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Media Arts & Studies Associate Professor Laeeq Khan has written a new book, The Data Analytics Advantage: Strategies and Insights to Understand Social Media Content and Audiences, published by Oxford University Press, to make social media analytics understandable to a broad audience.

Instagram has opened the gates. Tools once reserved for mega-influencers are now available to all creators, democratizing the platform. This shift means you can now access advanced editing features, performance insights, and creative options that help you stand out without waiting for a blue checkmark. The takeaway? Experiment boldly—success is just one new feature away.

When Stephen "tWitch" Boss passed away in December 2022 without a will, it set in motion a legal process that many families face but few expect. The beloved dancer and DJ left behind his wife, Allison Holker, and three minor children, creating a complex estate situation that California law had to untangle. Without a will in place, the state's intestacy laws step in to determine how assets are divided, and for Holker, that meant filing a Spousal Property Petition to claim her rightful share.

Instagram moves fast. If your content doesn't grab attention in the first few seconds, viewers will keep scrolling. Whether you're creating Reels, Stories, or feed posts, lead with a strong visual or a compelling hook. Use pattern interrupts — something visually unexpected that breaks the feed's rhythm. Bold claims, questions, or before/after transformations also work well. Always test different hooks and let your data guide which ones to double down on.

A Senate estimates hearing has revealed that a parliamentarian's WhatsApp account was compromised in March, leading to a temporary block of the messaging service on parliamentary desktop devices. The hack, attributed to a foreign state actor, exploited phishing techniques to steal verification codes and gain unauthorized access to multiple accounts. This incident is part of a broader trend of cyber attacks targeting government officials worldwide.

The Texas Attorney General's Office has filed a lawsuit against WhatsApp and its parent company Meta Platforms Inc, alleging that the companies misled consumers about the strength and scope of encryption on the messaging platform. The suit, filed in Harrison County court, claims that WhatsApp's promises of end-to-end encryption are deceptive, as Meta reportedly has access to 'almost all' private communications on the platform.

Data analytics is the practice of using specialized tools and techniques to collect, process, and analyze data to uncover meaningful insights. By examining raw data, organizations can identify patterns, correlations, and trends that inform decision-making, improve operations, and drive growth. This process integrates technologies like big data platforms, statistical models, and machine learning to transform vast amounts of information into actionable intelligence. Whether it's real-time monitoring or deep historical analysis, data analytics empowers businesses to move from gut instincts to data-driven strategies.

In October 2025, Discord disclosed a significant data breach that affected users who had interacted with its customer support and Trust & Safety teams. While the company initially reported that approximately 70,000 users may have had sensitive data like government ID photos exposed, hackers claimed to have stolen data belonging to 5.5 million users. This discrepancy has sparked concern and confusion. Discord has stated that the breach was not a direct attack on its platform but rather a compromise of a third-party customer service provider, 5CA.

Twitch Enhanced Broadcasting is changing the game for livestreamers. Powered by NVIDIA encoders, this feature lets you broadcast multiple video versions simultaneously. This means your viewers get the best possible quality their connection can handle, without you having to tweak settings endlessly. And with the closed beta now supporting HEVC, you can enjoy 25% better efficiency over H.264 — cleaner, sharper video even in fast-paced games.

When Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against Meta and WhatsApp, it ignited a debate that has been simmering for years: just how private are WhatsApp's supposedly encrypted messages? The lawsuit, grounded in consumer protection laws, alleges that Meta has misled users by claiming that WhatsApp messages are fully end-to-end encrypted and inaccessible to anyone except sender and recipient. Yet, according to the complaint, Meta has allegedly maintained a "backdoor" that allows employees, contractors, and third parties to intercept and read user communications without consent.