Meta Tests Premium Subscriptions

Meta's subscription experiments, Epic's financial deal with Google and antitrust implications top the list of items addressed in this MacVoices Live! show. Chuck Joiner, David Ginsburg, Brian Flanigan-Arthurs, Marty Jencius, Jim Rea, Norbert Frassa, Guy Serle, Jeff Gamet, and Eric Bolden discuss concerns about AI guidelines and chatbot impacts on mental health, and the evolving future of platforms like Vimeo since their acquisition. The conversation also touches on foldable phone pricing and broader industry shifts shaping user experiences and competition.

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Chapters:

00:05 Introduction and overview 07:38 Meta's subscription plans debate 09:54 Epic Games and Google deal implications 11:02 Concerns about AI guidelines and Claude 21:09 Chatbots and mental health discussion 26:55 Squarespace sponsor segment 28:37 Vimeo's future and market positioning 30:21 Galaxy Z tri-fold pricing analysis 35:02 Closing thoughts and wrap-up

Links:

Meta to test premium subscriptions on Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp | TechCrunch https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/26/meta-to-test-premium-subscriptions-on-instagram-facebook-and-whatsapp/

Meta Is Being Sued Over Whether WhatsApp Really Encrypts Your Messages https://lifehacker.com/tech/meta-sued-whatsapp-encryption-claimsl

Anthropic rewrites Claude's guiding principles—and entertains the idea that its AI might have 'some kind of consciousness or moral status' https://fortune.com/2026/01/21/anthropic-claude-ai-chatbot-new-rules-safety-consciousness/

A-List creatives sign up to fight AI, say it enables 'theft at a grand scale' https://www.engadget.com/ai/a-list-creatives-sign-up-to-fight-ai-say-it-enables-theft-at-a-grand-scale-140000475.html

TikTok is officially US-owned for American users, here's what's changing https://9to5mac.com/2026/01/23/tiktok-is-officially-us-owned-for-american-users-heres-whats-changing/

Newsom says California is investigating TikTok for censoring 'Trump-critical content' https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/gavin-newsom-tiktok-investigate-trump-epstein-minnesota/3836701/

Epic hypocrisy -- Google gets $800 million in 'Fortnite' antitrust settlement https://appleinsider.com/articles/26/01/23/epic-hypocrisy----google-gets-800-million-in-fortnite-antitrust-settlement

How Vimeo Betrayed the Filmmakers Who Built It https://www.cined.com/how-vimeo-betrayed-the-filmmakers-who-built-it/

Samsung Galaxy Z Trifold U.S. Price Is Not at All Surprising https://gizmodo.com/samsung-galaxy-z-trifold-u-s-price-is-not-at-all-surprising-2000714196

Guests:

Eric Bolden is into macOS, plants, sci-fi, food, and is a rural internet supporter. You can connect with him on Twitter, by email at embolden@mac.com, on Mastodon at @eabolden@techhub.social, on his blog, Trending At Work, and as co-host on The Vision ProFiles podcast.

Brian Flanigan-Arthurs is an educator with a passion for providing results-driven, innovative learning strategies for all students, but particularly those who are at-risk. He is also a tech enthusiast who has a particular affinity for Apple since he first used the Apple IIGS as a student. You can contact Brian on twitter as @brian8944. He also recently opened a Mastodon account at @brian8944@mastodon.cloud.

Norbert Frassa is a technology "man about town". Follow him on X and see what he's up to.

Jeff Gamet is a technology blogger, podcaster, author, and public speaker. Previously, he was The Mac Observer's Managing Editor, and the TextExpander Evangelist for Smile. He has presented at Macworld Expo, RSA Conference, several WordCamp events, along with many other conferences. You can find him on several podcasts such as The Mac Show, The Big Show, MacVoices, Mac OS Ken, This Week in iOS, and more. Jeff is easy to find on social media as @jgamet on Twitter and Instagram, jeffgamet on LinkedIn., @jgamet@mastodon.social on Mastodon, and on his YouTube Channel at YouTube.com/jgamet.

David Ginsburg is the host of the weekly podcast In Touch With iOS where he discusses all things iOS, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch, and related technologies. He is an IT professional supporting Mac, iOS and Windows users. Visit his YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/daveg65 and find and follow him on Twitter @daveg65 and on Mastodon at @daveg65@mastodon.cloud.

Dr. Marty Jencius has been an Associate Professor of Counseling at Kent State University since 2000. He has over 120 publications in books, chapters, journal articles, and others, along with 200 podcasts related to counseling, counselor education, and faculty life. His technology interest led him to develop the counseling profession 'firsts,' including listservs, a web-based peer-reviewed journal, The Journal of Technology in Counseling, teaching and conferencing in virtual worlds as the founder of Counselor Education in Second Life, and podcast founder/producer of CounselorAudioSource.net and ThePodTalk.net. Currently, he produces a podcast about counseling and life questions, the Circular Firing Squad, and digital video interviews with legacies capturing the history of the counseling field. This is also co-host of The Vision ProFiles podcast. Generally, Marty is chasing the newest tech trends, which explains his interest in A.I. for teaching, research, and productivity. Marty is an active presenter and past president of the NorthEast Ohio Apple Corp (NEOAC).

Jim Rea built his own computer from scratch in 1975, started programming in 1977, and has been an independent Mac developer continuously since 1984. He is the founder of ProVUE Development, and the author of Panorama X, ProVUE's ultra fast RAM based database software for the macOS platform. He's been a speaker at MacTech, MacWorld Expo and other industry conferences. Follow Jim at provue.com and via @provuejim@techhub.social on Mastodon.

Guy Serle, best known for being one of the co-hosts of the MyMac Podcast, sincerely apologizes for anything he has done or caused to have happened while in possession of dangerous podcasting equipment. He should know better but being a blonde from Florida means he's probably incapable of understanding the damage he has wrought. Guy is also the author of the novel, The Maltese Cube. You can follow his exploits on Twitter, catch him on Mac to the Future on Facebook, at @Macparrot@mastodon.social, and find everything at VertShark.com.

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