WSJ Tech News Briefing

Wondering if you should upgrade your Apple devices? Curious about Apple's privacy updates? WSJ personal tech columnist Nicole Nguyen joins host Zoe Thomas to answer listener questions about Apple's new devices and what's next for the company. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mark Zuckerberg wanted Facebook to support accurate information about Covid-19 and vaccines. But misinformation about the pandemic continues to circulate on the platform. Reporter Sam Schechner joins host Zoe Thomas to discuss why Facebook's CEO struggled to meet his goal, and the warnings employees gave about the company's efforts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Facebook employees have raised alarms about drug cartels, human traffickers and violent militias using the platform to recruit in developing countries. But the social-media giant's response often doesn't go far enough to stop dangerous posts on its platforms. Reporter Justin Scheck joins host Zoe Thomas to discuss why the company struggles to handle this content and the catastrophic effects it can have in these places. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Facebook says its platform is designed to create meaningful interaction. But a Wall Street Journal investigation finds changes the company made to its algorithm led to increased hostility on the platform, and CEO Mark Zuckerberg resisted some proposed fixes. Reporter Keach Hagey joins host Zoe Thomas to discuss the hidden reasons behind Facebook's decision and the unintended consequences for users. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Wall Street Journal investigation shows that Facebook's internal research found that its Instagram service is harmful for many young users, especially teenage girls, and can lead to anxiety, depression and risk of suicide. Yet in public, Facebook has consistently played down the app's negative effects on teens. Reporter Georgia Wells joins host Zoe Thomas to discuss the latest installment of the WSJ's investigative series "The Facebook Files." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Facebook says the rules on its platforms apply to all users, but a Wall Street Journal investigation finds a large group of select users gets special treatment. Reporter Justin Scheck joins host Zoe Thomas to discuss the first story in the WSJ's investigative series "The Facebook Files," including why Facebook created a list of elite users, the preferential treatment they can receive and how the system can be abused. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amazon's use of robots and worker-monitoring technology is a key part of its management strategy. WSJ tech columnist Christopher Mims joins host Zoe Thomas to discuss what he calls "Bezosism," what it means for workers and why it might spread to other companies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Twenty years after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, we look back at how that moment opened the door to mass data collection. Host Zoe Thomas speaks with reporter Byron Tau and former U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold about the role private tech companies have played and how Americans view data privacy today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Wall Street Journal investigation has found TikTok's powerful algorithm can drive young users toward content featuring sex and drug use. Investigative reporter Rob Barry joins host Zoe Thomas to discuss how minors can slip into watching extreme content on the platform and what TikTok says it plans to do about it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Virtual checkups have become more common during the pandemic, but new ways of gathering health data remotely could make in-person doctor visits a thing of the past. WSJ contributor Ron Winslow joins host Zoe Thomas to discuss the new technology and the potential drawbacks of losing the human connection. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices