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Week in Web

Weird Wide Web: Invisible boyfriends, reckless Snapchats and what it's like to have your life stolen online

All of your essential tech and social media news for the week in one byte-sized portion.

WELCOME TO THE Weird Wide Web – where we take a look at the week’s best offerings in tech and social media news.

Invisible boyfriend of the week

There’s a new app which allows you to maintain a (completely fake) serious relationship with an invisible man or woman. You could, in theory, use it to convince nagging parents or friends who pity your singleness that bit too much into thinking you’re actually going out with someone. Or you could just sign up for the laugh, though at $25, it’s a pricey laugh. A Business Insider reporter tried it for herself, with some amusing results.

Holographic excitement of the week

People are really excited about Microsoft’s new headset. It allows users to see 3D images in the space they are in, combining the worlds of virtual reality and holograms with some pretty cool results. See for yourself:

Microsoft / YouTube

And while you’re at it, let us again remind you all of the time someone let us try out the Oculus Rift at TheJournal.ie HQ.

Reckless Snapchat of the week

A college student in New York was arrested after allegedly setting fire to a fellow classmate who fell asleep in his dorm and then sending out a video of it through Snapchat, Daily News reports.

Snapchat image Snapchat image

Catfish insight of the week

Someone has been using photos of Ellie Flynn and her friends to ‘Catfish’ people for nearly a decade. Writing for Vice this week, she explained the bizarre world she has been forced to become a part of, as a faceless person continues to steal her life.

Smart accessory of the week

It’s been mighty cold out recently and we all could have done with one of these babies. Microsoft researchers have created a smart scarf that can be told to heat up via a smartphone app, the MIT Technology Review said this week.

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