Roblox mandates age verification for chat access
Roblox has implemented mandatory facial age verification for chat access, revealing a younger user base while identifying significant growth opportunities within its 18-plus demographic.
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Apps & Consumer
1162 storiesSpotify launches 'About the Song' feature for premium users
Spotify is rolling out a beta 'About the Song' feature for premium users in select markets, offering behind-the-scenes context unavailable on rival platforms like Apple Music.
Spotify limits developer mode to premium users and fewer testers
Spotify is restricting its Developer Mode API, requiring premium accounts and reducing test user limits to curb risks from AI-aided automation.
Meta tests a standalone app for its Vibes AI video feature
Meta is testing a standalone app for its Vibes AI-generated video feature, positioning it as a competitor to OpenAI’s Sora while planning future freemium subscription models.
Substack confirms data breach affecting user contact information
Substack confirmed an unauthorized third party accessed user email addresses and phone numbers in October, though the company states that financial data remains unaffected.
Spotify expands into physical book sales
Spotify is expanding into physical book sales in the U.S. and U.K. while introducing new features like Page Match to bridge digital and physical reading experiences.
Internet Archive and Automattic launch Link Fixer for WordPress
The Internet Archive and Automattic launched a WordPress plugin called Link Fixer, which automatically archives links to combat the widespread issue of digital link rot.
Atma Sciences launches Gizmo for AI-generated mini-apps
New York startup Atma Sciences launched Gizmo, an AI-powered platform for creating interactive mini-apps, which has reached roughly 600,000 installs in less than six months.
Tinder tests AI feature to combat swipe fatigue
Tinder is testing an AI-powered feature called Chemistry in Australia to reduce swipe fatigue as the company faces declining user engagement and new registrations.
Roblox launches open beta for interactive 4D creation tools
Roblox has launched an open beta for its 4D creation feature, allowing creators to design interactive, functional objects that move and react within the platform.
Adobe reverses plan to discontinue Adobe Animate
Adobe has reversed its decision to discontinue Adobe Animate, placing the over 25-year-old software into "maintenance mode" instead of shutting it down following significant customer backlash.
Spotify updates lyrics feature with offline access and translations
Spotify is updating its lyrics feature with global translations and offline access for Premium users, aiming to encourage free users to upgrade.
Apple brings agentic coding to Xcode 26.3
Apple released Xcode 26.3, enabling developers to use agentic coding tools from Anthropic and OpenAI to automate complex development tasks.
Watch Club raises seed funding to build a social microdrama app
Watch Club has secured seed funding led by GV to build a social network around high-quality, union-produced microdrama series, aiming to differentiate from existing formulaic competitors.
TikTok usage recovers after brief dip following ownership change
TikTok has largely recovered to more than 90 million daily active users in the U.S. following a brief dip caused by privacy concerns and technical outages.
Fitbit founders debut AI startup to coordinate family care
Fitbit founders James Park and Eric Friedman have launched Luffu, an AI-powered platform designed to help families coordinate care and monitor health information across providers.
Mozilla to let Firefox users block generative AI features
Mozilla is introducing new AI controls in Firefox 148, allowing users to block generative AI features while the company invests around $1.4 billion in AI transparency initiatives.
Grubhub eliminates delivery fees on orders over $50
Grubhub is permanently eliminating delivery and service fees on restaurant orders exceeding $50 in an effort to compete with major rivals like DoorDash and Uber Eats.
Notepad++ updates hijacked by state-backed hackers for months
Notepad++ developer Don Ho confirmed that hackers likely linked to the Chinese government hijacked software updates for months in 2025, potentially compromising users around the world.
Ring opens Search Party feature to non-camera owners
Ring is expanding its AI-powered Search Party feature to non-camera owners in the U.S. and committing $1 million to equip 4,000 animal shelters with camera systems.