Spotify hits a record 751M monthly users thanks to Wrapped, new free features
Spotify credited a successful Wrapped campaign and new features in its free tier for its rapid user growth
Apps
Discord’s age verification mandate is a leap toward a gated internet
Discord is about to force some of the people who use its messaging app to make a choice: Use the platform with restricted features, or prove their age. It’s a move that platforms have been slowly approaching, but Discord’s teen-by-default rollout is a stronger clampdown that could offer a glimpse at an age-gated future on […]
YouTube rolls out an AI playlist generator for Premium users
YouTube Music is rolling out a new AI-powered playlist-generation feature that allows Premium users on iOS and Android to use text prompts to create playlists.
India makes Aadhaar more ubiquitous, but critics say security and privacy concerns remain
India’s Aadhaar is moving into wallets, hotels and policing through a new app. Critics say that amid the broader Aadhaar rollout, it’s unclear how data shared through the new app would prevent breaches or leaks.
MrBeast just bought a banking app
Beast Industries, owned by YouTuber Jimmy “MrBeast” Donaldson, announced on Monday that it has acquired Step, a banking app designed for teens and young adults. The move comes a couple of months after Donaldson announced plans to start a new YouTube channel centered on personal finance and investing. His main channel has 466 million subscribers […]
Bluesky finally adds drafts
The move comes as Bluesky’s competitors, X and Threads, have long supported drafts.
So, what’s going on with Musicboard?
Is Musicboard shutting down? Company says no, but users are worried.
Snapchat now lets you inform others when you have arrived at your destination
With its new “Arrival Notifications,” users can now set one-time or recurring alerts for locations beyond their home, providing an automatic way to share when they’ve arrived at their destination.