It’s Friday! Let's start this tech party with some spooky trivia. In which "Friday the 13th" movie does Jason Voorhees acquire his iconic hockey mask? Was it … A) "Friday the 13th," B) "Friday the 13th Part 2,” C) "Friday the 13th Part III" or D) "Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter"? You'll find the answer at the end.

👂🏼 Listen up: Today's top story is important for everyone who values privacy online. (I know, it’s almost an oxymoron now.) One of the best ways to keep your online activity private is by using a VPN. Check out ExpressVPN to support this free newsletter. — Kim

For years, rumors have swirled that Facebook will start charging users. Before, it was fiction. Now? Well, it's looking more like fact.

You can thank the latest European Union (EU) privacy regulations — and I mean that. These new regulations do a lot to protect the sensitive data of consumers like you and me.

But Meta (the company that owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp) wants privacy to come with some not-so-great fees. And it's not the only social media company trying to do it.

Facebook’s $14 threat

On one side, you've got the EU, which wants to protect people from targeted ads. As you know, social media companies (and others) track your online behavior. If you search for Victoria's Secret, you're gonna start seeing skimpy lingerie ads next to Grandma's cat memes.

On the other side, you have Meta, who uses that data to sell ad space to other brands or analyze users. Instead of agreeing to the new privacy requirements, they're putting up an ultimatum: Either EU users agree to personalized ads or pay $14 per month to not be targeted by any ads.

The same goes for Instagram, of course. And you can bet Meta is considering similar ad-free price tiers for its other apps, especially if privacy laws continue to amp up.

And the survey says … You’ll pay for privacy

Why does Meta think it can get away with this? Why is X hiding two-factor authentication (where you get a code to confirm your identity) behind a paywall? Why does Facebook already charge influencers for verification? Because research says privacy is a commodity.

• 42% of U.S. consumers say they're OK with paying up to $12 a month for total social media privacy.
• If you're older than 25, you're willing to pay the most for private social media, followed by the 35 to 44 age group.
• Our Android friends are more willing to pay more for social media privacy than our iPhone buddies.

The takeaway: There is a market for these subscriptions, and Meta is following what it thinks will make money. Fortunately, we've got options.

Don’t Netflix my Facebook

This whole EU snafu shows just how close ad-based social media fees are. If that makes you grit your teeth, I've got some jaw-relaxing news: You can still cut down on tracking for free.

• Change your ad settings: Go to Settings & privacy > Settings > Accounts Center > Ad Preferences. Here, you get options to manage your recently seen ads, adjust your settings for advertisers Facebook shows you, manage ad topics and more.
• Use a VPN: One neat thing a VPN does is make it more difficult for providers and sites to track your activity online. The less they track, the less targeted your ads are, and there's nothing Meta can do about that. I use and recommend ExpressVPN.*
• Use a browser with ad blocking: Brave, Firefox, Opera and others all have blocking options that can work if you browse Facebook on them.

✅ Don't worry! When Meta makes a move on this whole fees-for-freedom thing, I'll keep you updated and tell you what it's going to cost. In the meantime, it's a great time to learn how to spot AI scam ads when browsing Facebook.

🔗 Phishing expedition: Hackers are using LinkedIn Smart Links to steal Microsoft account credentials. Instead of someone getting past your email’s defenses, they’re taking the easy route and sending malicious links via DM. Only click links from people you know well.

Power hungry: It turns out AI isn’t just stealing jobs — it might also worsen climate change. A new study claims the computer power needed to support AI systems could use as much energy as Ireland each year. Silver lining: Advances in the tech should help reduce AI’s carbon footprint.

⌚ Wash your watch: Ouch. A nurse posted a TikTok vid about a patient who got a staph infection from their dirty Apple Watch. She suggested people — especially those who exercise with a watch on — clean the band regularly with alcohol. Lazy option: If your watch is waterproof, leave it on for your post-workout shower.

Drone defense: Play stopped at an Ohio State football game after a drone flew over the stadium. It’s not just there; similar incidents at other stadiums have those in the biz seriously thinking about safety. Drones are used as weapons elsewhere around the world. We should think long and hard about where they can fly.

No bars, no problem: Starting in 2025, you might be able to get phone service from SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network. Text messages should be enabled for "Starlink Direct to Cell" users next year, with voice and data set to be rolled out in 2025 (if Elon can stay on schedule). The expected 2 to 4 Mbps speed isn't blazing fast, but imagine getting service anywhere on Earth.

🤳🏼 Selfie study: More evidence tells us something we already know — social media can make us insecure. A study found photos taken from a “selfie stick” angle make you look thinner, and photos taken from the chin looking down are seen as the least slimming. Save that for your next headshot photoshoot.

Late night one-on-one: A recruiter says one of his tactics for choosing potential employees is a text sent after 10 p.m. He says it can show the responsiveness needed in some fast-paced roles. Meanwhile, in France and Portugal, it’s illegal for companies to message workers after hours.

I turn tech complexity into simplicity with my Daily Tech Update podcast. I’ll give you the top tech news and a useful digital life hack, all in under two minutes. It's the perfect match for your daily routine — no tech expertise required.

👉 Your journey to tech confidence is a click away!

There are tens of millions of recalled cars on the road. Last year alone, there were 932 recalls impacting over 30 million vehicles. Wild, right?

Sometimes, it’s a part that’s wearing out too quickly. In other instances, it’s software that needs to be updated. And in some cases, it’s a scary issue like a battery that can catch fire. If you own a car, keep reading.

What’s yo’ number?

The first step is to find your vehicle’s 17-digit vehicle identification number. The VIN is found on most vehicles by standing outside the front windshield and peering down at the lower driver’s side corner of the dashboard. Some cars also have it on an emblem on the driver-side door jamb.

If you can’t find it, check your vehicle title or registration or look in your insurance documents. I keep a pic of mine on my phone, too.

Make sure they can reach you

That means keeping your registration up to date and ensuring your current address is on file. Yes, you may hear about a serious recall through a letter in the mail from the manufacturer.

There’s a tool for that

Once you have your VIN, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s recall lookup page. Enter your VIN to see the number and type of safety recalls that apply to your vehicle.

If your vehicle has a recall, call the nearest dealership. They’re legally obligated to fix it for free. We love free.

🤠 A cowboy opens up a German car dealership. Audi Partner! (Yeah, I know, I groaned, too.)

Your iPhone has a “duplicate photos” folder where you can merge any doubles. It’s so easy to use. Here’s how:

• Open the Photos app and select Albums.
• Scroll down and select Duplicates. It’s under Utilities.
• You can select all of them by hitting Select > Select all > Merge, or select individual photos and tap Merge.
• Confirm your choice and take back some storage space.

On Android, open the Files by Google app, then select Clean. If you don’t have it, download it for free from the Google Play Store.

• Tap Confirm and free up > See junk files and select what you want to remove. When you’re ready, tap Clear > Clear.

That’s all it takes to remove screenshots, memes, duplicates and other junk hiding among the photos you care about.

A virtual private network, or VPN, is a great place to start. A VPN encrypts your data and hides your IP address, giving you an extra layer of protection from snoops, advertisers and Big Tech companies looking to profit off you.

Some VPNs slow your connection or, worse, track your internet activity and compromise your security. Not ExpressVPN.

ExpressVPN’s servers run on RAM, or volatile memory, that’s cleared each time the server is reset — meaning they don’t save your data. You can connect in just one click from a Windows PC, Mac, iPhone, Android, iPad, you name it.

🚨 Deal alert: Get an extra THREE months free since you subscribe to my newsletter.

I’m egg-stremely concerned.

The answer: C) “Friday the 13th Part III.” Until then, our leading man, Jason, had been using other means to conceal his identity.

Did you ever see “Friday the 13th: The Musical,” starring Michael Jackson as Jason Vorhee-hee-hees?

Don’t forget to check out ExpressVPN. I use it, and it’s so fast I usually forget it’s on. Use my link to get an extra three months free. No, I don’t get any kickbacks when you sign up. — Kim