SocialMedia
FTC v. Meta live: updates from the battle for Instagram and WhatsApp
FTC v. Meta live: updates from the battle for Instagram and WhatsApp Meta is facing an existential antitrust trial, where it’s being sued by the FTC to unwind its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. The FTC alleges that Meta sought to extinguish Instagram and WhatsApp as threats to its dominance in the social media market. […]
💻 Technology
Snapchat scraps ‘simple’ redesign as it loses users in North America
Snapchat scraps ‘simple’ redesign as it loses users in North America Snapchat has scrapped its plans to simplify its design after losing 1 million users in North America, citing user preference for a five-tab layout. The company had previously tested a “Simple Snapchat” redesign that would have removed certain features, but saw reduced usage and […]
💻 Technology
Meta’s ChatGPT competitor shows how your friends use AI
Meta’s ChatGPT competitor shows how your friends use AI Meta has launched its standalone ChatGPT competitor, offering features like typing/talking, image generation, and real-time web results. The new app introduces a “Discover feed” that showcases interactions with Meta AI from friends on Instagram and Facebook, allowing users to engage with and remix these posts. Meta’s […]
💻 Technology
Whatever happened to the Kids Online Safety Act?
Whatever happened to the Kids Online Safety Act? The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) was set to be a major piece of legislation in 2024, aiming to regulate kids’ online safety and content on social media. The bill gained momentum in the Senate, with a virtually unanimous vote, but was unexpectedly dropped by House Republican […]
🏛️ Politics
Take It Down Act heads to Trump’s desk
Take It Down Act heads to Trump’s desk The Take It Down Act has passed the House with a vote of 409-2, requiring social media companies to remove nonconsensual (including AI-generated) sexual images within 48 hours of being flagged. Critics fear that the bill’s approach could be exploited to inflict harm in other ways, and […]
🏛️ Politics
Memes and conflict: Study shows surge of imagery and fakes can precede international and political violence
Memes and conflict: Study shows surge of imagery and fakes can precede international and political violence A recent study by William Theisen et al. found that a surge of manipulated images and memes on social media can precede international and political violence, serving as strong indicators of coming mass violence. The researchers analyzed nearly 6 […]
📰 News
Can social media improve your mental health?
Can social media improve your mental health? Researchers found that social media can boost mood and emotional well-being when used carefully and mindfully. However, social media can also be an emotional minefield, filled with vitriol, unrealistic portrayals of perfect lives, and doomsday scenarios. A new study showed that young and middle-aged adults often turn to […]
🏥 Health
LinkedIn will let your verified identity show up on other platforms
LinkedIn will let your verified identity show up on other platforms LinkedIn is expanding its free verification system to allow external platforms to integrate LinkedIn verification, starting with Adobe. Adobe will display a “Verified on LinkedIn” badge on creators’ profiles who have gone through LinkedIn’s verification process, and their identity will also appear alongside their […]
💻 Technology
YouTube is everything and everything is YouTube
YouTube is everything and everything is YouTube YouTube was founded in January 2005 by Chad Hurley and Steve Chen, two PayPal employees who aimed to simplify video sharing on the internet. The platform quickly gained popularity, with its user base growing exponentially as digital cameras and smartphones became more widespread. Today, YouTube is a massive […]
💻 Technology
Threads adds more ads
Threads adds more ads Meta is introducing ads on Threads to “all eligible advertisers globally” starting from select markets at launch. The company plans to test ads in over 30 countries, including the US, with a phased approach to maximize user and advertiser experience. To spot an ad in your feed, look for a post […]
💻 Technology