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If you want a refill, soon you may have to ask

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• McDonalds is testing the removal of self-service beverage stations in select U.S. locations

• The move is tied to operational efficiency, hygiene concerns, and evolving store formats

• Customers may soon need to request drink refills directly from staff instead of serving themselves

One of the customer perks at most fast-food restaurants is the self-service beverage station. Many customers top off their drinks as they leave. At McDonalds, that perk may be on the way out.

Various industry sources report McDonalds is quietly experimenting with a significant change in the way it dispenses drinks. The fast-food giant has begun eliminating customer-accessible beverage stations in select locations, signaling a broader shift that could reshape the dine-in experience.

The change is already visible in newer and remodeled restaurants, particularly in urban markets and smaller-format stores. Instead of customers refilling their own drinks, beverages are now dispensed behind the counter by employees.

While the company has not announced a nationwide rollout, the trend suggests a long-term move away from self-service.

Whats behind the move?

Several factors are driving the shift. Operational efficiency is a major onecentralizing drink service allows staff to better manage inventory, reduce waste, and streamline cleanup. Self-serve stations have long been associated with spills, sticky floors, and inconsistent portion control, all of which add to labor demands.

Hygiene has also become a bigger concern, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic. Shared touchpoints like soda fountain buttons and lids raised questions about sanitation, prompting many restaurants to rethink customer-facing equipment. By limiting public access, McDonalds can maintain tighter control over cleanliness standards.

Another influence is the companys evolving restaurant design. McDonalds has been investing in smaller footprints, digital ordering kiosks, and drive-thru-focused layouts. In these formats, self-service beverage areas often dont fit the streamlined, efficiency-driven model.

Customer reaction is mixed. Some diners appreciate the cleaner environment and faster service, while others miss the convenience of unlimited refills and customizing their drinks. For families and frequent dine-in customers, the change represents a noticeable departure from the traditional McDonalds experience.

Industry analysts note that McDonalds isnt alone in reevaluating self-service. Other chains have also reduced or removed soda fountains in recent years, reflecting broader trends in automation, labor optimization, and health awareness.

Heres how to stop

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Doomscrollingcompulsively consuming negative online newscan trap people in a cycle of anxiety and stress, according to a Mayo Clinic psychologist.

• The habit surged during the COVID-19 pandemic and is driven by uncertainty and the brains tendency to focus on negative information.

• Experts say simple steps like setting limits, checking your mood, and taking breaks can help protect mental health.

If youve ever caught yourself endlessly scrolling through bad news and thinking I should stop, youre not alone, but theres a reason its so hard to quit.

A new Mayo Clinic-backed report sheds new light on the growing problem of doomscrolling, a term used to describe the compulsive consumption of negative news online. The behavior, which gained traction during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, can create a loop where people continually seek out distressing information without feeling any relief.

Craig Sawchuk, a psychologist at Mayo Clinic, said the very concept of doom triggers a strong emotional response, making negative content especially hard to ignore. That instinct is tied to human psychology: people are wired to pay attention to potential threats, even when doing so worsens their mood.

In recent years, content creators, who make large amounts of money from clicks, have learned that scary, troubling content is highly effective at getting internet users engaged.

While many turn to news and social media to stay informed, the habit can take a toll. Experts say doomscrolling can affect sleep, relationships, productivity and overall well-being, particularly when it becomes excessive.

How to break the cycle

Sawchuk recommends becoming more aware of how scrolling affects your mood. Checking in with yourself every few minutes can help determine whether the habit is helping or harming. If you notice you feel worse, it may be time to step away.

If youre continuously scrolling, it becomes a mindless habit, said Dr. Susan Albers, a psychologist at The Cleveland Clinic. A lot of times, you might not even be aware youre doing it. But it becomes second nature: Once you have a spare moment, you pick up your phone and start scrolling without even really being aware of it.

Setting boundaries is another key strategy. That can include limiting when and where you consume news, or carving out specific times of day to check updates instead of scrolling continuously.

Experts also suggest small behavioral changes, such as taking regular breaks, turning off notifications or putting devices out of reach during certain activities, to reduce the urge to keep scrolling.

The goal, health professionals say, isnt to avoid the news altogetherbut to stay informed without sacrificing mental health and avoiding the manipulative content that is trying to push your buttons to generate revenue.

Rival airlines are stepping in to assist

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• American Airlines is offering special assistance, including reduced fares and flexible travel options, for stranded Spirit passengers and displaced employees.

• Major U.S. carriers are capping or cutting ticket prices to help customers rebook flights canceled by Spirits abrupt shutdown.

• Airlines are also extending support to Spirit workers, including travel accommodations and job-placement help.

If youre booked on a Spirit Airlines flight in the future, youd better be making other plans.

The airline, long known for its bare-bones fares and bright yellow planes, has abruptly ceased operations, marking one of the most dramatic airline failures in recent U.S. history. The ultra-low-cost carrier shut down all flights on May 2 after failing to secure a last-minute $500 million bailout, ending a 34-year run and stranding thousands of travelers nationwide.

The airlines collapse follows years of mounting financial pressure, including multiple bankruptcies, failed merger attempts, and rising fuel costs tied to global geopolitical tensions. Spirits once-disruptive low-cost modelbuilt on ultra-cheap base fares with add-on feesbecame increasingly difficult to sustain as larger airlines introduced competing budget offerings and operating costs surged.

Immediate impact on travelers and workers

The shutdown has left tens of thousands of passengers scrambling for alternatives and roughly 17,000 employees facing uncertainty. With flights canceled and customer service halted, many travelers have been forced to quickly find new arrangements, often at higher prices or with limited availability.

Federal officials moved quickly to coordinate a response. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced emergency measures aimed at easing the disruption, including cooperation from competing airlines to stabilize fares and provide assistance.

Other airlines are helping out

Major U.S. carriers have taken unprecedented steps to absorb the fallout:

• American Airlines: Offering reduced fares on key Spirit routes and extending travel flexibility, while also assisting displaced Spirit employees with transportation needs.

• Delta Air Lines: Matching reduced-fare initiatives and helping rebook affected passengers on overlapping routes.

• United, Southwest, and JetBlue: Participating in fare caps for Spirit customers who can show proof of purchase.

• Frontier Airlines: Offering up to 50% discounts on base fares for affected travelers.

• Allegiant Air: Freezing prices on routes previously served by Spirit to prevent fare spikes.

In addition to passenger relief, airlines are also helping Spirit crew members return home and, in some cases, exploring hiring opportunities for displaced workers.

What happens next?

Spirits demise could reshape the U.S. airline industry, particularly in the budget travel segment. Analysts warn that without Spirits aggressive low pricing, fares on leisure-heavy routessuch as those to Florida and the Caribbeanmay rise as competition diminishes.

For now, travelers are being advised to seek refunds through their payment providers or travel insurance and to check with other airlines for rebooking options. Meanwhile, policymakers and industry leaders are grappling with broader questions about competition, consolidation, and the future of low-cost air travel in the United States.

The privacy setting most TV owners never change

• Many smart TVs use ACR to track everything on your screennot just apps, but cable, gaming, and anything connected via HDMI.

• This data is used to build ad profiles and track your viewing habits, often with settings turned on by default during setup.

• You can limit tracking by turning off ACR and ad settings, reviewing privacy controls, or disconnecting your TV from Wi-Fi.

Smart TVs have quietly become one of the most overlooked privacy risks in your home.

A recent study found that many TVs are essentially taking digital snapshots of your screen every 15 to 60 seconds and capturing what youre watching. They dont just do it through streaming apps either, they capture screenshots via almost anything you have connected to your TV. This includescable boxes, streaming devices, gaming consoles, and even your laptop.

Its happening through a technology called Automatic Content Recognition (ACR). And for most people, its turned on by default when you take your TV out of the box and plug it in.

Heres whats actually going on, and more importantly, how to shut it down.

What your TV is really doing behind the scenes

ACR works like a constant identification system running in the background of your TV.

But instead of only tracking what you watch through apps like Netflix or Hulu, its designed to recognize anything that appears on your screen, no matter the source.

Heres how it actually works:

• Captures tiny visual fingerprints of your screen
• Matches them against databases
• Sends that data back to the manufacturer

That means your TV can track:

• Streaming apps
• Live TV
• Gaming sessions
• Anything plugged in via HDMI

In other words, your TV isnt just tracking what you stream. Its actually tracking everything you watch on that screen, regardless of where it comes from.

Why companies are doing this

Its important to realize that companies arent snapping screenshots of your TV to improveyour viewing experience. Theyre doing it to collect your data.

TV manufacturers are no longer just selling you a device so you can watch your favorite shows. Theyre actually building advertising businesses based on your viewing habits.

That data they collect can then be used to:

• Target ads more precisely
• Sell aggregated viewing data to other companies
• Track your behavior across multiple devices

And in many cases, users dont fully realize theyve agreed to it.

Why this matters for everyday consumers

For most households, this isnt just a tech issue, its a much bigger privacy issue.

The biggest concerns are:

• Tracking happens even outside streaming apps
• Opt-in consent is often buried deep in setup screens
• Opting out isnt always straightforward

And unlike your phone or laptop, TVs tend to get much less attention when it comes to privacy settings.

How to turn off tracking on your smart TV

The good news is that you can disable most of this tracking in just a few minutes. You just need to know where to look in the TV settings.

Look for things in your settings like:

• Viewing Information Services
• Live Plus
• ACR
• Interactivity Services
• Advertising ID

Brand-specific shortcuts:

• Samsung: Settings Support Terms & Policy Viewing Information Services Turn off
• LG: Settings All Settings Support Additional Settings Live Plus Turn off
• Vizio: Settings System Reset & Admin Viewing Data Turn off

Also, its worth noting that turning these settings off will not affect your ability to use streaming apps.

5 simple ways to protect your privacy right now

If you want to go further, here are a few easy steps that make a big difference:

1. Review your TV settings today. Most people never revisit their setup choices. Spend fiveminutes going through privacy and data settings and youll likely find multiple tracking features enabled.

2. Disconnect devices you dont use. If you have old HDMI devices plugged in (like unused consoles or cable boxes), unplug them. ACR can still see those inputs.

3. Limit ad personalization. Look for options related to:

• Interest-based ads
• Ad tracking
• Personalized recommendations"

4. Consider buying an Apple TV. Apple TV is the only major streaming device that doesnt have ACR built into it. So, if youre concerned about giving up too much privacy, and you're in the market for a new streaming device, youll definitely want to consider an Apple TV.

Be warned that Roku, Google TV, and Amazon Fire Stick allfeature ACR straight out-of-the-box.

But heres how to disable ARC on these three popular devices:

• Amazon Fire Stick: Settings Preferences Privacy Settings Toggle Automatic Content Recognition to "Off"
• Roku: Settings Privacy Smart TV Experience Uncheck "Use info from TV inputs"
• Google TV: Settings Privacy Ads then select Delete Advertising ID

5. Disconnect your TV from Wi-Fi (if you can)

If you mainly use cable, a digital TV antenna, or external devices, disconnecting your TV from the internet stops most tracking immediately.

Dont forget about smart speakers too

Devices like Amazon Echo or Google Nest are always listening for a wake word like Alexa or Hey Google. While theyre not actively recording everything, theyre constantly scanning audio in the background to detect when you speak.

That creates a few potential issues:

• Accidental recordings:The device can mishear a word and start recording without you realizing it.
• Stored voice data:Commands and snippets are often saved to your account in the cloud.
• Data used for training and ads:Companies use this data to improve voice recognition and personalize experiences.

For most users, the bigger concern isnt one single recording, but rather the accumulation of hundreds of small interactions over time.

What to do:

• Review and delete your voice history regularly in your account settings.
• Turn off the microphone when youre not using the device.
• Check privacy settings for options like help improve services or data sharing and turn them off.

Many people never realize their voice history is stored. Its worth checking, as youll likely find months (or years) of recordings saved.