Snapchat Introduces New Tools to Help Parents Monitor Screen Time What? Just two days after settling a lawsuit accusing social media platforms of creating addictive features that lead to mental health issues, Snap introduced new time- and friend-monitoring features to Snapchat’s “Family Center.” So What? With these changes, parents will receive a breakdown of time spent on the app, showing how much time their teen spends chatting and snapping with friends vs. how much time they spend scrolling through content. Parents will also receive additional information about their child’s friends, helping them to determine if their teen knows those friends in real life. Now What? If your teen is using Snapchat, make sure you set up the Family Center. Hopefully, these features will help parents get a better idea of how their children use the platform—whether they’re using it primarily to interact with friends or whether they’re doomscrolling—empowering them to address specific concerns they may have. Spotify Expands Chat Features to Allow Group Messages What? Following the launch of direct messaging in August 2025, Spotify has now expanded its in-app chat feature to allow group messages with up to 10 friends and family members. So What? TechCrunch reports: “The move comes as Spotify continues to invest in making its streaming app more social.” The features focus on helping users share and discuss music, podcasts and audiobooks. However, parents should stay alert for potential pitfalls. Now What? Spotify only allows users to start chats with people they already know, but the group chat feature may allow your child to interact with friends of friends, so that’s something to keep an eye on. Additionally, as the app becomes more social, the negative attributes found in other social media platforms—in this case, perhaps cyberbullying or exposure to inappropriate discussions—could seep into Spotify as well. Children Burned by Viral Microwave Trend on TikTok What? Videos are circulating on TikTok (and other social media platforms) of people microwaving NeeDoh Nice Cubes in order to make the sensory toys “more pliable, since they firm up over time,” reports CBS News. So What? Unfortunately, these videos don’t show that the gel-filled toys can explode when heated. A 9-year-old boy was treated for second-degree burns after trying the trend at home. Now What? Remember, even if your child doesn’t have social media, they can learn about these trends from classmates, friends or older siblings. So a first measure, make sure your kids know that toys should only be used as intended. “Hacks” found online rarely outline the potential dangers that could occur from misusing a product. Your child should always ask for permission (and possibly adult supervision) before trying any trends they see in an online video. The post On the Radar: Snapchat Family Center, Spotify Group Chats and TikTok Microwave Trend appeared first on Plugged In.

The performance by pop star Mariah Carey at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics opening ceremony was the talk of the town - but it also raised a few questions.

Divers recovered a body from an Atlanta-area pond Thursday that authorities believe the deceased is the missing son of rapper Lil Jon.

Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), who is black, said the video was the "most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House." The post Context Matters: The Story Behind Trump Video that Depicts Obamas as Monkeys first appeared on Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion.

Is a music career in the works for Christian McCaffrey? Super Bowl weekend is in full swing, and pre-Super Bowl events are taking over Santa Clara, California. One of the events that drew a huge crowd was the EA Sports’ Madden Bowl, which took place last night, February 6, at the Chase Center in San Francisco. In case you’re not familiar with the event, it’s typically held during Super Bowl weekend and gathers the best Madden players around the country to compete in a tournament with a hefty $1 million prize. At the last minute, Luke Combs, who was announced as a headliner, shared that he would be dropping out of his performance due to an undisclosed family obligation (most likely his wife, Nicole, is expecting their third child soon). Taking to X, he expressed that he was sorry to miss the event but stated that family comes first. So sorry to miss y’all at Madden Bowl, but family always comes first. Have a great time. https://t.co/HXVTswkTR4 — Luke Combs (@lukecombs) February 5, 2026 In his place, the Madden Bowl pulled out all the stops and got Zach Bryan to fill in Combs’ shoes. Zach Bryan put on a stellar show for the attendees, and he also surprised fans by bringing along an old friend, since they were in his stomping grounds of San Francisco. Zach Bryan joined forces with 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey. This is not the first time that McCaffrey and Bryan have joined forces. Back in 2023, McCaffrey joined Zach Bryan on stage during his Red Rocks show, and later in the same year, Bryan donated all the money made from his song “El Dorado” to Christian McCaffrey’s veteran foundation. In a since-deleted post, Bryan at the time shared: “Every cent of profit made from the song El Dorado on the new album will be going to McCaffrey’s 22 and Troops Foundation. Thank you for your service to every woman and man who struggles every single day, you’re seen and cared for and respected.” Pretty cool, right? Last night, the two joined forces again during the Madden Bowl in a pretty epic way. Because of the last-minute fill-in for Zach Bryan to headline the Madden Bowl, his pianist could not make the trip. But instead of hitting the stage without a keys player, ZB called on his multi-talented friend Christian McCaffrey to fill in. McCaffrey agreed and crushed it on stage. I mean, what can’t this man do? He’s a beloved NFL player and Pro Bowler, husband to model Olivia Culpo, and a stellar pianist. Talk about talent. Check it out: @oklahomanoutlaw Zach Bryan’s pianist couldn’t make it to the Madden Bowl, so Christian McCaffrey filled in! #ZachBryan #ChristianMcCaffrey #MaddenBowl #zachbryanconcert #nfl ♬ original sound – Oklahoman Outlaw Check it out from another angle: @emilie.barrett Christian McCaffrey filling in at piano with Zach Bryan at the #maddenbowl #christianmccaffrey #zachbryan #49ers #superbowl ♬ Down on the Floor (Vox) – Ah2 The post Christian McCaffrey Backs Zach Bryan On The Piano During The Madden Bowl first appeared on Whiskey Riff.

Well that does it. I won’t be watching or rooting for our USA men’s ski team because they’ve just made it political by suggesting that what ICE is doing is unAmerican. Here’s . . .

On Friday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average reached 50,000 points for the first time in history, closing at 50,115.67. President Donald Trump hailed the milestone in a post on Truth Social, presenting it as evidence that his economic agenda is working. [BLOCK]The “Experts” said that if I hit 50,000 on the Dow by the end of my Term, I would have done a great job, but I hit 50,000 today, three years ahead of schedule — Remember that for the Midterms, because the Democrats will CRASH the Economy![/BLOCK] Meanwhile, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq each rose around 2 percent The Dow’s record close followed an otherwise volatile week in which parts of the technology sector sharply sold off. The market rally comes amid signs that Americans are struggling economically. U.S. credit-card balances reached $1.23 trillion in the third quarter of 2025, rising from $1.209 trillion the quarter preceding, according to Federal Reserve data. The post Dow Hits Record High 50,000 appeared first on The American Conservative.

From death spiral to twizzle, you might not be familiar with these figure skating terms. Brush up on your sports jargon this Winter Olympics.

Airheaded and vain. The post The three bands that AC/DC dismissed as “posers” first appeared on Far Out Magazine.