Social Networks
Ongoing coverage on Social Networks.
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Engagement Ring
Roblox is reportedly set to be subject to additional European Union legislation targeting social networks due to its user numbers. The article also briefly mentions the 10th anniversary of the game Overcooked! and its milestone of 100 million chefs.
Roblox's reported user numbers will make it subject to additional EU legislation for regulating social networks
Roblox may be classified as a very large online platform (VLOP) under the EU's Digital Services Act, following its announcement of over 45 million monthly active users in the region. If designated, Roblox would be required to identify and mitigate systemic risks, including those related to illegal content and the protection of minors. The EU Commission is currently reviewing Roblox's user numbers for a potential future designation.
VR app Meta Horizon Worlds will no longer be playable in VR
Meta Horizon Worlds, the VR social network app, will cease to be playable in virtual reality starting June 15, transitioning to a mobile-only experience. This change is part of Meta's renewed focus on VR and mobile platforms, aiming to streamline the Quest experience and better support developers. The move follows significant financial losses and studio closures within Meta's Reality Labs division.
The Morning After: Our verdict on Apple’s $600 Macbook Neo
Apple's new $600 MacBook Neo offers a capable screen, keyboard, and trackpad with strong build quality, despite using an A-series processor and limited RAM. While not a gaming machine, it handles everyday tasks well, making it suitable for students and desk workers. The article also touches on Microsoft's Project Helix dev consoles, AMD's new chips, and Meta's acquisition of Moltbook.
Meta is buying Moltbook, the ridiculous social network populated by AI bots
Meta is acquiring Moltbook, a social network for AI agents, for an undisclosed sum. Moltbook's creators, Matt Schlicht and Ben Parr, will join Meta Superintelligence Labs. The platform, built using OpenClaw, allows AI agents to interact with various applications and was noted for its absurdity and ease of impersonation by humans.
VampireFreaks: How the Goth Network Shaped Gaming Culture
The article explores the history of VampireFreaks, a social network popular in the early 2000s within goth, industrial, and alternative communities. It highlights the platform's role in fostering self-expression and community, and details its significant, though often unspoken, connection to gaming culture, particularly for genres like gothic horror RPGs and survival horror. The piece also touches on the network's eventual shutdown and the rise of its successor, VampFreaks.
