Meta is preparing to test new paid subscription tiers for Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp, according to reports from news outlets including TechCrunch and BBC. The plans would offer exclusive features while keeping the core versions of the apps free.

France’s National Assembly has approved legislation that would bar children under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms, as the government intensifies efforts to address online bullying, youth violence and the mental health effects of digital life.

Google is rolling out a new feature in its Photos app that allows users to generate personalised memes.

TikTok, Meta Platforms, and YouTube are set to face trial in California this week over claims that their platforms contribute to youth addiction and mental health harm, according to a recent report by Reuters.

A recent study has found that frequent use of generative artificial intelligence is linked to higher levels of depressive symptoms among adults in the United States.

YouTube’s chief executive, Neal Mohan, has set out four big priorities for the platform in 2026, outlining plans that place creators, artificial intelligence, young audiences and new forms of monetisation at the centre of its future growth.

Google has introduced a feature that allows Gemini AI to access and use a user's personal data from apps like Gmail, Photos, and YouTube to answer questions.

Most large companies lack visibility and control over the artificial intelligence systems operating within their networks, according to recent findings from the 2026 CISO AI Risk Report by Cybersecurity Insiders.

South Korea has begun enforcing what it describes as the world’s first fully comprehensive legal framework governing artificial intelligence (AI), placing the country at the forefront of global efforts to regulate a technology that is rapidly reshaping everyday life.

Dozens of short videos circulating on social media in the run-up to the country’s 13th national parliamentary election feature what appear to be ordinary citizens making voting pledges, offering political endorsements, and criticising rival parties.

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has captured a new, detailed view of the Helix Nebula, a structure of gas created by a dying star, located 650 light-years from Earth.

Younger workers are the ones most concerned about AI affecting their jobs, according to a global survey by recruitment firm Randstad.

Microsoft has recently released a series of emergency out-of-band (OOB) updates for Windows 10, Windows 11 and Windows Server to address problems introduced by its January 2026 security patches, including an issue that disrupted access to cloud-based virtual desktops.

OpenAI's Chief Financial Officer, Sarah Friar, recently announced that the company's annualised revenue for 2025 has surpassed $20 billion, a significant increase from $6 billion in 2024.

Researchers at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney have developed what they describe as the “world’s first motor that spins using a droplet of liquid metal”.

Global investment in space technology is expected to increase further in 2026.

TikTok will begin deploying a new age-detection system across Europe in the coming weeks, the company told Reuters on Friday. The move comes as the platform faces regulatory pressure to better identify and remove accounts belonging to users under the age of 13.

Elon Musk is seeking up to $134 billion in damages from OpenAI and Microsoft, claiming he is owed the "wrongful gains" they earned from his early involvement with the AI company.

OpenAI has announced plans to begin testing advertising in ChatGPT, limited to adult users.

Iran has experienced a nationwide internet shutdown lasting more than 180 hours, according to NetBlocks, an organisation that monitors global internet connectivity.