Meta’s Paid Support Leaves Verified Users Locked Out and Frustrated

Meta’s subscription service, meant to offer peace of mind through verified status and direct account support, is turning into a source of frustration for thousands of users. Many who paid for Meta Verified say they’ve been locked out of their accounts with no clear reason, and no real help.

In recent months, users across Facebook, Instagram, and Facebook Groups have reported sudden account suspensions. Some had personal accounts. Others were running small businesses. What they had in common was the expectation that paying for verification would offer faster support and protection. Instead, they’ve found themselves stuck in automated loops, unable to reach a real person.

Some tried multiple appeals. A few submitted five or more tickets. The responses they got felt robotic. In several cases, chats were closed without resolution. Others were told they had violated community guidelines, even though there had been no prior warnings or signs of trouble. The appeals process didn’t clarify much, if anything.

Across social platforms, users are sharing what happened. Some lost years of photos, conversations, and community. Others lost business opportunities they’d spent months building. For many, the ban came just as they were launching something new, only to be shut out, with no timeline for a return.

Meta has only briefly acknowledged the issue. The company blamed a “technical error” for suspensions inside Facebook Groups, but it hasn’t explained why accounts on other platforms were affected. There’s a line on Instagram’s help site mentioning login issues, but it’s been there since spring with no updates. No public statement has addressed the broader problem.

That silence has pushed users to organize. On Reddit and other forums, people are trading advice, venting frustrations, and warning others. A petition demanding better support and account recovery has now passed 25,000 signatures. Some are exploring legal action, including the possibility of a class-action lawsuit.

There’s speculation that automated moderation tools or misfiring AI systems may be to blame. A few users say support agents mentioned malware or overloaded ticket queues. But those accounts are secondhand, and Meta hasn’t offered confirmation or comment.

A handful of people say they eventually got their accounts back, weeks or months after being banned. But for most, the wait continues. The lack of updates, and the failure of paid support to actually deliver help, has many wondering what they paid for in the first place.

Notes: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools. Image: DIW-Aigen.

H/T: TechCrunch.

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Where Do Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok Stand in the 2025 News Landscape?

Younger Americans are leaving traditional news paths behind. Over half now turn first to social or video platforms, not TV or standard websites, when seeking updates on current events. Among U.S. adults under 35, that pivot has become the new norm.

Facebook’s position in news delivery has quietly eroded. According to ReutersInstitute data, from a 42% peak in 2016, its weekly news use has slid to 26% in 2025, a 16-point fall. Meanwhile, YouTube retains consistent reach, though rising competitors have carved out space. Instagram’s use for news climbed from 2% in 2014 to 16% this year. TikTok, which barely registered at 1% in 2020, now accounts for 10% of weekly news access.

The broader shift shows a platform ecosystem breaking apart. In 2014, only Facebook and YouTube passed the 10% weekly news threshold. Today, six different networks do. Even X (formerly Twitter) has held steady at 11% for years, while WhatsApp, Snapchat, and Messenger hover around the 5–16% range. The audience is no longer monolithic, it fragments by format and flow.

Video-first algorithms, especially on TikTok and Instagram, continue to reshape how news gets packaged and absorbed. Casual swipes now replace headlines. Emojis, edits, and faces beat plain text.

Lesser-known platforms, Reddit, Threads, Telegram, Bluesky, each claim 1% to 4% reach. While small, these figures matter when aggregated across communities chasing niche topics, breaking developments, or alternative voices. As tech firms shuffle priorities, from pushing creators to pulling back from journalism, publishers must chase visibility across a map that redraws itself yearly.

Year	Facebook	X (formerly Twitter)	FB Messenger	Instagram	Snapchat	WhatsApp	YouTube	TikTok
2014	36	9		2		7	16
2015	41	11		3	1	9	18
2016	42	10		3	1	10	18
2017	39	10	6	4	2	13	18
2018	36	11	7	6	3	14	19
2019	36	10	8	9	3	16	20
2020	36	12	8	11	3	16	21	1
2021	32	11	8	11	2	17	20	3
2022	30	11	7	12	2	15	19	4
2023	28	11	6	14	2	16	20	6
2024	26	11	6	15	2	16	22	8
2025	26	11	5	16	3	15	21	10

Note: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools.

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Personal AI: How OpenAI Employees Turn to ChatGPT for Small, Daily Decisions

At OpenAI, the people building ChatGPT are also finding unexpected ways to use it in their own lives. From organizing morning routines to preparing for conversations, the chatbot has gradually become a daily utility, even outside the lab.

Turning Commutes into Planning Sessions

For Nick Turley, who leads product development for ChatGPT, the voice feature has become something of a routine. Most mornings, he talks out loud to ChatGPT while commuting. He doesn’t use it to look things up, but to sort through his own thoughts. By the time he gets to work, he often has a clearer idea of what needs attention.

The voice interface still has some rough edges, but for Turley, it serves a different purpose. Speaking ideas aloud helps sharpen them. It’s not about answers, but about reflection.

Using AI to Navigate Meetings

Mark Chen, OpenAI’s chief research officer, turns to ChatGPT in the moments before meeting someone new. He feeds the model a few details about the other person and asks it to find common ground. It doesn’t just summarize bios, it suggests talking points. For Chen, that extra context often leads to a better first conversation.

It’s not about replacing preparation, but shaping it. In his view, it works best when users already know what they want out of an exchange.

Getting Menu Help, No Typing Required

Andrew Mayne, who formerly worked on science communication at OpenAI, uses the tool when he’s out for a meal. Instead of scrolling through options, he takes a photo of the menu and asks ChatGPT to recommend something that fits his diet. For quick decisions, the image input saves time and avoids guesswork.

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It’s a glimpse into how visual tools are moving beyond novelty. The model isn’t just parsing text, it’s helping people make simple, fast choices in everyday situations.

Quietly Useful, Not Flashy

CEO Sam Altman has described his own ChatGPT usage as routine. He’s mentioned using it to manage inbox overload, scan documents, and, more recently, to look up parenting advice. During an earlier podcast appearance, he said he often relies on it when trying to understand the stages of child development.

He admitted that parents have been raising children without AI forever, but added that having a second opinion, even a virtual one, helps him feel more prepared.

The latest podcast didn’t just cover tips. It revealed how the team’s relationship with the tool has evolved. Turley noted that more users, especially younger ones, are treating ChatGPT like a sounding board. People ask it questions they might hesitate to bring up elsewhere, career doubts, relationship concerns, daily decisions.

Chen said the memory feature plays a key role in how users are starting to rely on the tool. As it learns more over time, the model becomes easier to trust. Many people now expect it to remember patterns in how they work, what they prefer, or the tasks they return to. For Chen, that ongoing familiarity is what gives the tool its practical value and sense of reliability.

Notes: Image: DIW-Aigen. This post was edited/created using GenAI tools.

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Court Slams Google Over Hidden Android Tracking, Orders $314.6 Million Payout

A California jury has ordered Google to pay $314.6 million after finding that it collected user data from Android phones without proper consent.

The case, filed back in 2019, argued that Google tracked user data even when phones weren’t in use. The data transfers happened in the background, over mobile networks, with no clear way for users to opt out. Plaintiffs claimed the process wasn’t optional, and that it quietly ate into users’ mobile data plans.

That background activity, they said, supported Google’s targeted advertising efforts. The court agreed that users had little control and weren’t given meaningful choices.

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Google pushed back on the claims, saying the data was necessary for Android’s core functions, including performance and security updates. The company also pointed out that Android users agreed to the terms during device setup and said no harm was caused.

The verdict adds to Google’s growing list of legal challenges, including recent antitrust rulings. Google intends to appeal the verdict.

Notes: Image: DIW-Aigen. Post was edited/created using GenAI tools.

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AI Now Helping Employees Decode Bosses, Set Goals, and Stay Sane, New Survey Reveals Shifting Work Rituals

Far from just a time-saver, AI is slipping into the background of daily work life, advising, organizing, and even calming nerves before tough conversations.

A surprising number of full-time employees are now relying on it for tasks that have little to do with writing emails or analyzing data. In some cases, it's playing the role of coach, therapist, or even sounding board.

A recent survey of U.S. workers found that about a third had used AI in the past month for work-related purposes. That group leaned most heavily on tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot. But what’s interesting isn’t just which tools they used, it’s how.

Plenty of people still use AI to get through their to-do list. Writing emails was one of the most common uses, along with coming up with ideas and generating content. People also relied on it to break down long documents or articles, pull together reports, and draft presentations. Resumes and cover letters made the list, too.

How Workers Are Using AI (Task)	Percentage
Writing emails	60%
Writing content	58%
Brainstorming ideas	58%
Summarizing articles/documents	54%
Analyzing data or creating reports	50%
Preparing meeting agendas or presentations	40%
Drafting or editing resumes and cover letters	38%

But that's only part of the picture.

Some workers now treat AI as a quiet partner for personal growth. About half said they used it to set goals or think through a tough problem. Others plugged it into financial planning or asked it to reflect on their performance. A good portion used it to interpret a manager's vague comment or process tension with a colleague. A few even turned to AI just to blow off steam, without fear of judgment.

Less Traditional Ways Workers Are Using AI	Percentage
Goal setting	49%
Talk through a problem	46%
Financial planning	40%
Evaluate job performance	33%
Better understand colleagues	30%
Mental health support	28%
Career coaching	24%
Vent frustrations	20%

In many cases, these tools are helping people gear up for awkward or high-stakes conversations. Roughly 44% used AI to get ready for a performance review. Some ran scenarios through it before having difficult talks with coworkers. Others leaned on it to script out what to say when asking for a raise or promotion. The numbers weren’t minor, more than one in five said AI helped them prepare to ask for better pay.

Conversations Workers Have Used AI To Prepare For	Percentage
A performance review	44%
A difficult conversation with a manager/colleague	39%
Asking for promotion	27%
Asking for a raise	22%

What’s notable is how personal that usage has become. It’s no longer just about editing or organizing, it’s about preparing, feeling steadier, getting in the right headspace. And for many, it seems to be working.

Nearly three in four said using AI gave their productivity a boost. A majority felt mentally better during the day when they used it. Some found it sharpened their confidence. Others used it to figure out where they needed to grow, or to map out their next steps. Around 27% said it even helped them move up in their jobs, whether through a raise, a promotion, or both.

The survey didn’t just surface stats. It showed something deeper. AI, for a portion of the workforce, has become more than just a convenience. It’s a kind of daily companion, useful when drafting a spreadsheet, but just as helpful when thinking through the politics of a tough conversation.

Only a third of people in the survey said they’d used AI recently, but the way they’re folding it into their routines tells a deeper story. Without much noise or attention, these tools are slipping into everyday habit, shaping how people organize their thoughts, make decisions, and approach their work.

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Cloudflare Unveils New Way for Websites to Control and Earn from AI Crawlers

Cloudflare is giving websites a new tool to take back some control as artificial intelligence companies continue to gather info and scrape huge amounts of online content. The new system helps site owners decide if AI bots can access their material, and if so, at what price. For many publishers, this could offer a chance to turn the crawling of their work into something that pays.

Websites Are Now Setting the Rules

The rise of AI-driven crawlers has caused frustration among content creators. While these bots collect material to build large language models and other AI products, they often do it without returning traffic to the original pages. This has slowly chipped away at the visitor numbers that many websites once relied on to earn advertising revenue.

Cloudflare’s latest feature gives site owners a way to manage this. They can now decide whether to block AI crawlers completely or charge them through a system that prices each visit. This approach allows publishers to step into a position where they can control how their content is used instead of simply watching it get scraped.

This system is currently available as part of Cloudflare’s Pay Per Crawl beta program. Website owners who are interested can apply for early access here.

Publishers and Platforms Are Getting Involved

Several large publishers and social platforms have come forward to support this move. Companies behind well-known outlets and websites are paying close attention to how AI is reshaping the internet. Many of them are now pushing for ways to protect their work while finding paths to new revenue.

The internet has gone through a fast shift in how traffic moves. For years, search engines gathered content and sent users to the websites where the information came from. That model worked well for content creators. It helped build audiences and supported advertising businesses. But the flow of visitors is no longer the same.

Recent patterns show that Google’s web crawlers are still active, but the company now sends back far fewer visitors than it did just months ago. Data from Cloudflare suggests the gap between crawling and referrals has widened sharply. It used to be around six crawls for every visitor sent back to a site, but now, that gap has grown to about eighteen crawls per visitor. Some of this change seems tied to Google’s newer search features that provide answers right on the results page, which means fewer people click through to the original source.

Other AI companies pull content at even higher rates without sending traffic back. OpenAI, for example, has a much wider gap between what it takes and what it gives in return.

AI Crawlers Are Challenging Old Web Habits

For a long time, the web worked on a simple pattern. Search engines crawled the web, indexed the information, and passed visitors back to the sites they found. That cycle supported the people and companies who created content.

Now, with AI bots collecting material to train chatbots and language models, much of that balance has shifted. These AI systems often provide information directly to users without pointing them to the original websites. As a result, many publishers feel cut out of the process.

Some AI companies have also found ways to bypass technical tools that are meant to block content scraping. They argue that gathering public information in this way does not break any laws. On the other side, many publishers believe their rights are being ignored.

The clash is already playing out in courts. Some companies have filed lawsuits against AI firms, accusing them of using their work without permission. At the same time, other publishers are making deals to license their content to AI companies under agreed terms.

Legal Fights and Deals Are Now Reshaping the Space

The fight over how AI companies use online content is unfolding on several fronts. Reddit, for example, recently launched legal action against an AI company it claims scraped user posts without approval. Yet, Reddit has also struck a content-sharing deal with Google, showing that some companies are choosing both paths: to sue where needed and to partner where possible.

Cloudflare’s new tool arrives as publishers are urgently looking for ways to set boundaries and, if possible, to earn fair payment when AI firms rely on their work. The growing tension around AI crawlers is pushing the internet toward new rules, and this tool may be part of that shift.

Note: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools.

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Google’s Data Center Power Use Doubles in Four Years, Reaching 30.8 Million Megawatt-Hours in 2024

Over just four years, Google’s electricity use for its data centers has more than doubled. The company’s latest environmental report shows that by 2024, these centers consumed nearly 31 million (or 30.8 million to be exact) megawatt-hours of electricity. Back in 2020, their consumption was less than half that. This steep rise reflects the company’s fast-growing need for computing power as its digital services continue to expand.

Most of Google’s Energy Is Now Spent on Data Centers

Google’s growing electricity demand is almost entirely tied to its data centers. In 2024, these centers accounted for over 95% of the company’s total energy use. Although Google only began releasing detailed data center energy figures in 2020, looking at the energy share across the years suggests that in 2014, its centers probably used just over 4 million megawatt-hours. That’s a sevenfold increase in just a decade.

Efficiency Gains Are Slowing Down

Google has made plenty of progress improving the energy efficiency of its data centers. In the past, those upgrades helped the company cut waste. But recently, improvements have become harder to achieve. The power usage effectiveness measure, which tracks how efficiently electricity is used, barely improved last year. Google is now approaching the limits of what its existing systems can save.

Building New Energy Sources

To keep up with rising energy needs while sticking to its promise of using clean electricity, Google is investing in a range of energy options. The company is focusing on geothermal energy, solar projects, and both nuclear fission and nuclear fusion.

Geothermal energy, which draws heat from underground, could become a reliable solution because it’s not affected by weather. Google has supported this technology by working with companies that aim to make geothermal projects successful in more regions.

On the nuclear side, Google has made long-term plans to purchase electricity from new power plants. The company has agreed to buy hundreds of megawatts from a fusion plant expected to start operating in the early 2030s. It has also arranged to get electricity from smaller fission reactors being developed by a startup. These nuclear sources won’t be available for several years, though.

Renewables Are the Fastest Option for Now

While waiting for new nuclear projects to come online, Google has been quickly securing renewable energy that can be used sooner. Earlier this year, it arranged solar power deals in Oklahoma and South Carolina. Altogether, Google is now working with partners to develop several large carbon-free power plants, with planned investments reaching around $20 billion.

Solar and wind, along with battery storage, remain the quickest paths to adding new clean power before the decade ends. Building new nuclear plants takes years of approvals and construction. Even adding more natural gas turbines now faces long waiting lists.

Although Google has purchased enough renewable energy to match its annual electricity use on paper, this doesn’t mean that carbon-free power is always available where and when it’s needed. Matching power supply to actual usage in every hour and every region is still a big challenge.

Reaching 24/7 Carbon-Free Power Remains Difficult

So far, Google has managed to power about two-thirds of its data center operations with carbon-free electricity when measured by the hour. But this average hides big differences between locations. In Latin America, clean energy covered most of Google’s needs last year, while its centers in the Middle East and Africa still rely heavily on conventional power sources.

This uneven progress is part of the reason Google continues to back long-term energy solutions like nuclear fission and fusion. Fully powering its data centers with clean energy around the clock, in every place it operates, will probably depend on whether these projects succeed in the years ahead.

Notes: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools.

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