Media News Daily: Top Stories for 10/19/2025

White House Joins Bluesky with Provocative First Post

The White House officially joined Bluesky on Friday, sharing a montage of memes and messages from President Donald Trump’s second term that appeared designed to provoke left-leaning users on the platform. The inaugural post featured a video that referenced controversial executive orders, altered images of Democratic leaders, and notable moments from the administration. Bluesky, favored by many progressives, has seen user growth since Elon Musk acquired X (formerly Twitter). The Departments of Health and Human Services and Homeland Security also joined the platform, while Vice President JD Vance joined in June. President Trump continues to prefer Truth Social, the platform owned by Trump Media & Technology Group. (Read More) (Yahoo News Rating)

Meta to Build $1.5 Billion Data Center in El Paso, Texas

Meta Platforms announced a $1.5 billion investment to construct its 29th global data center in El Paso, Texas. The project, supported by local tax incentives and endorsed by Governor Greg Abbott’s office, will feature 1.2 million square feet of infrastructure and employ a closed-loop, liquid-cooling system. Meta promises to replenish 200% of the water used and estimates the facility will create 100 permanent jobs and 1,800 peak construction jobs. Expected to be operational by 2028, the site will significantly enhance Meta’s infrastructure as hyperscalers project over $360 billion in spending next year. (Read More) (Bloomberg Rating)

X Plans New Profile Info to Combat AI Bots and Fake Accounts

To combat the proliferation of bots and AI-generated profiles, X will soon display more personal details on user profiles, including their country of origin. According to X Head of Product Nikita Bier, the update, set to roll out next week, aims to help users better verify the authenticity of accounts. Initial testing will begin with X employee profiles. Users will reportedly have the option to opt out of sharing additional details. The move follows the recent deletion of 1.7 million spam bot accounts amid rising concerns over AI-driven misinformation. (Read More) (MediaPost Rating)