<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
	xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
	>

<channel>
	<title>online privacy Archives - Shane the Gamer</title>
	<atom:link href="https://www.shanethegamer.com/tag/online-privacy/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link></link>
	<description>Gaming &#38; eSports News</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Thu, 29 Jan 2026 02:15:04 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<language>en-NZ</language>
	<sy:updatePeriod>
	hourly	</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>
	1	</sy:updateFrequency>
	

<image>
	<url>https://www.shanethegamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/stg-play-final-cropped-black.png</url>
	<title>online privacy Archives - Shane the Gamer</title>
	<link></link>
	<width>32</width>
	<height>32</height>
</image> 
	<item>
		<title>VTuber Ovulation Tracker Website Is Diabolically Disturbing, Sparks Privacy Backlash</title>
		<link>https://www.shanethegamer.com/esports-news/vtuber-ovulation-tracker-website-backlash/</link>
					<comments>https://www.shanethegamer.com/esports-news/vtuber-ovulation-tracker-website-backlash/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dimas Ibnu]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 29 Jan 2026 02:13:32 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[eSports News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[online privacy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[parasocial relationships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[streaming culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[twitch]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[VTuber]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[VTuber controversy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[VTuber news]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[X social media]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.shanethegamer.com/?p=80365</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>A disturbing website claiming to track the menstrual cycles and ovulation periods of female VTubers has gone viral, triggering widespread backlash across the VTuber community and social media over privacy, consent, and harassment concerns. The site first gained attention after X user @ShitpostRock posted that they had discovered a platform tracking the cycles of hundreds [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.shanethegamer.com/esports-news/vtuber-ovulation-tracker-website-backlash/">VTuber Ovulation Tracker Website Is Diabolically Disturbing, Sparks Privacy Backlash</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.shanethegamer.com">Shane the Gamer</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class="cb-itemprop" itemprop="reviewBody"><p data-start="67" data-end="306">A disturbing website claiming to track the menstrual cycles and ovulation periods of female VTubers has gone viral, triggering widespread backlash across the VTuber community and social media over privacy, consent, and harassment concerns.</p>
<p data-start="308" data-end="630">The site first gained attention after X user @ShitpostRock posted that they had discovered a platform tracking the cycles of hundreds of VTubers, allegedly using public tweets and stream clips as data points. The post quickly spread, drawing millions of views and prompting disbelief, anger, and ridicule in equal measure.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-theme="dark">
<p dir="ltr" lang="zxx">???? <a href="https://t.co/XNpzpU3TxQ">pic.twitter.com/XNpzpU3TxQ</a></p>
<p>— Rock Solid (@ShitpostRock) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShitpostRock/status/2016004370928640369?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<h2 data-start="632" data-end="673">How The VTuber Ovulation Tracker Works</h2>
<p data-start="675" data-end="1000">According to screenshots shared online, the website claims to monitor more than 450 VTubers. It reportedly logs dates and times of tweets or stream moments that mention symptoms like stomach pain, headaches, tiredness, or feeling unwell, then uses those observations to speculate about menstrual cycles and ovulation windows.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-conversation="none" data-theme="dark">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">There is a observation section where they track the time and date of tweets about things that can be associated with periods and calculated it from there <a href="https://t.co/vkbuN52B0M">pic.twitter.com/vkbuN52B0M</a></p>
<p>— Rock Solid (@ShitpostRock) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShitpostRock/status/2016049694263124354?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p data-start="1002" data-end="1332">An “observation” section on the site appears to manually record these moments, before projecting them onto virtual calendars that assume a regular monthly cycle. Critics have pointed out that this method ignores basic medical realities, including irregular cycles, unrelated illnesses, hormonal treatments, and chronic conditions.</p>
<p data-start="1334" data-end="1497">Even based on the site’s own screenshots, the predictions appear inconsistent and unreliable, often treating any mention of discomfort as evidence of menstruation.</p>
<h2 data-start="1499" data-end="1542">VTubers React With Anger And Dark Humour</h2>
<p data-start="1544" data-end="1641">VTubers named on the site have begun speaking out, with reactions ranging from outrage to satire.</p>
<p data-start="1643" data-end="1964">Twitch VTuber Shekai condemned the website as an attempt to make “women’s lives miserable,” adding that whoever added her should “seek therapy.”</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-theme="dark">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">whoever added me into this shit, whoever made this website you’re such a piece of shit and i hope you will break ur bones. Why would you learn coding to create such a fucked up website? 1. it’s fucking creepy 2. SEEK THERAPY YOU FREAK 3. it’s so disrespectful towards women???… <a href="https://t.co/athUPbSG7z">https://t.co/athUPbSG7z</a></p>
<p>— Shekai 🦈🏴‍☠️ RE:COPE (@shekai) <a href="https://twitter.com/shekai/status/2016132059027161549?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p data-start="1643" data-end="1964">Others highlighted how invasive the tracking feels, especially for creators who deliberately use VTuber avatars to maintain distance between their online persona and real life.</p>
<p data-start="1966" data-end="2237">VTuber chibidoki responded with humour, joking that she would start tweeting about stomach pain every day “so the VTuber ovulation tracker short circuits in confusion.”</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-theme="dark">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">bouta start tweeting about tummy pains every day so that vtuber ovulation tracker short circuits in confusion</p>
<p>— chibi 💕 Vtuber (@chibidoki) <a href="https://twitter.com/chibidoki/status/2016368499971473533?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p data-start="1966" data-end="2237">While light-hearted, the comment underlined a key point, the data being used is fundamentally unsound.</p>
<h2 data-start="2239" data-end="2282">When Parasocial Behaviour Crosses A Line</h2>
<p data-start="2284" data-end="2443">The controversy has also reignited discussion around parasocial relationships and how far some fans go in trying to access personal information about creators.</p>
<p data-start="2445" data-end="2712">VTuber aliciaxlife shared that being tagged in discussions around the website forced her to publicly disclose sensitive medical details. She revealed she has been recovering from uterine cancer and has not had a period in over a year due to intensive hormone therapy.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center" data-theme="dark">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I saw people tag me. I want to remind you that I had uterine cancer and am still recovering.</p>
<p>I actually haven’t had my period in a very long time (over a year) because of my intensive hormone therapy to prevent me from getting cancer again.</p>
<p>I won’t even have periods again until… <a href="https://t.co/mizHqmzOzl">https://t.co/mizHqmzOzl</a></p>
<p>— Alicia 🧀🐀Rat Queen (@aliciaxlifeVT) <a href="https://twitter.com/aliciaxlifeVT/status/2016257454472823085?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2026</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p data-start="2714" data-end="2936">She urged people to remember that many women experience endometriosis, irregular cycles, or medical conditions that affect menstruation, and stressed that consent should be required before adding anyone to such a database.</p>
<h2 data-start="2938" data-end="2982">Why The Website Has Alarmed The Community</h2>
<p data-start="2984" data-end="3326">Beyond accuracy issues, many see the site as a form of stalking that normalises invasive behaviour towards female streamers. Critics have also pointed out that the site categorises VTubers under labels such as “ovulating” or “fertile,” which several VTubers and commentators believe suggests fetishistic intent rather than harmless curiosity.</p>
<p data-start="3328" data-end="3561">VTubers are often private by design, choosing avatars precisely to avoid scrutiny of their bodies and personal lives. Tracking menstrual cycles based on speculative data has been widely described as crossing a clear ethical boundary.</p>
<h2 data-start="3563" data-end="3583">What Happens Next</h2>
<p data-start="3585" data-end="3876">At the time of writing, the website remains live, though it is not being linked by most outlets due to its nature. The growing backlash has already pushed more VTubers to speak openly about boundaries, consent, and the realities of living with medical conditions while being a public figure.</p>
<p data-start="3878" data-end="4115">Whether the site is taken down or not, the incident has sharpened conversations around privacy, parasocial extremes, and the responsibility platforms have in protecting creators from invasive behaviour that goes far beyond normal fandom.</p>
</span><p>The post <a href="https://www.shanethegamer.com/esports-news/vtuber-ovulation-tracker-website-backlash/">VTuber Ovulation Tracker Website Is Diabolically Disturbing, Sparks Privacy Backlash</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.shanethegamer.com">Shane the Gamer</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
					<wfw:commentRss>https://www.shanethegamer.com/esports-news/vtuber-ovulation-tracker-website-backlash/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
			<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>The World Is Getting Serious About Keeping Kids Off Social Media</title>
		<link>https://www.shanethegamer.com/esports-news/global-social-media-bans-children-age-verification/</link>
					<comments>https://www.shanethegamer.com/esports-news/global-social-media-bans-children-age-verification/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Dimas Ibnu]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2026 08:26:19 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[eSports News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[age verification]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[children online safety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[facial age estimation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[online privacy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[privacy data]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social media regulation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[youth internet use]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.shanethegamer.com/?p=79987</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>A growing number of governments are moving to restrict children’s access to social media, and the pace is accelerating. New analysis suggests this is no longer a niche policy debate, but a global shift that could soon reshape how major platforms operate. According to fresh analysis published by safety technology firm Privately SA, more than [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.shanethegamer.com/esports-news/global-social-media-bans-children-age-verification/">The World Is Getting Serious About Keeping Kids Off Social Media</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.shanethegamer.com">Shane the Gamer</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<span class="cb-itemprop" itemprop="reviewBody"><p data-start="395" data-end="649">A growing number of governments are moving to restrict children’s access to social media, and the pace is accelerating. New analysis suggests this is no longer a niche policy debate, but a global shift that could soon reshape how major platforms operate.</p>
<p data-start="651" data-end="904">According to fresh analysis published by safety technology firm <a href="https://www.privately.eu/"><strong data-start="715" data-end="756"><span class="hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline"><span class="whitespace-normal">Privately SA</span></span></strong></a>, more than 40 countries worldwide have already introduced, proposed, or formally reviewed measures aimed at limiting how children use social media.</p>
<h2 data-start="906" data-end="954">Australia, France, And The UK Lead The Debate</h2>
<p data-start="956" data-end="1304">The latest momentum follows <strong data-start="984" data-end="1025"><span class="hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline"><span class="whitespace-normal">Australia</span></span></strong> banning under-16s from using social media in December 2025. <strong data-start="1086" data-end="1127"><span class="hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline"><span class="whitespace-normal">France</span></span></strong> is planning a similar law for under-15s later this year, while policymakers in the <strong data-start="1211" data-end="1252"><span class="hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline"><span class="whitespace-normal">United Kingdom</span></span></strong> continue to debate whether to follow the same path.</p>
<p data-start="1306" data-end="1571">While the rules vary widely between countries, the direction of travel is becoming clearer. Governments are no longer asking whether age checks should exist. The focus has shifted to how platforms can enforce age limits without creating new privacy risks for users.</p>
<h2 data-start="1573" data-end="1614">Age Verification Is No Longer Optional</h2>
<p data-start="1616" data-end="1908">As regulation tightens, age assurance is increasingly becoming a legal requirement rather than a voluntary safeguard. Social media platforms are facing growing pressure to prove they can accurately verify a user’s age, particularly for younger audiences, while still protecting personal data.</p>
<p data-start="1910" data-end="2238">“The debate has moved from should platforms verify age to how they do it,” said <strong data-start="1990" data-end="2031"><span class="hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline"><span class="whitespace-normal">Deepak Tewari</span></span></strong>, CEO of <a href="https://www.privately.eu/">Privately SA.</a> He added that many countries are now pushing for enforceable age controls that provide stronger privacy guarantees, rather than relying on self-reported ages or traditional ID uploads.</p>
<h2 data-start="2240" data-end="2273">Trust In Platforms Remains Low</h2>
<p data-start="2275" data-end="2492">Alongside its global analysis, <a href="https://www.privately.eu/">Privately SA</a> commissioned consumer research in December 2025 to better understand public attitudes toward privacy and social media. The findings point to a major challenge for platforms.</p>
<p data-start="2494" data-end="2738">Only 13 percent of adults surveyed said they trust online platforms to handle sensitive biometric data, such as facial images. That lack of trust becomes increasingly important as age verification tools rely more heavily on advanced technology.</p>
<p data-start="2740" data-end="3020">However, opinions shift when privacy protections are strengthened. According to the research commissioned by <a href="https://www.privately.eu/">Privately SA</a>, acceptance of facial age estimation nearly triples to 39 percent when age checks are carried out entirely on-device, with no images leaving the user’s phone.</p>
<h2 data-start="3022" data-end="3068">Why Privacy Is Becoming The Deciding Factor</h2>
<p data-start="3070" data-end="3295">Privacy concerns are emerging as the central battleground in the global push to protect children online. Parents, regulators, and users alike remain wary of systems that require IDs or store biometric data on central servers.</p>
<p data-start="3297" data-end="3686"><a href="https://www.privately.eu/">Privately SA</a> says its on-device facial age estimation approach addresses these concerns by ensuring images are never uploaded or stored externally. The company states that its technology was used for more than five million age checks in 2025 and has already been deployed by three of the ten largest social media platforms in Australia, as well as across several major platforms in the UK.</p>
<p data-start="3688" data-end="3864">According to <a href="https://www.privately.eu/">Privately SA</a>, this approach allows platforms to meet new legal obligations while minimising data collection and avoiding unnecessary barriers for legitimate users.</p>
<h2 data-start="3866" data-end="3904">A Global Trend, Not A Universal Ban</h2>
<p data-start="3906" data-end="4299">It is important to note that the “more than 40 countries” figure does not mean all of them have introduced full social media bans for children. Based on Privately SA’s analysis, the total includes countries with enacted laws, draft legislation, formal government proposals, parliamentary inquiries, regulator-led consultations, or enforceable age-verification or parental-consent requirements.</p>
<p data-start="4301" data-end="4515">Taken together, the findings point to a clear global trend. Governments are signalling that child safety online is becoming a regulatory priority, and social media platforms will need to adapt as expectations rise.</p>
<p data-start="4517" data-end="4714">As more countries weigh new rules, the way age verification is implemented could have a lasting impact on how young people access games, online communities, and social platforms in the years ahead.</p>
<h2 data-start="4716" data-end="4770">What Does This Actually Mean For Social Media Users</h2>
<p data-start="4772" data-end="5041">In simple terms, this story is not about a single global ban on social media. It reflects a broader shift in how governments are approaching children’s access to online platforms, based on analysis and research commissioned by <a href="https://www.privately.eu/"><strong data-start="4999" data-end="5040"><span class="hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline"><span class="whitespace-normal">Privately SA</span></span></strong></a>.</p>
<p data-start="5043" data-end="5363">The claim that more than 40 countries are involved does not mean all of them have already banned social media for children. According to Privately SA’s analysis, the figure combines countries at very different stages, from active laws to early policy discussions. The common thread is direction, not uniform enforcement.</p>
<p data-start="5365" data-end="5693">For social media companies, the message is becoming clearer. Age verification is moving away from being a voluntary safety feature and toward becoming a legal requirement in many regions. Platforms are under increasing pressure to prove a user’s age, especially for younger users, rather than relying on self-declared birthdays.</p>
<p data-start="5695" data-end="6056">At the same time, research commissioned by Privately SA highlights a major challenge. Trust in platforms to handle sensitive data remains low, with only 13 percent of adults saying they trust social media companies with biometric information. Support rises significantly when age checks happen entirely on-device, with no personal data leaving the user’s phone.</p>
<p data-start="6058" data-end="6342">For everyday users, including teens, parents, and gamers, this could mean more frequent age checks when signing up for or accessing social platforms. How intrusive those checks feel will depend on how platforms implement them and whether privacy-preserving approaches become the norm.</p>
<p data-start="6344" data-end="6671">The key takeaway is straightforward. Governments around the world are taking children’s online safety more seriously, and social media platforms will have to adapt. As highlighted by Privately SA’s analysis, the future of social media is likely to be shaped by how well companies can balance legal compliance with user privacy.</p>
</span><p>The post <a href="https://www.shanethegamer.com/esports-news/global-social-media-bans-children-age-verification/">The World Is Getting Serious About Keeping Kids Off Social Media</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.shanethegamer.com">Shane the Gamer</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
					<wfw:commentRss>https://www.shanethegamer.com/esports-news/global-social-media-bans-children-age-verification/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
			<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		
		
			</item>
	</channel>
</rss>

<!--
Performance optimized by W3 Total Cache. Learn more: https://www.boldgrid.com/w3-total-cache/?utm_source=w3tc&utm_medium=footer_comment&utm_campaign=free_plugin

Page Caching using Disk: Enhanced 

Served from: www.shanethegamer.com @ 2026-04-23 10:21:37 by W3 Total Cache
-->