OlympicTok

The best place to watch the Olympics this year is TikTok. The videos – including behind-the-scenes clips of the Olympic Village, the training centers, and those cardboard beds that quickly went viral – have amassed billions of views on the popular social media app. As Vox senior reporter Rebecca Jennings (@rebexxxxa) wrote, “This year’s Olympics may...

13h

A priest’s cautionary tale in dating and data privacy

Earlier this month, a Catholic media outlet published a story exposing a priest for using the dating app Grindr, costing him his job. The article was based on private location data that was traced to a phone belonging to the priest. The incident highlights the shortcomings of the country’s inadequate privacy laws. Recode’s Sara Morrison (@SaraMorrison)...

3d

Big Retail is watching you

Some of the country’s biggest retailers are being accused of using face recognition technology without customers’ knowledge. Stores can use this biometric data to predict people’s shopping habits and send targeted ads their way. Privacy advocates say the technology should be kept out of the hands of private companies. Recode’s Rebecca Heilweil (@rebheilweil)...

4d

Congress vs. Covid lies

Well over a year into the pandemic, and major social media platforms are still failing to moderate Covid-19 misinformation. With cases rising in all 50 states, the delta variant rapidly spreading, and the vaccination rate slowing… things appear to be getting worse. But, a new bill proposed in the senate targeting health misinformation online could change...

5d

Why Netflix wants to be a gaming app

Netflix is betting on gaming to be its next big offering. The company saw lackluster growth as the world began to come out of the pandemic lockdown, so now it’s hoping a free library of video games will be enough to get users to stick around — and to bring in new ones. Recode senior correspondent Peter Kafka (@pkafka) talks with Rani Molla about the...

6d

The rest stop doctor’s appointment

When you were stuck at home last year, did you visit a doctor online? For some people, it was a convenient option; for others, it gave them potentially life-saving care from out of state. But what happens now that states are ending the lockdown-era provisions that made those telehealth visits possible? Katie Palmer (@katiempalmer), health tech correspondent...

1w

Roblox: 40 million games in one

Roblox is one of the fastest growing games in the world right now. But depending on who you ask, some would say it’s more than a game. The app lets users not only play, but also join virtual birthday parties, attend real-time concerts, or just roam around a seemingly infinite digital world.Developers of Roblox say the app is more focused on creating...

2w

Did Anthony Bourdain say that?

The new documentary Roadrunner takes a look at the life of Anthony Bourdain, the late celebrity chef, author, and travel show host. But one decision by the filmmakers is raising questions: The film uses artificial intelligence to recreate Bourdain’s voice. Vox’s Alissa Wilkinson joins Recode’s Rani Molla to discuss the ethical dilemma the documentary...

2w

Yes, iPhones can be hacked

iPhones have a reputation for being unhackable. But that’s not exactly the case. This weekend, we learned about Pegasus, software specifically designed to hack iPhones. This raises questions about who is using this software and why, but raises an even bigger question: are iPhones actually that secure? Recode’s Sara Morrison (@saramorrison) explains.References: ...

2w

How much does it cost to leave Earth?

Rich entrepreneurs have taken significant steps in recent weeks to make civilian space travel a reality. But that reality is only accessible to those who can afford the staggeringly expensive ticket.New York magazine’s Paola Rosa-Aquino (@prosaaquino) joins Recode’s Rani Molla to discuss billionaires’ latest space efforts and break down the cost to...

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