PlayStation Vita users are reporting a bug in the most current version of the PlayStation Network/Sony Entertainment Network interface that denies them access to PSN social features (friend list, messaging, etc.) Sony has not yet addressed the bug, but work-arounds have been discovered that should squash the issue until Sony can come up with an official fix.

On a web browser (PC/Mac, tablet or phone -- even the Vita's own browser should be able to access it,) go to the Sony Entertainment Network website at https://www.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com/

Click the "Sign In" button.

Type in your PlayStation Network login email address and password.

On the next page, you are asked to review and accept the Sony Online Network Terms of Service. Click to agree to the new terms.

Go back to your PlayStation Vita's PSN login screen (or use any PSN feature such as Messages or Friends) and login to the network.

Go to the Settings bubble on your PS Vita (the green suitcase icon.)

Click Start to load settings.

Tap the PSN option.

Click "System Activation" and run through the "Game" and "Activate" menu choices.

Close Settings and open the Friends or Messages app.

Accept the ToS pop-up that comes up while the app is launching.

The issue is based on an update to the PSN Terms of Service (ToS,) which was updated recently as the Sony Entertainment Network (SEN) is modified to usher in new features for the upcoming PlayStation 4 (including the Friends List cap increase, which is also being granted to Vita users in addition to PS4 owners.) To use these features, users will need to accept the newly drafted Terms of Service. Unfortunately, a bug in the way this Accept Request link was rolled out to PlayStation Vita is not working properly at this time, and instead, users will see an endless PSN login loop that looks like it is signing in on your PSN ID, but keeps circling back to the login screen. NeoGAF thread posted by Nampad about the issue has uncovered several simple solutions to the problem. The easiest of these fixes (and the one IGN used to fix its own PS Vita) is detailed below:This fix should work for PlayStation Vita in all territories. IGN has not yet been able to test alternate methods, but another general fix (and verified as effective by several IGN users) can be found in the PlayStation Vita's own menu:You can review the new SEN Terms of Service before signing off on it (if, say, you are worried about a "HUMANCENTiPAD" situation.) Of course, as with all ToS policies, you cannot use your system's features unless you accept the terms.Sony could not be reached for comment at this time about the bug, but we expect a SEN login change or a quick System Update in the coming days.