Microsoft’s Ebook Apocalypse, Facebook Drug Ads, and More News

It turns out you don’t actually own your ebooks; those “Hims” and “Hers” ads you always see are against the rules; and WIRED took a look at the importance of photographing women in sports. Here’s the news you need to know, in two minutes or less.

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Today’s Headlines

Microsoft is deleting your ebooks

The closing of Microsoft’s ebook store is a sharp reminder to consumers: You don’t own the digital books you bought. What you actually acquired is a license to access them. As soon as this week, Microsoft book buyers will see their ebooks disappear from all devices. Microsoft says it will give full refunds to its customers, but the next time a platform folds you may not be so lucky.

Those “Hims” and “Hers” drug ads violate Facebook’s policies

If you’ve spent any time on social media, you’ve probably seen ads for the prescription drug services Hims and Hers. The ads encourage you to skip the trip to the doctor and instead consult an online physician to get meds for things like erectile dysfunction, hair loss, and social anxiety. But Facebook’s policies prohibit the sale of prescription drugs, and the FDA requires companies to list the side effects in ads, which these do not. A handful of ads have been pulled, but hundreds still remain.

Cocktail Conversation

Since President Nixon signed Title IX into law in 1972, girls’ participation in American high school sports has increased by more than 1,000 percent. But while four out of 10 athletes are now female, just 4 percent of sports-related media coverage is devoted to them. That’s why Alana Paterson, a female athlete and photographer, shot a photo series documenting female athletes across the US and Canada. She says photographing women is crucial to keeping girls in the game. “One of the biggest things researchers are finding that keeps girls engaged in sports is access to their heroes and mentors—even if it’s just seeing them.”

WIRED Recommends: Fujifilm Instax Mini Liplay

Want an easy pocket camera that won’t make you wait for the prints? Boy, have we got a device for you. This little instacam lets you review your snaps on its LCD screen before delivering your preferred print right into your hand. It sells for $160 and received an 8/10 from WIRED’s reviewers.

More News You Can Use

Neil Gaiman’s Sandman comics are reportedly getting a Netflix series.

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