SnapChat

Married ex-high school teacher McKenna Kindred suggested that she and a teenage student she was sexually abusing should start using Snapchat to hide their X-rated chats, according to court docs. “Hm next time I need to relearn Snapchat haha,” Kindred, now 27, texted the 17-year-old boy at one point during their tryst, which began when Kindred was his educator at Central Valley High School in Spokane, Washington. The conniving message came after the pair had already engaged in a depraved three-and-a-half hour sex marathon at Kindred’s marital home in November 2022 – while her oblivious husband was away on a hunting trip. “Mom glad I can satisfy you,” the teen kicked off the text thread. After the teacher liked the message, the boy asked if she used a sex toy while thinking about him. “I did,” she creepily replied. “U should have video it and save it,” the teen responded, prompting Kindred to propose that he teach her how to use Snapchat the next time they meet up. The social media platform is popular for allowing users to send photos and videos – or “snaps” – that disappear after viewing. By that point, the pair had already exchanged a series

Jan. 31, 2026, 4:07 a.m. CT A former Peoria pastor was charged with distributing harmful materials to a minor. Michael Ritchason, 48, allegedly sent an illicit photo of himself via Snapchat to a minor in August 2025. He was released with conditions before trial, including no contact with the minor. Ritchason resigned from his position as lead pastor at Riverside Community Church in December. A former pastor at Peoria's Riverside Community Church was released with conditions before trial on charges that he sent illicit photos to a minor last year. Michael Ritchason, 48, of Pekin was charged with one count of distributing harmful materials to a minor on Dec. 22, two months after he had been arrested for allegedly sending a Snapchat photo of his genitals to a minor in August 2025, according to court documents. Ritchason made a first appearance in court Thursday in Tazewell County Circuit Court. The Tazewell County State's Attorney's Office did not file a petition to detain him before trial. Circuit Judge Chris Doscotch ordered Ritchason's release, requiring him to comply with pre-trial services reporting and subjecting his electronic devices and social media accounts to a manual search at their request. Ritchason is also ordered

Welcome back to Lately, The Globe’s weekly tech newsletter. If you have feedback or just want to say hello to a real-life human, send me an e-mail. In this week’s issue: 🧑🏽‍⚖️ The year of social media lawsuits around child safety is here 📱 The infinite scroll of violence in Minneapolis 🚘 Toronto-based Waabi announces robotaxi fleet with Uber 🧟 A zombified Napster is back LAWSUITS Did social media companies design their platforms to be addictive? The courts will soon decide This week, the first trial began in a series of federal and state lawsuits across the United States, accusing social media companies of designing platforms that are intentionally addictive and cause harm to children. The trial, which opened Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, centres on a lawsuit brought by a 20-year-old California woman who says she became addicted to social media as a child, leading to anxiety, depression and body-image issues. The case initially named Meta, YouTube, TikTok and Snapchat, though TikTok and Snapchat settled ahead of the trial. Plaintiffs argue that features such as infinite scroll, notifications and algorithmic recommendations are deliberately engineered to encourage compulsive use. Some experts have compared the cases to the Big

The year is 2016. Somehow it feels carefree, driven by internet culture. Everyone is wearing over-the-top makeup. At least, that’s how Maren Nævdal, 27, remembers... LONDON(AP) — The year is 2016. Somehow it feels carefree, driven by internet culture. Everyone is wearing over-the-top makeup. At least, that’s how Maren Nævdal, 27, remembers it — and has seen it on her social feeds in recent days. For Njeri Allen, also 27, the year was defined by the artists topping the charts that year, from Beyonce to Drake to Rihanna’s last music releases. She also remembers the Snapchat stories and an unforgettable summer with her loved ones. “Everything felt new, different, interesting and fun,” Allen says. Many people, particularly those in their 20s and 30s, are thinking about 2016 these days. Over the past few weeks, millions have been sharing throwback photos to that time on social media, kicking off one of the first viral trends of the year — the year 2026, that is. With it have come the memes about how various factors — the sepia hues over Instagram photos, the dog filters on Snapchat and the music — made even 2016's worst day feel like the best of times.

The digital landscape is clearly divided by generation, and nowhere is this more apparent than on Snapchat. The platform has solidified its position as a playground for the young, with Gen Z (1995–2012) leading the charge. A massive 72% of this demographic uses the app, drawn to its ephemeral nature and visual-first communication style. As users age, however, the "ghost" app begins to lose its haunting power. Millennials (1980–1994) maintain a strong presence at 62%, using it to stay connected with peers, but there is a sharp drop-off once we hit the older cohorts. Only 31% of Generation X engages with the platform, and among Baby Boomers, the number falls to just 11%.  These global statistics, gathered from over 13,000 respondents ranging from 14 to 98 years old, illustrate a distinct social media generation gap. For Gen Z and younger Millennials, Snapchat isn't just an app; it’s a primary mode of social interaction. For the older generations, it remains a peripheral tool, overshadowed by more traditional or text-heavy social networking platforms.

POPLAR BLUFF MAN CHARGED WITH POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY AND ENTICEMENT OF A CHILD A Poplar Bluff man has been taken into custody on multiple charges, including possession of child pornography. According to a probable cause statement, an investigation was started after a parent reported that their child had been exchanging nude photos and videos with an adult over snapchat and text messages. The juvenile told authorities that they communicated frequently with a man, identified as 39 year old Austin Dailey, on snapchat. The juvenile also stated that Dailey discussed wanting to have sex with them and asked to meet them at a nearby park. Last week, Dailey was taken into custody after a search at his residence. Dailey has been charged with felony possession of child pornography and enticement or attempted enticement of a child. His bond was set at $100,000. NEW BUTLER COUNTY CIRCUIT CLERK TO BE SWORN IN ON FRIDAY A new Circuit Clerk will be sworn in at a public event on Friday in Butler County. Holly Lawson has been appointed as the new Butler County Circuit Clerk. She will be taking over for Cindi Bowman who is retiring at the end of the month. Lawson

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Published 8:57 am Wednesday, January 28, 2026 VALDOSTA – A Berrien County, Georgia, man is facing up to 30 years in prison for attempting to sextort a teenager he met over Snapchat. Cenobio Olguin Jr., 24, of Lenox, pleaded guilty to one count of attempted production of child pornography before Senior U.S. District Judge Louis Sands on Jan. 27.  Olguin is facing a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison up to a maximum of 30 years in prison to be followed by a maximum lifetime of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date will be determined by the Court. There is no parole in the federal system. “Sextortion of children on social media is a serious crime that requires constant vigilance from parents and caregivers,” said U.S. Attorney William R “Will” Keyes. “Law enforcement will aggressively pursue online predators, and our office will seek the toughest penalties for those who exploit children. We urge everyone to stay informed about online dangers and to report any suspected sextortion or exploitation immediately.” “This defendant used fear, manipulation and threats to sexually exploit a minor, causing real and lasting harm,” said Peter Ellis, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI

France's National Assembly approves banning under-15s from social media President Emmanuel Macron is urging France to follow Australia, whose ban for under-16s on social media platforms including Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube came into force in December. French President Emmanuel Macron speaks to the media ahead of a summit of EU leaders to discuss transatlantic relations following US President Donald Trump's threats to impose new tariffs on a list of EU countries over his demand to acquire Greenland, in Brussels, Belgium January 22, 2026. (photo credit: REUTERS/YVES HERMAN) By REUTERS JANUARY 27, 2026 05:35 France's National Assembly on Monday backed legislation to ban children under 15 years old from social media on Monday, amid growing concerns about online bullying and mental health risks. The bill proposes banning under-15s from social networks and "social networking functionalities" embedded within broader platforms, and reflects rising public angst over the impact of social media on minors. Lawmakers voted 116 to 23 in favor of the bill. It now passes to the Senate before a final vote in the lower house. President Emmanuel Macron has pointed to social media as one factor to blame for violence among young people. He is urging France to follow Australia, whose

“Closer” by The Chainsmokers, rose-tinted filters, mustaches, iconic poses, the mannequin challenge, colorful hair, the Snapchat dog filter, creepy clowns and swag; all things from an iconic year. Now it’s 10 years later, and the nostalgia of 2016 is coming back.  The new year is here. It’s officially 2026. As soon as the clock struck midnight on New Year's, everyone started sharing their 2016 throwbacks. From celebrities to classmates, everyone had fierce selfies and acai bowls to show off.  The real question is, why is 2016 back? Why wasn’t 2015 or 2014 trending? There are many reasons Generation Z is pushing to bring back 2016. Some of these reasons include missing how social media used to be, wanting to go back to a simpler time and even going back to a time before the widespread use of AI. Really, 2016 is back in trend based on everyone’s own opinions. Looking back on these trends can be an escape from the current times, where we’re all growing up or trying to escape the current events happening around us. Reliving 2016 can take us back to a time when there weren’t so many horrible things happening in society, like the deployment of