social media

Stories 1 - 20 |  Next >>

Tennessee Dean, Others Fired Over Charlie Kirk Comments

Social media posts draw swift backlash

(Newser) - Middle Tennessee State University fired an assistant dean after she posted online that she had "zero sympathy" for Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist shot and killed Wednesday. The university's president, Sidney McPhee, cited the "inappropriate and callous comments" as inconsistent with the school's values and...

Croc Stunts by 'Real Tarzann' Don't Play Well in Australia

Queensland officials are investigating US influencer Mike Holston for wrestling reptiles

(Newser) - A US social media star is facing heat Down Under after posting videos of himself wrangling wild crocodiles in Queensland. Mike Holston—known as "The Real Tarzann" to his millions of followers —posted two viral clips: one featuring a tussle with a freshwater croc in shallow water,...

Police Open Fire on Gen Z Protest in Kathmandu

At least 19 were killed in protests against social media ban, corruption

(Newser) - Police in Nepal's capital opened fire Monday on demonstrators protesting a government attempt to regulate social media that blocked some of the world's largest platforms, including Facebook, X, and YouTube. At least 17 people were killed in Kathmandu and at least two others at protests elsewhere. The demonstrations...

JFK's Grandson Eyes Nadler's Congressional Seat

Schlossberg forms exploratory committee as Nadler exits House race

(Newser) - John F. Kennedy's grandson , Jack Schlossberg— a frequent critic of the Trump administration, including his own cousin , Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—is eyeing a congressional run in Manhattan, USA Today reports. Schlossberg announced Sunday that he has officially set up an exploratory committee to consider a run...

He Said He Was Stuck in Space, So She Opened Her Wallet
He Said He Was Stuck in Space,
So She Opened Her Wallet
in case you missed it
Sep 6, 2025 4:01 PM CDT

He Said He Was Stuck in Space, So She Opened Her Wallet

Scammer fools elderly Japanese woman with wild story, nabs nearly $7K

(Newser) - And you thought the AI-generated Brad Pitt scam was unbelievable. In a new case, an elderly Japanese woman was tricked out of thousands of dollars by a scammer claiming to be an astronaut stranded in space. The "romance scam" began in July when the two connected on social...

Fury Over CEO's Hat-Grab Directed at Wrong CEO

Social media mix-up targets a different Polish paving business after viral video

(Newser) - A Polish business owner woke up to a storm of digital outrage over a viral moment at the US Open—except he wasn't even there. Roman Szkaradek, who runs Drog-Bruk (with a hyphen) in Zgorzelec, Poland, found himself on the receiving end of angry messages and one-star reviews...

Kenya Probes Tourist Who Gave Beer to Elephant

Authorities investigate viral video taken at Kenyan wildlife conservancy

(Newser) - A video of a tourist pouring beer down an elephant's trunk at a Kenyan wildlife reserve has ignited outrage online and triggered multiple investigations into his actions, the BBC reports. The Spanish man, whose online profiles use the name "Skydive_Kenya," was filmed at Ol Jogi Conservancy...

South Korea Outlaws Phone Use During Class

New ban will kick in this coming March

(Newser) - South Korea is taking a firm stance on smartphone use in schools—or non-use, more specifically. The country on Wednesday passed a nationwide ban on mobile devices during class that will be effective in March 2026. The bill, which cleared the country's National Assembly with a strong majority,...

Child Sex-Abuse Survivor Makes Plea to Elon Musk

After BBC investigation, 'Zora' wants links to material scrubbed from X platform

(Newser) - A survivor of child sexual abuse is pleading with Elon Musk to remove links on X that lead to images of her abuse, revealing how illegal material continues to circulate on the social media platform that promises zero tolerance. The woman using the pseudonym Zora, who survived child sexual...

All 55M Foreign Visa Holders Will Now Be Scrutinized

Visa holders face new social media checks and possible revocations under Trump administration

(Newser) - The Trump administration is rolling out a sweeping plan to re-examine all 55 million active US visa holders, broadening its crackdown on both illegal and legal immigration, the Washington Post reports. According to a State Department statement, the new "continuous vetting" process will allow officials to revoke visas...

What Ban? White House Joins TikTok
White House Joins TikTok
Aug 21, 2025 6:29 AM CDT

White House Joins TikTok

Account launches month before deadline for TikTok sale

(Newser) - The White House has officially joined TikTok , launching an account even as the fate of the popular app hangs in the balance. The move comes as Bytedance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, faces a looming Sept. 17 deadline to sell the app to a US buyer or be banned...

ICE Posts False Claim About Democrat, Leading to Threats

Connecticut lawmaker Corey Paris says he suffered racial, homophobic abuse

(Newser) - A Connecticut lawmaker has found himself the target of threats and harassment after Immigration and Customs Enforcement amplified a false claim that he exposed agents' detailed location information on social media. State Rep. Corey Paris, a Democrat from Stamford, notified constituents on Instagram about immigration enforcement efforts in his...

US Citizenship Applicants to Be Screened for 'Anti-Americanism'

Officers told to also weigh positive contributions and community ties in decisions

(Newser) - The Trump administration is tightening its approach to US citizenship reviews by instructing officials to take a closer look at whether applicants display "good moral character." A recent US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) memo calls for a more "rigorous, holistic, and comprehensive" evaluation process, the...

YouTube's New AI System to Shake Out Young Users

Age-verification protocols to find underage viewers will be based on the videos they watch

(Newser) - YouTube on Wednesday will begin testing a new age-verification system in the US that relies on artificial intelligence to differentiate between adults and minors, based on the kinds of videos they've been watching. The tests initially will only affect a sliver of YouTube's US audience, but will likely...

Hegseth Shares Clip About Women Needing to 'Submit'

DOD chief retweets video of Christian extremists chatting about repealing women's right to vote

(Newser) - The man who oversees the nation's military reposted a video about a Christian nationalist church that included various pastors saying women should no longer be allowed to vote. The extraordinary repost on X from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, made Thursday night, illustrates his deep and personal connection to a...

Man Arrested After Lighting His Cigarette From Eternal Flame

French officials pursue charges after viral social media incident

(Newser) - When a man lit his cigarette from the eternal flame at Paris's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, he ignited more than just tobacco—he set off a wave of outrage and an official investigation. Now, French Veterans Minister Patricia Miralles is promising to "make an example of...

Australia Does a 180 on YouTube Access for Kids

Account holders now must be at least 16, after platform was initially exempt from social media law

(Newser) - The Australian government announced that YouTube will be among the social media platforms that must ensure account holders are at least 16, reversing a position taken months ago on the popular video-sharing service. YouTube was listed as an exemption in November last year when the Parliament passed world-first laws that...

Cheer Squad's TikTok Skit Leads to Probation

This continues a trend of children arrested over social media posts, particularly in Tennessee

(Newser) - Sixteen middle school cheerleaders in rural East Tennessee found themselves in legal trouble after filming a 45-second TikTok reenactment of a school shooting while waiting for practice to start. The clip, posted online in September, featured the girls pretending to be shot and killed, with one issuing a mock...

Lion Cub Cuddles at Eatery Spark Animal Welfare Uproar

Reaction online has been mostly negative to Wanhui restaurant offering hugs with cubs

(Newser) - A restaurant in Taiyuan, China, is facing backlash for offering a $150 four-course tea experience that includes hugging lion cubs. The Wanhui eatery, which opened last month in Shanxi province, sells about 20 tickets a day to customers eager for up-close encounters with the cubs. Photos and videos of...

'Superfake' Handbags Roil Luxury Brands

Gen Z shoppers, influencers are driving the booming replica market

(Newser) - The luxury world's latest headache isn't the old-school, obviously fake designer bag—it's the rise of "superfakes," knockoff handbags so uncannily close to the real thing that even seasoned sales staff and authentication pros struggle to spot them. These high-end replicas, sometimes called "...

Stories 1 - 20 |  Next >>
Most Read on Newser