Zen Browsing 🌍 🧘

👀 TLDR

In this week’s What’s Appening, we cover Opera Air, a web browser that has mindfulness built in. We are all guilty of doom scrolling, so what if our browsers helped us find some zen? Opera is trying to deliver that with some neat tools and features. We also have news on Google’s new flagship AI model, the return to OG Facebook, TikTok’s role in a book-buying surge, how tariffs could impact some apps, and more.

🎬 Our Top Take

🧘👩‍💻Opera – New Air Browser Has Mindfulness Built Into It

Research has shown that doom-scrolling can have a serious impact on our mental health. And with all that’s happening in the world right now, it can feel like there’s little escape from negative news. So, what if a web browser decided to put your well-being at its core? That’s what Opera Air intends to deliver. Now in early access, the browser has built-in mindfulness tools and exercises that help you find your zen. You’ll get reminders to take breaks, and there’s also a tool to stimulate your brainwaves with binaural beats and sounds. Yes, some of this might feel a little gimmicky, but many of us feel the weight of constant scrolling, especially when we are obliged to do so for our jobs. We should also note that Opera has kept pace with other browser companies in this age of AI. Opera Air users will get access to Aria AI assistant (no subscription needed), a free VPN, and a specialist ad-blocker to see-off any distractions. BreathOfAir Read more here.

📲 App of the Week: dub

It’s common knowledge that Gen-Z takes its lead from social media. Heck, see our Stat of the Week on influencer-led book-buying. dub (the lowercase “d” is designed to appeal to the kids, we guess) is looking to tap into that idea with trading and investing. The idea is simple: dub is a copy trading app that doesn’t pick stocks – it picks people. You follow a trader, usually a prominent account on social media, and automatically copy their portfolio. It could be someone famous, too, such as Nancy Pelosi. The app is data-driven, so you can see which accounts are beating the market. With close to 1 million downloads, we find it interesting as a way to market to Gen-Z, but you should always be careful with retail trading platforms. If you’re curious, you can check out dub here.

🧐 Stat of the Week: 60 Stores

📈📉 TikTok – Book Influencers Behind Barnes & Noble Boom

If TikTok is to be lost to the United States, we’ll miss more than the funny videos. One surprising thing the app has brought to the masses, particularly Gen-Z, is a love for reading. TikTok book influencers and clubs have sent demand for physical copies into orbit. The impact has been such that Barnes & Noble plans to open at least 60 new stores this year. It’s not all down to TikTok, of course, but the promotion of reading is one of the positive sides of an app that, rightly or wrongly, gets a lot of negative press. #TikTokBooks Read more here.

🗞️ Other Stories

📍 Meanwhile at 3Advance

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