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Linden Lab’s ‘Second Life’ bans online gambling
MUMBAI: Linden Lab founder of the popular ‘Second Life‘ virtual community has decided to stop allowing online gambling with immediate effect. It has declared that it will not accept any responsibility for any monetary losses incurred as a result. A press statement from Linden Lab said, “Because there are a variety of conflicting gambling regulations around the world, we have chosen to restrict gambling in Second Life. Because this is an evolving area of law, we may continue to adjust and clarify this policy as we receive feedback from the community and from legal authorities or as new regulations, industry practices and technology solutions come into effect.” In April, Second Life invited the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to review its policy on online gambling and offer guidance. It would appear that feedback from the Government agency was negative as Linden‘s new terms of service also state that the company will comply with all subpoenas from US law enforcement agencies demanding information. “Linden Lab will actively enforce this policy,” said Linden’s press statement. “If we discover gambling activities that violate the policy, we will remove all related objects from the inworld environment, may suspend or terminate the accounts of residents involved without refund or payment and may report any relevant details, including user information, to authorities and financial institutions.” While Linden‘s rules have always prohibited ‘illegal’ activity, this latest move may not go down well with Second Life gamblers who wager with Linden dollars. It will also curtail revenue earned by Linden from those who own casino-style islands in the game and contribute to Linden through currency fees and land rental.
Second Life is an internet-based virtual world that uses a downloadable client program to enable its users, called ‘residents’, to interact with each other through motional avatars. These ‘residents’ can explore, meet other ‘residents’, socialise, participate in individual and group activities and create and trade items such as virtual properties and services.
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With 57 per cent single new users, Ashley Madison rebrands as discreet dating platform
Platform says majority of new members now identify as single
INDIA: Ashley Madison is shedding the “married-dating” label that defined it for two decades, repositioning itself as a platform for discreet dating in what it calls the post-social media age.
The rebrand, unveiled in India on 27 February, 2026, marks a structural shift in business model and identity. Once synonymous with married dating, the company now describes itself as the “premier destination for discreet dating” under a new tagline: Where Desire Meets Discretion.
The pivot is data-driven. Internal figures show that 57 per cent of global sign-ups between 1 January and 31 December, 2025 identified as single: a notable departure from the platform’s married core. The company argues that its community has already evolved beyond its original positioning.
“In an age where our lives have been constantly put on public display, privacy has become the new luxury,” said Ashley Madison chief strategy officer Paul Keable. He framed the platform’s offering as “ethical discretion” for singles, separated, divorced and non-monogamous users seeking private connections.
The shift also taps into wider digital fatigue. A global survey conducted by YouGov for Ashley Madison, covering 13,071 adults across Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the US, found mounting discomfort with hyper-public online lives.
Among dating app users, 30 per cent cited constant swiping and messaging as a source of fatigue, while 24 per cent pointed to pressure to curate public-facing profiles and early personal disclosure. Some 27 per cent said fears of screenshots or information being shared contributed to exhaustion; an equal share cited unwanted attention.
The retreat from oversharing appears broader. According to the survey, 46 per cent of adults actively try to keep most aspects of their life private online. Only 8 per cent feel comfortable sharing most aspects publicly, while 35 per cent say they are becoming more selective about what they disclose.
Ashley Madison is betting that this cultural recalibration towards controlled visibility can be monetised. By doubling down on privacy infrastructure and reframing itself around discretion rather than infidelity, the company is attempting to convert reputational baggage into a premium proposition.
