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Discord, the popular platform for gamers to communicate online, is postponing its controversial age verification policy after receiving swift backlash from users with concerns about their privacy. The global rollout of the system is now delayed to the second half of 2026, Discord’s Chief Technology Officer and co-founder Stanislav Vishnevskiy wrote in a Tuesday blog post acknowledging that the company missed the mark. Many of you are worried that this is just another big tech company finding new ways to collect your personal data. That were creating a problem to justify invasive solutions, Vishnevskiy wrote. I get that skepticism. Its earned, not just toward us, but toward the entire tech industry. But thats not what were doing. Discord, which says it has more than 200 million active users, will continue to meet specific legal obligations it has for age verification of users, the company said, but the global expansion of age verification will only come after it makes changes to the initial policy it laid out in early February. The company announced earlier this month that it would roll out an age verification policy in March that would include face scanning or requests for an ID upload for users it could not determine were adults. This drew swift ire from users. Many pointed to a recent security breach of a third-party provider Discord worked with that exposed government ID photos of up to 70,000 Discord users. Vishnevskiy referenced the security breach in the blog post, writing that he understood that incident added to users’ skepticism, but he emphasized the company no longer works with that vendor and has rigorous standards for its partners. Every vendor we work with goes through a security and privacy review before integration, he wrote. That includes contractual limits on data use, and strict retention and deletion requirements. Information submitted for age verification is stored only for the minimum time necessary, which in most cases means its deleted immediately. If a vendor doesnt pass, we dont work with them. One of the vendors that didn’t meet the mark was Persona, an identity verification service. Vishnevskiy said Discord ran a limited test with Persona in the United Kingdom only in January. The company was not able to meet Discord’s standard for facial age estimation, Vishnevskiy wrote, which stipulates that the estimation must be performed entirely on-device, meaning your biometric data never leaves your phone. The company distanced itself from Persona after that relationship also became the subject of online criticism. Persona is backed by the venture capital firm Founders Fund, which is run by by Palantir Technologies co-founder Peter Thiel. Thiel and Palantir are often criticized for of the company’s partnerships with the government for surveillance purposes, with Palantir recently inking an agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to streamline the process of identifying and deporting people the agency is targeting. The backlash to the original policy and even the revised version came even though Vishnevskiy wrote that for “90%+ of users, nothing changes. Discord is able to proactively determine the ages of the vast majority of users by looking at account-level signals. Those include how long the account has existed, whether there is a payment method on file, the types of servers a user is in and general patterns of account activity, Vishnevskiy wrote. He emphasized the company does not read messages, analyze conversations or look at account content to estimate users ages. For the minority of users whose ages Discord cannot determine, the company is now working to offer more options beyond face scanning and requesting an ID, including credit card verification. The company is going to complete and expand alternative options before rolling out the new system. Users who choose not to verify their age will get to keep their account, servers, friends list, direct messages and voice chat, but will not be able to access age-restricted content or change certain default safety settings designed to protect teens, Vishnevskiy wrote. Discord promised users it will publish a detailed post explaining how its automatic age determination systems work and will document every verification vendor and their practices on its website. Kaitlyn Huamani, AP technology writer
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E-Commerce
Gen Z still believes in true love, even if the pursuit looks a little different from their parents generation. Thats according to a new Tinder x Harris Poll white paper shared exclusively with Fast Company. The survey was conducted online in the U.S. on behalf of Match Group by the Harris Poll from September to October 2025, among a nationally representative sample of 2,500 single adults ages 18 to 79. Some 80% of Gen Z singles said they believe they’ll find true love, and 74% said they believe they’ll get married, compared to 57% and 43% of all singles, respectively. That might surprise some at a time when young people are reportedly having less sex, going out less, and facing more rejectionromantic or otherwisethan ever before. Rather than signaling a romance recession for Gen Z, these trends point to an inflection point in dating culture. Traditional relationship milestones are becoming outdated. Young adults are slowing down their pursuit of finding the one, owning a home, and having kids. For now, Gen Zers are prioritizing micro-commitments over milestones. Previous generations often moved through commitment in a few headline steps: Define the relationship, meet the family, move in, get engaged, Devyn Simone, Tinders resident relationship expert, tells Fast Company. Gen Z still wants the ceremonies eventually, but theyre building proof along the way through everyday behaviors, and a lot of those behaviors show up first online. That might look like being added to Close Friends, sending voice notes, or being introduced to the group chat. The soft launch has become a modern relationship milestone. Of the single Gen Z respondents surveyed by Tinder, 46% who use social media said they soft launch their relationships, while 37% said they hard launch their relationships, compared with 12% and 10% of single social media users over the age of 45. The ultimate green flag For those who have hard launched a relationship on social media, 81% believe its an important sign of commitment. Location sharing is another modern way to hard launch a relationship in the internet age. Whats important to understand is that these arent frivolous internet behaviors, says Simone. Theyre Gen Zs way of making connections tangible and visible while still pacing themselves. Throughout different stagesfrom first date to marriage, and sometimes divorcemany share their relationships candidly online in much the same way they would with a trusted confidant: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Ick listsof instant turnoffs that end romantic interestare frequently crowdsourced online. Common offenses include being rude to service staff, or an inability to communicate or handle conflict, with 28% of Gen Z singles strongly agreeing that the ick is based on a lack of emotional competence or social skills, compared to just 17% of older singles. These social and emotional competencies have become more important for Gen Z than traditional compatibility markers like financial success or career achievement, according to Tinder. A boyfriend? In this economy? Gen Z expects romantic partners not only to have the skills to communicate but also the willingness to engage in those conversations. In a Tinder survey cited in the white paper, 56% said honest conversations matter, and those who dont meet the bare minimum are no longer being excused. Cynicism about heterosexual relationships is more widespread than ever. Only 55% of Gen Zers feel ready for romantic relationships right now, and 75% are not in a hurry to find a partner. Context matters. Gen Z is coming of age in a moment defined by economic uncertainty, shifting cultural norms around marriage and children, and a broader redefinition of what adulthood looks like, says Simone. Instead of making sweeping promises about forever, Gen Z tends to ask, Are we aligned right now? Are we building something that feels healthy? Rather than diving headfirst into a rental agreement, marriage, or any other kind of legally binding commitment, small milestones help build trust incrementally, reducing risk for a generation that has watched the social contract disintegrate before their eyes. That doesnt mean Gen Z is turning its back on connection. Quite the opposite: 33% of Gen Zers strongly agree that expanding their social network is important, compared to 20% of older singles. Maybe the real milestones were the friends we made along the way Instead of solely chasing romantic connections, Gen Z is also pursuing mentorship, community, and friendships that may or may not blossom into romance. For many Gen Z daters, connection might begin in group settings, shared interest spaces, or friend-of-a-friend dynamics, says Simone. What they need are tools that reflect how relationships actually unfold today: gradually, socially, and often in community. This has led Tinder and other dating apps to rethink how best to show up for Gen Z users, prioritizing micro-commitments over grand gestures. Tinder has recently introduced more casual modes for Gen Zers to meet each other, including its double-date feature and college mode, creating space for moments of connection without romantic pressure. Sometimes it begins with a follow, a voice note, a shared night out with friends, says Simone. “All these small signals that, over time, add up to something real.” Gen Zers arent giving up on romantic love. Theyre just going steady.
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E-Commerce
The home of the Mona Lisa is getting a new boss. Art historian Christophe Leribault, a veteran museum director, is taking over at the Louvre, shouldering the challenge of getting the worlds largest museum out of crisis after the brazen heist in October of the French crown jewels. French government spokeswoman Maud Bregeon announced Wednesday that Leribault is taking over from outgoing Louvre director Laurence des Cars, who resigned Tuesday. The difficulties he inherits are formidable. The daylight robbery among the highest-profile museum thefts in living memory exposed alarming security holes at the Paris landmark. The former royal palace has also suffered a broad array of other problems that have presented a picture of a treasured national institution spiraling out of control. They include a burst pipe near the Mona Lisa,” water leaks that damaged priceless books, aging buildings, staff walkouts over overcrowding, understaffing and ticket price hikes for most non-European visitors. Pressure for new leadership deepened in recent weeks when authorities revealed a suspected decade-long ticket fraud operation linked to the museum that investigators say may have cost the Louvre 10 million euros ($11.8 million). Leribault brings a proven track record. He has been running another world-renowned French landmark and tourist attraction, the Versailles Palace, overseeing an annual budget of about 170 million euros ($200 million). The former palace for French royalty west of Paris was the venue for Olympic equestrian sports when Paris hosted the summer games in 2024. Leribault also is a previous head of Paris Orsay Museum. He will be tasked with leading important projects that are crucial for the institutions future,” Bregeon said as she announced Leribaults appointment at the Louvre. They include security and modernization upgrades and the pursuit of a sweeping overhaul plan, branded Louvre New Renaissance,” that President Emmanuel Macron is championing. Unveiled by Macron in January 2025, the renovation, which could take up to a decade, aims to modernize a museum widely seen as overstretched and physically worn down by mass tourism. The plan includes a new entrance near the Seine River to ease pressure on I.M. Peis pyramid, new underground spaces and a dedicated room for the Mona Lisa with timed access all intended to improve crowd flow and reduce the daily crush of visitors that has become a symbol of the Louvres success and its dysfunction. The project is expected to cost about 1.15 billion euros ($1.35 billion) according to a recent report from France’s court of auditors. It will be partly funded by ticket revenue, state support, donations and income from the Louvre branch in Abu Dhabi. Bregeon described Leribault as very solid, trusted and said he’s expected to provide vision” and “calm to the museum. In a statement, the Culture Ministry highlighted his extensive experience at the helm of major institutions” and said Leribault will prioritize strengthening the security and safety of the Louvre’s buildings, its collections and visitors and staff, and restoring a climate of trust. Sylvie Corbet and John Leicester, Associated Press
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E-Commerce
The crypto market got some good news on Wednesday morning, as Circle reported better-than-expected earnings numbers, sending its stock soaring. Circle, a fintech company that issues and regulates stablecoins, among other things, reported fourth-quarter and full fiscal year 2025 earnings early Wednesday, which showed that total revenue grew 77% to $770 million during the fourth quarter, and net income for the quarter increased by $129 million. Adjusted EBITDA also grew 412% during the quarter. For the full year, total revenue grew 64% to $2.7 billion. In response, Circle shares took off, skyrocketing more than 15% during pre-trading. By midday Wednesday, the stock was up over 25%. Notably, the stock is down roughly 14% over the past month, and down 51% over the past six months. So, the positive earnings news offered investors some relief. The fourth quarter marked another step forward in Circles mission to build the infrastructure for an open, programmable internet financial system, said Jeremy Allaire, Co-Founder, CEO and Chairman at Circle, in a statement included with the earnings release. USDC adoption continued to expand globally as more enterprises, developers, and public institutions integrated digital dollars into real-world payments, treasury, and onchain financial workflows,” Allaire continued. “We saw strong engagement across our platform, meaningful progress toward launching Arc mainnet, continued growth in CPN TPV, and growing momentum for EURC and USYC. With increasing collaboration across traditional finance, fintech, and the public sector, Circle is helping build the infrastructure for a more open and resilient global financial system. The earnings report is also a good signal for the crypto market, which has taken a beating this year. The Nasdaq CME Crypto Index was up nearly 7% midday Wednesday, but remains down almost 30% since the beginning of the year. Another crypto index, the CoinDesk 20, was likewise up over 8%, but down 32% year-to-date. Overall, the crypto market has taken its licks in recent months for several reasons, including de-risking activity by investors, geopolitical concerns, and even changes in the SaaS market, all of which have crypto holders rethinking their positions. However, Circles numbers do indicate that the stablecoin businesswhich differs a bit from other crypto businesses in that stablecoins are backed by fiatcan be profitable.
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E-Commerce
President Donald Trump started in sales mode, using his State of the Union address to deliver an upbeat vision of the U.S. economy. But that portrayal collides with the sentiment of Americans who remain anxious about their finances and feel they haven’t benefited from Trump’s policies. He took the high road to honor the gold medal-winning U.S. mens Olympic hockey team and a war hero before pivoting abruptly to a darker tone as he ridiculed Democrats. Here are takeaways from the speech. Trump’s roaring economy is at odds with sour public sentiment Much of the nation is worried about the direction of the economy, but Trump says the good times are here, insisting repeatedly that rising costs are no longer a problem. The roaring economy is roaring like never before, he said. He cheered the lower cost of gasoline, mortgage rates, prescription drug prices and the rising stock market: Millions and millions of Americans are all gaining. Such optimism, as so many Americans are feeling economic strains, risks painting Trump as out of touch. Just 39% of U.S. adults approved of Trump’s handling of the economy in February, according to AP-NORC polling. Still, the president focused much of the first hour of his speech on the economy, something Republicans had urged him to do as they head into the midterm elections. Trump wraps himself in the flag For a president who always seems to be spoiling for a fight, Trump also tried to summon Americans innate patriotic impulses. In addition to the hockey team, he singled out war heroes and those who had taken brave stands in other countries, using the moment to bestow numerous presidential medals in an effort to give the address a more positive gloss. It underscored the president’s media savvy and understanding that even if a moment isn’t appreciated completely in real time, it can have an afterlife in the days following speech, especially on social media. Yet in one revealing moment, Trump lamented why he couldn’t give a congressional medal to himself. Taking aim at Democrats Tributes to the Olympic hockey team and a World War II veteran didn’t unify the room for long. The Republican president soon took aim at Democrats and blamed them for many of the nations ills. Trump said rising health care premiums are caused by you, suggested Democrats are not protecting Social Security and blamed them for the nations affordability crunch. You caused that problem. You caused that problem, Trump said as he glared at the Democratic side of the room. He seemed to get angrier as the speech progressed. These people are crazy, Im telling you, theyre crazy, he said. Democrats are destroying this country. Trumps MAGA base loves such aggression. Its unclear, however, if the rest of the country feels the same. The Supreme Courts unfortunate decision By Trumps standards, he held his tongue when it came to the Supreme Court. After the court struck down his tariff policy last week, Trump said the justices who voted against one of his signature issues were an embarrassment to their families. By Tuesday, he simply called the ruling unfortunate. Trump sought to treat the ruling with indifference, insisting that tariff revenues were saving the U.S., ignoring the fact that the levies havent made a significant dent in government debt. He said the tariffs were paid by foreign countries even as virtually every study concludes that costs have been paid by U.S. firms and consumers. At one point, he seemed to take the long view that history would ultimately vindicate him even if the Supreme Court would not. As time goes by, I believe the tariffs paid by foreign countries will, like in the past, substantially replace the modern day system of income tax, taking a great burden off the people that I love, he said. That is unlikely. The federal income tax is authorized by the 16th Amendment to the Constitution and the power to collect revenue is ultimately defined by Congress, not the president. Trump vows action on election ‘cheating’ The president also used the speech to reprise his attack on the integrity of U.S. elections. Cheating is rampant in our elections, Trump said. Trump has made such claims for years, focused on his 2020 election loss, claims rejected by dozens of courts and his own attorney general at the time. But the timing of Tuesdays prime-time claims, less than nine months before voters across America are scheduled to decide control of Congress, was noteworthy. So, too, was Trumps suggestion that he would take action to address a problem that doesnt appear to exist. They want to cheat. They have cheated, and their policy is so bad that the only way they can get elected is to cheat, Trump said of Democrats. And were going to stop it. We have to stop it. Trump is calling on Congress to pass a bill requiring voters to show a photo ID before casting ballots. But he also recently vowed to enact an executive order to address the issue, although the White House has not clarified what it might entail. No mention of Minneapolis Sometimes whats not said is as notable as what is. Trump has highlighted immigration since the very first speech in which he announced his 2016 presidential campaign. And on Tuesday night, he revived much of the same language hes used throughout the past decade, blasting criminal aliens and warning of drug lords, murderers all over our country. What he didnt mention: the most aggressive immigration enforcement tactics that threatened to bring the U.S. to the brink earlier this year. He didnt mention the deaths of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis last month at the hands of federal agents. Indeed, it was Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., who shouted that Alex wasnt a criminal, referring to Alex Pretti, one of the U.S. citizens killed in Minneapolis. During her Democratic rebuttal, Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger said law enforcement must work to build trust in communities and said Trump every minute spent sowing fear is a minute not investigating murders. Trump said nothing of his administrations shift in tactics, including a drawdown of agents in the Twin Cities. And he made no acknowledgment of the broad concerns in the U.S. about Trumps approach on immigration, as demonstrated by the 60% of U.S. adults who disapproved of his handling of the issue in February, according to AP-NORC polling. Drumbeat for war gets louder Trump has already built up the largest U.S. military presence in the Middle East in decades. And in his speech, he outlined a rationale for using those forces to launch a major military strike against Iran. The president said that Iran and its proxies have spread nothing but terrorism, death andhate, adding that its leaders killed at least 32,000 protesters in recent weeks, which is at the further end of estimates over the death toll. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activist News Agency has so far counted more than 7,000 dead and believes the death toll is far higher. Irans government offered its only death toll on Jan. 21, saying 3,117 people were killed. Trump also warned that the nation has developed missiles that can threaten Europe and is working on missiles that will soon reach the U.S. My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy. But one thing is certain, I will never allow the worlds number one sponsor of terror, which they are, by far to have a nuclear weapon. Cant let that happen. On brand, the speech was the longest SOTU ever The president, ever mindful of records that allow him to say he was the first, the best or had done the most, succeeded clearly on one thing: he beat his own record for the longest, clocking in at just under 1 hour, 48 minutes. By STEVEN SLOAN and STEVE PEOPLES Associated Press
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E-Commerce
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