Social media is no longer social – we are using it less to keep up friends, and more to pass the time and to follow strangers. In fact a recent FTC filing revealed that only 17% of time spent on Facebook involves consuming content from friends, with the majority spent watching random videos recommended by the algorithm.
Technology
In 2025 the U.K. government passed the Online Safety Act, forcing internet users to prove their age when accessing potentially harmful content. But the legislation prompted a different behaviour. Data from Google Trends showed that searches for VPN skyrocketed, while one provider (Proton VPN) confirmed an hourly increase in sign-ups of over 1,400%.