Sarah Perez 💙

AI was supposed to win people over by now — it hasn’t https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/19/ai-was-supposed-to-win-people-over-by-now-it-hasnt/

Amazon makes its AI-powered Alexa+ free on Fire TV, no Prime required https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/19/amazon-makes-its-ai-powered-alexa-free-on-fire-tv-no-prime-required/

Apple overhauls its EU App Store fees, loosens rules for alternative app stores https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/18/apple-overhauls-its-eu-app-store-fees-loosens-rules-for-alternative-app-stores/

LinkedIn adds a button to report AI-generated ‘slop’ https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/30/linkedin-adds-a-button-to-report-ai-generated-slop/

Patreon stops asking AI bots not to scrape — and starts blocking them https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/17/patreon-stops-asking-ai-bots-not-to-scrape-and-starts-blocking-them/

Meet Wander, a StumbleUpon-inspired tool for discovering the ‘small web’ https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/03/meet-wander-a-stumbleupon-inspired-tool-for-discovering-the-small-web/

DuckDuckGo makes its ‘no-AI’ search engine easier to access as its traffic booms https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/01/duckduckgo-makes-its-no-ai-search-engine-easier-to-access-as-its-traffic-booms/

SOND, a sleep tech startup from Bose’s former head of sleep, exits stealth with $7M https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/27/sond-a-sleep-tech-startup-from-boses-former-head-of-sleep-exits-stealth-with-7m/

X announces a rebuilt ad platform powered by AI https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/30/x-announces-a-rebuilt-ad-platform-powered-by-ai/

Marked-up Mac minis flood eBay amid shortages driven by AI https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/24/mac-mini-price-expensive-ebay-shortage-ai-memory/

Bluesky now supports better quality photos https://techcrunch.com/2026/04/23/bluesky-now-supports-better-quality-photos/

Mastodon is making its decentralized social network easier to use with its latest revamp https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/26/mastodon-is-making-its-decentralized-social-network-easier-to-use-with-its-latest-revamp/

Digg lays off staff and shuts down app as company retools https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/13/digg-lays-off-staff-and-shuts-down-app-as-company-retools/

Alternative app store AltStore PAL joins the fediverse https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/11/alternative-app-store-altstore-pal-joins-the-fediverse/

X is testing a new ad format that connects posts with products https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/06/x-is-testing-a-new-ad-format-that-connects-posts-with-products/

ChatGPT uninstalls surged by 295% after DoD deal https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/02/chatgpt-uninstalls-surged-by-295-after-dod-deal/

Ex-Apple team launches Acme Weather, a new take on weather forecasting https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/23/ex-apple-team-launches-acme-weather-a-new-take-on-weather-forecasting/

Mastodon, a decentralized alternative to X, plans to target creators with new features https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/18/mastodon-a-decentralized-alternative-to-x-plans-to-target-creators-with-new-features/

WordPress.com adds an AI Assistant that can edit, adjust styles, create images, and more https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/17/wordpress-com-adds-an-ai-assistant-that-can-edit-adjust-styles-create-images-and-more/

TikTok launches an opt-in Local Feed in the U.S. leveraging users’ precise location https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/11/tiktok-launches-an-opt-in-local-feed-in-the-u-s-leveraging-users-precise-location/

Alphabet won’t talk about the Google-Apple AI deal, even to investors https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/04/alphabet-wont-talk-about-the-google-apple-ai-deal-even-to-investors/

Apps for boycotting American products surge to the top of the Danish App Store https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/21/apps-for-boycotting-american-products-surge-to-the-top-of-the-danish-app-store/

ICE becomes one of the most-blocked accounts on Bluesky after its verification https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/20/ice-becomes-one-of-the-most-blocked-accounts-on-bluesky-after-its-verification/

One of the first alternative app stores in the EU is shutting down https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/20/one-of-the-first-alternative-app-stores-in-the-eu-is-shutting-down/

Wikimedia Foundation announces new AI partnerships with Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, Perplexity and others https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/15/wikimedia-foundation-announces-new-ai-partnerships-with-amazon-meta-microsoft-perplexity-and-others/

X updates its terms, files countersuit to lay claim to the ‘Twitter’ trademark after newcomer’s challenge https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/16/x-updates-its-terms-files-countersuit-to-lay-claim-to-the-twitter-trademark-after-newcomers-challenge/

Amazon’s Ring rolls out controversial, AI-powered facial recognition feature to video doorbells https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/09/amazons-ring-rolls-out-controversial-ai-powered-facial-recognition-feature-to-video-doorbells/

Jack Dorsey funds diVine, a Vine reboot that includes Vine’s video archive: https://techcrunch.com/2025/11/12/jack-dorsey-funds-divine-a-vine-reboot-that-includes-vines-video-archive/

Mastodon’s latest software update brings quote posts to all server operators https://techcrunch.com/2025/11/06/mastodons-latest-software-update-brings-quote-posts-to-all-server-operators/

People Inc forges AI licensing deal with Microsoft as Google traffic drops https://techcrunch.com/2025/11/04/people-inc-forges-ai-licensing-deal-with-microsoft-as-google-traffic-drops/

Alternative app store AltStore raises $6M, connects with the fediverse https://techcrunch.com/2025/10/07/alternative-app-store-altstore-raises-6m-connects-with-the-fediverse/

Mastodon has a new plan to make money: Hosting and support services for the open social web https://techcrunch.com/2025/09/19/mastodon-has-a-new-plan-to-make-money-hosting-and-support-services-for-the-open-social-web/

Mastodon rolls out quote posts with protections to prevent ‘dunking’ https://techcrunch.com/2025/09/12/mastodon-rolls-out-quote-posts-with-protections-to-prevent-dunking/

The music industry is broken. OpenWav’s new app aims to change that https://techcrunch.com/2025/09/11/the-music-industry-is-broken-openwavs-new-app-aims-to-change-that/

Bluesky will comply with age verification laws in South Dakota and Wyoming after exiting Mississippi https://techcrunch.com/2025/09/10/bluesky-will-comply-with-age-verification-laws-in-south-dakota-and-wyoming-after-exiting-mississippi/

Mastodon says it doesn’t ‘have the means’ to comply with age verification laws https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/29/mastodon-says-it-doesnt-have-the-means-to-comply-with-age-verification-laws/

Mastodon says it doesn’t ‘have the means’ to comply with age verification laws: https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/29/mastodon-says-it-doesnt-have-the-means-to-comply-with-age-verification-laws/

Google, sorry, but that Pixel event was a cringefest https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/20/google-sorry-but-that-pixel-event-was-a-cringefest/

X’s declining Android app installs are hurting subscription revenue https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/18/xs-declining-android-app-installs-are-hurting-subscription-revenue/

Openvibe combines news and social media in one app https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/08/openvibe-combines-news-and-social-media-in-one-app/

Mastodon’s latest update readies the app for Quote Posts, revamps design https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/08/mastodons-latest-update-readies-the-app-for-quote-posts-revamps-design/

Facebook is asking to use Meta AI on photos in your camera roll you haven’t yet shared https://techcrunch.com/2025/06/27/facebook-is-asking-to-use-meta-ai-on-photos-in-your-camera-roll-you-havent-yet-shared/

Threads expands open social web integrations with fediverse feed, user profile search https://techcrunch.com/2025/06/17/threads-expands-open-social-web-integrations-with-fediverse-feed-user-profile-search/

Introducing Bounce, a tool to move your following between Bluesky and Mastodon https://techcrunch.com/2025/06/05/introducing-bounce-a-tool-to-move-your-follwing-between-bluesky-and-mastodon/

Open social web browser Surf makes it easier for anyone to build custom feeds https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/22/open-social-web-browser-surf-makes-it-easier-for-anyone-to-build-custom-feeds/

Spotify says support for external payments on iOS has already boosted subscriptions https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/21/spotify-says-support-for-external-payments-on-ios-has-already-boosted-subscriptions/

Instagram Threads is getting video ads https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/08/instagram-threads-is-getting-video-ads/

Delta debuts its Patreon-supported iOS app after US App Store policy change https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/07/delta-debuts-its-patreon-supported-ios-app-after-us-app-store-policy-change/

Wait, how did a decentralized service like Bluesky go down? https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/24/wait-how-did-a-decentralized-service-like-bluesky-go-down/

Government censorship comes to Bluesky, but not its third-party apps … yet https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/23/government-censorship-comes-to-bluesky-but-not-its-third-party-apps-yet/

Burning questions (and some answers) about Bluesky’s new verification system https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/22/burning-questions-and-some-answers-about-blueskys-new-verification-system/

NOW UPDATED WITH MORE APPS!! --> Beyond Bluesky: These are the apps building social experiences on the AT Protocol: https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/04/beyond-bluesky-these-are-the-apps-building-social-experiences-on-the-at-protocol/

Spotify debuts Gen AI ads, programmatic ad buying https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/03/spotify-debuts-gen-ai-ads-programmatic-ad-buying/

WordPress maker Automattic lays off 16% of staff https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/02/wordpress-maker-automattic-lays-off-16-of-staff/

Mark Cuban backs Skylight, a TikTok alternative built on Bluesky’s underlying technology https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/01/mark-cuban-backs-skylight-a-tiktok-alternative-built-on-blueskys-underlying-technology/

Signal sees its downloads double after scandal https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/31/signal-sees-its-downloads-double-after-scandal/

What’s next for ATProto, the protocol powering Bluesky and other apps https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/26/whats-next-for-atproto-the-protocol-powering-bluesky-and-other-apps/

Substack rival Ghost is now connected to the fediverse https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/19/substack-rival-ghost-is-now-connected-to-the-fediverse/

Bluesky is weighing a proposal that gives users consent over how their data is used for AI https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/10/bluesky-is-weighing-a-proposal-that-gives-users-consent-over-how-their-data-is-used-for-ai/

Open social web browser Surf integrates with Bluesky in latest beta https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/10/open-social-web-browser-surf-integrates-with-bluesky-in-latest-beta/

Time for #SXSW #FOMO to kick in, esp with the Fediverse house this year! https://about.flipboard.com/fediverse-house/

Listen, I NEED TO BUY one of these #severance promo boxes. Mugs! STICKERS, a tiny goat, a pineapple!!

is killing it on marketing. Please make an online shop for fans ASAP, or we're all heading to Etsy soon for the inevitable knock-offs

X updates Communities with new filters, sorting options, and a way to see your own posts https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/04/x-updates-communities-with-new-filters-sorting-options-and-a-way-to-see-your-own-posts/

Mozilla responds to backlash over new terms, saying it’s not using people’s data for AI https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/28/mozilla-responds-to-backlash-over-new-terms-saying-its-not-using-peoples-data-for-ai/

Tumblr backs Tapestry, a timeline app for the open social web https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/25/tumblr-backs-tapestry-a-timeline-app-for-the-open-social-web/

Clicks brings its BlackBerry-style keyboard case to Android phones https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/25/clicks-brings-its-blackberry-style-keyboard-case-to-android-users/

Can't use the

iOS app on the Mac? Won't let me login here...

@mike I need a big screen for list-making!

Tumblr to join the fediverse after WordPress migration completes https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/11/tumblr-to-join-the-fediverse-after-wordpress-migration-completes/

Favorite iOS mobile app for #Lemmy...and why you like it? #fediverse #apps #iosapps

These apps are building Instagram alternatives on open protocols https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/09/these-apps-are-building-instagram-alternatives-on-open-protocols/

I need a web version of surf :cwy:

Automattic and others back Openvibe, an app that’s unifying the open social web https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/28/automattic-and-others-back-openvibe-an-app-thats-unifying-the-open-social-web/

Open source alternatives to Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp raise funds on Kickstarter https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/24/open-source-alternatives-to-instagram-tiktok-and-whatsapp-raise-funds-on-kickstarter/

Duolingo sees 216% spike in U.S. users learning Chinese amid TikTok ban and move to RedNote https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/15/duolingo-sees-216-spike-in-u-s-users-learning-chinese-amid-tiktok-ban-and-move-to-rednote/

Bluesky is getting its own photo-sharing app, Flashes https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/15/bluesky-is-getting-its-own-photo-sharing-app-flashes/

TikTok tells LA staff impacted by wildfires to use personal/sick hours if they can’t work from home https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/09/tiktok-tells-la-staff-impacted-by-wildfires-to-use-personal-sick-hours-if-they-cant-work-from-home/

Mastodon CEO calls Meta’s moderation changes ‘deeply troubling,’ warns users cross-posting from Threads https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/08/mastodon-ceo-calls-metas-moderation-changes-deeply-troubling-warns-users-cross-posting-from-threads/

Triller launches a tool to back up users’ TikToks ahead of the U.S. ban deadline https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/08/triller-launches-a-tool-to-back-up-users-tiktoks-ahead-of-the-u-s-ban-deadline/

Bridgy Fed, a project to connect the open social web, is now becoming a nonprofit https://techcrunch.com/2024/12/17/bridgy-fed-a-project-to-connect-the-open-social-web-is-now-becoming-a-nonprofit/

Bluesky is at a crossroads as users petition to ban Jesse Singal over anti-trans views https://techcrunch.com/2024/12/13/bluesky-is-at-a-crossroads-as-users-petition-to-ban-newcomer-over-anti-trans-views/

Bluesky’s teases paid subscription, Bluesky+, in new mockup https://techcrunch.com/2024/12/09/blueskys-teases-paid-subscription-bluesky-in-new-mockup/

Sill’s new app rounds up the best links from your Bluesky and Mastodon networks https://techcrunch.com/2024/11/25/sills-new-app-rounds-up-the-best-links-from-your-bluesky-and-mastodon-network/

Bluesky is seeing an exodus of unhappy X users following the election https://techcrunch.com/2024/11/12/bluesky-is-seeing-an-exodus-of-unhappy-x-users-following-the-election/

With this latest deal, Flipboard looks to build a news ecosystem beyond X https://techcrunch.com/2024/11/07/with-this-latest-deal-flipboard-looks-to-build-a-news-ecosystem-beyond-x/

‘For You’ feeds fail on election night, offering outdated information, angering users https://techcrunch.com/2024/11/06/for-you-feeds-fail-on-election-night-offering-outdated-information-angering-users/

Substack is giving out free subscriptions to boost app installs https://techcrunch.com/2024/11/05/substack-is-giving-out-free-subscriptions-to-boost-app-installs/

Cross-posting social app Openvibe now supports Threads, too https://techcrunch.com/2024/11/01/cross-posting-social-app-openvibe-now-supports-threads-too/

The fediverse is getting its own TikTok competitor called Loops https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/25/the-fediverse-is-getting-its-own-tiktok-competitor-called-loops/

Apple upgrades TestFlight with redesigned invites, testing criteria, and more https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/25/apple-upgrades-testflight-with-redesigned-invites-testing-criteria-and-more/

Notion’s email product is nearing launch https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/24/notions-email-product-is-nearing-launch/

Elon Musk’s X is changing its privacy policy to allow third parties to train AI on your posts https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/17/elon-musks-x-is-changing-its-privacy-policy-to-allow-third-parties-to-train-ai-on-your-posts/

X rival Mastodon has started selling toys https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/15/x-rival-mastodon-has-started-selling-toys/

Sam Altman catapults past founder mode into ‘god mode’ with latest AI post https://techcrunch.com/2024/09/23/sam-altman-catapults-past-founder-mode-into-god-mode-with-latest-ai-post/

Here we go again! --> Elon Musk threatened with SEC sanctions for failing to appear in court https://techcrunch.com/2024/09/20/elon-musk-threatened-with-sec-sanctions-for-failing-to-appear-in-court/ by @Kyle_L_Wiggers

Bluesky continues to soar, adding 2M more new users in a matter of days https://techcrunch.com/2024/09/03/bluesky-continues-to-soar-adding-2m-more-new-users-in-a-matter-of-days/

Sub.club aims to fund the fediverse via premium feeds https://techcrunch.com/2024/08/29/sub-club-aims-to-fund-the-fediverse-via-premium-feeds/

X caught blocking links to NPR, claiming the news site may be ‘unsafe’ https://techcrunch.com/2024/08/29/x-caught-blocking-links-to-npr-claiming-the-news-site-may-be-unsafe/

Bluesky adds ‘anti-toxicity’ tools and aims to integrate ‘a Community Notes-like’ feature in the future https://techcrunch.com/2024/08/28/bluesky-adds-anti-toxicity-tools-and-aims-to-integrate-a-community-notes-like-feature-in-the-future/

Tumblr to move its half a billion blogs to WordPress https://techcrunch.com/2024/08/28/tumblr-to-move-its-half-a-billion-blogs-to-wordpress/

Move over, Apple: Meet the alternative app stores coming to the EU https://techcrunch.com/2024/08/20/move-over-apple-meet-the-alternative-app-stores-coming-to-the-eu/