Following a wave of criticism over its planned mandatory age-verification system, Discord has softened its messaging and stressed that most users will not be required to submit a face scan or an identity document. At the same time, interest in alternative messaging platforms is surging — searches for phrases such as “Discord alternatives” have reportedly jumped by as much as 10,000%.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has refused to begin a formal review of Moderna’s application for approval of a new mRNA-based influenza vaccine, triggering a sharp drop in the company’s share price and reigniting criticism of the direction of U.S. vaccination policy.
Popular communications platform Discord has announced that starting in March 2026 it will roll out a mandatory age-verification system worldwide, aimed at restricting access to channels and content intended for adult users. The decision has already triggered backlash from the community — largely because of a previous leak of identity document images affecting around 70,000 users that were collected for verification purposes.
Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk has filed a lawsuit against U.S.-based Hims & Hers Health for patent infringement, linked to the company’s attempt to bring to market a cheaper, compounded version of a semaglutide-based weight-loss pill — the key active ingredient in blockbuster products such as Wegovy and Ozempic.