Social media

Schizophrenic influencers feel abandoned by TikTok

Creators were upset by the platform’s near-ban of the #schizophrenia hashtag, which TikTok has reversed thanks to Input’s investigation.

TikTok bans paid political influencer posts leading up to midterm elections

With the U.S. midterm election cycle ramping up, TikTok is ready to squash misinformation before it spreads.

Oracle begins reviewing TikTok algorithms as data security doubts intensify

TikTok’s “Project Texas” rehab campaign has officially begun.

Tickle fetishists say their kink is no laughing matter

People into tickling are sick and tired of being either ignored or mocked by more “hardcore” BDSM practitioners on TikTok.

Has TikTok surpassed Instagram as fashion’s favorite social media app?

Instagram has been a leading fashion source for over a decade. But algorithm changes are pushing stylish users away.

Permashifters want out of this reality for good

TikTok popularized the concept of “shifting” one’s consciousness. But some people want to take it a huge step further.

Below deck with the cruise ship workers of TikTok

People can’t get enough of their “day in the life” at sea videos.

Heartbroken? TikTok breakup influencers are here to help.

It’s a space full of tears, sad music, and “healing journeys.”

A TikTok Music app could be Spotify's toughest competition yet

A U.S. patent filing suggests ByteDance is interested in creating TikTok Music, a music streaming app to rival the likes of Spotify and Apple Music.

Instagram CEO responds to Kim and Kylie's disdain for app's many changes

"I love photos. I know a lot of you out there love photos, too," Adam Mosseri attempts to explain.

Can Pico's new VR headsets compete with Meta's Quest 2?

Pico, owned by TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, looks like it might try to challenge Meta’s Quest 2 and Quest Pro VR headsets in the U.S.

How TikTok is influencing the next generation of fashion’s trend forecasters

More forecasters are using the app to bring their fashion insights right to the consumer.

Instagram's pivot to Reels tanked general engagement, study shows

Average Instagram engagement has decreased by about 44 percent since 2019.

How social media is misleading beginner strippers

Veteran dancers say TikTok and YouTube make stripping look like easy money, glossing over the very real dangers of the job.

How DoorDash delivery drivers became the new YouTube stars

The gig workers who get your food to you on time (hopefully) are sharing behind-the-scenes footage on social media.

Facebook pivots away from news after shoving it in our faces for years

Execs are chasing influencer and metaverse profits instead.

‘I thought my life was over’: Male sextortion victims speak out

For many, the nightmare lasts for months — or even years.

Has TikTok surpassed Instagram as fashion’s favorite social media app?

Instagram has been a leading fashion source for over a decade. But algorithm changes are pushing stylish users away.

This hybrid beauty brand wants to do your makeup digitally and IRL

Bakeup’s first offering will be a physical product, NFT, and Instagram filter.

Meta celebrates unholy Coinbase union with NFT of baby Zuck

Dapper Labs is also part of the development, which was announced over Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook account.

Meet the volunteers fighting the most vile misogyny on Reddit

Members of r/BanFemaleHateSubs say the platform too often fails to do anything about vulgar and unlawful communities.

Instagram CEO responds to Kim and Kylie's disdain for app's many changes

"I love photos. I know a lot of you out there love photos, too," Adam Mosseri attempts to explain.

Instagram's pivot to Reels tanked general engagement, study shows

Average Instagram engagement has decreased by about 44 percent since 2019.

The charming ‘70s love story behind that viral surfing teacher photo

California teacher Marc Degen had no idea his photo would spark a lifelong love story, let alone charm the internet.

Twitter Circle and Instagram Close Friends raise questions of web consent

How can we consent to seeing others' most private moments without first being asked?

American Girl dolls emerge as unlikely abortion rights advocates

“We do need an American Girl doll who protests overturning Roe v. Wade, because that's what American girls are doing right now," says one creator

Check out an online art exhibit of the censored and shadowbanned

Rankin Creative’s new project shines a light on what Instagram and TikTok don’t want you to see.

Instagram hopes video selfies will keep underage users off the platform

The platform is partnering with AI company, Yoti, to roll out age verification software.

The spectacular implosion of Instagram’s No White Saviors

The group — known for canceling missionaries and aid workers for alleged misdeeds — is embroiled in some very ugly scandals of its own.

Instagram’s female maskers know you think they’re weird

But the men beneath the silicone masks ask that you keep an open mind. “The serial killer comments get a little old,” says one.

Instagram's visual refresh doesn't make me want to click buy

As quirky creative inspiration, Instagram's new typeface, gradients, and colors are great. For the company's focus on shopping and video, I'm less sure.

Why TikTok's favorite #haul trend isn’t great for the environment

Fast fashion brands are often a go-to for aspiring and bonafide influencers alike.

Messenger's default end-to-end encryption can't come fast enough

Meta will test defaulting Messenger to encrypt chats automatically just days after it was revealed that the company handed over data to police in Nebraska.

Meta celebrates unholy Coinbase union with NFT of baby Zuck

Dapper Labs is also part of the development, which was announced over Mark Zuckerberg's Facebook account.

Meta illegally shared health info for targeted ads, lawsuit alleges

Two class-action lawsuits have been leveled against Meta Pixel, the company's analytics tracking tool.

Facebook might stop removing so much COVID-19 misinformation

Meta is asking the Facebook Oversight Board to make the call. Is "free expression" more important than public health?

Instagram CEO responds to Kim and Kylie's disdain for app's many changes

"I love photos. I know a lot of you out there love photos, too," Adam Mosseri attempts to explain.

Instagram's pivot to Reels tanked general engagement, study shows

Average Instagram engagement has decreased by about 44 percent since 2019.

Facebook pivots away from news after shoving it in our faces for years

Execs are chasing influencer and metaverse profits instead.

The charming ‘70s love story behind that viral surfing teacher photo

California teacher Marc Degen had no idea his photo would spark a lifelong love story, let alone charm the internet.

Meta finally stops foisting Facebook onto Oculus users

Meta accounts are rolling out in August and offer a more diverse array of pre-set privacy options.

Meta plans to chase NFTs on their spiral down the drain

Stephane Kasriel, the head of fintech at Meta, spoke to the 'Financial Times' and doubled down on the platform's commitment to NFT integration.

New lawsuit claims Facebook could still access deleted user data for cops

A former employee says Meta fired him after he raised concerns about a 'protocol' allowing the company to access deleted Messenger data.

Check out an online art exhibit of the censored and shadowbanned

Rankin Creative’s new project shines a light on what Instagram and TikTok don’t want you to see.

Meta says it removed posts about mailing abortion pills by accident

Facebook and Instagram haven't shown the same passion for removing posts selling marijuana or painkillers, however.

Facebook ads are targeting cancer patients with risky treatments

Facebook and Instagram have ads for treatment retreats with pseudoscientific treatments like coffee enemas

Devon Larratt and the dramatic rise of arm wrestling YouTube

On the eve of the biggest match of his life, the champ reflects on the video platform’s role in making him a star.

Instagram hopes video selfies will keep underage users off the platform

The platform is partnering with AI company, Yoti, to roll out age verification software.

Internet-famous erotica writer pens new book about sentient lesbian em-dash

The cult favorite punctuation mark finds love.

Elon Musk revives fake Manchester United crypto token with one bad tweet

Trades involving Manchester United Fan Token skyrocketed after Musk joked about buying the world-famous soccer club on Twitter.

The internet is losing its mind over the U.S.A. Mullet Championship kids

Get your votes in by Friday!

Here’s every tech company conducting mass layoffs right now

The tech labor movement is on the rise, but the industry itself is down bad. From Tesla to HBO Max, here’s a list of all the tech companies undergoing layoffs.

The guy who threw a plushy toy at Lady Gaga explains himself

Confused and/or outraged by that viral video of Gaga getting hit in the head by a doll? Turns out, it’s all a Mexican meme.

The Eve 6 Guy advises a married guy obsessed with another woman

Also, ’90s rocker Max Collins weighs in on whether a writer should take a soul-sucking corporate job.

Meta stands by its occasionally racist chatbot

A representative said that some of its responses were “painful to see” but that the project is “important for building truly robust conversational A.I.”

Shirts That Go Hard’s creator is now going a little less hard

Input speaks to the guy behind the infamous Twitter gimmick account.

People’s Twitter feeds are being overrun with gimmick accounts right now

Twitter feeds are awash in content that people didn’t ask for. The response has not been positive.

WTF is up with Twitter’s new refresh sound?

It’s been compared to frogs and aliens. But why the change? And what does it mean?

People are really still hacking Neopets in 2022

Roughly 69 million accounts were compromised. Your Neopet will probably be fine, but your passwords and information might be at risk.

Twitter wins bid for expedited Musk trial, to begin in October

Musk's lawyers argued for the trial to begin in February 2023, but their reasoning was very meh.

Exclusive: Leaked salary data show huge pay disparities at Twitter

The company pays some employees as much as 225 percent more than those in the same role, depending on where they’re based.

K-pop’s online community has a homophobia problem

LGBT fans say they’re subjected to bullying, slurs, and hypocritical attitudes.

Trump drags Elon Musk to hell for Tesla's use of federal subsidies

"I could have said, 'drop to your knees and beg,' and he would have done it..."

Elon Musk sued by Twitter after abandoning acquisition bid

Turns out Twitter isn’t willing to let Musk weasel out of his $44 billion bid without a fight.

YouTube coin-pusher videos are huge. But what’s real and what’s fake?

Honest creators are frustrated with scammers who solicit funds for their high-stakes “gambling.”

Influencers earn big bucks for shilling shady crypto projects, report finds

A CNBC report has highlighted a number of YouTubers who advertised scammy ventures without disclosing their affiliation(s) to them.

How social media is misleading beginner strippers

Veteran dancers say TikTok and YouTube make stripping look like easy money, glossing over the very real dangers of the job.

How DoorDash delivery drivers became the new YouTube stars

The gig workers who get your food to you on time (hopefully) are sharing behind-the-scenes footage on social media.

Meet the men who fetishize obscure pro wrestlers on YouTube

Middle-aged gay guys congregate in the comments sections, reliving the glory days of watching “jobbers” grapple on fuzzy TV screens.

Lofi Girl’s 28-month stream was wrongly paused for false copyright claims

YouTube apologized for the error and said the music would come back soon.

YouTube won't let creator correct horror video's 'For Kids' rating sans appeal

Any fan of Kris Straub's long-running cult horror project, Local 58, will know 'Show for Children' is anything but that.

This YouTuber's DIY PS5 is impossibly thin

DIY Perks detailed his lengthy journey that ended with a custom PS5 that is a fraction of the size of the original.

The disgustingly appealing world of YouTube’s drain unblockers

Plumbers are making bank (and becoming sex symbols) showing off their skills online. But why do we like to watch?

Devon Larratt and the dramatic rise of arm wrestling YouTube

On the eve of the biggest match of his life, the champ reflects on the video platform’s role in making him a star.

John Hinckley Jr. speaks: ‘I’m trying to not dwell on the past’

The man who shot Reagan is now totally free. He talks about his music career and the concept of redemption with Eve 6 frontman Max Collins.

TikTok’s trans and nonbinary dads are challenging gender norms

They’re out and proud on social media, transphobes be damned.

Inside the toxic subreddits dedicated to influencer Eugenia Cooney

She’s an object of fascination — and the subject of abuse — in the eating disorder community.

Amazon's been offering fat paychecks to attract live shopping influencers

Amazon Live is just too QVC to really bring in social media stars, though.

Meet Mina Le, the YouTuber making fashion history more accessible

What do 2010s Tumblr and Shakespeare have in common? Mina Le will tell you.

YouTuber comes painfully close to one-shotting every Elden Ring boss

Streamer and YouTuber Bushy tried to beat Elden Ring by beating as many bosses in one hit as he could, and he came very, very close to succeeding.