It started with a rusty bike. I was clearing out the garage and I found my old one that I hadn't ridden for years.

So I searched how to fix up a bike on Tik-Tock.

I found loads of videos on there, like how to fix a chain, change the brakes and mend a puncture.

That led me to a video about local bike routes around Manchester. Turns out there's a nice one that goes past work, so I started cycling in.

Now it's only me that's a bit rusty.

It starts on Tik-Tock.

Welcome to Tech News Briefing. It's Monday, January 29th. I'm Alex Oscela for the Wall Street Journal.

Coming up on today's show, we're looking at the ways technology has made it easier to connect with people and redefined friendships in the process.

W.S.J. Personal Tech reporter Ann Marie Al-Kantera joins us to talk about the new categories of friendships the internet has created.

And then, Apple's Vision Pro headset hits US stores on Friday.

So why are executives at Meta feeling optimistic about the competition.

We'll find out what Apple's launch could mean for Meta's 50 billion dollar bet on the

Metaverse from W.S.J. Social media business reporter Salvador Rodriguez.

But first, smartphones and the internet have changed friendship.

Besties who live in different cities can now spend all day on Face Time

or send TikTok back and forth without really saying anything at all.

But just because connecting with people is easier, it doesn't necessarily mean we're actually connecting.

Here to tell us about the new kinds of friendship the internet has created is W.S.J. Personal Tech reporter

and Marie Al-Kantera. Is there a way in which the internet has made friendship harder?

So some people would say that because you can keep in touch with anyone and send them a meme or a text, a quick little note to them at any time that you maybe don't have as many deep conversations with people as much anymore or

you only have like two or three people they have those deep conversations and

relationships with. One of the things that's really interesting is that the internet has added new categories of friendships.

...