This update focused on strengthening account security and protecting platform activity. It introduced email verification and tightened protections across user actions and logged-in features.

New

• Added an email verification system for new accounts
• Added secure verification emails with expiring links
• Added a resend verification option for unverified users
• Added a dedicated verification status page for better guidance

Improvements

• Improved account protection across logged-in features
• Centralized verification and authentication checks for more consistent behavior
• Improved backend handling across forms, pages, and AJAX requests

Fixes

• Story crawler bots no longer trigger story view counts

Security

• Secured user action endpoints across comments, voting, uploads, follows, and account actions
• Prevented unverified users from accessing authenticated creator and interaction features
• Improved endpoint safety and response consistency