Web giants such as Facebook and Google have woven themselves into billions of lives, but countless controversies over the years have a growing number of users questioning if they can trust these companies. How are data breaches and fake news changing people’s relationships with big tech?

Privacy concerns and ad-dominated feeds have mainstream social networks like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram facing a ‘trust crisis’. Subscription-based platform Vero offers an alternative with the promise of transparency and control – but is it so different from established industry giants?

Facebook is trailling the removal of ‘like’ counts on posts to curb concerns around the effects of social media on mental health. With trust in tech giants at an all-time low, the effort demonstrates how social platforms can take an active role in reducing their detrimental impact.

On World Mental Health Day, Facebook partnered with the World Health Organisation to get users to open up about mental health on Messenger. With social media often criticised for its negative effect on wellbeing, the brand is trying to highlight how it can serve as a force for good.