Author: TechBrunch

The tech layoff wave is still kicking in 2025. Last year saw more than 150,000 job cuts across 549 companies, according to independent layoffs tracker Layoffs.fyi. So far this year, more than 22,000 workers have been the victim of reductions across the tech industry, with a staggering 16,084 cuts taking place in February alone. We’re tracking layoffs in the tech industry in 2025 so you can see the trajectory of the cutbacks and understand the impact on innovation across all types of companies. As businesses continue to embrace AI and automation, this tracker serves as a reminder of the human…

In this episode of Strictly VC Download, TechCrunch Editor-in-Chief Connie Loizos and StrictlyVC's Alex Gove sit down with Charles Hudson, founder and managing partner of Precursor Ventures, to discuss the fundamental shifts restructuring early-stage venture capital. Charles opens up about the challenge of raising a fifth fund of $66 million in the challenging financing environment of 2024. There, LPS is increasingly working with a longer liquidity timeline for seed stage investments. They also address how Precursor systematically explores secondary liquidity strategies, including an attractive analysis of what happens when the precursor sells all positions in the Series A, B, or…

Tumblr is the latest tech company working on automated flags and takedowns. Recently, Tumblr users have complained that their content is flagged as “mature.” This issue reduced the visibility of users' posts as many people on the platform configured their settings to hide mature content by default. According to numerous posts from affected Tumblr users, despite not being sexual or violent, the posts were accidentally flagged, and these false takedowns include everything from cat gifs to fandom content, art, and even hand photos. Some suspect that AI-based automation could condemn the issue. Similar accusations have been wreaking havoc on other…

T-Minus for 6 days until all stage ticket prices rise. From now until June 22nd at 11:59pm, founders will save $210, while investors will save $200 on a pass. Are you ready to push your startup to the next level? Or are you an investor supporting your next big breakthrough? It was built for traction and breakout growth by participating in TC All Stage at the Sowa Power Plant in Boston on July 15th. It gives startups a competitive edge. Secure your pass now and save up to $210. Why do you participate in TC at all stages? From early…

Facebook announced Tuesday that all videos on the platform will soon be shared as reels, regardless of their length or orientation. Until now, users have been able to share both video posts and reels. The company has also renamed the “Video” tab on the platform to the “Reel” tab. This update won't change the video recommended for you, Facebook says. Over the next few months, users will not need to choose to upload videos or reels. This is because it is automatically shared as a reel. Additionally, Facebook reels are not bound by length or format restrictions. (Currently, Facebook reels…

Israeli hacktivist group predatory Sparrow claimed he hacked and defeated Iranian bank Sepa on Tuesday. The group, also known as the Persian name Gonjeshke Darande, argued for the responsibility of the X's hack. “Gonjeshke Darande” carried out a cyberattack that destroyed data from the Islamic Revolutionary Security Force “Bank Sepa,” the group wrote. The group claimed that Sepa Bank is an agency that “averts international sanctions and uses Iranian money people to fund the regime's terrorist proxies, ballistic missile programs and military nuclear programs. Do you have more information about predatory sparrows? Or other hacking groups operating in Israel and…

Israeli hacktivist group predatory Sparrow claimed he hacked and defeated Iranian bank Sepa on Tuesday. The group, also known as the Persian name Gonjeshke Darande, argued for the responsibility of the X's hack. “Gonjeshke Darande” carried out a cyberattack that destroyed data from the Islamic Revolutionary Security Force “Bank Sepa,” the group wrote. The group claimed that Sepa Bank is an agency that “averts international sanctions and uses Iranian money people to fund the regime's terrorist proxies, ballistic missile programs and military nuclear programs. Do you have more information about predatory sparrows? Or other hacking groups operating in Israel and…

Meta's competitor, Instagram Thread, launched two new features on Tuesday as part of its plans to further integrate with the open social web, known as Fediverse. Now, thread users can view posts from other users in Fediverse in their dedicated feed if they select Fediverse to share with the thread. Additionally, people can search for Fediverse users directly in threads. Posts from Federated users can be found in the following tabs in the threads app: However, it is not in line with other posts from thread users. Instead, tap on the link at the top of the feed to view…

According to a new Nielsen report, streaming services outperformed both cable and network television in overall viewership among Americans for the first time in May. Last month, streaming services accounted for 44.8% of all television viewers, the largest share to date. Nielsen found that total cable and network television viewers account for 44.2% of all television viewers. Compared to May 2021, streaming usage is up 71%, broadcasting is down 21%, and cables are down 39%. The report also shows that YouTube had the highest viewership at 12.5%. Netflix followed 7.5% of its total viewership that month. Nielsen points out that…

Due to Tiktok's deadline, a new decentralized social media app launched its beta to the public on Tuesday, as it sells its US business just two days apart. Own is the latest alternative to Tiktok. It features not only short videos but also swipeable feeds of text postings, images and other features such as direct messaging. However, the new apps aim to disrupt the market by leveraging blockchain technology and the token economy. Most notably, content creators in your app can earn revenue without the minimum requirements for follower counts or post counts. The app was developed by Amir Kaltak…