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Hello, geeks!
I’m writing this week’s Geekout propped up in bed, shattered.
One of the many 💩 things about ADHD? The meds. Side effects include random nights of zero sleep.
So at 4am I was watching AI-generated Michael Jackson videos on TikTok and interrogating ChatGPT on whether pre-ordering the new iPhone Duo was a bad decision.
Ironically, TikTok’s hottest trend this week is telling people to stop scrolling TikTok.
The good news? Soon I won’t have to doomscroll myself. Zuck wants billions of Muses doing our shopping, work and plans, while chatting to other people’s Muses.
He reckons it’ll make more money than Facebook and Instagram.
Bold.
Coming up in this week’s Geekout…
🤖 Zuck wants your Muse to talk to my Muse. Billions of them. Should we be worried?
💸 Meta just got a $25bn bill for misleading Facebook users
🧵 Threads has overtaken X, says Meta. The numbers inside
💼 LinkedIn will now flag your side hustle. Hope your boss doesn’t mind
🙅 Hotels and restaurants are banning influencers. Tripods out
🚫 Elon is banning “ugly” ads on X. Guess who decides what’s ugly
But before we get into it...
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🔥 TOP STORY: Meta wants to build a giant social network of AI agents serving billions of people.
Meta ordered to pay $25bn for misleading Facebook users [PUNISHMENT]
X’s Grok reportedly helped spread an assault accuser's alleged identity [NEGLIGENCE]
TikTok bosses repeatedly ignored staff warnings about child safety risks [MORE NEGLIGENCE]
Meta's new terms say advertisers are “solely responsible” for AI ad edits [PASSING THE BUCK]
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Enter the ‘Museverse’? Zuck’s new vision of the future
Move over, metaverse, Zuck’s got a new big vision for the future. We could call it… the Museverse?
As The Verge explains:
“It’s early days, but Zuckerberg told investors during Wednesday’s call that he sees a future where ‘billions’ of people are using Muse, and those people’s Muses are talking to and transacting with other people’s Muses in a ‘large-scale Muse network.’”
Oh, and Zuck said that all these Muses will make Meta more money than Facebook and Instagram.
Are you ready for a world where you don’t really need to touch the internet yourself, because you have your little AI buddy doing it all for you? Shopping, work, making plans with friends, all handled by ultra-capable agents with cute avatars operating on our behalf.
Perhaps ‘touch grass, not your phone’ could be the tagline.
But if you’re freaked out by this whole idea, don’t worry. It might not pan out like this. Meta just really needs to tell its investors a story about a world in which all its incredibly expensive AI development makes a massive profit.
And since Muse is currently a hit (at least in the US, the only place it’s available), it makes sense to spin up a vision of Muse being INCREDIBLY successful.
In reality, Muse won’t be the only AI agent in town by a long shot; there will be lots of competition, and AI is developing so fast we all have very little idea how it will play out. And hey, Meta’s habit of overshooting and taking liberties with user privacy could well come back to bite it along the way.
A big question is what happens to traditional social platforms if agents take over. Will we all crave human connection on apps like Instagram while the bots take over everything else? Or will those platforms just become filled with Muses posting AI-generated videos to each other?
Either way, if Zuck is right and Muse does take over the internet… you’d better just get used to it. Meta’s CFO told investors: “Agents are going to be an important part of how reality evolves, and everyone is just going to have to adapt.”
Oh, okay then.
Meta
/ Facebook
[Credit: ChatGPT]
Mark Zuckerberg considered leaving California over its proposed one-off 5% billionaire wealth tax
Meta blamed its use of an AI tool for its controversial suspension of the ‘No Kings’ Instagram account during demonstrations across the US
Meta's Oversight Board has warned of recurring election moderation failures ahead of the US midterms
Meta’s longtime ‘MAGA whisperer’ policy chief Joel Kaplan is leaving after 15+ years
Meta fixed the sharing feature in Muse, after it made users’ private data too easy to discover
Meta removed controversial wording from its web scraping terms that allowed it to use crawled content to “train” its products
…but publishers aren’t convinced. A new campaign urges them to delete their Facebook and Instagram accounts, and there are calls for regulators to intervene
Meta now lets advertisers target different audiences for each ad creative
Facebook Reels with 90 seconds or less of licensed music will no longer have reduced earnings because of the music
Facebook has added a “reshare to your profile” option for Page posts
__________
Instagram
Instagram’s Rings creator awards are back [Credit: Meta]
Instagram’s creator awards, Rings, are back for a second year, preparing to name double the number of winners
Instagram needs to do more to fight AI slop, Adam Mosseri admits
Instagram is running a large pilot of its Series feature with creators. Adam Mosseri says it’s “going well”
Instagram DM customisation just got more personal with the ability to upload your own photos as chat backgrounds
Instagram Edits’ ‘Edits Plus’ subscription will offer 200GB of storage, project syncing and backups, multi-device access and more AI usage. No word on pricing or launch date yet
Instagram has confirmed it’s working on a native iPhone Duo layout for Edits
__________
Threads
/
WhatsApp
WhatsApp’s scheduled messages feature [Credit: @WABetaInfo]
WhatsApp has rolled scheduled messages out to some beta testers
WhatsApp is working on a call-screening feature that asks unknown callers why they're calling
WhatsApp is making it much easier to share Instagram Reels in chats, with a new Reels shortcut in testing
WhatsApp is testing a navigation bar that shrinks as you scroll
WhatsApp is developing an in-app browser on iOS that can open any shared link, so you spend more time in-app
Threads has recruited its own NFL commentary team to take on X
Threads is rolling out a new ‘Custom’ filter in the Insights section
__________
X / Twitter
[Credit: ChatGPT]
Elon Musk says X is going to start banning “ugly” ads, but who decides what’s ‘ugly’? Elmo?!
X is testing a new ‘Offline Hub’ feature on Android
X has added a new Creator Academy section offering tips and guides to help you improve your content and grow your presence
X now has an Instant Call option on desktop
__________
TikTok
[Credit: ChatGPT]
TikTok has followed YouTube and Meta in blaming an “error” for banning ads for the Musk documentary
Politico owner Axel Springer tried to buy a stake in TikTok’s European operations in a bid to copy the US model in the EU
TikTok has shifted ad spending to YouTube after Meta blocked its ads
TikTok has suffered a setback in its fight against the EU labelling it a ‘gatekeeper’ under the Digital Markets Act
TikTok is rolling out reposts for individual comments
TikTok has been spotted offering Halloween-themed DM Bubble Styles
TikTok Shop now offers sellers a Subscribe dashboard that tracks why shoppers cancel
__________
YouTube
YouTube is testing cash bonuses for Shorts creators [Credit: YouTube]
YouTube is testing cash bonuses to keep creators pumping out Shorts
YouTube will temporarily restrict key features when it detects unusual account activity, to protect potentially hacked channels
YouTube is removing the Subscriptions tab from its mobile bottom bar after nearly a decade. It’ll be at the top of the Home feed instead
YouTube is expanding Shopping with a major AliExpress affiliate deal
__________
Snap
/
LinkedIn
/
Twitch
Robert Downey Jr. joins Snap to promote its Specs [Credit: Snap]
LinkedIn can now turn your profile into a digital business card
LinkedIn is rolling out a new ‘Present’ label to highlight users’ current job positions on their profiles
LinkedIn will now show a ‘+1 more’ label next to the company listed on your profile if you have a side hustle or work two jobs
Snap has hired Iron Man Robert Downey Jr. as the honorary chief customer experience officer for its new Specs
Pinterest now lets you tag topics on pins
Bluesky now lets you sort quote posts by engagement, not only chronologically
Bluesky has added Linktree-style profile links and is testing proper iPad support at last
Bluesky has announced its plans to tackle midterms misinformation
Twitch is launching Stream Recaps, which bundle a broadcast's best clips into a quick catch-up
Spotify has launched Patreon-style memberships for podcast creators
Pinterest lets you turn your room into a Barbie DreamHouse with AI. Pinterest x Barbie is the collab no-one was expecting…
“To get started, upload a photo of your room and use Restyle to transform it in seconds with one of five signature DreamHouse style edits: mid-century Americana, chalet chic, superstar glam, Victorian romance or modern coastal. Then, add or swap decor with Barbie-approved finds to perfect your own dream home.”
__________
Also spotted this week…
YouTube now lets you describe what you want to watch, and it will create a constantly updating Custom Feed around that topic, mood or routine
YouTube’s ‘Ask YouTube’ can now appear above traditional results for some searches, combining written advice with timestamped moments pulled from relevant videos
Meta AI Studio has been spotted inside WhatsApp
Reddit is adding AI tools to plan and improve ad campaigns
Canva has launched its first AI image-generation model, Craft, which has been trained heavily on millions of human-designed templates
-
Meta dropped revealing numbers about where its apps are heading in its Q3 2026 results 👀
Threads time spent per user: +20% YoY, and Meta says it has now overtaken X in monthly users.
Meta's apps: 3.64B daily users, +3%
Instagram Reels recommendation upgrades increased time spent 4%+ in Q3.
Facebook's new AI recommendation system increased Reels watch time 1%.
AI recommendations are already moving Meta's engagement numbers.
More Meta results highlights:
Meta says Muse and Reality Labs are highly unprofitable — for now
Meta's ad business is still booming. But there's an interesting wobble in Europe, where the option to choose less personalised ads is restricting growth
Meta is creating a new class of shares to help fund its AI ambitions. Publicly traded, non-voting Class C shares will be available from January 2027
TikTok’s latest trend is encouraging people to stop scrolling TikTok.
“Brain stacking” means keeping books, puzzles and journals nearby instead of reaching for your phone.
Creators are building morning and bedtime routines around reading, Sudoku, crosswords and writing.
Social media is increasingly making disconnecting from social media look aspirational.
Hotels and restaurants are starting to say NO to influencer photoshoots.
Luxury hotels are restricting shoots as creators increasingly treat properties like studios
One UK farm shop now bans photography during its busiest daytime hours
Restaurateurs complain about tripods, outfit changes and creators disrupting paying customers
Some venues still court influencers, but increasingly want tighter control over filming
__________
More brand news and views:
Influencer marketing's hottest new KPI might be RSVPs. Brands increasingly use IRL attendance to measure creators' real community influence
Creators say it’s difficult to make money from news — because of platform rules and brand guidelines
Disney has worked with 6,000+ creators this year as it massively scales its creator strategy
SharkNinja is turning its employees and customers into creators, with two new programmes
Victoria’s Secret turned its fashion show into a creator content franchise
Brands like e.l.f. and Jewelry Television are using TikTok Shop for more than just selling
Gen Z has a new anti-Instagram app: Posting2
Think Instagram circa 2010:
Square photos
Chronological feed
No algorithm
No ads or celebrities
Lots of random posts and everyday photos
As Fast Company reports, it grew from 1,600 beta users in April to 36,671 users by this week. Sensor Tower says September downloads jumped 42% MoM.
It’s still tiny. But its growth taps into something bigger: people wanting social media to feel social again…
The question is whether it can grow without turning into something its users hate.
Social media bans don’t protect young people’s mental health, early research shows
Australia's under-16 ban hasn't stopped many children accessing restricted social platforms.
One survey found 61% of 12–15-year-olds still accessed supposedly restricted accounts.
Age checks are reportedly being bypassed using VPNs, false details, and help from adults.
Researchers argue safer defaults could prove more effective than blanket age bans.
Meta made a pregnancy brand stop saying “pregnancy” in its ads…
…which is pretty difficult if you’re a pregnancy brand!
__________
More WTF this week:
A fake version of WhatsApp has racked up 500K+ Google Play downloads. Some users saw it appear above the legit app in searches!
OnlyFans creators are annoyed that Meta lets Muse talk dirty, while much milder content from adult content creators is regularly restricted
WhatsApp’s hidden AI instructions told its support bot not to mention privacy regulators
Lloyds Banking Group is hiring a Social Media Lead [Multiple locations, UK]
__________
More social media jobs:
GitLab is looking for a Director, Social Media [Remote, USA]
The Economist is recruiting a Deputy Head of Social Media [London, UK]
Muck Rack needs a Social Media Manager [Remote, USA]
New Instagram figures from Meta’s latest quarterly earnings show it is increasingly prioritising fresh content in recommendations:
-
__________
Also this week:
TikTok has revealed how brands like Princess Polly, Dossier, and SharkNinja are gearing up for Black Friday
10 MILLION
__________
More social stats:
BIG BUCKS: Steven Bartlett says ‘Diary of a CEO’ is on track for $60 million in revenue this year
LOBBY UP: Meta spent $5.9 million lobbying Washington in Q3 2026, more than any other major tech company.
SLOPPY: 72% of surveyed online video posters say they use AI in videos or images
STORYTIME: 72.9% of surveyed 10-24-year-olds said YouTube can effectively tell a story, compared to TV at 70.3%, movies at 70.2% and video games at 68.5%
LOL: Just 16.8% of surveyed 10-24-year-olds would cast an influencer in a movie or TV show.
NOT BOOMING: Just 31% of boomers trust influencer recommendations, versus 62% of Gen Z
VOTE-FLUENCE: 56% of Americans say creators have shaped their political or social views
SOCIAL NEWS: 59% of Americans now get news from social media at least sometimes
BUNKING OFF: 95% of YouTube videos watched by US school students on school laptops were non-educational in a recent study
RETENTION: TikTok viewers watch less than a third of the average brand video
NICHE WINS: Niche YouTube channels score 48% viewer attention versus 41% for mega channels, according to a new report
NEWSTOK: 20% of US adults regularly get TikTok news, up from 3% in 2020
YouTube's takeover of the TV screen is accelerating.
The platform just hit a record 15.8% of ALL US TV viewing, according to Nielsen.
For comparison:
→ Netflix: 7.7%
→ Disney: 9.3% across its entire media empire
→ YouTube viewing: +6% in August
And this isn't just kids watching MrBeast on the big screen.
Viewing among adults 50+ jumped 9%.
YouTube isn't really competing with social video anymore. It's competing with TV titans.
__________
Also charted this week:
AGE GAP: Younger adults are more likely to get their news from TikTok than older adults
WATCH TIME: TikTok viewers stick around longer for entertainment and travel than they do for luxury and baby content
The US government has officially recognised creators as small businesses.
__________
Also spotted this week…
Meta says businesses are using Muse for ad performance analysis, campaign planning, automated workflows with third-party apps, and more... [Social Media Today]
…Consumers, meanwhile, mainly use it for shopping. [Social Media Today]
Meta has been ordered by a judge to reveal exactly who approved torrenting millions of pirated books. [TorrentFreak]
TikTok wants creators helping Hollywood decide what gets made. [Forbes $$$]
Australia is preparing to sue Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube over lack of compliance with its under-16s social ban. [The Straits Times]
Greece just banned social media for under-15s. [Reuters $$$]
Trump’s Truth Social has plunged to an all-time low 260,000 DAUs as users flee… [The Daily Beast]
…But it’s making money from its controversial $100K-a-month data feed. [Axios]
Telegram seems to have become more relaxed about handing user data over to law enforcement. [404 Media]
A serious Signal bug could keep your mic active after hanging up. [The Register]
BBC Studios has launched a YouTube-first video podcast, ‘The Girls Are Talking’. [PPC Land]
TikTok is blocking searches for some popular peptides. [The Verge]
ByteDance's short-drama app Hongguo is becoming a monster in China, ranking fourth among China's biggest apps for time spent. [Business Insider]
Meta quietly reduced the size of its fund to support the election of politicians who support its tech priorities. [New York Times $$$]
French presidential hopeful Gabriel Attal wants powers to temporarily block social media during violent unrest. [Politico]
OnlyFans plans to offer financial services for creators as it eyes a potential IPO. [Fortune]
UC Berkeley has opened StreamU's first dedicated on-campus Twitch production studio. [Mashable]
Meta says that from 13 Oct 2027, businesses will no longer be able to send WhatsApp marketing messages through the standard Cloud API. [PPC Land]
New features and tests:
YouTube is hiding the dislike button when creators view their own videos, but they can still see dislike counts in Studio. [9to5Google]
Facebook Page age restrictions now include options for 17+, 18+, 19+, 21+… and even 24+. [@JonahManzano]
Meta Ads might finally show retailers which products are actually getting their money, thanks to a new ‘Top products’ view spotted in Ads Manager. [PPC Land]
WhatsApp is rolling out a new chat navigation menu on iOS. [@JonahManzano]
WhatsApp is testing a range of UI adjustments on Android. [WABetaInfo]
TikTok Shop is offering box-free, label-free returns through around 10,000 locations in the US. [Tubefilter]
IMDb has added social features for movie and TV industry pros. [@lindseygamble_]
Discord has made sharing Markdown files considerably less ugly. [The Verge]
As Hollywood studios offer rich deals to grow engagement on their platforms, YouTube is punching back with its own offers — and threats…
__________
Also worth a read:
The Creator A-List: The 25 influencers who matter most to Hollywood
Social media algorithms: What if you could switch them off?
How AI wearables are running headfirst into a privacy backlash
TikTok has been running ads for… fake money 💸
Forbes tracked counterfeit euro, pound and dollar ads on TikTok from 54+ accounts over three months.
Most sent buyers off to Telegram to pay. One seller even offered 10% off with the code “TikTok10”.
Another ad (AI-generated, obviously) showed a Pixar-style teen buying an iPhone with fake notes.
TikTok removed the accounts Forbes flagged. Seven new ones popped up the following week.
Given what iPhones cost these days, I almost get it… 👀
That's a wrap for this week, folks.
I’m heading off to get myself out of a jam.
I promised Sarah I would NOT buy the new iPhone Duo.
I bought the new iPhone Duo.
It doesn't arrive for another three weeks. Plenty of time to plan the cover-up: intercept the courier, set it up in the downstairs loo, and keep it folded whenever she's in the room.
The bigger problem? I only read the reviews AFTER hitting 'Buy'. Thanks a lot, ADHD impulsivity!
It's £700 more than the Pro Max I upgrade to every year. It's heavier. No telephoto lens. And The Verge called it one of Apple's messiest first-gen products in years. Ooof!
So, geeks. Did I mess up?
Did I mess up?
Goodbye, geeks!
P.S. This newsletter is edited by Martin SFP Bryant
