. Imeh only lasted two weeks before he called it quits. “It was kinda cringe.” But because it happened the year before looksmaxxing blew up on TikTok, he says, “I didn’t tell anyone about it.”

In the three years since that experience, looksmaxxing has become more popular than ever, and Imeh, currently studying to be a speech therapist, wanted to give it another shot. Maybe he could be the face of a Black looksmaxxers trend, he reasoned. But he felt the ecosystem had become even more toxic in his absence. “The community before, it wasn’t as bad. But it spawned a new wave of people.”

The ordeal in April was a wake-up call. Today, Imeh posts anti-looksmaxxing content to his 36,000 followers. “I’m obviously not included in this community, so why would I keep trying to contribute?” His videos poke fun at the movement’s flaws and silly status markers, like being able to “mog” someone, which means you are the better looking person in a side-by-side comparison. (This is his fifth TikTok account after being reported by members of SkinnyTok for also calling out pro-eating disorder content.) “It’s so easy to rage-bait” looksmaxxers, he says. “I might post, ‘This is what I do to get my skin clear,’ then someone will comment ‘Oh, you can never get your skin clear because you’re a Black slur, slur, slur,” he says over FaceTime, repeating the word half a dozen times.

Looksmaxxing, which originated in online forums like 4chan a decade ago, suggests that a man’s success in life is directly tied to how good he looks. The purpose of the movement is to increase your overall “sexual market value,” and the more Eurocentric features you have, the higher you are on the “physical sexual looks” scale. On message boards, looksmaxxers use codes to rate other men on their journey. Young men refer to the process as “ascending,” where they work to attain a chiseled jawline, glass-smooth skin, and “hunter eyes” (almond-like contour, deep-set position, low set eyebrows). Those who have earned “Chad” status are considered among the most desirable of the pack. Many of the movement’s aims align with the wave of manosphere ideology that is reanimating American society under the Trump administration, where hypermasculinity has become both a performance and a weapon of oppression.

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Jason Parham

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September 23, 2025
3 Ways to Animate Text and Photos in Instagram Stories
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In this article, I will be sharing with you three different ways in which you can uplift your stories and add a creative zing to them.

Even little things like the font you are using and the animation or effect you have added in your story can make or break your engagement.

If you are new to the game or just want to post random stories but make them more aesthetic and pleasant, then you can check out the in-app tools.
Instagram is all about how creatively you can share your story. Every post, reel, and even stories have to be uniquely you. To help achieve that, there are tons of in-app features that you can use to jazz up your stories anyway you like. Your videos and images are the main show, but the right kind of texts and animations can make it dazzle even more. In this article, I will be sharing with you three different ways in which you can uplift your stories and add a creative zing to them.

Make Your Insta Stories More Creative

Instagram demands perfection, so you need to be prepared. Since everyone has access to the same set of tools, it is tough to come out on top. Though with the right efforts in editing ,you can increase your followers and build your own brand. Even little things like the font you are using and the animation or effect you have added in your story can make or break your engagement. So here are my best tools to stay on top of your gram game.

Method 1: Using What is there in the App

Instagram, as an app, has a lot of editing options to make your content shine bright. If you are new to the game or just want to post random stories but make them more aesthetic and pleasant, then you can check out the in-app tools. Follow the steps below for more clarity.

1. Open the Instagram App, swipe left, and upload your image or video.

2. Simply now, tap on the Aa icon from the toolbar at the top of the screen.

3. Type in your text and then tap on the icon next to the colour wheel to animate your text.

4. You get different types of text animations to choose from.

5. You can also play with the size, font, and colour of the text.

Method 2: Adding Motions using GIFs and Stickers

The next best things to add to your story that can liven it up are GIFs, stickers, and emojis. Here is what you need to do.

1. Once you have added your image or video to the story.

2. You will have to click on the Sticker icon.

3. From there, you can search for any GIF in the search bar and then select the one you like.

4. To enlarge the GIF or sticker, all you have to do is pinch it in an outward motion.

5. You can also add images or sounds to add jazz to your stories.

Method 3: Use third-party applications

Now, to add a more professional flair to all of your stories or posts, you can use third-party applications like Canva, Inshot, or Mojo. With these applications, you can animate photos, add cool effects like zoom, pan, or bounce, and much more. You also get professional text templates and a whole bunch of them; you can add 3-D texts to your stories. Once you are done editing, you can export them and upload directly to your Insta stories.

FAQs

Q. Can I upload my travel vlogs on Instagram?

Yes, Instagram has announced that you can upload videos up to 20 minutes now. These videos will show up in your feed as regular reel videos. Now you can upload all your long-form content on Instagram as well.

Q. How to set a daily limit on Instagram usage?

To set a limit on daily usage on Instagram, simply head over to settings > Time Management > Daily Limit. You can enable the limit and choose the time from the drop-down menu.

Wrapping Up

In this article, we have covered how you can make your stories better by adding text and animations to your images and videos. We have discussed three tried and tested ways you can achieve this. There is something for everyone, from beginner to seasoned professional; you can find the method that works best for you.

You may also like to read:

Have any questions related to our how-to guides, or anything in the world of technology? Check out our new GadgetsToUse AI Chatbot for free, powered by ChatGPT.

You can also follow us for instant tech news at Google News or for tips and tricks, smartphones & gadgets reviews, join the GadgetsToUse Telegram Group, or subscribe to the GadgetsToUse Youtube Channel for the latest review videos.

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Dev Chaudhary

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September 20, 2025
Is Nina Dobrev TikTok Telling on Shaun White in the Aftermath of Their Breakup? An Investigation

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Parting is such sweet sorrow, but post-breakup tea isn’t such a terrible flavor profile either, as it turns out. Retired Olympic snowboarder Shaun White and actor Nina Dobrev broke up after five-and-a-half years of dating—the final 11 months of which they were engaged—media outlets confirmed last week. Neither White nor Dobrev has commented publicly on the split. What’s done is, as they say, done, so why are the amateur sleuths of the internet pledging their allegiance to Team Nina and shrieking about Bob the Builder while discussing whether they need to go full Vampire Diaries on White?

Wondering how a diminutive cartoon handyman fits into this narrative? God, isn’t everyone. Dobrev posted a TikTok on September 5 (the split was reported nearly a week later, on September 11) lip-synching to trending audio that invoked Robert T. Builder’s informal name and retroactively raised suspicions of Shaun-foolery along with eyebrows in the wake of the breakup news.

“How do you sleep at night knowing people don’t like you? With no underwear in case they want to kiss my ass,” said the audio over which Dobrev lip-synched to the camera. “What’s your advice for women trying to fix their man? Listen, Bob the Builder, he’s got 10 other women trying to fix him too, and you all look like a damn construction crew.”

For those wondering, the audio appears to originate from an account called Bad Bitch Granny and features two bougie elderly white women on a plane holding dogs that give off an air of canine fanciness. One of the women—and both dogs—are wearing sunglasses. Throughout the full clip, six different beverages, by my count, appear onscreen in varying configurations and states of fullness. You get the drift. The next question in that video, after the point where Dobrev’s audio cuts off, pertains to what to tell attention seekers. “Roses are red, violets are blue, I don’t give a big fuck what you do.” Well well.

While reps for Dobrev and White did not respond to Vanity Fair’s request for comment, an unnamed source told Us Weekly that “Nina is devastated” in the aftermath. “They had finally started planning the wedding and things were in motion,” this “insider” said.

Now is a fantastic time to remember that media literacy and critical thinking apply just as much to analyzing celebrity news as political reporting. The same day that Dobrev posted the TikTok in question, September 5, she also posted an Instagram carousel of photos of her Greek getaway with White, featuring some lovey-dovey cuddle-time schmoop, sheet masks, and enviably aquamarine waters. Ooh, ahh, see how it sparkles and wonder whether Dobrev enjoyed People We Meet on Vacation, her pictured reading material. Given that the two pieces of social content were posted on the same day, it seems semi-reasonable to wonder whether something happened after the Insta to prompt the Tok, with news of the split becoming public later. Did White do something that made the answer to Bob the Builder’s evergreen question—“Can we fix it?”—“No, we can’t”?

A look into the guts of both the TikTok and Instagram post reveals exactly when each of the pieces of content was posted. So which came first? According to the metadata, the Instagram post was shared at 19:11 UTC (3:11 p.m. ET) and the TikTok was posted the same day at, drumroll please…18:04 UTC (2:04 p.m. ET), meaning the TikTok preceded the Instagram post by about an hour. The theory fit until it simply didn’t.

Do with that what you will. Also remember that you probably don’t know either of these people and should examine your investment in their relationship as closely as I did the code, and we’ll see you on the next episode of True Detective: Internet.

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Kase Wickman

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September 17, 2025
The 3 Biggest Types of Charlie Kirk Conspiracy Theories Flooding the Internet

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Conspiracy theories about the death of Charlie Kirk have inundated X, TikTok, and Instagram in recent days. And while crackpot ideas have always followed major world events, there’s no denying that they’re much more common and widespread in the age of social media.

Kirk, a 31-year-old right-wing influencer, was shot and killed Sept. 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. The graphic killing was captured on video from several angles since many people in the audience were filming his discussion, quickly uploading footage in the immediate aftermath.

The suspect in the killing, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, turned himself in to authorities late Thursday night local time, according to CNN. But the internet has been flooded with conspiracy theories about Kirk’s death, both before and after Robinson’s arrest.

FBI Director Kash Patel appeared on Fox & Friends on Monday morning, where he made various claims about the shooting that haven’t been formally presented to a court yet, much less confirmed. But if the broader picture that’s emerging is true—that one man acted alone by firing a rifle from a rooftop—many of the conspiracy theories that have popped up are absolutely ridiculous.

Below, we’ve got some of the most common categories of conspiracy theories circulating on social media right now.

‘AI Wrong Man’ theories

After the shooting, the FBI released images of the suspect showing him in sunglasses. The screenshots were pixelated and low quality, which led people on X to run them through Grok in an effort to get a better look. The problem is that running images through AI that attempts to upscale them doesn’t give you a better or more accurate image.

Laura Loomer, a far-right influencer with close ties to the White House, shared three images after screenshots of the suspect were first released by the FBI. One of the three images was the original screenshot. Two others were fake AI-enhanced images, giving her followers the impression that they were legitimate pictures of the man.

Does anyone know who this guy is?

He has been labeled a person of interest in the assassination of Charlie Kirk. @FBI is looking for him. https://t.co/7AUwzYwAnO pic.twitter.com/HyWTk1HHxf

— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) September 11, 2025

We looked at this problem earlier this month when people on social media were running Donald Trump’s photos through AI. The upscaler gave Trump a gigantic lump on his forehead, leading people to insist he had a serious medical condition. But that’s just what AI does to low-quality images. It will take shadows or creases in a person’s face and distort an image while attempting to make it look clearer.

We saw something similar happen during the Academy Awards in 2022 when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock. The screenshots that people were taking from TV and then blowing up appeared pixelated. To fix that, people ran them through upscalers, and it created what looked like a weird prosthetic on Rock’s face. From there, a conspiracy theory emerged that there was a pad protecting Rock’s face, leading people to insist the whole thing had been planned in advance.

This is how conspiracy theories take off now, and they’re incredibly predictable. In fact, when Gizmodo saw folks on X running images of the suspect in Kirk’s shooting through Grok, we knew people would inevitably compare those fake images to the real mugshot. And sure enough, that’s exactly what’s happened.

A TikTok account called Politic Nick posted a video Saturday comparing an AI-manipulated image of the suspect to the mugshot that was released.

“Okay, these are two different people here,” the creator said. “The mouth is different, the chin is different. The face is shaped different. The nose is sharp on the left. His nose is sharp. His lips are different I mean, come on.”

That video has racked up 1.4 million views and it’s an incredibly popular sentiment on other platforms like X, where high-profile accounts like Jackson Hinkle and Anastasia Maria Loupis have focused on the mouths in both images. “They think you are stupid,” Loupis tweeted.

They think you are stupid. pic.twitter.com/gWShG0vMqp

— Dr. Anastasia Maria Loupis (@DrLoupis__) September 14, 2025

But the reason they look different is that the AI “enhanced” image did not present anyone with a more accurate impression of what the suspect looked like. These tools are not magic and can’t provide you with a better idea of his appearance. All the computer did was extrapolate from the information that was there. And it seems like all the people who’ve grown up on TV shows where investigators can “zoom and enhance” think that’s how it works in real life.

‘Just Look Harder’ theories

Another big bucket of conspiracy theories might best be described as “Just Look Harder” theories. The idea is that if you stare at someone in the background of a video from Kirk’s talk, you’ll discover a conspiracy hiding in plain sight.

This was a common tactic on X as millions of people were watching the extremely graphic videos of Kirk dying across all the major platforms. In the hours after Kirk was shot, a popular theory emerged that someone standing to Kirk’s right was giving “signals” to some unseen shooter.

There were clearly no signals, as anyone could see. But the power of suggestion, combined with watching the same horrific events played over and over, convinced a lot of people that perfectly normal behavior (one guy just had a phone in his hand) was somehow suspicious.

One of the most outlandish claims still circulating on social media is focused on a man who was standing near Kirk during his talk on campus. Val Venis, a former WWE wrestler who went by the name Big Valbowski, has helped share the theory that the unnamed man used something called a “palm gun” that was concealed in his fist as he moved his shirt sleeve to kill Kirk.

The claim is absurd, and it appears that online dipshits have only gravitated to the idea because the man in the video scratches his arm at the same time that Kirk was shot. That’s seriously all it was, as you can see in the censored clip we’ve got below. There’s no evidence that this man was doing anything but touching his own arm.

GIF: X with a redaction by Gizmodo to protect the identity of someone who was clearly just touching their own shirt

One video shared by Venis has over 17 million views on X at the time of this writing. Others from Venis sharing edits of the same incident have several million more. And there’s so clearly nothing there beyond a person touching their own arm and moving their shirt a little bit.

‘Everything is Trans’ theories

Another bucket of conspiracy theories around the death of Charlie Kirk includes the idea that the killing must’ve been perpetrated by someone who is trans. The false idea that trans people are disproportionately represented as killers seems to have roots in a 2023 school shooting in Nashville, Tennessee, that killed seven people, including the shooter. The perpetrator in that case was indeed trans, and now X is flooded with claims that a shooter must be trans whenever a new mass shooting makes the news. As Politifact notes, trans people are much more likely to be the victims of violence rather than perpetrators.

After Kirk was killed, at least three different trans people were falsely blamed for the shooting on X, by Gizmodo’s count. Posts went viral with wild claims about various people who had absolutely nothing to do with Kirk’s death.

After it became clear that the suspect in this case was a cisgender man, the internet mobs tried to find other trans connections wherever they could. The Wall Street Journal initially reported reported Thursday that the bullet casings found at the scene were in some way “expressing transgender and anti-fascist ideology,” citing a bulletin from the ATF. And while the newspaper edited the article later in the day to say that such a claim should be treated “with caution,” the damage was done. It turned out there was nothing on the bullet casings that mentioned the trans community.

It became so ridiculous that The Onion even wrote an article joking about how the suspect once had an Uber driver who was trans. But right-wing political operatives online are still obsessed with the idea that trans people are uniquely dangerous. FBI Director Kash Patel was asked whether Robinson’s roommate was trans and in a relationship with Robinson. Patel, who has a history of spreading conspiracy theories about QAnon and the January 6th insurrection, said that was true without providing any evidence.

Lots of unexplained questions remain

It’s easy to understand why conspiracy theories proliferate. Whenever a case unfolds, there are perfectly reasonable questions about facts that may not be known.

Countless questions remain about a motive for Kirk’s shooting and the potential political affiliation of the suspect. And it seems guaranteed that misinformation and disinformation will continue to run rampant on social media as we learn more. Unfortunately, guys like Kash Patel are not helping the situation as they rush to post on X before all the facts are truly known.

Patel wrote on the day Kirk was killed that, “The subject for the horrific shooting today that took the life of Charlie Kirk is now in custody.” But that was premature. The person they had in custody was just an attendee there to hear Kirk speak. And while it’s completely normal for shitposters to spread misinformation far and wide before the facts are known, we now live in a world where that shitposter happens to be the director of the FBI.

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Matt Novak

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September 16, 2025
South Carolina teen dressed as Spider-Man saves 2 people stuck on waterfall

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No. They say with great power comes great responsibility, at least that’s what this Greenville Guardian says. If you’ve been downtown over the last few months, or online. Everything’s looking good. No fires. You’ve probably seen this web slinging wonder. Greenville Spider-Man on patrol. Since obviously I can’t swing around the buildings being small and I don’t have *** car. So why is an 18 year old dressing like *** superhero and wandering downtown? Is he *** Spider-Man or *** spider menace? Well, after we spoke with Greenville police, he is just your friendly neighborhood spider. Just recently, he rescued two people in the falls at the Reedy River. So I saw one of them slip. Fall and I was like this is, this is time to go and I booked it over there and I jumped over some rocks to get over there and thankfully there was an indent to where I could put my feet like this and prop myself up and then they grabbed my wrist and I pulled them up. When the spectacular spider isn’t making rescues, picking up litter, meeting fans, or just hanging out. So I turn on my EMS scanner and I listen for anything going on and I have notes of which street. I should be on the look for. The CPR certified social media star listens for people having breathing problems running to help until EMS arrives. My intention is to help the people of Greenville and protect and honestly spread kindness along the way. The social media sensation set to protect the city he loves, or at least make friends along the way. You know, it usually is friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, I guess this would count as more like *** friendly downtown Spider-Man. Now I know what you’re thinking, and we have the answer. That costume is dry clean only. In Greenville, I’m Peyton Frita, WYFF News 4.

South Carolina teen dressed as Spider-Man saves 2 people stuck on waterfall

Updated: 3:24 AM PDT Sep 14, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

Greenville Spider-Man, an 18-year-old local superhero in his South Carolina town, recently rescued two people stuck on the waterfall at a downtown park, demonstrating his dedication to serving the community. Known for patrolling downtown and interacting with fans, he was in the right place at the right time to help those in need.Greenville Spider-Man explained his actions during the rescue. “I saw one of them almost slip and fall, and I was like, alright, this is time to go. And I booked it over there and I jumped over some rocks to get over there. And thankfully, there was an indent to where I could put my feet like this and prop myself up. And then they grabbed my wrist, and I pulled them up,” he said.When not rescuing people, Greenville Spider-Man spends his time picking up litter, meeting fans and listening to his scanner. “I turn on my EMS scanner, and I listen for anything going on, and I have notes of which streets I should be on,” he said.Certified in CPR, he listens for people having breathing problems and runs to help until EMS arrives. “My intention is to help the people of Greenville, protect and honestly spread kindness along the way,” he said.The social media sensation on Instagram and TikTok, who describes himself as a “friendly downtown Spider-Man,” has been busier than ever lately, especially after a recent Lululemon robbery and reports of fights downtown. He says after those incidents, he’s shifted most of his patrols downtown to nighttime.

Greenville Spider-Man, an 18-year-old local superhero in his South Carolina town, recently rescued two people stuck on the waterfall at a downtown park, demonstrating his dedication to serving the community.

Known for patrolling downtown and interacting with fans, he was in the right place at the right time to help those in need.

Greenville Spider-Man explained his actions during the rescue.

“I saw one of them almost slip and fall, and I was like, alright, this is time to go. And I booked it over there and I jumped over some rocks to get over there. And thankfully, there was an indent to where I could put my feet like this and prop myself up. And then they grabbed my wrist, and I pulled them up,” he said.

When not rescuing people, Greenville Spider-Man spends his time picking up litter, meeting fans and listening to his scanner.

“I turn on my EMS scanner, and I listen for anything going on, and I have notes of which streets I should be on,” he said.

Certified in CPR, he listens for people having breathing problems and runs to help until EMS arrives.

“My intention is to help the people of Greenville, protect and honestly spread kindness along the way,” he said.

The social media sensation on Instagram and TikTok, who describes himself as a “friendly downtown Spider-Man,” has been busier than ever lately, especially after a recent Lululemon robbery and reports of fights downtown.

He says after those incidents, he’s shifted most of his patrols downtown to nighttime.

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Source link

September 14, 2025
South Carolina teen dressed as Spider-Man saves 2 people stuck on waterfall

[ad_1]

No. They say with great power comes great responsibility, at least that’s what this Greenville Guardian says. If you’ve been downtown over the last few months, or online. Everything’s looking good. No fires. You’ve probably seen this web slinging wonder. Greenville Spider-Man on patrol. Since obviously I can’t swing around the buildings being small and I don’t have *** car. So why is an 18 year old dressing like *** superhero and wandering downtown? Is he *** Spider-Man or *** spider menace? Well, after we spoke with Greenville police, he is just your friendly neighborhood spider. Just recently, he rescued two people in the falls at the Reedy River. So I saw one of them slip. Fall and I was like this is, this is time to go and I booked it over there and I jumped over some rocks to get over there and thankfully there was an indent to where I could put my feet like this and prop myself up and then they grabbed my wrist and I pulled them up. When the spectacular spider isn’t making rescues, picking up litter, meeting fans, or just hanging out. So I turn on my EMS scanner and I listen for anything going on and I have notes of which street. I should be on the look for. The CPR certified social media star listens for people having breathing problems running to help until EMS arrives. My intention is to help the people of Greenville and protect and honestly spread kindness along the way. The social media sensation set to protect the city he loves, or at least make friends along the way. You know, it usually is friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, I guess this would count as more like *** friendly downtown Spider-Man. Now I know what you’re thinking, and we have the answer. That costume is dry clean only. In Greenville, I’m Peyton Frita, WYFF News 4.

South Carolina teen dressed as Spider-Man saves 2 people stuck on waterfall

Updated: 6:24 AM EDT Sep 14, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

Greenville Spider-Man, an 18-year-old local superhero in his South Carolina town, recently rescued two people stuck on the waterfall at a downtown park, demonstrating his dedication to serving the community. Known for patrolling downtown and interacting with fans, he was in the right place at the right time to help those in need.Greenville Spider-Man explained his actions during the rescue. “I saw one of them almost slip and fall, and I was like, alright, this is time to go. And I booked it over there and I jumped over some rocks to get over there. And thankfully, there was an indent to where I could put my feet like this and prop myself up. And then they grabbed my wrist, and I pulled them up,” he said.When not rescuing people, Greenville Spider-Man spends his time picking up litter, meeting fans and listening to his scanner. “I turn on my EMS scanner, and I listen for anything going on, and I have notes of which streets I should be on,” he said.Certified in CPR, he listens for people having breathing problems and runs to help until EMS arrives. “My intention is to help the people of Greenville, protect and honestly spread kindness along the way,” he said.The social media sensation on Instagram and TikTok, who describes himself as a “friendly downtown Spider-Man,” has been busier than ever lately, especially after a recent Lululemon robbery and reports of fights downtown. He says after those incidents, he’s shifted most of his patrols downtown to nighttime.

Greenville Spider-Man, an 18-year-old local superhero in his South Carolina town, recently rescued two people stuck on the waterfall at a downtown park, demonstrating his dedication to serving the community.

Known for patrolling downtown and interacting with fans, he was in the right place at the right time to help those in need.

Greenville Spider-Man explained his actions during the rescue.

“I saw one of them almost slip and fall, and I was like, alright, this is time to go. And I booked it over there and I jumped over some rocks to get over there. And thankfully, there was an indent to where I could put my feet like this and prop myself up. And then they grabbed my wrist, and I pulled them up,” he said.

When not rescuing people, Greenville Spider-Man spends his time picking up litter, meeting fans and listening to his scanner.

“I turn on my EMS scanner, and I listen for anything going on, and I have notes of which streets I should be on,” he said.

Certified in CPR, he listens for people having breathing problems and runs to help until EMS arrives.

“My intention is to help the people of Greenville, protect and honestly spread kindness along the way,” he said.

The social media sensation on Instagram and TikTok, who describes himself as a “friendly downtown Spider-Man,” has been busier than ever lately, especially after a recent Lululemon robbery and reports of fights downtown.

He says after those incidents, he’s shifted most of his patrols downtown to nighttime.

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September 14, 2025