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‎After years of dismissing Facebook as a platform for older audiences, creators are now rediscovering it as one of the most profitable spaces in social media. Influencer and comedian Anwar Jibawi, who once neglected his Facebook page, began noticing a steady rise in the payments he received from the platform. The unexpected surge prompted him to ramp up his posting frequency to around ten comedy sketches per day, eventually turning Facebook into one of his leading income streams—reportedly reaching six figures monthly. ‎ ‎Facebook’s revamped monetization program has creators like Anwar Jibawi and Maggie McGaugh earning major income from viral videos and posts. ‎Elizaveta Starkova/Getty Images  ‎ ‎The rise in creator earnings follows a major policy shift in Facebook’s monetization system introduced last fall. The platform now compensates creators based on post performance metrics rather than a percentage of ad revenue. This update has transformed the way influencers appr...

‎Amazon has reached a $2.5 billion settlement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to resolve allegations that the company used deceptive practices to enroll consumers into its Prime membership program and made cancellations difficult. The resolution marks one of the largest settlements in the history of the FTC. ‎ ‎Amazon settles FTC lawsuit for $2.5B over deceptive Prime sign-up and cancellation tactics, affecting 35M consumers and reshaping subscription practices. ‎Arif Hudaverdi Yaman/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images ‎ ‎The settlement includes a $1 billion civil penalty paid to the U.S. government and $1.5 billion in consumer refunds. Approximately 35 million affected Prime members may be eligible to receive up to $51 each. This agreement follows a lawsuit filed by the FTC in 2023 and comes just days into a jury trial in Seattle. ‎ ‎FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson stated that the case involved "sophisticated subscription traps" and cited internal evidence that ...

‎States across the U.S. have begun enacting laws to regulate AI-powered therapy apps, responding to a growing number of users turning to artificial intelligence for mental health support. These early laws reflect the complexity of governing fast-evolving technology and reveal gaps in protection that concern developers, policymakers, and mental health advocates alike. ‎ ‎States regulate AI therapy apps amid rising use, but inconsistent laws leave gaps as federal oversight and safety concerns grow across mental health tech. ‎Getty Images ‎ ‎AI chatbots are being used by millions for emotional support, often in the absence of available or affordable mental health care. With no uniform federal standards in place, state-level interventions vary significantly, both in scope and enforcement. ‎ ‎Varying State Approaches to AI Mental Health Apps ‎ ‎This year, states including Illinois and Nevada passed laws banning the use of AI in mental health treatment. Illinois imposes fines up ...