The wait is over: Threads gets parental controls

Nearly three years after Threads launched in July 2023, Meta is finally rolling out parental supervision tools for the platform. Starting next week in the U.S., parents and guardians will be able to monitor and manage their teen’s activity on the app through Meta’s Family Center — the same hub that already controls settings across Instagram and Facebook.

The move comes as Meta faces mounting pressure from regulators and lawmakers over teen safety. The company has been expanding parental controls across its apps for years, and Threads — now boasting 500 million monthly users — was a glaring gap. Lawsuits from multiple states and child safety advocates have only sharpened the spotlight.

So what can parents actually do? Quite a bit, it turns out.

Screen time tracking and daily limits

Parents will see exactly how much time their teen spends on Threads each day for the past week, including a weekly average. They can then set a daily time limit — and crucially, that limit applies across all devices. If a teen switches from phone to laptop, the clock keeps ticking.

Here’s what the new Threads parental supervision dashboard offers:

• Daily time limit: Set a maximum number of minutes per day. Total time across devices is counted.
• Sleep mode: Block or limit access during specific hours, especially at night. Meta already mutes notifications and turns on auto-replies for all teens from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., but parents can tighten this further.
• Privacy controls: Manage who can tag the teen in posts. Parents can also decide whether teens under 16 are allowed to change their default privacy settings — like private accounts — to something less restrictive.

Meta says teens on Threads already have built-in protections: private accounts by default, and limits on the content they see. But now parents have the final say on whether those settings can be loosened.

Why now? The pressure on Meta is real

It’s no secret that social media companies are under fire. Meta, along with TikTok, Snap, and others, faces a wave of lawsuits from states and school districts alleging that their platforms harm teens’ mental health. The U.S. Senate has held multiple hearings, and the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) is moving through Congress.

Threads was an obvious weak spot. While Instagram and Facebook have had parental controls for years, the text-based platform — which Meta positioned as a Twitter alternative — had none. For a company that says it prioritizes teen safety, that was a hard gap to explain.

Now, with these tools, Meta can argue that Threads is no longer the Wild West for teens. But critics note that supervision tools only work if parents actually use them — and many don’t.

What about the rest of the world?

The rollout starts in the U.S. next week. Meta told TechCrunch it plans to bring Threads parental supervision globally by the end of 2025. No specific countries or dates have been announced yet.

For parents outside the U.S., that means waiting — but not forever. And for teens? Well, the days of unlimited late-night scrolling on Threads may be numbered.

The bigger picture: Are parental controls enough?

Parental supervision tools are a step forward, but they’re not a silver bullet. A time limit doesn’t stop a teen from seeing harmful content during the minutes they are online. And Meta’s own research has shown that teens often find ways around parental controls — using friends’ phones, for example.

Still, the Threads parental supervision rollout is a meaningful addition. It gives parents a window into their teen’s digital habits, and a way to set boundaries without confiscating the phone entirely. For a platform that grew to half a billion users in less than three years, that kind of oversight was long overdue.

Whether it will satisfy regulators — or the parents filing lawsuits — is another question entirely.

OnePlus is leaving the US — a brand that once defined what a flagship killer should be is packing up

The news hit like a cold front: OnePlus, the scrappy startup that grew into a global smartphone contender, is officially exiting the United States. The company confirmed the move on July 16, 2026, ending a decade-long run in the world’s most competitive phone market.

For anyone who followed Android closely in the mid-2010s, this stings. OnePlus wasn’t just another phone maker. It was the underdog that took on Samsung and Apple with a simple pitch — top-tier specs, a near-stock Android experience, and a price that undercut the big boys by hundreds of dollars. The “Never Settle” slogan wasn’t just marketing; it felt real.

But the US market is brutal. And OnePlus, for all its early magic, couldn’t sustain the momentum.

Why OnePlus is leaving the US now

The official reason, according to the company, is a strategic shift. OnePlus plans to focus its resources on markets where it sees stronger growth — primarily India, parts of Europe, and Southeast Asia. The US, once a trophy market, has become a drain.

Sales numbers tell the story. OnePlus never cracked the top five in US smartphone shipments. In 2025, the brand held less than 2% market share, according to industry analysts. Carrier partnerships, essential for mass adoption in America, remained limited. Verizon never fully embraced the brand, and T-Mobile was the only major carrier that consistently carried OnePlus phones in stores.

The rise of Google Pixel also squeezed OnePlus from above. Samsung’s A-series phones squeezed it from below. And Chinese competitors like Xiaomi and Oppo (OnePlus’s own sibling brand) started offering similar value propositions globally.

A brief history: from invite-only hype to mainstream shrug

OnePlus launched in 2014 with the OnePlus One. It was a sensation. The phone ran CyanogenMod, offered Snapdragon 801 power, and cost just $299. To buy one, you needed an invite — a marketing gimmick that accidentally created massive demand. Forums lit up. People traded invites like currency.

The OnePlus 3 and 3T refined the formula. The OnePlus 5 introduced a dual camera. The OnePlus 6 brought a notch and glass back. Each year, the brand gained more fans.

But somewhere around the OnePlus 8 series, the magic frayed. Prices crept up. The company started cutting corners — removing the headphone jack, watering down the alert slider, and releasing multiple confusing variants. The “flagship killer” was becoming just another flagship.

By the time the OnePlus 12 arrived in 2024, the brand had lost its edge. Reviewers noted that the phone was good, but not special. The price was near $900. The value proposition was gone.

What OnePlus leaving the US means for customers

If you own a OnePlus phone in the US right now, you’re not instantly stranded. The company says it will continue to provide software updates and security patches for existing devices through their promised support windows. The OnePlus 15, launched earlier in 2026, will still receive updates for at least three more years.

Customer support will remain operational, albeit with reduced staffing. Warranty claims will still be honored. But don’t expect new accessories or repair parts to be easy to find after existing stock runs out.

The bigger question: what do you buy next? For former OnePlus fans, the natural alternatives include:

• Google Pixel 10 — the closest spiritual successor, with clean Android and long update promises
• Samsung Galaxy S26 — more expensive, but widely supported and available everywhere
• Nothing Phone (3) — a new underdog with a similar ethos, though still building its US presence

The carrier landscape is also shifting. T-Mobile will still sell OnePlus inventory until it runs out, then likely pivot to promoting Samsung and Google devices more aggressively.

The bigger picture: what OnePlus’s exit says about the US phone market

The US smartphone market is notoriously hard to crack. It’s dominated by Apple and Samsung, which together control roughly 80% of sales. Carriers hold enormous power — they decide which phones get prime shelf space and which get buried. Marketing budgets are astronomical.

OnePlus tried a different approach: online-only sales, community forums, and word-of-mouth buzz. It worked for a while. But eventually, the realities of the market caught up. Without carrier subsidies and nationwide advertising, you can only go so far.

This isn’t the first time a promising Android brand has retreated from the US. LG left the phone business entirely in 2021. HTC faded into obscurity years earlier. Sony barely registers in US sales charts. The graveyard of Android brands that couldn’t make it in America is long.

OnePlus now joins that list. It’s a sobering reminder that even the most beloved underdogs can’t always survive the big leagues.

What’s next for OnePlus globally?

OnePlus isn’t dying — it’s just refocusing. The brand remains strong in India, where it consistently ranks among the top five premium phone makers. In Europe, it has a loyal following, especially in the UK and Germany. Southeast Asia is also a growth market.

The company will continue to launch phones globally, including the rumored OnePlus Open 2 foldable and the next Nord series devices. But US customers will have to import them — and without carrier support, that’s a tough sell for most people.

OnePlus also owns the OxygenOS software skin, which it will keep developing for international devices. The brand’s integration with Oppo’s supply chain means it can still compete on hardware and pricing outside the US.

But the dream of conquering America is over. The one-time darling of the Android world is leaving the US, and the market won’t be the same without it.

The pitch: social media without the noise

Yope, a social app that’s been quietly gaining traction, just announced a $12.3 million seed round. The money comes from investors who believe there’s room for a different kind of social experience—one built around private groups of friends and family, not algorithmic feeds or influencer content.

“We’re not trying to compete with TikTok or Instagram for attention,” a company spokesperson said. “We want to help people stay close to the people who actually matter.”

The app is already live and growing. Early users describe it as a cross between a group chat and a photo-sharing album, with a focus on spontaneity and intimacy. No ads. No recommendation engine. No public profiles.

What Yope actually does

At its core, Yope lets users create small, invite-only groups—typically for close friends, family, or a sports team. Inside those groups, members can share photos, send messages, and even use AI-powered features to enhance their interactions.

The AI tools aren’t about generating content for the masses. Instead, they’re designed to strengthen real-world relationships. For example, the app can suggest conversation starters based on shared memories, or automatically create photo albums from a weekend trip.

The company says it has no plans to introduce an algorithmic feed. “We don’t want to optimize for engagement,” the spokesperson added. “We want to optimize for connection.”

No algorithms, no ads—how do they make money?

That’s the obvious question. Yope’s answer: for now, they don’t need to. The $12.3 million seed round gives them runway to focus on product development and user growth. Eventually, they may introduce premium features or a subscription model, but the core experience will remain ad-free and algorithm-free.

It’s a bet that enough people are willing to pay for a private, peaceful social space. Early signals suggest they might be right. The app has seen steady organic growth, especially among users tired of the noise on larger platforms.

Why investors are betting on private social networks

The seed round was led by a group of venture capital firms that have been watching the backlash against public, algorithm-driven social media. Investors see an opportunity in the growing demand for private social networks that prioritize real relationships over viral content.

“People are exhausted by the performative nature of mainstream social platforms,” one investor told reporters. “Yope offers a quiet alternative.”

The trend is real. Apps like Dispo and VSCO have also tried to carve out spaces that feel less like a broadcast channel and more like a living room. Yope’s twist is its emphasis on messaging and AI features that serve small groups, not individual creators.

How Yope compares to WhatsApp and Signal

You might be thinking: isn’t this just a group chat? In some ways, yes. But Yope is designed specifically for sharing life updates in a visual, lightweight way—closer to a private Instagram than a messaging app.

Unlike WhatsApp or Signal, which are primarily text-based, Yope puts photos and videos at the center. And unlike Instagram, there’s no pressure to curate a perfect feed. Posts disappear after a set time, encouraging candid sharing.

The AI features are another differentiator. While Signal and WhatsApp have added some smart functionality, Yope is building tools specifically for group bonding—like automatically stitching together everyone’s photos from an event, or suggesting when to check in on a friend who’s been quiet.

What’s next for Yope

With the new funding, Yope plans to expand its team, improve the AI features, and scale the app to more users. The company is also exploring partnerships with family-focused apps and services that value privacy and real-world connection.

The goal is clear: become the default private space for the people you actually care about. Whether that’s a group of college friends sharing memes, a family sharing holiday photos, or a book club discussing the latest read.

“We’re building for the moments that don’t need to be public,” the spokesperson said. “The ones that are just for you and your people.”

In a world where every social platform is fighting for your attention, Yope is making a quiet bet that sometimes, less really is more.