Current Events in March 2019

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, whose brief tenure has been marked by many consumer-friendly policies, has announced he is resigning.

In the unexpected announcement, Gottlieb said he is leaving his Washington post to spend more time with his family, who remain at the family home in Connecticut. His resignation comes as the FDA commissioner was stepping up his battle against underage use of e-cigarettes, in particular, Juul products.

In September, the FDA took action against e-cigarette retailers and manufacturers who are illegally selling related products to teens and young people. In January, Gottlieb warned that e-cigarettes could be taken off the market unless marketers did something to stop sales to minors.

Just this week, Gottlieb went public with what he said were “thousands” of tobacco-related violations by major U.S. retailers. Gottlieb requested a meeting with Walgreens corporate leadership as part of the agency's ongoing crackdown on e-cigarette sales to minors.

The FDA cites research show an estimated 37 percent of high school seniors have tried e-cigarettes. A quarter of those who did told researchers they didn’t realize the products contain nicotine.

Active against opioids

During his nearly two years at the FDA helm, Gottlieb has also faced the nation’s opioid epidemic head-on. In January 2018, the FDA approved the first generic version of the opioid treatment drug Suboxone (naloxone). At the time, Gottlieb said the move would make sure the drug reaches more people who need it.

Gottlieb also stepped up the FDA’s efforts to promote food safety and has even weighed in on what “healthy” means when it appears on a food label. And though the FDA has no control over drug prices, Gottlieb has consistently called on the health care system to adopt reforms that would lower prescription drug costs to consumers.

Even though he has been a strong advocate for consumers, Gottlieb’s tenure hasn’t been bad for the pharmaceutical industry as the FDA has stepped up its approval of new drugs, to get them into the hands of consumers who need them.

Trump praises

President Trump tweeted his regret at receiving Gottlieb’s resignation, praising the commissioner’s work.

"Scott has helped us to lower drug prices, get a record number of generic drugs approved and onto the market, and so many other things,” Trump said in the tweet. “He and his talents will be greatly missed!"

Gottlieb announced his resignation in a letter to staff. He said he will remain on the job for another month.

Dollar Tree, which purchased Family Dollar in 2015 for almost $9 billion, announced Wednesday that it plans to close 390 Family Dollar stores this year and renovate at least 1,000 other locations as part of a larger effort to rebrand and boost sales.

The combined company will rebrand around 200 stores as Dollar Tree this year. Other stores will retain their Family Dollar name but will receive upgrades, including alcohol sections and $1 Dollar Tree merchandise. About 400 stores will get expanded freezer and cooler sections.

“We are confident we are taking the appropriate steps to reposition our Family Dollar brand for increasing profitability as business initiatives gain traction in the back half of fiscal 2019,” CEO Gary Philbin said in a news release.

Improving merchandise offerings

Philbin noted that sales for the quarter were strong.

“Our results demonstrate the increasing strength of the Dollar Tree brand, and accelerated progress on the Family Dollar turnaround, as Family Dollar delivered its strongest quarterly same-store sales growth of the year.”

However, the CEO noted that tariffs have taken a toll on the company.

“Our merchants at both banners have delivered a 2019 plan that we believe overcomes most of the effect of tariffs at the 25% level, and provides opportunity for margin improvements if tariffs are not increased,” he said.

Dollar Tree is aiming to “optimize Family Dollar’s performance” by closing stores and renovating others while “significantly” improving merchandise offerings.

The company hasn’t released a list of stores that will close in 2019.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) researchers say they have confirmed the presence of asbestos in certain cosmetics products marketed by Claire’s and Justice.

The agency released independent test results and issued a safety alert warning consumers not to use certain cosmetics sold by Claire’s. While acknowledging existing limits on its authority to regulate cosmetics, the FDA said it is taking news steps to “better ensure the safety” of these products.

At the end of 2017, Claire’s withdrew more than a dozen products from its shelves after a TV news report suggested they contained asbestos, a known carcinogen. A Providence, R.I. TV station interviewed a woman who said she discovered her daughter’s makeup from Claire’s contained asbestos.

The mother, who works as a law clerk in a firm that specializes in asbestos litigation, decided to send off her six year-old's makeup kit to be tested. She said the results came back, showing the product contained asbestos.

Routine monitoring

Months later, Claire’s filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, a move said to be unrelated to the discovery of asbestos in some of its products.

“As part of our work to protect consumers from unsafe cosmetics on the market, the FDA routinely monitors the market for cosmetic products that may pose a public health risk,” FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said in a statement. “This is how the FDA, in 2017, first became aware of reports of asbestos contamination in certain cosmetic products sold by Claire’s and Justice retailers.”

Justice voluntarily recalled its Just Shine Shimmer Powder and seven additional cosmetic products in September 2017. Those additional products included Just Shine Bronzer Brush, Makeup Palette Pinks, Blues and Glitter Cream, and Eye Shadow Palette Cool, Pinks, Eye Shadow and Glitter Cream.

In December of that year, Claire’s removed its Ultimate Mega Make Up Set, Metallic Hot Pink Glitter 48-Piece Makeup Set, Bedazzled Rainbow Heart Makeup Set, Rainbow Bedazzled Star Make Up Set, Rainbow Glitter Heart Shaped Makeup Set, Mint Glitter Make Up Set, Rainbow Bedazzled Rectangle Make Up Set, and Pink Glitter Palette with Eyeshadow & Lip Gloss.

Company responds

The FDA said its tests confirmed the presence of asbestos in three product samples collected from Claire’s and one from Justice, a finding disputed by Claire’s. The retailer said it is disappointed at the agency’s action, contending the FDA test results contain “significant errors.”

Nonetheless, the FDA has issued a safety alert warning consumers to not use three of Claire’s products: Claire’s Eye Shadows – Batch No/Lot No: 08/17; Claire’s Compact Powder – Batch No/Lot No: 07/15; and, Claire’s Contour Palette – Batch No/Lot No: 04/17 because they tested positive for asbestos.

The government grant scam is one of the oldest schemes criminals use to separate unsuspecting consumers from their money. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) tells us it’s still going strong.

The FTC reports that a federal court in Arizona has issued an order banning a company called Premium Grants from advertising, marketing, and selling any service that purports to help consumers receive a grant.

The court also imposed a $3 million judgment, which had to be suspended because the company doesn’t appear to have that much in assets. Instead, the court has ordered the company to surrender nearly all of its assets, worth approximately $200,000.

It’s a ripoff

The FTC accused the company of operating a “sham scheme” that was largely aimed at disabled consumers who were seeking help to meet personal expenses. Andrew Smith, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, says the operation was right out of the scammers’ playbook.

“Callers offering grant money are really scammers trying to rip you off,” Smith said. “We’re pleased that our case will put these six defendants out of the fake grant business permanently.”

The FTC filed its complaint last July, charging that the defendants took upfront fees from their victims, ranging from $295 to nearly $5,000. In return, they allegedly promised to help these consumers secure thousands of dollars in grant money that would not have to be repaid.

If the victim fell for the pitch, the FTC said the defendants sometimes offered an expedited service for an additional fee. However, there were no grants and the victims received no money, they only paid money. In fact, the agency estimates the scheme raked in nearly $3 million.

How real grants work

Consumers can protect themselves from the government grant scam and its many spin-offs by understanding how grants work. The FTC says the average consumer is unlikely to qualify for, let alone receive, tens of thousands of dollars in grant money to pay for personal expenses.

Grants are often distributed in connection with education. Colleges and universities sometimes award small grants to students based on need or merit. Private foundations sometimes make grants to institutions and individuals to conduct useful research. They do not hand out money for no reason and people who receive grants have to apply for them, they do not appear out of the blue.

Last year the FTC reported scammers called consumers pretending to be from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). These callers told consumers they had been selected to receive a $14,000 NIH grant, but to receive the money they had to make a payment through iTunes or a prepaid debit card.

Being asked for an upfront fee is yet another tip-off that you’re dealing with a scammer. No legitimate grant demands upfront payment, and certainly not through an iTunes account or any other untraceable method of payment.

The negative health effects associated with inhaling second- or thirdhand smoke are well-known and particularly troublesome for children.

Researchers from San Diego State University recently conducted a study that encouraged parents to take their smoke breaks outside the home to protect their children’s health, and they found that activities that created secondhand smoke went down nearly 20 percent.

“If they’re living in a home that’s contaminated by tobacco, they’re being damaged every single day,” said researcher Mel Hovell. “If they’re breathing active smoke it’s even worse.”

A push in the right direction

The researchers’ primary goal was to help protect children’s health in the home when their parents smoke.

Families with children under the age of 14 throughout San Diego Country were invited to participate, and the researchers installed smoke detector-like devices in nearly 300 homes. The participants also received four coaching sessions over the course of the study that were aimed at encouraging parents to smoke outside the home to avoid contaminating the air indoors.

When the device in the home detected secondhand smoke, it would start by producing three quick beeps and flashing a yellow light. If the smoke didn’t die down, the device would start flashing a red light, and the beeps would get longer and louder. The goal was to push parents to take their cigarettes outdoors.

The researchers collected data for three months while the devices were installed in the homes, and they found that smoking in the home, and other activities that signaled secondhand smoke, decreased by nearly 20 percent.

The researchers were encouraged by these findings and continue to recommend taking cigarettes outdoors to help protect children from bronchitis, ear infections, or asthma.

“Smoking outdoors is relatively easy to do,” said Hovell. “Our job is to move them outside.”

Keeping children healthy

Though parents are the ones picking up the cigarettes, children are constantly feeling the effects.

A recent study has found that children of smokers have large traces of nicotine on their hands from continued exposure, while second- or thirdhand smoke residue can be worse for children in low-income and rural areas.

In another effort to protect children from the risks of secondhand smoke, the Department of Housing and Urban Affairs made it illegal to smoke in federal housing units.

Consumers must now be at least 25 feet away from a public housing unit when smoking a cigarette, cigar, or pipes, and individual cities and towns are subject to create their own rules as they see fit.

Consuming too much sugar -- particularly in the form of soda or other sweet beverages -- isn’t good for anyone’s health, but a new study found that it could be particularly detrimental for those with multiple sclerosis (MS).

According to researchers, drinking around two cans of soda per day -- or the equivalent in calories -- can increase the severity of MS symptoms.

“MS patients often want to know how diet and specific foods can affect the progression of their disease,” said Dr. Elisa Meier-Gerdingh. “While we did not find a link with overall diet, interestingly, we did find a link with those who drank sodas, flavored juices, and sweetened teas and coffees.”

Steering clear of sugar

To see how food or drink affected MS symptoms, the researchers had over 130 participants with MS fill out a questionnaire about their diets on a day-to-day basis and also rated their disability on the Expanded Disability Status Scale.

The researchers measured each participant’s diet responses against the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet, as the program promotes better overall health by having consumers focus on eating fruits and vegetables, lean meats, and whole grains.

While food was not a factor in worsening symptoms, the researchers did find a correlation between sugary drinks and MS symptoms -- the more sugar they consumed through soda, tea, or coffee, the more intense the symptoms.

Based on the study, the researchers found that the participants were five times more likely to be on the severe side of the Expanded Disability Status Scale when they consumed around 290 calories of sugar-sweetened drinks each day, or around two cans of soda.

Those who consumed the least amount of soda or sugar-sweetened drinks had an average disability score of under 3.5, whereas the more frequent soda drinkers were over 4 on the disability scale.

The researchers hope to expand upon this study in the future, but they are confident that these findings provide a good springboard for those suffering with MS.

“While these results need to be confirmed by larger studies that follow people over a long period of time, and the results do not show that soda and sugar-sweetened beverages cause more severe disability, we do know that sodas have no nutritional value and people with MS may want to consider reducing or eliminating them from their diet,” said Dr. Meier-Gerdingh.

Recent breakthroughs

Recently, researchers found a new way to treat MS by focusing on the body’s ability to heal itself.

While it is still unclear how or why people are diagnosed with MS, scientists do know that the myelin sheath -- a covering that protects nerve fibers in cells -- becomes compromised in these individuals. With this new study, researchers found that myelin repair cells in the central nervous system can work to repair themselves and restore the myelin sheath. The researchers hope that this finding can lead to future discoveries in drugs and other treatment methods for MS patients.

Another recent study found that people with MS have higher levels of a protein known as calnexin. The researchers believe that controlling calnexin levels could be a new pathway for experts to create a new treatment option.

“We think this exciting finding identifies calnexin as an important target for developing therapies for MS,” said researcher Luis Agellon.

Ford Motor Company is recalling 63 model year 2019 Ford EcoSports.

The front seat frames may have been improperly welded, resulting in the seat back being improperly secured.

A loose seat back can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

What to do

Ford has notified owners, and dealers will replace the front seat assemblies, free of charge.

Parts are currently not available. An interim owner notification was mailed on February 15, 2019 to inform owners of the issue. A second notice will be sent when parts are available.

Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18C08.

Citing thousands of tobacco-related violations, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Scott Gottlieb on Monday requested a meeting with Walgreens corporate leadership as part of the agency's ongoing crackdown on e-cigarette sales to minors.

E-cigarettes, like other tobacco products, can only be sold to people 18 and older under federal law. But in practice, critics and researchers say that the e-cig industry is intentionally marketing and selling their products to teens.

An estimated 37 percent of high school seniors have tried e-cigarettes. A quarter of those who did said they didn’t realize the products contain nicotine, according to a study published in December.  

Gas chains violate the law

The FDA says that convenience stores and other chains are also complicit in the e-cigarette epidemic among teens. Walgreens, in particular, has racked up more tobacco-related violations than any other chain, the agency says.

“Since the FDA began its retailer inspection program in 2010, FDA inspectors have found nearly 1,800 instances in which Walgreens stores failed to follow the law,” the agency wrote in a letter to Walgreens President Richard Ashworth on Monday.

“Among pharmacy chains that sell tobacco products, Walgreens is the top violator, with 22 percent of the stores inspected having illegally sold tobacco products to minors. These illegal sales must stop,” Gottlieb added.

In an accompanying press release, the agency says that Walgreens “isn’t alone” in the violations. Circle-K, 7-Eleven, and nearly every major gas station chain are also named by the agency as violating federal tobacco laws.

“We plan to similarly hold them accountable,” the FDA says.  “Ignoring the law and then paying associated fines and penalties should not simply be viewed as a cost of doing business.”

The attorneys general from 21 states are filing a lawsuit in federal court today against the Trump administration, seeking to overturn its final revisions to the Title X Family Planning Rule.

The plaintiffs charge that changes in the rule amount to a gag order, prohibiting health care providers who receive Title X funds from discussing abortion options with their patients. The law already bans the use of Title X funds to pay for abortions. The 21 attorneys general contend the limits on speech amount to an unlawful overreach.

“The Trump-Pence Administration has doubled down on its attacks on women’s health,” said California Attorney General Xavier Becerra. “This illegal Title X rule denies patients access to critical healthcare services and prevents doctors from providing comprehensive and accurate information about medical care.”

‘Not a good option’

Becerra accused the administration of trying to “sabotage” Title X services for women. Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum says the newly revised rule means health care providers who receive Title X funding will have to decide whether they will refuse the funding or “cave” to the requirements of the new rule.

“Neither is a good or fair option for women and families who often have no other access to medical care,” she said. “I’m proud that Oregon is taking the lead in this important lawsuit. Oregonians have voted time and time again to support women’s reproductive health freedoms.”

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said the new rule will affect about 45,000 patients in his state who receive care under Title X. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser says it’s also a critical source of funding for his constituents.

“In 2017, Colorado received $3.8 million in federal funding, which provided a range of services, including general health screenings and a broad range of family planning methods, to more than 55,000 Coloradans throughout the state,” he said.

Mostly low-income patients

Title X funds go to clinics in mostly rural and underserved areas and treat an estimated 4 million mostly low-income patients. Without Title X funds, many clinics might have to close.

Planned Parenthood, which operates a number of clinics receiving Title X funds, says the new rule puts it and other clinics like it in an impossible situation. They either have to withhold information or get pushed out of a program designed to bring health care to a low-income population.

“Imagine if the Trump administration prevented doctors from talking to our patients with diabetes about insulin. It would never happen,” said Dr. Leana Wen, President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

Want to fly from California to Hawaii for less than $50? You can, but you’d better hurry -- the offer from Southwest Airlines ends today.

Southwest this week finally gained approval to begin service to Hawaii and is marking the occasion with $49 one-way fares from Oakland and San Jose to the islands if travelers book March 5. Consumers can also book today for inter-island flights that will begin April 28 and receive fares as low as $29.

Southwest will launch its service to Hawaii March 17 with a flight from Oakland to Honolulu. Service between San Jose and Honolulu will begin in May.

Inter-island service will connect Honolulu and Kahului late next month with four flights a day in both directions. On May 12, Southwest will begin inter-island flights between Honolulu and Keahole on roughly the same schedule.

"As we answer the call for Southwest in Hawaii with an initial schedule of service that speaks to a long-held hope of our customers, I applaud and congratulate our people for their steady and impressive work to bring our world-famous hospitality and game-changing value to the Islands," Gary Kelley, Southwest’s chairman and CEO, said in a statement.

Long time coming

Southwest’s service to Hawaii, seen as important for the company’s growth, has been a long time coming. It was delayed at the end of last year during the government shutdown because the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was unable to complete its certification work.

"We are anxious for the government to resolve this shutdown so we can bring low fares and a boost to Hawaii's travel and tourism industry,” the airline said when it reported earnings in January.

The airline announced its plans to introduce service to Hawaii in October 2017. It formally filed its application with the FAA in January 2018. Prior to that, the airline said it spent years studying the Hawaiian islands with a focus on learning how it could best serve the different communities there.

The special discount fares celebrating the launch of service will be available through 11:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on March 5, 2019. But like most promotional fares, they are only available on certain days of the week.

AT&T has begun consolidating its media content assets, acquired in the Time Warner acquisition, in an effort to streamline its entertainment properties.

The move could lead to cost-cutting that would undoubtedly be applauded on Wall Street. Investors have worried in recent months about the level of AT&T debt and the consolidation appears aimed at making the company’s entertainment products more cost-effective.

WarnerMedia CEO John Stankey announced that Robert Greenblatt, most recently chairman for NBC Entertainment, will become chairman of WarnerMedia Entertainment and Direct-to-Consumer.

Other changes were also announced. Jeff Zucker becomes chairman of WarnerMedia News & Sports, and president of CNN. Kevin Tsujihara will continue as Chairman and CEO of Warner Bros. with additional responsibilities including a new global kids and young adults business.

Gerhard Zeiler has been elevated from the position of president, Turner International to WarnerMedia chief revenue officer.

Establishing brands

“We have done an amazing job establishing our brands as leaders in the hearts and minds of consumers,” said Stankey. “Adding Bob Greenblatt to the WarnerMedia family and expanding the leadership scope and responsibilities of Jeff, Kevin, and Gerhard – who collectively have more than 80 years of global media experience and success – gives us the right management team to strategically position our leading portfolio of brands, world-class talent and rich library of intellectual property for future growth.”

AT&T’s acquisition of Time Warner gives its distribution system access to a huge amount of content. The announced changes are designed to give the combined companies the agility and flexibility needed to build WarnerMedia’s brands across a variety of evolving distribution models with an emphasis on the company’s original programming.

“I’m honored to be joining WarnerMedia during such an exciting time for the company and the industry as a whole, and I look forward to working alongside the many talented executives and team members across the company,” Greenblatt said. “WarnerMedia is home to some of the world’s most innovative, creative and successful brands and we’re in a unique position to foster even deeper connections with consumers.”

Opposition to the merger

The U.S. Justice Department went to the mat in an effort to block the merger of AT&T and Time Warner.

The merger was announced in 2016 and drew strong opposition from then-presidential candidate Donald Trump, then engaged in a feud with CNN, a Time Warner property. While poles apart politically, Trump and Bernie Sanders, a democratic socialist senator from Vermont who was seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, were both against the merger.

At the time, Sanders urged the U.S. Justice Department to challenge the deal, saying it "represents a gross concentration of power that runs counter to the public good."

In the end, the Trump Justice Department found no grounds to block the merger. Just last week a federal appeals court found there was no justification for blocking the merger, which took place months earlier.

Last year, the combined companies began piecing together the elements of new content distribution systems, including streaming, and indicated that HBO would play a greater role in its content mix.

Microsoft is reportedly planning to release a new, bare-bones operating system internally referred to as “Windows Lite.” The operating system will initially be geared toward dual-screen devices but will ship to "Chromebook-like devices" later, according to The Verge.

Windows Lite will feature a stripped-down user interface that “will be similar to Windows as it exists today," but it will combine elements of Microsoft's Surface Hub display and its Windows Phone Continuum interface. The interface currently in the works will require less computing power.

In the beginning, Microsoft plans to target dual-screen devices. However, the long-term goal in creating the lightweight OS is to posit Microsoft as a better competitor against Chromebooks.

“Microsoft has previously tried restricting Windows 10 with an S Mode to just Microsoft Store apps, but most of the legacy of the Windows interface remains,” according to The Verge. “Microsoft is now looking to ship something a lot more basic with Windows Lite and build on top of it for more complexity down the line.”

There’s no word yet on when Microsoft plans to unveil Windows Lite, but the Verge noted that the company’s Build 2019 conference is set to take place in early May. The conference “would be an ideal opportunity to start revealing parts of its Windows Lite strategy, especially if it wants developers to build native app and web experiences for dual-screen and Chromebook-like devices,” the website noted.

It’s probably not the way most people would like to celebrate their 16th birthday, but the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) spent its sixteenth issuing a fraud alert that departmental phone numbers were being used as part of a nationwide spoofing scam.

It’s a rather brassy move, but the agency explains that the “perpetrators of the scam represent themselves as employees with ‘U.S. Immigration’ or other government entities,” in a warning to consumers.

Be on the lookout

DHS asks the public to take note of these clues that the call they’re getting is from scammers, not the agency:

• Caller IDs that list 202-282-8000 (DHS HQ Operator) or the 202-401-1474 (DHS Civil Rights and Civil Liberties) as the caller.

• The caller telling the consumer that they are the victims of identity theft.

• The scammers posing as law enforcement or immigration officials.

• The scammers threatening to arrest the consumer unless they make payments to the scammers using a variety of methods.

• An email from an email address ending in “uscis.org.”

• If the caller has a “pronounced accent.”

“DHS OIG takes this matter very seriously,” the agency avowed. “While we investigate the situation, we would like to remind the public that DHS never uses its HQ Operator or CRCL number to make outgoing calls of this nature. Individuals receiving phone calls from these numbers should not provide any personal information.”

If you think you’ve fallen victim to this particular spoofing, DHS asks that you call its hotline (1-800-323-8603) or file a complaint online via the agency’s website.

No end in sight?

Spoofing and robocalls have become an epidemic -- not only in the U.S. but around the world. States are stepping up efforts to combat the plague, and the FCC apparently has had its fill. Even the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is in the middle of trying to combat its own phone scam affliction during 2019’s tax season.

And, while there’s no guarantee that it’s a fix, both Apple and Google are doing their best to help out from the user end.

Apple’s development team designed and filed for a patent on an app to detect spoofed calls, and Google has also expressed an interest in curbing spam and nuisance calls. At its “Made By Google” event last year, the tech giant unveiled a Call Screen feature that utilizes Google Assistant to help detect and block spam calls. The company also recently updated its phone app with the ability to send spam calls straight to voicemail.

How good of a spoof detective are you?

Nearly 11 percent of the consumer public receiving a phishing email actually takes the bait, according to internet security company Cofense.

In researching this story, ConsumerAffairs came upon an online “phishing” quiz that the folks at Google created to help consumers gain a better understanding on how to protect themselves against phone and email scams.

We have to say we’re impressed and think it’s worth a few minutes of our readers’ time to get a better grip on the subject. To take the test, just click here. And, good luck!

Uber has expanded the availability of its loyalty program to all riders in the U.S. following its initial introduction in nine cities last November.

The program lets users earn credits for every dollar spent on Uber and Uber Eats rides, with more points offered for Uber X. Each dollar spent helps riders ascend up the ranking of membership levels: blue, gold, platinum, and diamond.

Riders get a $5 credit for every 500 points earned regardless of membership level. Other perks that can be earned along the way include priority airport pickup, flexible cancellations, and price protections.

“For those moments when you thought you were ready to go but actually needed more time, you can cancel and rebook an eligible Uber trip within 15 minutes and have the cancellation fee refunded,” Uber said.

Earning upgrades

At the Diamond level, which is reached when 7500 points have been earned, riders get highly rated drivers and “complimentary surprise upgrades.”

Late last year, Lyft said it was gearing up to launch a similar rewards program that would allow riders to earn points that can be put toward upgrades for higher-end cars, discounts on future rides, and more. However, Lyft has yet to officially launch the program.

Consumers can sign up for Uber’s rewards program online or through the Uber app. Upon joining, Uber will count every eligible dollar spent on Uber and Uber Eats in the last six months.

Twitter user Jeremy Burge, who runs the website Emojipedia, recently discovered that Facebook users cannot opt out of letting others “look up” their account using the phone number they provided for two-factor authentication (2FA), TechCrunch reports.

Facebook users have been urged to provide their phone number as a way to make it more difficult for unauthorized parties to log in to their account. However, the recent discovery has only intensified concerns stemming from the way Facebook handles user data.

"Facebook 2FA numbers are also shared with Instagram which prompts you 'is this your phone number?' once you add to FB. WhatsApp also shares phone numbers with Facebook. Facebook shares phone numbers with advertisers," Burge wrote in a series of tweets.

"For years Facebook claimed... adding a phone number for 2FA was only for security. Now it can be searched and there's no way to disable that," Burge added.

“We appreciate the feedback we’ve received about these settings and will take it into account,” a company spokesperson told TechCrunch. Facebook didn’t state whether it plans to change the controversial practice in the future.

Facebook’s latest privacy issue

Although Facebook users cannot hide their phone number completely from other users, its visibility can be hidden from public view by going into the “Settings,” then clicking “Privacy,” then “How People Find and Contact You.” From there, click “Who can look you up using the phone number you provided?” and change the dropdown box from “Everyone” to “Friends.”

The recent discovery regarding Facebook’s handling of users’ phone numbers is just the latest in a string of data-privacy scandals that have rocked the company in recent years.

Last March, the company revealed that personal information on millions of users had fallen into the hands of a political marketing firm called Cambridge Analytica. In October, Facebook announced that a security breach compromised about 30 million login credentials.  

Alex Stamos, Facebook’s former chief security officer, chimed in on the latest privacy concern on Twitter, writing, “there was supposed to be a big project to segregate numbers” while he was there, but ultimately that project didn’t happen.

“This isn’t a mistake now, this is clearly an intentional product choice,” he tweeted.

Social media can create a lot of stress in our day-to-day lives, but researchers from Carnegie Mellon University are exploring new ways for consumers to use these platforms to improve their relationships.

According to a recent study, consumers who include their partner in their social media posts are more likely to prevent any related negative consequences in their relationships.

“Prior research has shown that self-disclosure positively affects online relationships,” said Dr. Juwon Lee. “We wanted to explore whether that would remain the case in an online context, where users can share detailed information with large audiences -- a phenomenon that typically wouldn’t be possible in person.”

Importance of sharing

The researchers were curious to see how sharing personal information on social media affects relationships, so they conducted five studies to determine the positive and negative effects.

The researchers’ primary focus was on how intimacy and satisfaction affected relationships, and they were interested to see if the outcomes were different for familial relationships, romantic relationships, and friendships. Moreover, they wanted to see how relationships were either hindered or strengthened when someone posted about their relationship or themselves.

Friendships were affected by posting on social media, though there were some mixed responses from those in romantic relationships.

Researchers found that posting on social media can make partners feel isolated or left out, while also feeling unsatisfied in their relationships. However, the researchers say a simple fix could be including your partner in your next status update.

“When you include a significant other in your post, perhaps as confirming a relationship status online or posting a photo together, we found that it counters the negative effects of online disclosure, increasing the feelings of intimacy and satisfaction,” said researcher Omri Gillath. “This validates the relationship, and a partner likely would see their significant other’s post as caring and inclusive.”

The researchers hope that these findings give consumers a deeper understanding of how their social media posts are affecting their important, intimate relationships, and plan accordingly with any future posts.

“For many of us, sharing our feelings and daily experiences on social media is one of the main ways we stay in contact with friends and family,” said Dr. Lee. “Because of this cultural shift from face-to-face or phone conversations, it’s important that we understand how our usage of these technologies affect our personal relationships.”

Being mindful

While researchers have recently found that readiness for commitment is of the utmost importance when determining relationship success, social media use can also play a role. One team found that sending a friend request to a former romantic partner may cause issues in a current relationship.

"Although they may say, 'I trust you and it's OK,' they are not happy about it," said researcher Joyce Baptist. "They eventually perceive that their significant other is spending too much time connecting with others on social media rather than paying attention to their own partner."

Mercedes-Benz USA is recalling 675 model year 2019 C43 AMGs, C43 AMG Cabrios, C43 AMG 4MATIC Coupes, C300 4MATICs, C300 4MATIC Coupes, C300 Coupes, C300 Cabrios, C300 4MATIC Cabrios and C300s.

After parking and exiting the vehicle, the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) software may prevent the electronic parking brake from being disengaged when returning to the vehicle, unless the ESP system is deactivated.

Driving the vehicle with the ESP system deactivated could increase the risk of a crash.

What to do

Mercedes has notified owners, and dealers will update the ESP system software, free of charge.

The recall began January 29, 2019.

Owners may contact Mercedes customer service at 1-800-367-6372. Mercedes' number for this recall is 2018120025.