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- Product & Design Pulse v68
Product & Design Pulse v68
Facebook Popularity in 2025 🤔
Malcom Jones
December 01, 2025
Welcome to this week’s edition of Product & Design Pulse, where we explore the latest in tech, product, design, and innovation! Pew’s latest report showed Americans consolidating around a few major social platforms even as concerns about misinformation and online toxicity continue to grow. At the same time, Meta faces renewed scrutiny after internal documents revealed systemic child-safety failures, while the U.S. Patent Office introduced new rules to clarify how AI-assisted inventions can be protected. Microsoft’s latest developer data reinforced how deeply AI is being woven into everyday tools—right down to Notepad—while a trade-secrets lawsuit involving a former TSMC executive underscored intensifying global competition in semiconductors. With CES around the corner and a wave of new shopping, personalization, and content features rolling out across major platforms, the ecosystem is gearing up for an eventful start to 2026.
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Last week…
Social Media Use in 2025 — Pew Research
Pew’s latest report shows Americans consolidating around a few dominant platforms, with YouTube and Facebook still leading and TikTok accelerating among younger users. Even as many feel overwhelmed by the volume of content, they continue to see social media as essential for staying informed and connected. The study highlights persistent concerns around misinformation and deepening generational divides in how people use and trust these platforms.
Meta Lawsuit Reveals Internal Child-Safety Failures
Newly unsealed lawsuit documents show Meta leaders were aware of serious child-safety risks on Instagram and Facebook but failed to take decisive action. The filings detail widespread issues—from grooming to harmful content exposure—driven in part by algorithms amplifying risky material. The revelations add fuel to growing regulatory pressure, painting Meta’s challenges as structural rather than isolated.
USPTO Issues New Rules for AI-Assisted Inventions
The U.S. Patent Office released new guidelines clarifying how AI-assisted inventions qualify for patent protection, requiring humans to make a “significant contribution” to the inventive process. The update aims to provide clarity as generative AI becomes embedded in scientific and technical workflows. It signals how regulators are trying to balance innovation with accountability in an era of hybrid human-AI invention.
Microsoft Shares AI Usage Trends — Notepad Steals the Spotlight
Microsoft’s latest developer data shows AI tools rapidly becoming a default part of coding workflows, from documentation to debugging. In a surprise twist, Notepad has emerged as a major AI entry point thanks to built-in Copilot features that turn the minimalist app into a lightweight development companion. The company frames this as proof that AI is becoming ambient across Windows rather than confined to pro-level tools.
Former TSMC Executive Charged in Intel Trade-Secrets Case
A former TSMC executive has been charged with stealing semiconductor process data and attempting to leverage it during discussions with Intel. Prosecutors say the files contained highly sensitive manufacturing details that could give a competitor meaningful advantages. The case underscores rising geopolitical tension around chip talent, IP protection, and the high-stakes global race for semiconductor leadership.
