Social Networks

The latest edition of my email newsletter about work in Parliament, A Lord’s Eye View, is out and you can also read it in full below. But if you’d like to get future editions emailed direct to you as soon as they are published, sign up now: The use of WhatsApp for decision-making at senior levels of government is in the news again, due to concerns that this means we do not get a proper audit trail of who decided what and when. The government had previously promised to update its guidance on the use of WhatsApp but the promised deadline was missed. So the latest news was a good reason to return to that topic in Parliament. Read on to find out what happened. The government missed its WhatsApp deadline Lord Beamish, chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) has been in the news raising concerns about the government’s use of WhatsApp: He said it was “extraordinary to see how much government business appears to be being conducted over unofficial systems”. “Lengthy WhatsApp conversations between senior officials and ministers appear now to be the format by which government policy is formulated.” He said the committee had raised the

Meet Twitch The Adorable Chinchilla Waiting For A Friend Tri-County Humane Society This little guy is known as Twitch -- a 6-year-old chinchilla who's itchin' for a new home. It might be yours. Twitch is a male chinchilla who weighs about a pound. But what he lacks in size, he makes up for in fun. Twitch is shy around new folks, but once he gets to know you, he's "friendly and curious when comfortable," according to the staff at the Tri-County Humane Society shelter in St. Cloud. But once Twitch is familiar with you, staff say he may jump on your hands if you hold them out. Twitch is friendly to other pets. Staff say "he does great with other animals as long as they don't want to eat him. He is also a bit of an escape artist.  He's a little delicate, and loves to run on his wheel.  Kind of like a hamster." Twitch may need another chinchilla dude to hang out with. So... Twitch loves his dust bath and running on his wheel. If you're interested in meeting this little guy, he's hanging out in the small animal room at the Tri-County Humane Society. Tri-County Humane Society

Summer has arrived, ushering in the busiest and most exciting time of the year for the video game industry and its fans. Summer Game Fest, along with a bevy of video game showcases representing multiple genres and demographics, will reveal new titles, provide updates on known projects, and perhaps even a few surprises. If you're looking for a show that caters to your specific gaming tastes/background or prefer to absorb every bit of news across multiple presentations, we have you covered.  To keep up with every broadcast airing during the season, here is a list of showcases taking place this summer. You can use the tabs on the left to quickly jump to a specific day's events. We'll regularly update this list as new livestreams are announced.   May 21 May 21 Six One Indie Showcase Start Time: 9 a.m. PT/12 p.m. ET How to Watch: YouTube What It Is: If you ask how many indie games the Six One Indie Showcase will have, the answer is "yes." 61 games will be featured in just over 90 minutes, which should satisfy even the most passionate indie game enthusiasts.   May 27 May 27 AG French Direct Start Time:  9 a.m. PT/12 p.m.

Tech giant Meta Platforms ($META) has offered rival AI chatbots, including OpenAI, free access to WhatsApp in Europe for a limited time as it ...

May 19, 2026, 3:52 p.m. ET Thousands of users are reporting issues with Instagram in the Mid-Atlantic region and other major cities across the country, according to Downdetector.com. But if you were trying to post something onto the photo and short-form video social network — you already know that. More than 2,000 users reported problems with Instagram a little after 3 p.m. May 19, said Downdetector, which provides real-time outage updates. The influx in reports began just after 2 p.m. Reports of outages along the Mid-Atlantic, according to Downdetector online maps, stretch from the Washington D.C. area north to the New York area. Other metropolitan areas where outages were reported include Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Austin. Issues with the Meta-owned network seemed to be recovering after 3:30 p.m. May 19. Send tips or story ideas to Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299 or eparra@delawareonline.com.

mom shocked at teen's social media - photo courtesy of Egoitz Bengoetxea on shutterstock Starting Tuesday, major tech companies including Los Angeles County-based Snapchat and TikTok must begin enforcing the Take It Down Act, a law requiring platforms to remove intimate photos or videos shared online without victims’ consent or face fines and a federal investigation. As part of its enforcement, the Federal Trade Commission has launched TakeItDown.ftc.gov, a website allowing victims and survivors to submit complaints about platforms that have failed to act on valid requests for the removal of non-consensual intimate images. The website also accepts complaints about platforms that have failed to create a process for people to request removal of the images. “Thanks to first lady Melania Trump’s dedication, the public, especially children, will have recourse against digital exploitation and extortion,” FTC Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson said in a statement. “In the age of AI, anyone can be targeted, and that becomes even more appalling if children are involved,” he said. “The Take It Down Act empowers families and provides the FTC with an effective tool to protect minors against this form of abuse.” Ferguson sent letters last week to major platforms — including Santa Monica-based

Our systems have detected unusual traffic from your computer network. Please try your request again later. Why did this happen? IP address: 185.181.255.246Time: 2026-05-19T21:37:29ZURL: https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DwnekUQsDVXU

Our systems have detected unusual traffic from your computer network. Please try your request again later. Why did this happen? IP address: 185.181.255.246Time: 2026-05-19T21:37:30ZURL: https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D_FMYXFscBjs

May 19, 2026, 3:28 p.m. ET Thousands of users are reporting issues with Instagram on Tuesday afternoon. Nearly 2,010 users reported problems with Instagram just before 3 p.m. ET on Tuesday, May 19, according to Downdetector, which provides real-time outage updates. The influx in reports began around 2 p.m. ET. The bulk of outage reports are connected to users in New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, Chicago and Washington, DC., Downdetector shows. USA TODAY reached out to Meta for more information on May 19. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at  gcross@usatoday.com .

Strauss Borrelli PLLC, a leading class action law firm, is investigating LinkedIn Corporation (“LinkedIn”) regarding its recent potential mass layoff in Mountain View, California. The WARN Act is a federal law that requires certain employers to notify their employees, in writing, at least 60 days before a plant closing or mass layoff takes effect. As a result, we believe LinkedIn employees may be entitled to 60 days of severance pay and benefits. WHAT HAPPENED? On May 15, 2026, LinkedIn notified the California Employment Development Department of its decision to conduct a mass layoff at its facility in Mountain View, California. The federal law, known as the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, requires covered employers to provide 60 days’ prior written notice to employees, their representatives, and certain government parties in the event of a mass layoff or plant closing. We are investigating whether LinkedIn failed to provide at least 60 days’ notice before laying off 352 employees and, therefore, violated the WARN Act. ABOUT THE WARN ACT: The WARN Act is a federal law passed in 1988 by Congress that requires employers with 100 or more employees to provide a 60-day notice of significant layoffs or plant closings.