Bite-Sized Tech News Roundup

This week in tech, we've got a lot to cover—space hotels, futuristic taxis, and the ever-present debate on internet safety for kids. Let’s dive in.

The World's First Space Hotel Is Here

Picture this: floating through space, gazing down at Earth while sipping a martini in a luxury suite. The world’s first commercial space station is setting a new bar—well, a new space bar—for what travel could look like in the future. This space station-slash-hotel combines science fiction vibes with high-end interior design, creating an out-of-this-world experience for its (very wealthy) guests.

The station’s creators are betting big on a future where space tourism isn’t just a distant fantasy but a thrilling (and attainable) reality for the ultra-rich. In short, for us substack writers, all we could do was get a potential sponsor, but space travel is definitely not within a writer’s budget.

But is this actually live and happening now? While it’s currently a concept, it’s a strong signal that the commercial space race isn’t slowing down. Major players are investing billions to turn this dream into a floating reality. Soon, it may be less about “what hotel are you staying in?” and more like “which orbit will you be in?” Wow, that’s a wild thing to say out loud.

Tesla’s New CyberCab Rolls In

Forget about hailing a yellow cab. Tesla has rolled out its latest ambitious project: the CyberCab. Imagine the Cybertruck’s edgy, angular look mixed with the seamless autonomy of Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology. This is a taxi that looks more like a futuristic spaceship than anything you’ve seen on city streets.

The CyberCab promises the kind of sleek, no-frills transportation experience Tesla fans crave—no driver, no middleman, just you and the open road. Or, at least, the open algorithm. Tesla claims this ride will not only be emissions-free but also give the company an edge in the autonomous vehicle race. However, as with any Tesla debut, it comes with big promises and lots of hype.

Elon Musk says the Cybercab will go into production in 2026 and will eventually cost less than $30,000.

“I think it’s going to be a glorious future,” he said.

If it delivers, the CyberCab could redefine urban transportation or will everyone start walking or biking to work instead? I may be one of the many to opt out of self-driving autonomous vehicles, I am not there yet.

Is Childproofing the Internet Even Work?

California is putting big tech on notice. Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed a new law to stop social media platforms from bombarding kids with “addictive feeds.” Instead of infinite scroll and constant notifications, kids will now see chronological feeds, and parents must opt-in for more personalized content. It's a bold move, designed to give parents more control and kids fewer reasons to stay glued to their screens.

But it raises a bigger question: will any of this actually work, and is it even constitutional?

This isn’t just happening in California. Across the U.S., states like Texas and New York are racing to implement similar laws, hoping to shield kids from the darker sides of digital life—think risky content, manipulation, and relentless notifications. However, the fight is far from over. Many of these laws are already facing legal challenges, and the U.S. Supreme Court is set to weigh in. Just this term, the court will review a Texas law requiring age restrictions on adult sites, a case that could shape the future of online age-gating. For tech giants like Meta and TikTok, it’s a high-stakes game, one that pits child safety against freedom of speech and privacy concerns.

The age-gating requirements are where things get tricky.

Some of these laws demand that platforms accurately know whether a user is a child or an adult, which isn’t as simple as a checkbox. Options range from inference (using algorithms to guess a user’s age) to full-blown verification (like ID checks). But both options bring up major privacy concerns. Critics argue that age-gating could violate the First Amendment, while supporters say it’s the only way to keep kids safe. The last time a similar law made it to the Supreme Court, it didn’t survive. But that was 1997. Times—and technology—have changed.

So, will these new laws make a difference? Three big questions will decide their fate: Are the risks to kids serious enough to justify such measures? Do these laws infringe on the free speech rights of adults? And, lastly, are parental controls a better, less intrusive solution? The courts will have to grapple with these questions as tech companies gear up for what’s likely to be a long legal battle.

For many, this feels like the beginning of something big—a long-overdue reckoning for social media and big tech. The way I see it is that a lot of social media and these platforms are extremely addictive to not just children but any other age range that gets their hands on it. invetably, is it all just melting our brain , and overwhelming us with information and “entertainment” we truly don’t need?