TikTok Suggests Badges as an Approach to Tackle Teenage App Dependency

As more legislators seek to impose restrictions on the usage of social media applications by children and teenagers, TikTok is responding.

The company asserts – seemingly without any irony – that new offerings such as an affirmation journal, background sound generator, and app badges are expected to be more beneficial than conventional usage limits.

An increasing number of lawmakers throughout US states and globally are introducing or implementing legislation to curtail or restrict social media app access for teenagers and younger children. TikTok is one of multiple tech corporations striving to contest these laws in legal arenas. The company has recently revealed several new initiatives, claiming they will be more impactful than merely enforcing usage limits.

The new offerings consist of:

– **Breathing exercises**, featuring various forms of mindful breathing.
– An **affirmational journal**, enabling users to establish their daily intentions, with over 120 different affirmation cards available for download or sharing.
– A **calming sound generator**, consisting of sounds like rain, waves, and white noise. Survey results indicate that TikTok users are 14% more likely than non-users to listen to music for sleep or relaxation.

Moreover, the app now provides teenagers the opportunity to earn badges by completing “wellbeing missions,” which involve setting screen-time limits, refraining from TikTok usage at night, and meditating. The company also intends to encourage users to check the time and wellbeing section of the app settings if they engage with the app during specified “sleep hours.”

Gentler Streak Unveils Weekly Activity Summary Function

### Gentler Streak Unveils Weekly Activity Recap Feature

After a short beta testing phase, Gentler Streak has launched an exciting update featuring a new Weekly Activity Recap tool. This enhancement aims to improve the user experience by offering an attractive method to monitor fitness progress without the stress typically linked to fitness applications.

#### A Fresh Approach to Visualizing Progress

Just days after debuting Apple Watch compatibility for its other application, The Outsiders, Gentler Stories has turned its attention to enhancing Gentler Streak. The Weekly Activity Recap tool enables users to access key metrics like duration, energy expenditure, distance, and elevation within a beautifully crafted interface. Color-coded graphs help users grasp how each activity impacts their overall weekly performance.

As pointed out by Gentler Streak on social media, the focus is on delivering data in a way that is both precise and visually appealing. The developers advocate that users’ feelings about their progress carry as much weight as the data itself.

#### Main Features of the Weekly Activity Recap

The Weekly Activity Recap offers a thorough summary of a user’s fitness endeavors, including:

– **Activity Hours**: Total time dedicated to physical activities throughout the week.
– **Calories Expended**: An estimate of energy burned based on the activities engaged in.
– **Distance Achieved**: Total distance covered during exercises.
– **Elevation Gain**: Total elevation ascended, particularly beneficial for outdoor lovers.
– **Mid-Workout Images**: Users can add photos captured during workouts, providing a personal flair to their activity recap.

This feature resonates with Gentler Streak’s philosophy of recognizing progress rather than pressuring users to fulfill specific fitness targets.

#### Excitement for Annual Recap

The launch of the Weekly Activity Recap arrives just prior to Gentler Streak’s highly-regarded annual recap feature, which highlights a user’s achievements over the past year through engaging animated charts and visuals. This yearly summary is a standout for many users, offering a complete view of their fitness journey.

#### Accessibility

Gentler Streak is available for free on the App Store, with in-app purchase options for monthly, yearly, family, and lifetime subscriptions. This makes it accessible to a diverse array of users eager to monitor their fitness in a nurturing and visually appealing way.

In conclusion, the rollout of the Weekly Activity Recap feature in Gentler Streak signifies a major upgrade to the app, enabling users to visualize their fitness journey in a manner that is both informative and enjoyable.

Cloudflare Explains the Mistake That Affected Major Segments of the Internet Yesterday

**Cloudflare Outage: Grasping the Recent Internet Interruption**

On November 18, 2025, a considerable segment of the internet faced interruptions, with numerous websites and services becoming entirely inaccessible or experiencing slow responses. The cause of the predicament was traced to Cloudflare, a leading provider of internet infrastructure solutions. Initially, Cloudflare speculated a massive cyber-attack, but later determined the issue to be a significant mistake arising from a software update.

### The Preliminary Reaction: Assumed Cyber-Attack

Cloudflare’s preliminary evaluation revealed a pattern of connections being sporadically taken offline for about five minutes before restoration. This behavior led the company to suspect it was under a hyperscale Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack, where a malicious entity overwhelms a server with excessive requests, hindering legitimate users from accessing services. The situation intensified when Cloudflare’s status page, which is hosted independently of its infrastructure, also went offline, further heightening fears of a coordinated attack.

### The Actual Reason: A Software Update Mistake

Following deeper investigation, Cloudflare found that the outage was not due to an external attack but rather an error in a software update linked to its bot management system. The problem stemmed from a change in database permissions that led to the system generating an unexpectedly large “feature file.” This file, essential for the bot management system’s correct functioning, doubled in size and surpassed the software’s processing capabilities, resulting in extensive failures across the network.

The unusual five-minute outage cycle was clarified by the database query that generated the feature file every five minutes. Depending on which segment of the database cluster was updated, the system would either create a valid or erroneous configuration, leading to sporadic disruptions.

### Cloudflare’s Apology and Pledge to Enhance

Following the outage, Cloudflare issued a public apology, recognizing the significant effects on its users and the wider internet community. The company expressed sorrow for the disruption, reaffirming its dedication to ensuring the reliability of its services. Cloudflare’s team acknowledged that any outage, particularly given the company’s essential role in the internet framework, is unacceptable.

For those seeking a more thorough explanation of the occurrence, Cloudflare has released an extensive blog post detailing the events and the lessons learned from this incident.

### Conclusion

The November 2025 outage reminds us of the complexities and vulnerabilities present in internet infrastructure. While Cloudflare’s initial reaction spotlighted the potential for cyber threats, the true cause was a technical mistake that highlights the necessity of thorough testing and monitoring during software updates. As the internet continues to advance, ensuring the durability of its fundamental services remains a primary focus for providers like Cloudflare.

The Fundamental Keypad for Improved Efficiency on My Mac

# Delegating Keyboard Shortcuts to a Programmable Macro Keypad: A Productivity Revolution

Delegating keyboard shortcuts to a programmable macro keypad represents the most effective productivity strategy I have ever adopted. This article examines the path to boosting productivity via keyboard shortcuts and the revolutionary benefits of utilizing a macro keypad.

## Into the Keyboard Shortcut Abyss

My exploration of keyboard shortcuts commenced with simple macOS triggers, such as using `@@` for my main email address and similar shortcuts for my complete name, home address, phone number, and zip code. This foundational step paved the way for a more streamlined workflow.

As I grew more adept with shortcuts, I progressed to utilizing Keyboard Maestro, an exceptional automation tool. I began assigning keyboard shortcuts to commonly accessed folders and applications, revolutionizing my workflow. Pressing `Fn+F1` through `Fn+F6` to navigate to various locations that previously demanded several clicks became instinctive. I also assigned other function buttons to launch vital programs and websites, along with accessing Keyboard Maestro’s Clipboard History Switcher.

This evolution led me to automate segments of my workflow, such as starting QuickTime for audio recordings and opening Shure PlusMOTIV when connecting a particular USB-C microphone. Additionally, I crafted custom shortcuts for tools and settings in Adobe Audition, which significantly boosted my editing speed by incorporating these shortcuts into my Logitech MX Master mouse.

## Elevating the Experience

My configuration worked well until I discovered a compact, 12-key and 3-knob macro keypad from Gui Rambo of 9to5Mac. Curious, I chose to purchase one. Once it arrived, I found that setting it up for macOS required some additional effort. Thankfully, a GitHub project delivered the essential tools, and I enlisted ChatGPT for further support in the setup process.

The appeal of this macro keypad lies in its ability to trigger Keyboard Maestro shortcuts without the necessity of memorization or sacrificing ergonomic comfort. With the option of having up to three layers of 12 keypad shortcuts, along with knobs that can act as buttons, I can personalize its functionality for various applications. For example, while working in Adobe Audition, I can accelerate tasks such as switching tools, exporting files, and applying effects significantly faster than depending on traditional keyboard shortcuts.

During system interactions, I can switch to a different layer on the same keypad to modify audio input, manage volume, adjust display brightness, mute or unmute the microphone, and access frequently used folders effortlessly. Although it required some time to memorize these commands, they soon became second nature, making it feel like my Mac was lacking without the macro keypad.

There are limitless configurations offered for macro keypads, showcasing diverse shapes, sizes, keys, knobs, and lighting alternatives. This exploration into macro keypads is a journey that seems infinite, and for anyone whose work involves repetitive tasks, I strongly suggest delving deeper.

## Accessory Offers on Amazon

For those keen on boosting their productivity through macro keypads, there are a plethora of choices available on Amazon. Investing in a programmable macro keypad can greatly enhance your workflow and elevate your productivity to unprecedented levels.