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1,000 Internet Software Entries

Internet — Software — March 15th, 2024

Gumroad no longer allows most NSFW art, leaving its adult creators panicked
Gumroad, an e-commerce company for creators, updated its rules to more strictly limit NSFW content, citing restrictions from payment processors like Stripe and PayPal.
March 15th, 2024Source

Entrepreneurs who used TikTok to help build their businesses blast potential ban in U.S.
Seattle-based money expert and self-described financial feminist Tori Dunlap credits TikTok with transforming her business, HerFirst100k, an education platform that helps women gain financial knowledge and independence.
March 15th, 2024Source

Say 'bye' to Mark Zuckerberg: How to delete your Instagram account.
Bye, Instagram. I'm going Insta-less.
March 15th, 2024Source

Internet — Software — March 11th, 2024

X will launch a YouTube-like video app on Samsung and Amazon TVs
A dedicated app is "coming soon."
March 11th, 2024Source

Internet — Software — March 6th, 2024

Deepfake ads featuring Jenna Ortega ran on Meta platforms. Big Tech needs to fight this.
The harrowing crisis of deepfakes continues, once again targeting women.
March 6th, 2024Source

Hacked WordPress sites use visitors' browsers to hack other sites
Hackers are conducting widescale attacks on WordPress sites to inject scripts that force visitors' browsers to bruteforce passwords for other sites.
March 6th, 2024Source

Proposed U.S. TikTok ban could impact all Chinese apps
Other apps like WeChat could be the tip of the iceberg.
March 6th, 2024Source

TikTok Creator Rewards Program available to all, with great revenue opportunities
TikTok videos were once just 15 seconds long, an interesting creative challenge for creators, and a way to give instant entertainment hits to users.
March 6th, 2024Source

TikTok faces US ban if ByteDance fails to sell app
ByteDance will have around five months to divest TikTok if the bill passes
March 6th, 2024Source

TikTok will reward creators making longer videos
Longer, high-quality videos = creator rewards.
March 6th, 2024Source

Twitch will overhaul its mobile app for the first time since 2019
It promises “a more modern, immersive viewing experience” later this year.
March 6th, 2024Source

Internet — Software — March 4th, 2024

Your Instagram DMs just got better as an edit button arrives
New themes and a way to make sure you see the most important chats first.
March 4th, 2024Source

YouTube's version of TikTok video editing tool is now out in more countries
The YouTube Create app has arrived in 13 additional markets.
March 4th, 2024Source

Internet — Software — March 3rd, 2024

Google Drive update makes videos load faster and refreshes the search experience
Google Drive videos are about to get a speed boost.
March 3rd, 2024Source

Internet — Software — March 1st, 2024

The best cheap VPNs in March 2024
Secure a saving on the best services for cybersecurity and streaming.
March 1st, 2024Source

The best VPN deals in March 2024
Secure a big saving on the best VPNs.
March 1st, 2024Source

The best VPNs in March 2024
Find the best VPNs for streaming, online security, anonymity, and everything else.
March 1st, 2024Source

In Other News: Google Flaw Exploited, 3D Printers Hacked, WhatsApp Gets NSO Spyware
Noteworthy stories that might have slipped under the radar: Unpatched Google vulnerability exploited, 3D printers hacked by white hats, WhatsApp will get NSO spyware.
March 1st, 2024Source

X deadnaming and misgendering policy reinstated; not doing well in hate speech lawsuit
In an update to its abuse and harassment page, the X deadnaming and misgendering policy which was quietly removed last year has been equally quietly reinstated ...
March 1st, 2024Source

Internet — Software — February 28th, 2024

Inside the deep, dark world of influencer gossip forums
Tattle Life users speculate about influencers' lives, spout rumours, make hateful comments about them, and judge their life decisions.
February 28th, 2024Source

Tumblr users, here's what to know about Tumblr selling your data to OpenAI and MidJourney
Parent company Automattic will reportedly sell Tumblr content to OpenAI and MidJourney for training data. Here's how you can opt out.
February 28th, 2024Source

YouTube's Create app, a competitor to TikTok's creative tools, expands to 13 more markets
YouTube Create, Google's standalone mobile app aimed at creators, which helps them produce both Shorts and longer videos, is expanding to a broader set of markets after last fall's launch into beta testing.
February 28th, 2024Source

Internet — Software — February 27th, 2024

Instagram Friends Map may clone Snapchat's Snap Map feature [U: Meta confirms]
Meta has confirmed that it's working on this feature, but has not revealed when we can expect it to launch.
February 27th, 2024Source

Threads widens the gap with X, with triple the daily downloads on iOS
Although an app's downloads aren't an exact proxy for usage, they can hint at where the market is headed. And in the case of the alt-Twitter wars, the app winning the game right now is Instagram's Threads. Meta's take on Twitter now sees triple the daily downloads of X (formerly Twitter) on iOS globally, and more than double the number — and sometimes more than triple — the number of installs on Google Play.
February 27th, 2024Source

TikTok is muting all Universal Music-related songs
Tracks written by Universal-contracted songwriters will vanish from the platform.
February 27th, 2024Source

Internet — Software — February 26th, 2024

Elon Musk is arguing with his own Community Notes on X
But who's right?
February 26th, 2024Source

Instagram is working on a 'Friend Map' feature that would let you track friends' locations
Instagram is developing a "Friend Map" feature, a Meta spokesperson confirmed to TechCrunch on Monday. The opt-in feature, which is similar to Snapchat's Snap Map, would allow users to see their friends' locations in real time. The company says the feature is an internal prototype and is not being tested externally.
February 26th, 2024Source

Meta drops lawsuit against web-scraping firm Bright Data that sold millions of Instagram records
Meta has dropped its lawsuit against Israeli web-scraping company Bright Data, after losing a key claim in its case a few weeks ago. The social networking giant has a history of waging war against companies that scrape data from its websites and apps, and Bright Data was among the latest to face a legal attack.
February 26th, 2024Source

Microsoft extends the deadline to access the classic Teams app to at least July 1, 2024
Microsoft started making the new and improved Teams apps for Windows and Mac generally available in October 2023. At the time, Microsoft allowed users to have the choice to switch to the new Teams apps or keep using the older "classic" Teams via a toggle.
February 26th, 2024Source

Microsoft reveals more info on the upcoming in-person invite feature in Outlook
Last week as part of the new entries added to the Microsoft 365 roadmap, the company said an upcoming feature will be added to the new Outlook for Windows app as well as Outlook on the web that will allow people to invite others to an in-person event.
February 26th, 2024Source

Threads adds a bookmarking feature for saving favorite posts
Threads, the Twitter-like app from Instagram, is shaping up to look more like its competitor X with the recent launches of trending topics, an in-app camera, drafts, and as of today, a bookmarking feature for saving posts for later reference more privately than using a public "like" (the heart icon.)
February 26th, 2024Source

Threads bookmarking feature begins official rollout for all users
Following a two-week long testing period, Threads by Instagram has announced that the ability to bookmark posts is finally rolling out to its users. This has been one of the platform's most requested features since its launch last year.
February 26th, 2024Source

Internet — Software — February 24th, 2024

X is launching audio and visual calls for regular users. Did anyone want this?
OK, thanks.
February 24th, 2024Source

Internet — Software — February 23rd, 2024

The Supreme Court is about to decide the future of online speech
The ruling could impact other publishing industries and future social media regulation.
February 23rd, 2024Source

Threads starts testing the two "most requested" features to a limited pool of testers
Instagram head Adam Mosseri announced that Threads has started testing two of the "most requested" features with a limited pool of users. The social media app is getting a native camera button and it will let you save a post draft by swiping down on the screen.
February 23rd, 2024Source

X now rolling out audio and video calls to non-Premium subscribers
The social platform X introduced a new feature last year that lets users make and receive audio and video calls, just like apps such as FaceTime and WhatsApp. However, the feature was limited to Premium subscribers -- but X is now making it available to more users.
February 23rd, 2024Source

You're not the only person lurking on TikTok. In fact, most users don't post at all.
Roughly half of users surveyed have never posted a TikTok.
February 23rd, 2024Source

Internet — Software — February 21st, 2024

Reesa Teesa's 'Who TF did I marry?' TikToks are like an audiobook
TikTok's latest viral superstar is Reesa Teesa, a Georgia woman who posted 50 videos — just under 10 minutes long apiece — chronicling her tumultuous relationship with her ex-husband. That's over six hours of content, all about a stranger's experience living with a compulsive liar.
February 21st, 2024Source

US govt shares cyberattack defense tips for water utilities
CISA, the FBI, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shared a list of defense measures U.S. water utilities should implement to better defend their systems against cyberattacks
February 21st, 2024Source

Internet — Software — February 19th, 2024

EU accuses TikTok of failing to stop kids pretending to be adults
TikTok becomes the second platform suspected of Digital Services Act breaches.
February 19th, 2024Source

EU launches probe into TikTok over child protection
The EU on Monday announced a formal investigation into TikTok over alleged breaches of its obligations to protect minors online, under a landmark new law on policing digital content.
February 19th, 2024Source

EU opens formal probe of TikTok under Digital Services Act, citing child safety, risk management and other concerns
The European Union is formally investigating TikTok’s compliance with the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA), the Commission has announced.
February 19th, 2024Source

EU opens investigation into TikTok over "suspected breach of transparency" and protection of children — EU Commissioner says app has "addictive design"
TikTok is in trouble with the EU...
February 19th, 2024Source

Hackers exploit critical RCE flaw in Bricks WordPress site builder
Hackers are actively exploiting a critical remote code execution (RCE) flaw impacting the Brick Builder Theme to run malicious PHP code on vulnerable sites.
February 19th, 2024Source

How To Add AI-Generated Backgrounds To Your Instagram Stories
Instagram has always had a knack for delivering fun new features to the social media platform's users. Whether it's launching customizable templates for stories or helping reduce your overall screen time, plenty of Instagram features will change how you use the app. And now, another popular element will join the fold: AI.
February 19th, 2024Source

It’s time to upgrade OneDrive’s paid storage, Microsoft
Google offers 2TB in its paid plans. Dropbox, too. Microsoft should follow suit with Microsoft 365.
February 19th, 2024Source

The EU officially opens up an investigation into TikTok
Does TikTok do enough to protect children? The EU will decide.
February 19th, 2024Source

TikTok under investigation in Europe for failing to protect children, and more
Popular short-form video app TikTok is under investigation in Europe for a range of potential breaches of the Digital Services Act (DSA), including failing to protect the privacy and safety of children.
February 19th, 2024Source

TikTok Under EU Investigation Over Addictive Design, Privacy And More
The European Union (EU) has set its sights on ByteDance’s TikTok app concerning a range of potential violations, including an overly addictive design, privacy shortfalls, and other concerns. EU industry chief Thierry Breton remarked the EU is launching an investigation into the app over a suspected breach of transparency and obligations to protect minors.
February 19th, 2024Source

Internet — Software — February 16th, 2024

Google launches new Remix Feature for YouTube Shorts
Google has announced that it is launching a new tool for YouTube Shorts that allows you to remix music videos into your YouTube Shorts videos, you will be able to incorporate sounds from the videos and use them as a background for your Short and more.
February 16th, 2024Source

Instagram is getting its own App Clip, but still no iPad app
The Instagram team is known for being a bit late to the party when it comes to adopting new iOS features. And while there are a number of users incessantly asking for an iPad app, Instagram has decided to give its iOS users something else: an App Clip.
February 16th, 2024Source

Internet — Software — February 14th, 2024

Best VPNs for Android 2024: Our picks for phones and tablets
There are tons of VPNs available for Android, but which ones are worth the subscription? Here are our top five picks.
February 14th, 2024Source

Mozilla developers are working on Microsoft Exchange support in Thunderbird
Renovation works on the popular mail program are going strong, Mozilla states
February 14th, 2024Source

Musk's X sold checkmarks to Hezbollah and other terrorist groups, report says
X (aka Twitter) accused of violating sanctions by taking payment from terrorists.
February 14th, 2024Source

Terrorists are allegedly buying blue checks on X
An account linked to Hezbollah's secretary-general was listed as 'ID verified.'
February 14th, 2024Source

TikTok teams up with Adobe Express for new add-on integration
The first collaboration between TikTok and Adobe Express is bringing users of the social app a brand-new add-on integration, which is meant to create and optimize video content easier.
February 14th, 2024Source

TikTok will launch in-app Election Centers to monitor fake news during EU elections
ByteDance-owned social media platform TikTok has revealed its plans for the European Parliament elections in the UK arriving in June 2024. The company shared that it will be launching a local language Election Center in-app that would prevent the spread of misinformation.
February 14th, 2024Source

Windows Zero-Day Exploited in Attacks on Financial Market Traders
CVE-2024-21412, one of the security bypass zero-days fixed by Microsoft with Patch Tuesday updates, exploited by Water Hydra (DarkCasino).
February 14th, 2024Source

Internet — Software — February 12th, 2024

How to Boost WordPress Security and Protect Your SEO Ranking
In this article, you'll learn tips and strategies to identify and address common WordPress security issues to protect your website and search rankings from cyberattacks.
February 12th, 2024Source

Installing ChromeOS Flex? 5 things you need to do first to avoid headaches
Google's lightweight, free OS is an excellent way to extend the life of an old PC or Mac. But you'll need to do some prep work before installation if you want things to go smoothly.
February 12th, 2024Source

Managing IoT Edge Devices at Scale: Device Lifecycle and Configuration Management
AI-driven device management in IoT uses ML for predictive maintenance, adaptive configs, anomaly detection, self-healing, and resource optimization.
February 12th, 2024Source

The fastest VPN 2024: We identify the speediest performers
If you have the need, the need for VPN speed, we've got recommendations about the best choices for you.
February 12th, 2024Source

Threads is testing 'Today's topics' to tell users what's trending in the US
Threads says it's using AI and a team of specialists to try to surface the topics people are engaging with, while filtering out 'confusing' or misleading ones.
February 12th, 2024Source

TikTok lesbian bar debacle raises question: Who belongs in queer spaces?
"If you're going into a queer space, you should be respectful of that."
February 12th, 2024Source

Internet — Software — February 9th, 2024

How to Find Saved and Liked Instagram Posts
Discovering how to locate saved and liked posts on Instagram is an activity frequently undertaken by users desiring to revisit their preferred content. This comprehensive guide is designed to navigate you through the detailed process of finding these posts, under the presumption that you possess a foundational understanding of Instagram's user interface and its core functionalities.
February 9th, 2024Source

Instagram and Threads will no longer recommend political content
Users will need to opt-in via the apps' settings to see political posts in their suggestions.
February 9th, 2024Source

Instagram and Threads Won't Automatically Suggest Political Content Anymore
In what could be one of the most impactful changes to the algorithm, Instagram and Meta's answer to X, Threads, will no longer suggest political content to users who don't opt in.
February 9th, 2024Source

Sports betting is coming to X with BetMGM partnership
Elon Musk's X, formerly Twitter, has forged a deal with a sports betting operator, BetMGM, the companies announced on Friday. The deal, which BetMGM describes as a "strategic partnership" with X, will see the operator becoming X's exclusive Live Odds Sports Betting partner and will introduce access to the betting service on X.
February 9th, 2024Source

Internet — Software — February 7th, 2024

Bluesky Finally Opens The Floodgates But Is It Too Late To Topple Twitter X?
The Jack Dorsey funded social network Bluesky has finally opened its doors to everyone, but is it too late for it to overcome X/Twitter? Bluesky became available for everyone yesterday, ending the long waitlist and invite-only registrations.
February 7th, 2024Source

Bluesky Social Network Ditches Invite Codes, Opens Registrations to All
Bluesky, the decentralized social media platform conceptualized by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, has now opened registration for everyone.
February 7th, 2024Source

Bluesky, a social network championed by Jack Dorsey, opens for anyone to sign up
Bluesky, a Twitter-like social network championed by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, has emerged from its cocoon and is now allowing anyone to create an account and join the service.
February 7th, 2024Source

Need Google Chrome to load pages faster? Enable this feature to speed it up
If you feel Google Chrome isn't quick enough, there's a way you can give it a boost without having to change anything in your operating system.
February 7th, 2024Source

Threads tests the ability to save posts as it continues to compete with X
Instagram Threads is getting a highly requested feature that puts it in closer competition with X/Twitter. The text-based social networking app is experimenting with the ability to save posts, allowing users to bookmark favorite posts to revisit them later.
February 7th, 2024Source

X, formerly Twitter, becomes No. 1 app on US App Store after news of Tucker Carlson-Putin interview emerges
After former Fox News TV host Tucker Carlson announced on X he would be interviewing Russian president Vladimir Putin, downloads of the app formerly known as Twitter jumped, sending X to the top of the U.S. App Store overnight. Multiple outlets on Wednesday, including Reuters, the AP, and The New York Times, have confirmed that Carlson's interview has already taken place, and The Wall Street Journal said the interview is expected to air on Thursday, citing unnamed sources.
February 7th, 2024Source

Internet — Software — February 5th, 2024

Controversial Pepe the Frog meme helped discover an upcoming Microsoft Teams feature
You may soon be able to add custom emojis to Microsoft Teams
February 5th, 2024Source

How to get started with Windows' free 'new Outlook' app
With the new Outlook, Microsoft is replacing the Calendar, Contacts, and Mail apps in Windows 10 and Windows 11 as well as in macOS.
February 5th, 2024Source

Tinder releases yet another feature to stop inappropriate messages
The dating app will send in-app warnings to users who violate Community Guidelines.
February 5th, 2024Source

Twitter alternative spouts a massive leak
Security consultant and Have I Been Pwned creator Troy Hunt has detailed a vulnerability in the API of Spoutible, a social platform that emerged following Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter, that could allow hackers to take full control of users' accounts.
February 5th, 2024Source

Want to buy that viral TikTok Shop product? Think twice.
Buyers should be vigilant of TikTok Shop scams.
February 5th, 2024Source

Internet — Software — February 2nd, 2024

Critical vulnerability in Mastodon is pounced upon by fast-acting admins
Danger of remote account takeovers leaves lead devs scared of releasing many details
February 2nd, 2024Source

How to edit videos: Make your captures TikTok-ready
Whether it's for YouTube or TikTok, here's an easy and intuitive way to edit videos.
February 2nd, 2024Source

Internet — Software — January 31st, 2024

Check out what's new for the still-updated Skype in this emoji-filled change log
Plenty of PDF features are on the way to Skype Insiders.
January 31, 2024Source

Instagram Threads on the rise again with app downloads spiking as X downloads decline
Threads by Instagram, the Meta-owned social networking app that has become a direct competitor to X (formerly Twitter), made a surprising return in December 2023. Ranking fourth in downloads on the iOS App Store and eighth on the Google Play store — averaging 28 million downloads across both platforms — this surge in interest suggests a potential turning point for the app following its lukewarm July 2023 launch.
January 31, 2024Source

Microsoft's new OneDrive design starts rolling out for consumers
Consumers are getting access to the new OneDrive UI by the end of February.
January 31, 2024Source

No more Taylor Swift on TikTok after negotiations with label break down
Universal Music Group says TikTok is engaging in "bullying" as contract expires.
January 31, 2024Source

Senate Child Safety Hearing Seems to Be About Everything But Child Safety
CEOs of the largest social media companies in the United States testified in front of Congress Wednesday before the lawmakers launched into questions of their own. The hearings covered everything from human trafficking to Communist China and nearly every political topic in between. Everything, that is, except for how to protect children online.
January 31, 2024Source

Senate tells social media CEOs they have 'blood on their hands' for failing to protect children
The leaders of Meta, TikTok, Snap, Discord and X spent hours answering for lapses in keeping young users safe
January 31, 2024Source

Teens on social media need both protection and privacy. AI could help get the balance right
Meta announced on Jan. 9, 2024, that it will protect teen users by blocking them from viewing content on Instagram and Facebook that the company deems to be harmful, including content related to suicide and eating disorders. The move comes as federal and state governments have increased pressure on social media companies to provide safety measures for teens.
January 31, 2024Source

TikTok is the fastest-growing social platform in the US, but YouTube is still the most popular
Facebook and YouTube popularity has held steady
January 31, 2024Source

TikTok's silent dance: Universal Music Group pulls the plug on tunes
Imagine watching a video of a dancing group of people without any music. It could be quite amusing, right? Well, TikTok users might soon experience just that, as songs are about to vanish from the platform.
January 31, 2024Source

Universal Music Group expected to pull music from TikTok over concerns with AI and artist pay
Negotiations over a new licensing agreement — which expires January 31st — collapsed amid claims that TikTok tried to bully the label into taking a 'bad deal.'
January 31, 2024Source

Universal Music warns it will pull songs from TikTok
Universal Music Group warned Tuesday that it would pull its songs, which include those by Taylor Swift and The Weeknd, from TikTok after a breakdown in talks over issues such as the compensation of artists.
January 31, 2024Source

Zuckerberg says sorry for Meta harming kids—but rejects payments to families
CEOs of Meta, TikTok, Snap, Discord, and X testified at hearing on child safety.
January 31, 2024Source

Internet — Software — January 29th, 2024

TikTok goes full YouTube
As it promotes horizontal videos and longer runtimes, TikTok sure is looking more like YouTube these days.
January 29, 2024Source

TikTokkers say Ariana Grande has a homewrecker kink. What is it?
The discourse around Grande's relationship with Ethan Slater says a lot about how we view these situations.
January 29, 2024Source

X hiring 100 content cops in bid to tame Wild West of online safety
Maybe those Twitter cuts ran too deep, huh?
January 29, 2024Source

Zoom meetings are about to get weirder thanks to the Vision Pro
Zoom will let Vision Pro wearers represent themselves as digital avatars during video calls.
January 29, 2024Source

Zoom's Apple Vision Pro app will let people see your facial expressions via an avatar
Some intriguing features are on the way, such as the ability to view shared 3D objects in a virtual space.
January 29, 2024Source

Internet — Software — January 26th, 2024

Deepfakes of Taylor Swift have gone viral. How does this keep happening?
The incidents highlight the dangerous rise of AI-generated porn — and the need for legal and societal change.
January 26, 2024Source

Microsoft Mesh is a virtual meeting platform on Teams
It brings employees' avatars together in a customized space.
January 26, 2024Source

Microsoft Teams Now Supports 3D & VR Meetings, Releases 'Mesh' App on Main Quest Store
Microsoft Teams now lets you hold meetings in 3D and VR, as its immersive chatting platform Microsoft Mesh has now come out of preview.
January 26, 2024Source

Predictive model detects potential extremist propaganda on social media
The militant Islamic State group, or ISIS, lost its physical territory in 2019, but it remains an active force on social media, according to researchers from the Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology, who set out to better understand the group's online strategies.
January 26, 2024Source

Internet — Software — January 24th, 2024

People Can Fly reduces its workforce
The studio will lay off more than 30 employees, including 20 developers from Project Gemini
January 24, 2024Source

Pixel Art Five Nights at Freddy's Game Revealed
"No need to keep it all hush-hush."
January 24, 2024Source

Streamers who rely on Twitch Prime Gaming subs are getting a slight pay cut
The company is also changing some of its other monetization features including expanding the Partner Plus program.
January 24, 2024Source

Internet — Software — January 22nd, 2024

France Fines Yahoo 10 Mn Euros Over Cookie Abuses
France's data protection watchdog fines Yahoo 10 million euros for not respecting users' refusals of internet-tracking "cookies"
January 22, 2024Source

Gmail: Google is reportedly adding an AI voice feature
Voice-activated prompts might be coming to Gmail.
January 22, 2024Source

Gmail might soon simplify email drafting with AI assistance
Last year, Google announced a new "Help me write" feature for its Gmail app, bringing in some AI magic to help you write emails with ease. And guess what? It looks like the tech giant is not done spicing things up.
January 22, 2024Source

Iowa sues TikTok, wants only Iowans aged 17 and more to use the app
Are you under 17 and living in Iowa? Do you like TikTok? That's an odd question to ask a 17-year-old. Soon, you might not be able to use it, so... carpe diem.
January 22, 2024Source

MrBeast earns more than $250,000 on video uploaded to Elon Musk's X
But the YouTuber admits others can't replicate these earnings on X.
January 22, 2024Source

Internet — Software — January 19th, 2024

Apple's Vision Pro won't have access to YouTube and Spotify apps at launch
Users will have to access them from a browser, according to Bloomberg.
January 19, 2024Source

Behind the Blog: Instagram Porn and AI Garbage
This is Behind the Blog, where we share our behind-the-scenes thoughts about how a few of our top stories of the week came together. This week, we discuss Instagram's anti-sex policies, Google News AI garbage, and handing over ID all over the internet.
January 19, 2024Source

How to Upload Porn to Instagram
Users are uploading stolen porn to Instagram with one easy trick, while adult content creators are banned for no reason.
January 19, 2024Source

I revived three ancient computers with ChromeOS Flex, and you can too
Don't throw out your old PC; breathe new life into it with the sustainable and accessible Linux for everyone. It's easier than you think.
January 19, 2024Source

Meta launches "nighttime nudges" to remind teens it's time to go to sleep
Meta introduced a lot of new features specifically designed for teens using social apps like Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger. From parental supervision tools to more privacy features, Meta has been trying to limit teens' access to unwanted interactions and content on its social platforms.
January 19, 2024Source

TikTok is experimenting with a feature that uses AI to create songs based on prompts
TikTok is testing a new "AI Song" feature that uses AI to create songs based on prompts that users enter, the company confirmed to TechCrunch. AI Song is an experimental feature and is currently only available to a select number of users. The feature is designed to be used for fun, not for trying to create the next viral song.
January 19, 2024Source

TikTok usage is starting to slow — is TikTok Shop to blame?
TikTok may have been the world's top app by downloads and consumer spending in 2023, but it was not the top by actual usage. Last year, Facebook again maintained its No. 1 position by monthly active users, followed by other Meta-owned apps WhatsApp, Instagram, and Messenger — all of which were ahead of TikTok at No. 5.
January 19, 2024Source

Viral TikTok highlights a common problem for women: Gymtimidation
In a now-viral TikTok that has racked up over 5 million views, Charlie (@fitwithchaz), a TikTok fitness influencer, posted her experience while trying to film content for her socials. In it, a man can be seen placing a heavy dumbbell behind Charlie so that she was unable to finish her set.
January 19, 2024Source

X / Twitter rolls out audio and video calls for Android -- but only if you're paying for Premium
iOS users have had the feature since last year.
January 19, 2024Source

X finally rolls out audio and video calls on Android, too
In October of last year, X introduced video and audio call support for iOS users, allowing those with iPhones or iPads to enjoy the feature for quite some time now. Unfortunately, Android users were initially excluded, but now it looks like this is about to change.
January 19, 2024Source

You can use AI in Instagram to generate fun backgrounds for your stories. Here's how
Leveling up your Instagram stories is as easy as typing in a quick prompt.
January 19, 2024Source

Internet — Software — January 16th, 2024

8 Top Free & Premium WordPress Plugins for 2024
From Amelia to Web Stories, these top WordPress plugins serve an impressive range of popular design features and functions.
January 16, 2024Source

Google denies YouTube slowdowns are linked to its ad blocker detection efforts
Google has been in the middle of another controversy this week, as Reddit exploded with reports claiming that YouTube has started slowing video buffer with ad-block enabled.
January 16, 2024Source

How To Check How Much Time You're Spending On Instagram
Instagram can be addicting. No surprise there. The app is an endless source of entertainment with specially curated ads to match your preferences. The tricky thing is that it's easy to keep scrolling on Instagram (or social media in general), but you might be in for a rude awakening about just how much of your time you've spent browsing the app. The first step to helping yourself spend less time on these apps is learning how much of your day you spend online.
January 16, 2024Source

Is Google's big push for its YouTube Premium subscription and crackdown on ad blockers why I'm seeing more ads than ever before?
Streaming videos on YouTube is getting ridiculously hard with millions of ads, and Google's crackdown on ad blockers isn't making the situation any better
January 16, 2024Source

Meta fixed my family member’s Instagram issue, says it addressed “system error”
"Our normal path to regain access to an account was not working at the time."
January 16, 2024Source

X (Twitter) could offer payment features as it secures another transmitter license
Musk wants "financial life" management to be engrained into X.
January 16, 2024Source

X, formerly Twitter, secures its 15th money-transmitter license, paving the way for new payment features
X has been flying under the radar for a while now, with the occasional blip on the news scope, like when it gave verified businesses a price cut or forgot to cough up millions in bonuses. However, now it seems the social media platform is inching closer to bringing Elon Musk's dream of it becoming the "everything app" to life.
January 16, 2024Source

Internet — Software — January 15th, 2024

Google announces first undersea cable connecting South America and Asia-Pacific
A $400 million investment to create a more direct internet route from Australia to Chile
January 15, 2024Source

Meta fixed my family member's Instagram issue, says it addressed "system error"
"Our normal path to regain access to an account was not working at the time."
January 15, 2024Source

The ongoing content moderation issues behind Substack's meltdown
The 'allows alt right accounts' death knell rings.
January 15, 2024Source

YouTube says the latest video slowdowns aren't part of its effort against ad-blockers
So, mystery solved...for now?
January 15, 2024Source

YouTube's ad blocker problems are just an Adblock Plus bug
Latest consensus is that YouTube performance issues seem to be Adblock Plus' fault.
January 15, 2024Source

Internet — Software — January 13th, 2024

Google is making it easier to share Drive files with Calendar meeting attendees
You can share documents with all the attendees invited to a Google Calendar meeting at once.
January 13, 2024Source

Internet — Software — January 12th, 2024

Instagram co-founders' news aggregation startup Artifact to shut down
Artifact, the news aggregator-turned social network from Instagram's founders, is shutting down. On Friday, the startup announced via a blog post it had made the decision to "wind down operations" of the app launched over a year ago, saying that the market opportunity wasn't big enough to warrant continued investment.
January 12, 2024Source

Instagram cuts 60 jobs, eliminating a layer of management at the company
Instagram has cut 60 technical program manager positions, eliminating a layer of management at the company, according to a new report from The Information.
January 12, 2024Source

Instagram's co-founders are shutting down their Artifact news app
Just under a year after its launch, the fledgling news app Artifact is going away.
January 12, 2024Source

Software — Windows Oses — January 11th, 2024

How to determine activation status on Windows 11
These are the three easiest ways to check the Windows activation status.
January 11, 2024Source

Microsoft KB5034441 Windows 10 security patch for BitLocker bypass is leading to errors and has a complicated fix
BitLocker bypass vulnerability patch requires manual partition resizing on some systems.
January 11, 2024Source

Microsoft testing Windows 11 USB 80Gbps support, Copilot on login
Microsoft is now testing support for the USB4 Version 2.0 specification in Windows 11, enabling transfer speeds of up to 80 Gbps over USB Type-C cables.
January 11, 2024Source

Microsoft shares script to update Windows 10 WinRE with BitLocker fixes
Microsoft has released a PowerShell script to automate updating the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) partition in order to fix CVE-2024-20666, a vulnerability that allowed for BitLocker encryption bypass.
January 11, 2024Source

Not even poor Notepad is safe from Microsoft's AI obsession
Power user excavates evidence of experimental 'Cowriter' feature
January 11, 2024Source

Internet — Software — January 11th, 2024

Elon Musk made 1 in 3 Trust and Safety staff ex-X employees, it emerges
Oz online safety czar receives evidence of cull despite platform reinstating hundreds of banned accounts
January 11, 2024Source

New Balada Injector campaign infects 6,700 WordPress sites
A little over 6,700 WordPress websites using a vulnerable version of the Popup Builder plugin have been infected with the Balada Injector malware in a campaign that launched in mid-December.
January 11, 2024Source

Over 150k WordPress sites at takeover risk via vulnerable plugin
Two vulnerabilities impacting the POST SMTP Mailer WordPress plugin, an email delivery tool used by 300,000 websites, could help attackers take complete control of a site authentication.
January 11, 2024Source

The World Cruise on TikTok is an unintentional online reality show
"New characters unlocked on the nine-month Ultimate World Cruise TikTok channel!" says an older man as pink letters fly across the screen to form a kooky subtitle.
January 11, 2024Source

US judge blocks Ohio Republicans' "troublingly vague" social media law
Judge calls law "breathtakingly blunt instrument" for reducing harm to children.
January 11, 2024Source

YouTube makes first-aid information easier to find with new shelves
YouTube is one of the apps we spend most of our time with, so every new update and feature it has to offer is a welcomed addition. Just recently, YouTube launched a new tool for creators, and now it is rolling out a new one for its users in need.
January 11, 2024Source

Internet — Software — January 10th, 2024

Slack's new 'Catch Up' feature knows you're overwhelmed and overworked
It's trying to help.
January 10, 2024Source

Twitter Quietly Scraps NFTs While Embracing AI
Sorry, it's too late to upload your crappy ape cartoon to your account
January 10, 2024Source

Internet — Software — January 9th, 2024

10 Best WordPress Themes for 2024
Choosing the right WordPress theme is crucial for crafting an attractive and efficient website in 2024, and with these top picks, you can easily find the perfect fit for your needs.
January 9, 2024Source

Google Cast Expands to TikTok, Pixel Tablet Gets Cool Tapping Feature
As a part of Google's series of CES 2024 announcements, they shared two big updates in the world of Google Cast and another involving Fast Pair. The news just keeps flowing, friends.
January 9, 2024Source

Thunderbird 115.6.1
The developers of Thunderbird have released another update of the email client to version 115.6.1 on January 8, 2024. It is an update that is intended to fix some bugs and vulnerabilities.
January 9, 2024Source

You can now Chromecast TikTok videos to your TV
Google also revealed at CES 2024 that it's working closely with Samsung and is renaming Nearby Share to Quick Share.
January 9, 2024Source

X / Twitter purges then reinstates journalists, podcasters, and leftist accounts critical of Elon Musk
Why? Who knows.
January 9, 2024Source

Internet — Software — January 8th, 2024

As Twitter/X rivals explode, news aggregator SmartNews struggles to retain users
News aggregator app SmartNews had a tough 2023, beginning with widespread layoffs in January and wrapping up with a leadership change that saw co-founder Kaisei Hamamoto assume the role of CEO after the abrupt departure of former CEO Ken Suzuki last month.
January 8, 2024Source

ChromeOS 120 is equipped with some rather useful productivity features
Virtual Desks, Nearby Share, and more.
January 8, 2024Source

Quickly create YouTube descriptions, chapters, metadata and more using AI Whisper
If you’re a content creator on YouTube, you know how crucial it is to have your videos easily found and watched by viewers. But did you know that artificial intelligence can help you achieve this by helping you quickly create YouTube descriptions, chapters and more? Let’s explore how AI can be used to improve your YouTube video metadata, making your content more discoverable and appealing to your audience.If you’re a content creator on YouTube, you know how crucial it is to have your videos easily found and watched by viewers. But did you know that artificial intelligence can help you achieve this by helping you quickly create YouTube descriptions, chapters and more? Let’s explore how AI can be used to improve your YouTube video metadata, making your content more discoverable and appealing to your audience.
January 8, 2024Source or Watch Video

Substack removes five pro-Nazi newsletters but says its rules aren’t changing
The company has faced increasing pressure over its content moderation policies.
January 8, 2024Source

Thread Group is finally fixing Thread border routers
An update to the Thread specification will make new Thread border routers from different manufacturers automatically join an existing network.
January 8, 2024Source

WordPress AI automated website builder ZipWP makes sites in minutes
If you are looking for an extremely fast way to build WordPress websites you might be interested in ZipWP. A new AI-powered WordPress builder, is transforming the way websites are created, making it faster and easier than ever before. This innovative tool is designed to help entrepreneurs, freelancers, and beginners build a professional online presence without needing deep technical skills.
January 8, 2024Source

YouTube cracks down on AI content that ‘realistically simulates’ deceased children or victims of crimes
YouTube is updating its harassment and cyberbullying policies to clamp down on content that “realistically simulates” deceased minors or victims of deadly or violent events describing their death. The Google-owned platform says it will begin striking such content starting on January 16.
January 8, 2024Source

Internet — Software — January 7th, 2024

Concerned by the Privacy or Results of Google Search? Try These Other Search Engines
Google is big. Google Search generated $225 billion in revenue in 2022, thanks in part to being the default search engine on all Apple devices. To retain that position—and continue to reap the ad revenue that it generates—Google pays Apple about $18 billion every year. Along with Apple, Google pays billions to phone manufacturers like Samsung, LG, and Motorola; major wireless carriers such as AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon; and browser developers like Mozilla and Opera.
January 7, 2024Source

Internet — Software — January 6th, 2024

Instagram head Adam Mosseri says sorry for all those trashy Threads recommendations
Threads is working on a fix for the 'low-quality' recommended posts that seem to have taken over recently.
January 6, 2024Source

On Threads, users say they're flooded with pro-life and transphobic posts
Threads, Meta's rival to X/Twitter, may be developing a major hate speech problem.
January 6, 2024Source

What Does Nudge Mean On TikTok (And What Does It Do)?
TikTok is the latest social media application to have the world in a chokehold. Like MySpace (which you can still find your profile on), Facebook, and those that came before, it borrows many features from its predecessors. While the TikTok Shop, your "For You" page, and direct messages are all social media staples, TikTok also revived a once-forgotten feature with nudges.
January 6, 2024Source

Internet — Software — December 29th, 2023

Elon Musk's X can't get around California's content moderation law, judge rules
X sued California over its new content moderation law, alleging that it violated free speech. The judge disagreed.
December 29, 2023Source or Source

Internet — Software — December 27th, 2023

'Come with me on a first date.' The TikTokkers live-vlogging their love lives.
"I 100 percent would not have gone on as many dates if I was not posting about it."
December 27, 2023Source

Instagram Is Working On A New Feature That Will Let You Share Someone's Profile On Your Stories
Instagram has come a long way from what it used to be. Started as just a platform to share photos, it is now a fully-fledged and comprehensive social media platform, and people love it. The platform keeps getting new features that improve the overall user experience. The latest feature will soon allow you to share profiles on your Stories, which will make it easier for your followers to take heed of someone you want them to notice.
December 27, 2023Source

Social media platforms generate billions in annual ad revenue from US youth: Study
Social media platforms Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube collectively derived nearly $11 billion in advertising revenue from U.S.-based users younger than 18 in 2022, according to a new study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The study is the first to offer estimates of the number of youth users on these platforms and how much annual ad revenue is attributable to them.
December 27, 2023Source

Zoom: Why Does It Work?
Ian Sleebe discusses how Zoom had to scale massively during the pandemic to support the big move from working in the office every day to meeting online for both business and private use.
December 27, 2023Source

Internet — Software — December 26th, 2023, 2023

Bluesky rolls out an in-app video and music player and a new 'hide post' feature
Decentralized social network Bluesky is rolling out a new in-app video and music player for links, along with a new "hide post" feature. The new additions bring Bluesky's user experience closer to X (Twitter).
December 26, 2023Source

Elon Musk will see you in court: The top Twitter and X Corp. lawsuits of 2023
Musk's Twitter ownership began with a lawsuit, and he's been in court ever since.
December 26, 2023Source

How to update ChromeOS
Update ChromeOS on your Chromebook in just a few steps.
December 26, 2023Source

Internet — Software — December 24th, 2023

Microsoft 365 Roadmap Weekly: Teams will get improvements for collaborative notes and more
Microsoft added some final entries for the Microsoft 365 Roadmap web page this past week before the company shut down for the holidays. However, there were some interesting new listings for upcoming features. We have already reported that Microsoft 365 Copilot will add support for pinning chats in early 2024. Here's what else was added to the Roadmap last week:
December 24, 2023Source

Ubisoft apparently stopped a 900GB data breach
It's not clear yet how much, if anything, the hackers got.
December 24, 2023Source or Source

You can now access X alternative Bluesky without an account
Elon Musk's impact at X -- or Twitter as it was when he bought the company -- has broadly been seen as negative. While some have welcomed his maverick approach to managing the social platform, it left many others seeking a new home. Bluesky and Mastodon quickly emerged as viable alternatives, although Meta has attempted to muscle in on the action with Threads.
December 24, 2023Source

Internet — Software — December 22nd, 2023

Bluesky posts are finally open to the public
The platform also has a new logo — a butterfly.
December 22, 2023Source

Eli Rallo's 'I Didn't Know I Needed This' book launch brings TikTok to life
If you're a famous TikTokker, how much does the book matter?
December 22, 2023Source

How To Access Your 2023 TikTok Wrapped Stats
2023 is drawing to a close, and everybody's wrapped stats are making rounds on the internet and social media. The most popular entertainment apps like Spotify, Apple Music, and even Reddit have fun stats you can view to see how you spent your 2023. If you're looking for TikTok on the list, you might be disappointed to know that its wrapped feature was phased out in 2021.
December 22, 2023Source

How To Automate ServiceNow With Selenium
Learn how to test ServiceNow using Selenium WebDriver to ensure the workflows and applications are working as expected, ultimately improving the testing.
December 22, 2023Source

Pornhub owner pays US government $1.8M to resolve sex trafficking probe
Pornhub's parent company Aylo Holdings will pay $1.8 million to the U.S. government to resolve a charge of profiting off of sex trafficking. The company, formerly known as MindGeek, will enter a deferred prosecution agreement, which means that a monitor will be appointed to oversee Aylo and its compliance efforts for three years.
December 22, 2023Source or Source

TikTok desktop is new and improved
Your TikTok experience is about to get better.
December 22, 2023Source

Internet — Software — December 21st, 2023

Substack says it will not remove or demonetize Nazi content
Substack co-founder Hamish McKenzie's plan to 'strip bad ideas of their power' is to profit from disseminating them as widely as possible.
December 21, 2023Source

Why Snapchat Isn't Sending You Notifications (And How To Fix It)
Even though TikTok has surged in popularity over the last few years, Snapchat is still a widely used app across the world and helps connect friends and family regardless of where they live. If you're the type of person who still uses it frequently, there's also a good chance you want to stay notified when someone you know uploads a new Story or sends a new Snap or message.
December 21, 2023Source

Internet — Software — December 19th, 2023

ChromeOS: Tips, tools, and other Chromebook intelligence
Your one-stop source for ChromeOS advice, insight, and analysis — from someone who's covered Chromebooks closely since the start.
December 19, 2023Source

Expedia Uses WebSockets and Kafka to Query Near Real-Time Streaming Data
Expedia created a solution to support querying the clickstream data from their platform in near-real time to enable their product and engineering teams to explore live data while working on new and enhancing existing data-driven functional use cases. The team used a combination of WebSockets, Apache Kafka, and PostgreSQL to allow streaming query results continuously to users' browsers.
December 19, 2023Source

Instagram is testing a way to let you preview your photo grid without using a third party app
Instagram is testing the ability for users to preview how a post will look prior to publishing, effectively putting behind the days of posting a pic and praying it didn't clash with your perfectly curated photo grid. This new grid feature is currently only available to a small number of Instagram users using the latest version of the app.
December 19, 2023Source

Our favorite TikTokkers of 2023
This year gave us TikTok star Francesca Scorsese, a girl who clusters, and so much more.
December 19, 2023Source

TikTok Big Screen Upgrade Includes Support for Landscape Mode
TikTok is great on smartphones. It's a smooth UI that works perfectly fine when holding a phone in portrait. However, when you put TikTok on a larger display, such as those found on tablets and try to use it in landscape, things can get a bit wonky. This week, TikTok is fixing that.
December 19, 2023Source

TikTok for Android 32.6.4
TikTok is a global video community powered by music. Whether it's dance, free-style or performance, creators are encouraged to let their imagination run wild and set their expressions free.
December 19, 2023Source

Internet — Software — December 18th, 2023

Elon Musk's X in big trouble as EU opens formal proceedings over breaches of its Digital Services Act
"...to assess whether X may have breached the Digital Services Act (DSA) in areas linked to risk management, content moderation, dark patterns, advertising transparency and data access for researchers."
December 18, 2023Source

Google rolls out YouTube Premium and Music Premium in 10 more countries
Google announced earlier this month that it is bringing both its YouTube Premium and Music Premium services to 10 more countries. The services are already available in three of these countries from December 5, while the rest will get them in the coming days.
December 18, 2023Source

Instagram starts rolling out customizable Story templates
Instagram is at it again, as the social app has launched a brand-new feature that allows its users to further customize Story templates. Starting today, Instagramers should start seeing multiple options that make it easier to create their own unique Stories via "Add Yours" templates.
December 18, 2023Source

Malaysia's ban requests for posts and accounts on Meta, TikTok jump six times in 2023
A record-high number of restricted content on TikTok and Meta's platforms in Malaysia for 2023 -- all on government requests.
December 18, 2023Source

Musk's X hit with EU's first investigation of Digital Services Act violations
EU probes disinformation, election policy, Community Notes, and paid checkmarks.
December 18, 2023Source

TikTok optimizes its mobile app for foldables and tablets
TikTok announced it's now rolling out an enhanced app experience for larger devices, specifically foldable smartphones and tablets. One of the most popular mobile apps, TikTok is now being optimized for tablets and foldables to provide users with an enhanced experience.
December 18, 2023Source or Source

X under formal investigation by EU into disinformation, blue checkmarks, and more
The social network X is under formal investigation by the European Union, to decide whether the company has broken the law in no fewer than eight ways ...
December 18, 2023Source or Source

Internet — Software — December 15th, 2023

Elon Musk told bankers they wouldn't lose any money on Twitter purchase
Lenders unlikely to get even 60 cents on the dollar for the bonds and loans.
December 15, 2023Source

Instagram launches customizable 'Add Yours' templates
Instagram launched a new feature where you can create customized "Add Yours" templates with GIFs, images and text, allowing you to make your own meme-able Stories for followers to participate in.
December 15, 2023Source

Instagram Launches Customizable Templates For Stories
Starting today, Instagram is rolling out a new feature that will encourage users to share and build on one another's stories using custom templates for the Add Yours sticker. With this new update, it'll be easier than ever to create your own meme, kick off a new trend, or participate in anything that's already going around. 
December 15, 2023Source

Instagram rolls out new customizable Story templates
You'll be able to add your own spin to other people's Add Yours templates.
December 15, 2023Source

Jagat, a location-based social network that focuses on real-life connections, surpasses 10M users
Jagat, a social network that is designed to get you out more with your friends instead of mindlessly scrolling on your phone, has surpassed 10 million users globally. The location-based social network, which launched earlier this year in March, wants to help people focus on real-life connections and make friends.
December 15, 2023Source

Microsoft is about to change how you manage files in Microsoft Teams
A new OneDrive app will replace the Files app in Teams.
December 15, 2023Source

TikTok requires users to "forever waive" rights to sue over past harms
TikTok may be seeking to avoid increasingly high costs of mass arbitration.
December 15, 2023Source

Twitch quickly reverses policy that "went too far" allowing nudity
Twitch confirmed its policy banning nudity was sexist.
December 15, 2023Source

Internet — Software — December 14th, 2023

Instagram Now Lets Users Make AI-Generated Backgrounds For Stories
Instagram has introduced a new feature that will let users make artificial intelligence (AI) generated backgrounds for Stories.
December 14, 2023Source

Mastodon founder touts Threads' federation, saying it makes his X rival 'a far more attractive option'
Mastodon founder Eugen Rochko lauds Threads' entry into the decentralized social media space, saying the move will make Mastodon — the open source Twitter/X rival — "a far more attractive option." Mastodon's app, which is powered by the decentralized social networking protocol ActivityPub, has gained more attention in the wake of Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter, a network that's been since renamed X to reflect Musk's ambitions to turn the microblogging platform into an everything app encompassing creators, payments, video, live audio and shopping.
December 14, 2023Source

MrBeast's analytics platform ViewStats is out in beta
The top YouTuber in the U.S., MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) co-founded the new analytics platform ViewStats, which is now available in beta. Similar to tools like Social Blade, ViewStats uses the YouTube API to unveil detailed stats about channels that both creators and their fans can see.
December 14, 2023Source

Threads could potentially give X (Twitter) a run for its money, having recently launched in the European Union
Threads is now available in the European Union. It didn't ship to users in the region at launch because of the DMA Act, which features provisions that limit/restrict the sharing of user data across multiple platforms
December 14, 2023Source

Threads finally launches in Europe
That's nearly a half year after it arrived in the US.
December 14, 2023Source

Threads launched in EU countries; no Instagram account needed to browse
Social network Threads has now launched in EU countries, with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg noting that this now opens it up to an additional 448M people. The company first teased this last week.
December 14, 2023Source

Threads testing an expansion to Mastodon and other social media platforms
Despite the brutal user drop after the initial surge, Mark Zuckerberg is not letting go of Threads. Now, the Meta mastermind is announcing something new is in the testing stage: something that'll give users interoperability (via Reuters).
December 14, 2023Source

Internet — Software — December 12th, 2023

Instagram starts testing the ability to control who can see your likes
Instagram plans to introduce a new privacy feature that will allow users to select who can see their likes on posts and reels. The ability to control who gets to see your likes is meant to boost privacy and, hopefully, improve engagement.
December 12, 2023Source

Many US Teens Use TikTok and YouTube 'Almost Constantly'
Many teenagers in the U.S. can't tear themselves away from YouTube and TikTok, with over 15% saying they use the video-streaming apps "almost constantly," according to a new survey by the Pew Research Center.
December 12, 2023Source

Microsoft Teams for Education launches School Connection feature for smartphones
In an effort to offer parents a better way to keep track of the academic progress of their children, Microsoft has added a new School Connection feature for its Teams for Education service.
December 12, 2023Source

YouTube uses lower quality options on browsers running on Arm-based systems — misreporting as an x86 CPU appears to be a widespread browser fix
Firefox on Linux appears to get punished for truthfully reporting 'aarch64' on Arm.
December 12, 2023Source

Internet — Software — December 11th, 2023

50K WordPress sites exposed to RCE attacks by critical bug in backup plugin
A critical severity vulnerability in a WordPress plugin with more than 90,000 installs can let attackers gain remote code execution to fully compromise vulnerable websites.
December 11, 2023Source

Elon Musk says X is bringing video to Spaces soon
Elon Musk has announced that X, formerly Twitter, will be bringing video to Spaces, the social network's live audio conversation feature. Musk said X plans to launch the feature by the end of the year, but "certainly by early next year."
December 11, 2023Source

Elon Musk unbans conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and hosts interview with him on X
Jones spent an hour and a half floating conspiracy theories and praising Musk's 'big ones.'
December 11, 2023Source

How to build an AI Influencer
This guide is designed to show you how to build your own AI Influencer. If you've stumbled upon the buzz around Aitana, the virtual Instagram model from Barcelona, you're in for an intriguing exploration. You might be surprised to learn that Aitana, despite her significant online presence and income, is not a real person.
December 11, 2023Source

Threads countdown teases app's potential EU launch
The wait could be over for internet users in the European Union keen to sign up to Threads, an Instagram app.
December 11, 2023Source

TikTok announces $1.5 bn deal to restart Indonesia online shop
TikTok on Monday announced a $1.5 billion investment in GoTo in a deal that would allow the Chinese-owned short video app to restart its online shop in Indonesia.
December 11, 2023Source

TikTok invests $1.5B in Indonesia e-commerce market
TIkTok is buying a majority stake in Indonesia's largest e-commerce platform Tokopedia, which will be integrated with the Chinese-owned video app's own commerce marketplace.
December 11, 2023Source

TikTok loves e-commerce and VCs think Mistral AI will be fine (potential EU regulatory overhang or not)
Hello, and welcome back to Equity, the podcast about the business of startups, where we unpack the numbers and nuance behind the headlines.
December 11, 2023Source

Internet — Software — December 8th, 2023

Microsoft: Outlook email sending issues for users with lots of folders
Microsoft has acknowledged a new issue affecting Outlook for Microsoft 365 users and causing email-sending problems for those with too many nested folders.
December 08, 2023Source

Optimized version of Twitter (X) for the Google Pixel Fold & Tablet rolling out widely
The social media giant has finally rolled out some optimizations for its X app on Google's Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet, ditching the black bars that plagued the experience for months. Although not a complete Tablet UI redesign, the small change does constitute a better viewing experience.
December 08, 2023Source

YouTube now offers Creators more control over their videos' comments with a new "Pause" option
Youtube Content Creators can now enjoy a little breather with the introduction of a new "Pause" feature in their comment moderation toolbox. This straightforward option gives them the power to freeze the creation of new comments for a specific video, while simultaneously preserving existing comments. This provides much-needed flexibility for managing online discussions and maintaining a positive online environment.
December 08, 2023Source

Internet — Software — December 6th, 2023

Have you seen the most-viewed TikTok video of the year?
It's been viewed over 504 million times.
December 6, 2023Source

The new Microsoft Teams app is now generally available for virtual desktops
In October, Microsoft officially launched the new "2.0" version of its Teams online chat and meeting app for Windows and Mac users. This week, the company revealed that the new Teams app is now generally available for its virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) users after a period of public preview testing.
December 6, 2023Source

Internet — Software — December 5th, 2023

Audio has vanished from Instagram's oldest videos
If you have videos from as early as 2014 on your Instagram account, their audio may be gone.
December 5, 2023Source

Elon Musk's xAI company is seeking up to $1 billion in investments
xAI has already raised $134.7 million so far.
December 5, 2023Source

How to prevent the Brave browser from saving sites you've visited
Erase your steps.
December 5, 2023Source

The best dating apps and sites in December 2023
Find love (or something more casual) this month.
December 5, 2023Source

X is now licensed for payment processing in a dozen US states
Elon Musk is moving forward with his plans to turn the company formerly known as Twitter, now called X, into an "everything app" that includes its own payments system. The company in late November was granted three additional money transmitter licenses in the U.S. states of South Dakota (on November 27), Kansas (on November 28) and Wyoming (on November 30), bringing the total number of states where the company is allowed to engage in money transfers to 12.
December 5, 2023Source

YouTube Is Working On Real-Time Likes And Views Counters
Undoubtedly, the number of views and likes people get on YouTube videos is very important. This is the same for both the platform and creators on it, and sometimes, tracking these numbers can be a difficult task. Well, that could soon change as the company is apparently working on real-time likes and views counters, and once the feature does roll out, it will do exactly what it means, and more importantly, it will rid you of any third-party software or plugins that you might be using.
December 5, 2023Source

YouTuber pilot regrets intentionally crashing plane, gets 6 months in prison
YouTuber took plea deal, dodged maximum sentence of 20 years.
December 5, 2023Source

Internet — Software — December 4th, 2023

Here's Why You Might Want To Use Vanish Mode On The Instagram App
If you've ever scrolled to the bottom of a conversation in Instagram messages, you've probably seen a circle appear prompting you to "swipe up to turn on vanish mode." The feature is Instagram's version of Snapchat-style ephemeral messaging, meaning messages sent with it disappear after being seen. According to Instagram, messages vanish as soon as someone leaves the chat or turns off vanish mode. So why would you want to enable vanish mode rather than simply using the default messaging mode on Instagram?
December 4, 2023Source

Inside the 'arms race' between YouTube and ad blockers
Against all odds, open source hackers keep outfoxing one of the wealthiest companies.
December 4, 2023Source

Fake WordPress security advisory pushes backdoor plugin
WordPress administrators are being emailed fake WordPress security advisories for a fictitious vulnerability tracked as CVE-2023-45124 to infect sites with a malicious plugin.
December 4, 2023Source

Gmail's AI-powered spam detection is its biggest security upgrade in years
Gmail's spam filters can now understand "adversarial text manipulations."
December 4, 2023Source

Threads downloads return to growth as X adds Walmart to its advertiser exodus
Recent efforts by Meta to grow Threads' install base have been working. According to a new analysis of app store trends, Instagram Threads is now outpacing X, formerly Twitter, at least in terms of new downloads. App intelligence firm Apptopia indicates that, although Threads' daily downloads had been declining since September, things have shifted in the opposite direction over the past week or so.
December 4, 2023Source

TikTok expands its in-app Ticketmaster ticketing feature to users in 20 countries
TikTok and Ticketmaster are expanding their partnership into 20 new countries after initially launching it in the United States back in August 2022. The partnership allows users to discover events and buy tickets for them directly in TikTok without having to leave the app.
December 4, 2023Source

Internet — Software — December 1st, 2023

Judge blocks state-wide TikTok ban over free speech concerns
The bill "oversteps state power and infringes on the constitutional rights of users"
December 1, 2023Source

Skype Insider gets stacked media albums, now lets you use your phone as a secondary camera
Microsoft has prepared a new feature-packed update for Skype Insiders. Version 8.110.76.102 is now available on supported platforms with two major changes: the ability to use your smartphone as an extra camera during video calls (TwinCam) and stacked media albums.
December 1, 2023Source

This viral TikToker's iPhone alarm keeps going off at 9:25 am, and she refuses to do the one thing that might fix it
Our resident ex-Apple Genius weighs in!
December 1, 2023Source

TikTok ban in Montana blocked by federal judge
For months now, TikTok, owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, has been in a legal showdown with the state of Montana. State lawmakers dropped the hammer by passing a bill to ban the app with the argument that the ban is necessary to shield residents' data from the Chinese government, adding fuel to the national movement to kick TikTok off government-owned devices.
December 1, 2023Source or Source

Which countries have banned TikTok?
A growing list of nations and government bodies are taking action against the app.
December 1, 2023Source

X turns to small businesses after telling big ones to go f*ck themselves
X is now hoping to sell more ads to small businesses, after owner Elon Musk told large ones like Apple and Disney to "go f*ck yourselves" ...
December 1, 2023Source

X advertisers stay away as CEO defends Musk's "go f*** yourself" interview
"Elon's interview was candid and profound," Yaccarino writes in memo to staff.
December 1, 2023Source

Internet — Software — November 30th, 2023

Most users on X never see Community Notes correcting misinformation
A Mashable investigation found that Elon Musk's answer to X's misinformation problem is failing.
November 30, 2023Source

YouTube is widely rolling out a smaller button for skipping ads
YouTube has been experimenting with various ad formats over the years, including unskippable ads and multiple consecutive ad segments. While some of these experiments have been met with backlash from users, YouTube has continued to push the boundaries of ad tolerance. In a recent move, the platform began to experiment with a new, smaller button for skipping ads — a change that is now rolling out more widely.
November 30, 2023Source

Internet — Software — November 29th, 2023

Substack adds new video tools to compete with Patreon and YouTube
Creators can now upload videos with flexible paywalls.
November 29, 2023Source

Internet — Software — November 28th, 2023

Instagram Serves Up 'Risque Footage of Kids' to Adults Who Follow Children
An investigation has found that the Instagram algorithm pushes suggestive footage of children and overtly sexual videos to adults on the platform who only follow children.
November 28, 2023Source

Microsoft opens sources ThreadX under MIT license
The 'Azure RTOS' used in millions of Raspberry Pis is now FOSS
November 28, 2023Source

Thunderbird 115.5.1
The developers of Thunderbird have released another update of the email client to version 115.5.1 on November 27, 2023. It is an update that is intended to fix some bugs.
November 28, 2023Source

You can now change the background of your Instagram Stories
A feature we wanted, a feature we deserve.
November 28, 2023Source

Internet — Software — November 27th, 2023

BetterDiscord: What It Is And (How To Set It Up)
In the eight-plus years since its launch, group chat app Discord has taken over that segment of the market. A mix of IRC, video streaming platforms, and voice chat apps, it started as part of the gaming community before expanding out into other areas. If you're a content creator with a Patreon page and want a Patron-exclusive chat server, Discord is the only one that seamlessly integrates with Patreon. And it makes it so you don't have to manually add everyone like you would on workplace-centric chat apps like Slack.
November 27, 2023Source

Google Drive has reportedly lost some user data (Google responds, investigating)
The Google Drive team has issued an update via the support community clearing up that this is affecting the desktop app and stating that they are currently investigating. Some advice was also offered, such as to not disconnect the account from the desktop app or delete the app data folder.
November 27, 2023Source

Google Drive: Users are reporting that their files have disappeared
The root cause is still unknown.
November 27, 2023Source

Meta routinely ignored reports of kids under 13 on Instagram, states allege
Newly unredacted suit cites internal documents, including report to Zuckerberg.
November 27, 2023Source

Throwing in the towel: Paris mayor quits X and says some nasty stuff on her way out
Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo can't take it anymore and announces that she's going to quit X/Twitter. What a blow for Elon Musk, will he ever recover?
November 27, 2023Source

Internet — Software — November 23rd, 2023

Twitter Is Bringing Back Headlines For Tweets To Avoid Anymore Confusion
Twitter or X, or whatever it is that you are calling it these days has gone through a lot of changes ever since its acquisition. Verified people lost their blue ticks, everyone else started paying for the blue ticks, and then we kept seeing change after change.
November 23, 2023Source

Internet — Software — November 22nd, 2023

Yup, this app brings X, Threads, Bluesky, and other social media apps together
Yup furthers the mindset of decentralized social media — but more work is needed.
November 22, 2023Source

Internet — Software — November 21st, 2023

Crowd-sourced fact-checking fights misinformation in Taiwan
In the study, researchers compared professional fact-checking articles to posts on Cofacts, a community-sourced fact-checking platform in Taiwan. They found the crowdsourced site often responded to queries more rapidly than professionals and handled a different range of issues across platforms.
November 21, 2023Source

Flipboard is abandoning X for Mastodon
The platform says it will hold on to its accounts and retweet from time to time, but it plans to focus on Mastodon and other social platforms instead.
November 21, 2023Source

Musk files lawsuit claiming Media Matters manipulated X by scrolling down
In lawsuit, Musk says ads next to antisemitic posts are Media Matters' fault.
November 21, 2023Source

Raise your hand to speak, please
Google Meet adds gesture detection to recognize when you raise your hand on a group video call
November 21, 2023Source

The Eyes on the Board Act Is Yet Another Misguided Attempt to Limit Social Media for Teens
Young people's access to social media continues to be under attack by overreaching politicians. The latest effort, Senator Ted Cruz's blunt "Eyes on the Board" Act, aims to end social media's use entirely in schools
November 21, 2023Source

Yup hacks together a cross-posting app for X, Threads, Bluesky and others
Decentralized social networking may be the future, but in the meantime, there are a lot of Twitter alternatives to keep up with. A new app called Yup aims to help by offering a single place to read feeds, follow friends across services and cross-post to a range of social apps, including Twitter/X itself, as well as Bluesky, Farcaster, Lens and Threads — although the latter comes with a big caveat.
November 21, 2023Source

Internet — Software — November 20th, 2023

ChromeOS 119 makes it easier than ever to play Steam games on your Chromebook
The update Chromebook gamers have been waiting for.
November 20, 2023Source

Dropbox partners with NVIDIA for generative AI for its customers
Dropbox is looking to take its cloud storage service to a new level. Imagine cloud storage that doesn't just hold your files but also intelligently organizes them, predicts your needs, and streamlines your workflow. This is the vision behind the recent collaboration between Dropbox and NVIDIA, two giants in their respective fields coming together to redefine how we interact with our digital content.
November 20, 2023Source

Google Drive brings a more PC-like experience to tablets and foldables
Making larger Android devices feel like portable computers.
November 20, 2023Source

I let fancams dictate what I watch
My unique approach to becoming a film bro.
November 20, 2023Source

Instagram Threads missed a moment to shine, as OpenAI's drama took place on X
Instagram Threads missed its moment to truly challenge X, this weekend's OpenAI scandal indicates. Over the past few days, as news spread about the board's decision to remove Sam Altman as OpenAI CEO, and the impacts of this wild and unexpected change rippled through Silicon Valley's tech ecosystem, the conversation was largely not taking place on Threads, but on X.
November 20, 2023Source

Net privacy wars will be with us always. Let's set some rules
Size matters, and what you do with it. But keep it safe
November 20, 2023Source

Tech CEOs are set to testify in a Senate online child sexual exploitation hearing in December
The CEOs of X, Discord and Snap have been subpoenaed, while Mark Zuckerberg and TikTok's Shou Zi Chew may testify voluntarily.
November 20, 2023Source

TikTok has a startling amount of sexual content and it's way too easy for children to access, researchers say
Explicit content has long been a feature of the internet and social media, and young people's exposure to it has been a persistent concern.
November 20, 2023Source

Internet — Software — November 17th, 2023

Addressing the risks of using bulk remediation with Google Drive [Q&A]
Bulk remediation in Google Shared Drives can be useful in removing unneeded permissions, revoking expired access and ensuring that data remains secure.
November 17, 2023Source

Apple reportedly pauses advertising on X over Elon Musk pos
Apple is pausing all advertising on X, the Elon Musk-owned social network, Axios reports on Friday citing "sources."
November 17, 2023Source

Apple, Disney among brands reportedly pulling ads from X amid growing antisemitic content backlash
IBM previously suspended its ads, citing concerns about hate speech.
November 17, 2023Source

Backlash builds after Elon Musk called an antisemitic conspiracy theory the 'actual truth'
Elon Musk has encouraged extremists and white supremacists throughout his yearlong tenure as the owner of X, formerly Twitter, but this week he still managed to push the limits of what behavior mainstream users — and advertisers — will tolerate.
November 17, 2023Source

Bluesky is now 2 million users strong, with big plans ahead
The social media platform is integrating a crucial feature Elon Musk has rolled back from X.
November 17, 2023Source

Facebook cofounder calls on Elon Musk to resign for endorsing antisemitic tweet
Facebook cofounder and Asana CEO Dustin Moskovitz said Elon Musk should resign after Musk called an antisemitic post on X the "actual truth."
November 17, 2023Source

Meta, TikTok challenge incoming EU digital market law
Tech giants Meta and TikTok are contesting the scope of an EU law that from March will set new rules on competition in the digital marketplace.
November 17, 2023Source

"We don't allow ads on our platform that contain sexually explicit content," Google explains after an explicit ad surfaced on YouTube amid its firm stance on ad-blockers
YouTube is in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
November 17, 2023Source

What do Apple, Meta, TikTok have in common? Fighting off Europe's stiff antitrust rules
Gatekeeper status under DMA? Don't you know who I am?
November 17, 2023Source

YouTube now allows breastfeeding videos to be monetized. Here's why it changed its mind.
Areolas won't get you in trouble, as long as you follow the rules.
November 17, 2023Source or Source

YouTube Will Require Creators to Disclose AI-Generated Content
The disclosures will appear at the bottom of videos and Shorts that include 'altered or synthetic content.'
November 17, 2023Source

Internet — Software — November 16th, 2023

Apple fights EU gatekeeper status to avoid opening up services to rivals
Labeling newcomer TikTok as a gatekeeper defeats the purpose of DMA, TikTok says.
November 16, 2023Source

Elon Musk's X: Ad watchdog files FTC complaint against it for not clearly disclosing ads
The platform formerly known as Twitter partakes in deceptive ad practices, according to Check My Ads.
November 16, 2023Source

Instagram gets new features
Meta has announced that it is launching a new range of features for Instagram, this includes a new range of filters, new ways to create Reel on Instagram, improved insights for creators accounts, and more
November 16, 2023Source

Instagram Reels will look a lot more like TikTok soon
Instagram just upgraded nearly every aspect of the Reels experience.
November 16, 2023Source

Instagram update adds new camera filters and video editing tools for content creators
You can also turn Reels and Stories into custom stickers.
November 16, 2023Source

Nepal Bans TikTok for Disrupting 'Social Harmony'
Reports of the ban come from BBC, The New York Times, and other publications, all of which list disruption to "social harmony" as the cited cause. Foreign Minister Narayan Prakash Saud said the app would be banned immediately following a Cabinate meeting, according to the Associated Press.
November 16, 2023Source

Threads introduces tags to help users categorize posts
It's in testing in Australia, Mark Zuckerberg wrote.
November 16, 2023Source

TikTok and Meta challenge Europe's new rules that crack down on digital giants
TikTok and Facebook owner Meta are filing legal challenges against new European Union rules designed to counter the dominance of digital giants and make online competition fairer by giving consumers more choice.
November 16, 2023Source

TikTok's rising popularity in news consumption challenges Facebook's reign
Thirty percent of US adults still prefer Facebook for their news
November 16, 2023Source

tripleS' LOVElution like to watch TikTok challenges, ASMR, and videos about optimistic nihilism
Members from K-pop's first decentralized girl group spend a lot of time on their phones.
November 16, 2023Source

X rival Bluesky hits 2M users, says federation coming 'early next year'
Bluesky, the company building a decentralized alternative to Twitter/X, announced today it has hit 2 million users — up by another million since September, despite remaining an invite-only app. It also revealed its time frame regarding other key goals, indicating that it planned to have a public web interface go live by the end of the month and would launch federation by early next year.
November 16, 2023Source

YouTube now allows monetization on videos with breastfeeding nudity and 'non-sexually graphic dancing'
YouTube is updating its guidelines to allow new types of content to monetize adult content, including videos that display nudity while breastfeeding and non-sexually graphic dancing.
November 16, 2023Source

Internet — Software — November 15th, 2023

Even experts struggle to tell which social media posts are evidence-based. So what do we do?
The debate on how to combat social media misinformation is as relevant as ever. In recent years, we've seen medical misinformation spreading alongside COVID, and political misinformation impacting the outcome of elections and national referendums.
November 15, 2023Source

Google, Meta and other social media companies will be forced to defend teen addiction lawsuits
A federal judge has rejected the companies' efforts to dismiss the lawsuits.
November 15, 2023Source

Instagram Announces New Editing Features for Photos and Reels
Instagram announced Wednesday that it's upping its editing game by providing users with new tools.
November 15, 2023Source

Instagram gets new filters for the first time in forever
It's also testing the ability to create stickers from your own photos and videos, and many Reels features are being streamlined.
November 15, 2023Source

Instagram now lets you share Reels and posts with just close friends
Your feed could look significantly different.
November 15, 2023Source

Microsoft Teams adds AI backgrounds as it moves to the metaverse
Look for Teams to get a makeover, come January.
November 15, 2023Source

Microsoft Teams launches creepy AI webcam trick that cleans up your dirty room
Google Meet and Zoom need to get on board.
November 15, 2023Source

YouTube Premium Got a Bunch of New Features: AI, Enhanced Bitrate on Android, More
As YouTube Premium's price continues to increase, Google is at least trying to convince us all that new features could still show up from time to time, making the subscription (outside of the ad-free experience) worth it . Today, YouTube confirmed a couple of AI features that have been in testing, as well as several other new features you should soon be able to take advantage of, like enhanced bitrate on Android.
November 15, 2023Source

YouTube Premium members can test new conversational AI, but there are limited spots
Android finally gets better bitrate on videos following iOS.
November 15, 2023Source

YouTube rolls out high bitrate 1080p to all Premium subscribers
There are also a handful of new AI-powered features you can test out.
November 15, 2023Source

Internet — Software — November 14th, 2023

Amazon strikes deal with Snap to let users buy its products from ads on Snapchat
Amazon has entered into a partnership with Snap to allow users to buy its products directly from ads on the social app, the company confirmed to TechCrunch. The news was first reported by The Information. The Amazon ads on Snapchat will display real-time pricing, delivery estimates, product details and Prime eligibility, the e-commerce giant told TechCrunch.
November 14, 2023Source

How to Use Hidden Browser Window Controls in ChromeOS
ChromeOS users, learn how to use these hidden browser window controls, and find out why you'll want to use them.
November 14, 2023Source

Instagram and Facebook Are Now Growing Faster Than TikTok
Meta's apps Instagram and Facebook are growing faster than TikTok for the first time in a while
November 14, 2023Source

Like a song you hear on TikTok? Now one click adds it to your favorite music app
TikTok just made it easier for you to discover and save music.
November 14, 2023Source

Social media giants must face child safety lawsuits, judge rules
Meta, ByteDance, Alphabet, and Snap are dealing with dozens of lawsuits that accuse their platforms of harming children.
November 14, 2023Source

Threads finally lets you chuck your account without axing your Instagram
The result of community feedback.
November 14, 2023Source

Threads users can finally delete their profile separately from Instagram
Because it wanted to come up with an alternative to Twitter, Meta made some compromises when it launched Threads. Apart from the lack of some basic features, Threads users had their accounts tied to their Instagram accounts.
November 14, 2023Source

TikTok disputes claims of anti-Israel bias amid calls to ban the app
TikTok is pushing back against claims of bias in the Israel-Hamas war, after American politicians resumed efforts to ban the app over the apparent popularity of pro-Palestinian content. In a recent open letter, Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) said that the influx of content critical of Israel could "propagandize Americans."
November 14, 2023Source

X fails to remove hate speech over Israel-Gaza conflict
98% of posts reported stay up, and Musk's response is to sue the messenger
November 14, 2023Source

You can now limit Instagram posts and Reels to Close Friends
Instagram hopes this will help users be their more authentic selves.
November 14, 2023Source

Internet — Software — November 13th, 2023

Elon Musk says X is changing its algorithm to highlight smaller accounts
The company formerly known as Twitter is preparing to roll out a "major update" to its algorithm, according to a recent post by X owner Elon Musk. While today the app's For You feed surfaces popular and trending posts from its broader network alongside highlights from those you follow, the new algorithm will surface posts from smaller accounts, Musk said.
November 13, 2023Source

Nepal's government becomes the latest to ban TikTok
Joining the ever-growing list of governments across the world to impose a restriction or ban on the use of TikTok, Nepal has decided to impose a ban on the app during a cabinet meeting that took place today.
November 13, 2023Source

Threads now lets users opt out of having their posts appear on Facebook and Instagram
In response to user feedback, Instagram's Threads will now let users turn off automatic sharing of their Threads posts to other apps, including Instagram and Facebook — a move that had not gone down well with Threads users. Hoping to gain more traction and interest in its Twitter/X rival, Meta in late August began displaying a carousel of suggested Threads on other Meta-owned apps.
November 13, 2023Source

Threads users can now opt out of automatically sharing posts to Facebook and Instagram
You'll need to change a privacy setting.
November 13, 2023Source

Internet — Software — November 10th, 2023

Microsoft pulls OneDrive update that would quiz you before letting you quit
Change affected a "small subset" of users and has (thankfully) been reverted.
November 10, 2023Source

Internet — Software — November 9th, 2023

After 14 years, chat website Omegle shuts down
Another site has gone offline for good.
November 9, 2023Source

EU opens probe into TikTok, YouTube over child protection
The EU announced investigations on Thursday into YouTube and TikTok to find out what action the US and Chinese-owned platforms are taking to ensure the safety of minors.
November 9, 2023Source

Google, Meta, TikTok defeat Austria's plan to combat hate speech
First batch of EU's required transparency reports reveals record content removals.
November 9, 2023Source

How to block people on TikTok
It's very easy.
November 9, 2023Source

OneDrive is the latest Microsoft app to treat users like a creepy stalker
"Listen Microsoft, it's not you, it's...okay it's absolutely you. Pay for dinner and then lose my number, weirdo."
November 9, 2023Source

The best VPN service for 2023
Don't fall for the hyped-up, overly-marketed VPN service options.
November 9, 2023Source

The Trevor Project announces its leaving X amid growing anti-LGBTQ hate
The organization says the site is no longer a safe place for LGBTQ users.
November 9, 2023Source

YouTube update introduces new "For You" section for creators
YouTube announced a new feature specifically tailored for creators, a "For you" section available from the Home tab. The new section has been designed to recommend YouTube users various content from the creator's channel based on their watch history.
November 9, 2023Source

Tumblr to run on skeleton crew as parent company Automattic absorbs staff
According to a leaked memo, Tumblr's longterm financial woes have reached a breaking point. Aside from a skeleton crew of essential workers in departments like trust and safety, the majority of Tumblr's 139 workers will be reassigned to other products at parent company Automattic, which employs around 1,900 people.
November 9, 2023Source

WordPress Playground: From 5-Minute Install To Instant Spin-Up
WordPress Playground began as an experiment to see what a self-hosted WordPress experience might look like without the requirement of having to actually install WordPress. A year later, the experiment has evolved into a full-fledged project that not only abstracts installation but opens up WordPress to a slew of new opportunities. Ganesh Dahal demonstrates how WordPress Playground works and gets deep into how it might be used.
November 9, 2023Source

Internet — Software — November 7th, 2023

As Instagram hits 1 million paid subscriptions, Meta rolls out more ways for creators to make money
Being a content creator on social media is a new profession, with stats showing that about 200 million people consider themselves creators. A big part of them prefer Instagram as the platform to share content and earn money. Instagram's monetization program, Instagram Subscriptions, allows creators to make money by sharing exclusive content with their followers.
November 7, 2023Source

'Crowding out' the competition: Study reveals surprising livestream chatting and tipping behavior
Over the past decade, social media giants including X (formerly known as Twitter), Facebook, YouTube, Amazon and Twitch have begun offering livestreaming services, allowing users to interact with each other in real time on their computers and mobile phones.
November 7, 2023Source

How to use AI tools to automate your Instagram accounts
If you are interested in harnessing the power of AI to help automate the management of your Instagram page. This AI Instagram automation guide will provide details on how you can start generating AI-created images, creating image-specific captions, and scheduling posts.
November 7, 2023Source

Hubspot API Integration With WordPress CMS
This article presents a discussion of various approaches that one can use to integrate Hubspot CMS using WordPress.
November 7, 2023Source

Instagram begins to test the option to turn off read receipts in direct messages
Just as Instagram hits one million paid subscriptions and rolls out new features for content creators, the popular platform isn't just sitting around when it comes to delivering for its daily users. In the latest update, the company shared that it is making one small tweak that can come a long way when it comes to privacy — invisible read receipts.
November 7, 2023Source

Microsoft Teams for Education will add several new features, like reusing modules, soon
In October, Microsoft released its new Teams app for Windows and Mac and its new Teams for Education variant app. Now that the new Teams for Education app is rolling out, Microsoft has been adding new features for its customers, and more will be rolling out during the month of November and also into early December.
November 7, 2023Source

Reddit is starting to test its own add-ons for the platform
The new tools will help mods and let people make posts with live scoreboards, but they'll only be available to a small number of communities to start.
November 7, 2023Source

Social media security issues pose threat to election campaigns
A new report from access management platform Cerby highlights the critical need for best practices for businesses and political leaders to secure their accounts as the November 2024 US elections quickly approach.
November 7, 2023Source

Internet — Software — November 6th, 2023

Meet Grok: Elon Musk's AI chatbot coming to X with attitude and a sense of humor
In July, Elon Musk shared that his new company, xAI, will be developing a "maximum truth-seeking AI" that tries to understand the nature of the universe. Well, now the AI chatbot is official. Its name is Grok, and it is modeled after the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and as the company says, it is "intended to answer almost anythin
November 6, 2023Source

Meta working on giving Threads users control (as it should) on whether their posts are shared on FB
Currently, there is a feature of Threads and Facebook that promotes Threads posts on people's Facebook feeds. There is no option of opting out of this though, at this time. However, now it seems Meta is going to give that rightful choice to users, reports Android Headlines. The company is working on a way to let users choose how their posts get shared (and if they want that at all).
November 6, 2023Source

What is TikTok Wrapped? Here's how to download your data to try it for yourself
Move over, Spotify Wrapped.
November 6, 2023Source

Internet — Software — November 3rd, 2023

Best apps for sexting
Let's get NSFW.
November 3, 2023Source

Elon Musk wants X to be a dating app. It already is.
If anything, dating is now harder to do on Twitter.
November 3, 2023Source

Thousands of people are uninstalling ad blockers after YouTube's big crackdown
Ad blocking companies say that YouTube's changes are hurting them.
November 3, 2023Source

TikTok says it's removed millions of fake accounts since start of Israel-Hamas war
The company has taken down 925,000 videos in the "conflict region" as well.
November 3, 2023Source

Internet — Software — November 2nd, 2023

Cloudflare Dashboard and APIs down after data center power outage
In an update to the incident report, the company says it partially restored power to its core data center in North America and is working to restore full functionality to impacted products.
November 2, 2023Source

Stephen King calls on Elon Musk to change 'X' back to Twitter
"This sh*t's got to go" said the author, referring to 'X.'
November 2, 2023Source

Threads posts don't have to show up on Instagram and Facebook
Threads appears to be working on a new setting that lets you stop the platform from promoting your content on Facebook, Instagram, or both.
November 2, 2023Source

Useful Sensors Launches AI in a Box
How would you like to have your own private and secure AI in a box? All the apps, none of the creepiness? That's what Useful Sensors promises.
November 2, 2023Source

YouTube takes aim at teens binging on body image videos
YouTube on Thursday said it tweaked its recommendation system in the United States to prevent teens from binging on videos idealizing certain body types.
November 2, 2023Source

YouTube's new teen safeguards limit repeated viewing of some video topics and more
Two years after testifying before the U.S. Senate over child safety concerns, including teens' exposure to eating disorder content, YouTube today announced additional product safeguards around its content recommendations aimed at teens.
November 2, 2023Source

Internet — Software — October 31st, 2023

One year after being bought for $44 billion, X is worth $19 billion
Company is giving employees equity based on a share price of $45.
October 31, 2023Source

TikTokkers say their friends aren't texting back. Why?
Don't assume your friend isn't interested because they're not responding.
October 31, 2023Source

The one Windows 11 app I loathe is getting an overhaul
The change comes as Microsoft begins formally rolling out the Windows 11 2023 Update.
October 31, 2023Source

X unveils new premium subscription plan, including ad-free tier for $16 a month
Is free Twitter/X on the way out? Elon Musk adds new subscription tiers: The more you pay, the fewer ads you'll see.
October 31, 2023Source

Internet — Software — October 30th, 2023

At last, Microsoft Teams will let you archive channels
The option to archive channels within Microsoft Teams could ship as soon as December of this year.
October 30, 2023Source

Best online backup 2023: Carbonite, iDrive, Backblaze, Livedrive, and more
We'll help you choose the best online backup service.
October 30, 2023Source

Elon Musk envisions X will become a financial powerhouse in a year
A year after Elon Musk took the reins at Twitter, changes keep rolling in like autumn leaves in a breeze. And it seems the transformation won't be slowing down anytime soon. Musk is on a mission to reshape the former Twitter into X, an everything app.
October 30, 2023Source

Mastodon takes on Twitter/X by bringing 'lists' to mobile
Mastodon, the open source, decentralized alternative to Twitter/X, is adding a feature to its app that will help make the transition smoother for newcomers: Lists. The company today announced the Mastodon app for Android is adding the much-in-demand feature, which allows users to create custom lists around specific topics or interests. An update for iOS is expected to follow, though the company did not commit to a time frame.
October 30, 2023Source

New Threads update brings an in-app GIF picker and support for polls
Meta keeps working hard on its new social media platform, Threads, to make it an app with 1 billion users in the next couple of years. Of course, for an app to be attractive it needs to have fun and useful features. Now, Meta is adding some new features for Threads, reports 9to5Google, including a native GIF picker and polls.
October 30, 2023Source

Watch YouTube Without Ads with FreeTube for Mac, Windows, Linux
YouTube is the webs most popular video site by a long shot, practically serving as a television replacement for millions. But as any Youtube viewer knows, the ads can be very aggressive and there are times where you'll have to watch a 30 second ad before you can watch one minute of content, which is not exactly a great experience.
October 30, 2023Source

X looks back at year of so-called 'engineering excellence' under Musk
Now please subscribe to premium and let us host your 'entire financial life'
October 30, 2023Source

Internet — Software — October 27th, 2023

Elon Musk's Twitter a year later: Everything you need to know\
Welcome to Elon Musk's Twitter (now X), where the rules are made up and the check marks don't matter.
October 27, 2023Source

How To Add A Home Button To Google Chrome (And Why You Should)
One of the primary functions of any web browser's Homepage is to give you the option to decide what you see first, as soon as you either start up the app — open a new window or tab. In Chrome, it can be used to load up your most commonly-visited websites right off the bat, or you can set up shortcuts and cards to make it more of an all-encompassing glossary page with quick links to several of your preferred URLs.
October 27, 2023Source

Instagram tests collaborative carousels your friends can add to
Instagram's new test will let followers add photos or videos to your posts.
October 27, 2023Source

Meta wants Threads to be the 'de facto platform' for online public conversations
It's a big goal, but things have been going well for Threads lately.
October 27, 2023Source

Microsoft Teams will soon add generative AI-based custom backgrounds for annoucement posts
Back in May, Microsoft rolled out a new and large collection of virtual backgrounds that Microsoft Teams member could use while they were in a video meeting. Now it looks like Microsoft is planning to offer Teams members some more ways to create backgrounds, at least for announcement posts in Teams channels.
October 27, 2023Source

Skype Insider gets another massive update with redesigned replies, audio messages, and more
Only a few days after the last update for Skype Preview, Microsoft released another feature-packed update to test in the Skype Insider program. Version 8.107 is now available on all supported platforms with redesigned replies, audio message improvements, even more enhancements for the camera experience, and bug fixes.
October 27, 2023Source

Twitter Rolls Out Premium+ And Basic Subscription Tiers: Here's What They Get You
On Friday, X, the social media platform formally known as Twitter, announced two new tiers of its paid subscription plans, making an already confusing system more confusing. 
October 27, 2023Source

Why Elon Musk is obsessed with casting X as the most 'authentic' social media platform
With X, formerly known as Twitter, hitting the one-year anniversary of Elon Musk's US$44 billion takeover of the social media platform, it can feel disorienting to try to make sense of all that's gone down.
October 27, 2023Source

X is launching two new subscription tiers, including a 'Premium+' ad-free plan
X, formerly known as Twitter, is introducing two new tiers for its subscription offering in order to bring in additional revenue. The social media giant is adding a new Premium+ tier that costs $16 per month and offers the "largest reply boost" and removes ads from the For You and Following feeds.
October 27, 2023Source

X launches two new subscriptions to boost your replies
Premium Plus is double the price of X Premium and comes with a more significant algorithmic boost, while $3 Basic subscribers get the smallest bump added to their replies.
October 27, 2023Source

X to take on newswire services with new product, XWire
As Instagram Threads is leaning away from news, according to statements made by Instagram head Adam Mosseri, its competitor X appears to be doubling down. Executives at the company formerly known as Twitter spoke during yesterday's all-hands internal meeting of their desire to create a new wire service called XWire, according to Bloomberg.
October 27, 2023Source

YouTube has a new built-in screenshot feature you can test — here's how
It's over for the 'Screenshot YouTube' Google extension!
October 27, 2023Source

Internet — Software — October 26th, 2023

Elon Musk Reportedly Wants Twitter To Take Over Your Financial Life In 2024
Elon Musk's previously stated ambitions to turn X, formerly Twitter, into a one-stop-shop complete with financial services have taken center stage at the company, according to a new report. The Verge claims that X employees were pulled into an all-hands-on-deck meeting today during which Musk issued a new decree: they're to implement financial features into the microblogging service.
October 26, 2023Source

Elon Musk's chaotic first year at Twitter leaves X Corp. with shaky finances
X has fewer users and a big ad-revenue problem on Musk's first anniversary.
October 26, 2023Source

How to See Transcripts on Any YouTube Video
Getting a transcript of a YouTube video is a handy feature if you didn't understand something or if the person went too fast, for example. It's easy to find and use the feature.
October 26, 2023Source

Mark Zuckerberg envisions Threads as Meta's next billion-person app
It is that time of year when companies unveil their third-quarter reports, shedding light on the market's trends and recent developments. Spotify recently disclosed its report, revealing an uptick in users and revenue despite a price increase earlier this year. Now, Meta is sharing insights into its performance.
October 26, 2023Source

Privacy advocate challenges YouTube's ad blocking detection scripts under EU law
Irish eyes may not be smiling
October 26, 2023Source

Threads is adding polls and GIFs as it continues to chase X
Meta is also testing pinned posts and view counts, which you might also be familiar with from the platform formerly known as Twitter.
October 26, 2023Source

Threads isn't dead and it now has polls and GIFs too
Meta's X rival, Instagram Threads, is copying a couple more X features today with the launch of support for polls and GIFs. The update comes in rapid succession to other releases for the new app, which have included support for a web version, a (free) edit button, profile switching, likes, full-text search, a chronological feed, voice posts, and more.
October 26, 2023Source

On-by-default video calls come to X, disable to retain your sanity
Oh, and happy Twitter acquisition day eve to Elon. Will year 2 be better? Not if the bankers get hold of him, it seems
October 26, 2023Source

X (Twitter) rolls out Video and Voice calls for users behind its Premium paywall
iOS first, Android later.
October 26, 2023Source

X / Twitter launches video and audio calls — here's how to use 'em
If you pay $8 per month, you can now call people on Elon Musk's platform.
October 26, 2023Source

Internet — Software — October 24th, 2023

33 US States Sue Meta for 'Harming Mental Health of Young People'
A group of 33 states are suing Meta for allegedly harming young people's mental health by knowingly designing features on Instagram and Facebook to hook children to its platforms.
October 24, 2023Source

How to sign up for Community Notes on Twitter / X — take part in content moderation
Elon Musk has basically handed over most content moderation to X's crowdsourced fact-checking feature. Here's how to take part.
October 24, 2023Source

How can social media be better? Four researchers compare strategies
Major platform social media is in an upheaval. Bluesky and Meta's Threads want to be Twitter. LinkedIn's influence is rising. Meanwhile, Twitter has become X. And X wants to be an everything app--possibly including job listings, payment and ride-hailing--even as advertising revenue flounders. Amid this, op-ed after op-ed announces the impending death of social media.
October 24, 2023Source

Instagram is testing a dedicated feed for posts from Verified users
Instagram is testing a feed that will only display posts from Meta Verified and legacy verified users, according to Instagram head Adam Mosseri. The new toggle will appear under the "Following" and "Favorites" options listed when you click on the Instagram logo in the app.
October 24, 2023Source

Say hello to another feed you didn't ask for on Instagram
Instagram is testing a new feature to try and entice you to pay for Meta Verified. Are you tempted?
October 24, 2023Source

Skype has a new call screen, camera experience, and Bing Chat improvements on the way
Did you know Microsoft still updates Skype? It's true.
October 24, 2023Source

TikTok is Testing Ability To Upload 15-Minute Videos
TikTok is testing the ability for users to upload 15-minute videos — in a further move to compete with YouTube.
October 24, 2023Source

Twitter clone Pebble is shutting down just five weeks after a rebrand
You can download your entire archive before it closes up shop.
October 24, 2023Source

X/Twitter: Imposing a $1 bot tax on new customers will only make the platform's problems worse
X, formerly known as Twitter, is testing a subscription plan called "Not a Bot" of US$1 equivalent per annum in New Zealand and the Philippines. Those who don't subscribe will still be able to log in to view content and follow other accounts, but won't be able to interact through tweeting, liking, sharing or bookmarking content.
October 24, 2023Source

Internet — Software — October 23rd, 2023

Instagram tests a verified-only feed
Meta is testing a feed that only shows posts from people who pay for Meta Verified.
October 23, 2023Source

Instagram Will Let You Add Polls in Comments Section of Your Posts
Instagram will soon let users add polls to the comments section of their photo posts and Reels.
October 23, 2023Source

Reddit finally takes its API war where it belongs: to AI companies
After battling third-party apps, Reddit threatens generative AI firms, WaPo reports.
October 23, 2023Source

TikTok is testing 15-minute uploads with select users
TikTok is testing the ability for users to upload 15-minute videos, the company confirmed to TechCrunch on Monday. The social media giant said the new upload limit is being tested in select regions with a limited group of users, but declined to share specifics. The new option increases the video upload limit on the app from 10 minutes to 15 minutes.
October 23, 2023Source

Tinder's app gets more social by letting friends play matchmaker
Dating app users will often sit with friends as they swipe through their matches in order to gain feedback, or even hand over their phone and let their friends swipe for them. Now, that real-life experience is becoming a part of Tinder's product, as the company today is introducing a new feature called Tinder Matchmaker where users can invite their friends — including non-Tinder users — to view and suggest potential matches.
October 23, 2023Source

Internet — Software — October 20th, 2023

Are people actually using TikTok for news?
According to a new study, news accounts are rarely recommended even to news junkies.
October 20, 2023Source

ChromeOS 118 is rolling out, bringing the new Chromebook Plus features with it
Time to check for an update.
October 20, 2023Source

X (formerly Twitter) lost 600 million visitors in September, according to new data
X (Twitter) has been in the hot water recently with criticism from both users and governments. Now, new data shows that the social media platform has lost about 600 million visitors in September alone, reports Android Headlines.
October 20, 2023Source

Internet — Software — October 19th, 2023

Best dating sites for seniors: Find love in your golden years
Whether you're looking for a weekend of fun or everlasting love, these dating sites have a track record of helping folks over 50 and 60 make meaningful connections.
October 19, 2023Source

Best dating sites for serious, long-term relationships
The search for your soulmate is on.
October 19, 2023Source

Best hookup apps and dating sites to find casual sex with no strings attached
Find a casual fling or a spontaneous one-night stand.
October 19, 2023Source

Bottoming TikTok: Meet the creators educating the internet about anal sex
Information shouldn't be reduced to folklore.
October 19, 2023Source

Decentralized ActivityPub Could Be the Future of Social Networks
ActivityPub is an open, distributed social network protocol standardized by the World Wide Web Consortium. Its first version was released in 2018, so it is not new. It is used by several social networks, including Mastodon, which has recently seen a significant increase in popularity when Elon Musk bought Twitter and made changes that did not please many.
October 19, 2023Source

EU opens disinformation probes into Meta, TikTok
The EU announced probes Thursday into Facebook owner Meta and TikTok, seeking more details on the measures they have taken to stop the spread of "illegal content and disinformation" after the Hamas attack on Israel.
October 19, 2023Source

How to Download Videos From YouTube, TikTok and Instagram
Downloading a video you've watched online can be more difficult than expected. Most popular sites prefer you to revisit them and view their ads every time you wish to watch a video, but this may not be ideal for several reasons.
October 19, 2023Source

The best dating sites for introverts, wallflowers, and anyone hesitant to try online dating
Connect with like-minded people who just *get* you.
October 19, 2023Source

Thunderbird 115.3.3
The developers of Thunderbird. October 2023 another update of the email client to version 115.3.3 released (thanks to readers for the tip). It is an update that should fix some bugs but does not contain any innovations and security fixes.
October 19, 2023Source

Why I won't pay to avoid ads on YouTube
Andreas Thors has some sympathy for YouTube's sudden declaration of war on ad blockers, but why are the payment options so bad?
October 19, 2023Source

With X, Musk is playing the bottom-up game
Po-tee-weet?
October 19, 2023Source

YouTube gives news stories a boost with a new watch experience
Consume content quickly or dive deeper for multiple angles.
October 19, 2023Source or Source

Internet — Software — October 18th, 2023

5 investors on the pros and cons of open source AI business models
As the generative AI boom continues, startups building business models around the tech are beginning to delineate along two clear lines.
October 18, 2023Source

Meta is bringing its Telegram-like broadcast channels to Facebook and Messenger
Meta is bringing its Telegram-like "broadcast channels" feature to Facebook and Messenger after rolling it out to Instagram and WhatsApp earlier this year. The company announced today that the feature is coming to the two platforms in the coming weeks.
October 18, 2023Source

Microsoft Teams is adding automated monitoring of audio and video quality in meetings
If you are an admin for your business or organization's Microsoft Teams meetings, you likely had to deal with people who say they couldn't hear the meeting or couldn't view the video, or they could not get documents shared during the event. Now Microsoft is adding new admin features that will monitor the quality of Teams meetings and offer alerts if some users are not getting their optimal experience.
October 18, 2023Source

Threads by Instagram reveals secret new features on mobile and the web
Threads by Instagram is on a mission to earn that spot on your phone's homescreen and it plans on doing that by regularly releasing new features that are of interest to its users. In its latest release, the company has revealed a few "secret" features that you may or may not know exist on the platform.
October 18, 2023Source

X begins charging new users $1 per year to send tweets
The "Not a Bot" program is being trialed in New Zealand and the Philippines.
October 18, 2023Source

X lets new users prove they're not a bot — for a small fee
X — the platform formerly known as Twitter — is testing out a new 'Not A Bot' program that will allow users to pay a small annual fee to verify that they are in fact a real person.
October 18, 2023Source or Source or Source or Source

Internet — Software — October 17th, 2023

Want to find a song by humming it? YouTube has your back as it's rolling out dozens of new features
YouTube is treating its users to a slew of new features and design tweaks. Following last year's revamp for a better user experience, the platform is now introducing over three dozen new updates, including better audio control on mobile devices, easier control on playback speeds, Search by voice or song, a brand new You tab, and more.
October 17, 2023Source

X faces legal heat again: Allegedly employee was fired for being critical of Elon Musk's plans
X, formerly known as Twitter, finds itself entangled in legal issues yet again. In a recent development, a legal marketing company named X Social Media has slapped X with a lawsuit, claiming that the new name of the social media platform infringes on its trademark, which features the letter "X."
October 17, 2023Source

You Can Now Tell Instagram to Stop Tracking You Across the Web
Instagram users just retained a bit more privacy online as the Meta-owned app now lets its users tell Instagram not to track their activity across the web.
October 17, 2023Source

YouTube intensifies fight against ad blockers showing pop-ups, and users are frustrated
Blocking ad-block users
October 17, 2023Source

YouTube is rolling out a new 'You' section as part of a substantial update
There's also quicker searching through videos, an improved library, a mobile lock screen and more.
October 17, 2023Source

Internet — Software — October 16th, 2023

Australian safety watchdog fines social platform X $385,000 for not tackling child abuse content
Australia's online safety watchdog said on Monday it had fined X--the social media platform formerly known as Twitter--610,500 Australian dollars ($385,000) for failing to fully explain how it tackled child sexual exploitation content.
October 16, 2023Source

Instagram took away a major source of income for its creators, and they're not happy about it
A monetization tool on Instagram was 'paused' indefinitely. Creators are pissed.
October 16, 2023Source

TikTok clarifies its moderating policies amid Israel-Hamas war
TikTok says it has removed 500,000 videos and closed 8,000 livestreams for violating policies so far.
October 16, 2023Source

TikTok complies with EU demands against Israel-Hamas disinformation
The bloc is showing the power of its Digital Services Act
October 16, 2023Source

TikTok details how it's taking action against Israel-Hamas misinformation
The announcement follows similar statements from Meta and X.
October 16, 2023Source

TikTok will automatically enable captions on every video uploaded
It's a major leap in accessibility and a plus for people who watch with the sound off, but it can add a step or two for creators.
October 16, 2023Source

Twitch adds stories to keep followers tuned in
Only partners and affiliates who have streamed in the last 30 days are eligible at launch.
October 16, 2023Source

Internet — Software — October 13th, 2023

Communities start to look more like Facebook Groups with new member vetting feature
X is adopting a feature that's currently used across many Facebook Groups to vet members before joining: required questions. The company formerly known as Twitter announced today that admins of private Communities on X can now require users to answer a question when they request to join, along with agreeing to the group's rules.
October 13, 2023Source

Best apps for sexting
Let's get NSFW.
October 13, 2023Source

Best hookup apps and dating sites to find casual sex with no strings attached
Find a casual fling or a spontaneous one-night stand.
October 13, 2023Source

Microsoft Backs Off On Onedrive Gallery Storage
Microsoft have backed off on a new policy that could have a rather negative effect on your OneDrive account, and like it or not you probably have one. The free version of OneDrive, which now sets up along with your Windows install has a storage limit of 5GB. However the pictures in your OneDrive Gallery did not count against that 5GB limit.
October 13, 2023Source

The best dating apps to help find a relationship, a hookup, or something in between
Tinder isn't your only option.
October 13, 2023Source

The Best WordPress SEO Plugins for 2023
In this article, we will explore the best WordPress SEO plugins and discuss their features, benefits, and drawbacks for your WordPress websites.
October 13, 2023Source

Threads has no plans to replace X as your breaking news feed
If you were expecting Threads by Instagram to take X (formerly Twitter)'s spot as your news feed, think again. The company's plan currently is to keep threads as a private space for users to communicate with their close friends and family, without being bombarded with news and politics.
October 13, 2023Source

Top 9 Best WordPress AI Plugins of 2023
In this article, we'll introduce you to the top nine best WordPress AI plugins of 2023, and explore the benefits they offer for various aspects of your website.
October 13, 2023Source

Internet — Software — October 12th, 2023

After delays, X updates Community Notes fact-checks to improve speed and distribution
After X's crowdsourced fact-checking system faced multi-day delays to correct misinformation on the platform, the company formerly known as Twitter has announced a series of improvements focused on speeding up the pace as well as other changes designed to alert users when notes were added to posts they liked, replied to or reposted, and more.
October 12, 2023Source

Dropbox rolls out redesigned web interface, releases new video app and AI tools
The revamped Dropbox experience also includes new subscription plans
October 12, 2023Source

German anti-racism agency quits X amid Israel-Hamas disinformation wave
"We no longer believe X is an acceptable environment for the profile of a public body," it said
October 12, 2023Source

How To Speed Up A Video On Instagram
Ever been on TikTok, casually scrolling, and come across those videos where you need to trust the process, but it takes a whole 55 seconds to see the result in the final two seconds? It's intriguing at first, but let's be real, after a while, you just want to fast-forward to the end and move on. This is known as your "retention time:" how long you can actually pay attention before losing interest.
October 12, 2023Source

Judge questions Montana's ban on TikTok
'Your argument just confuses me,' Judge Donald W. Molloy said to the Montana attorneys.
October 12, 2023Source

Microsoft actually won't roll out an unpopular OneDrive change to photo storage
Microsoft will not roll out new storage limits for OneDrive photos on Monday.
October 12, 2023Source

Starfield Mod Replaces Every Ship in the Game With Thomas the Tank Engine
No modded game is complete without this really useful locomotive.
October 12, 2023Source

Threads is getting an edit button — and you don't have to pay for it
Mark Zuckerberg just announced editing is rolling out on Threads, something that took years to arrive on the platform formerly known as Twitter.
October 12, 2023Source

TikTok is talking about sex dry spells. So, how do you get out of a slump?
Sex slumps happen. Here's how to reconnect.
October 12, 2023Source

Utah sues TikTok over alleged use of 'manipulative design features' to keep young users hooked
TikTok has been facing scrutiny from the US. Utah is now suing the company, while previously Indiana and Arkansas have brought similar lawsuits to the table, reports Reuters. TikTok is being accused of harming children by making them spend unhealthy amounts of time on its platform.
October 12, 2023Source

Internet — Software — October 11th, 2023

Dropbox unveils video app, updates AI tools and web interface for new era of work
Highlighting a new era of distributed, virtual work, Dropbox has announced a host of updates to its platform — including a number of new capabilities for its previously launched generative AI tools — as well as new subscription plans.
October 11, 2023Source

WordPress now offers official support for ActivityPub
The ActivityPub plug-in is now available for all WordPress.com plans, allowing users to communicate with each other across other federated platforms like Mastodon.
October 11, 2023Source

WordPress.com blogs can now be followed on Mastodon and other federated platforms
Earlier this year, WordPress.com owner Automattic acquired a plug-in that allowed WordPress blogs to be followed in the fediverse — the decentralized social networks that include the Twitter rival Mastodon and others. As a result, it launched version 1.0.0 of the plug-in, allowing WordPress blogs to be followed on Mastodon and other fediverse apps.
October 11, 2023Source

Internet — Software — October 10th, 2023

EU warns Musk's X spreading 'illegal' disinfo after Hamas attack
The EU's digital chief Thierry Breton warned Elon Musk on Tuesday that his platform X, formerly Twitter, is spreading "illegal content and disinformation", in a letter seen by AFP.
October 10, 2023Source

What's behind TikTok's #lazygirljobs trend — and do you actually want one?
Is a "mouse-jiggling" career for you?
October 10, 2023Source

X changes its public interest policy to redefine 'newsworthiness' of posts
X, formerly Twitter, has changed its "Public interest expectations" policy to redefine which posts are newsworthy and could be kept up despite the posts defying the platform's rules.
October 10, 2023Source

X Users Can Now Limit Replies to Allow Only Verified Users to Comment
Paywall next?
October 10, 2023Source

Internet — Software — October 9th, 2023

Elon Musk plans to remove likes and repost counts from X's main timeline
The changes keep on coming when it relates to X (formerly Twitter) and this time it looks like the main timeline will be the next target. You soon may not be able to see engagement counts (likes and reposts) for posts on the main timeline anymore.
October 9, 2023Source

Forcing Apple to allow third-party app stores isn't enough
You're excited about Meta offering iOS apps via Facebook ads? Really?
October 9, 2023Source

Microsoft backtracks on OneDrive change that was a terrible idea
Users will continue to enjoy their current OneDrive photo album experience.
October 9, 2023Source

Microsoft realizes new OneDrive photos storage policy isn't all that good, backtracks
Microsoft, earlier this year, made a change to its OneDrive Storage quota policy which led to problems as unsuspecting users found themselves unable to send and receive emails. That's because Outlook attachments and inline images had now become part of the 5GB quota.
October 9, 2023Source

Over 17,000 WordPress sites hacked in Balada Injector attacks last month
Multiple Balada Injector campaigns have compromised and infected over 17,000 WordPress sites using known flaws in premium theme plugins.
October 9, 2023Source

Snapchat's My AI chatbot under scrutiny from the UK for potential risks to children's privacy
Snapchat's AI chatbot, My AI, has been met with some controversies for quite some time. It's also been under scrutiny by governments, and now Android Headlines reports that a UK regulatory body has issued a warning against the chatbot, talking about potential risks to children's privacy.
October 9, 2023Source

Threads to bring Trending Topics, an accidental screenshot shows
Remember Threads? In the Meta vs Twitter (sorry, sorry — X) tussle, Zuckerberg and co. didn't land any fatal blows. Threads, however, has not given in despite losing a huge percentage (close to 75%, according to some reports) of its initial US users, and continues to update and improve its platform.
October 9, 2023Source

Trending topics feature may be coming to the Threads app
Meta has yet to confirm the rumor.
October 9, 2023Source

What Went Wrong With Yahoo!?
Everything.
October 9, 2023Source

Internet — Software — October 6th, 2023

This Isn’t the Way: Sorry, But You Might Want to Stop Using Fabuloso Like That
Do yourself a favor and skip the Fabuloso in the toilet tank and other TikTok hacks
October 6, 2023Source

X works on new premium tiers: Ad-free options on the horizon
X, formerly known as Twitter, has been going through some shifts ever since Elon Musk took the reins. Recent buzz hinted that Musk was eyeing a complete paywall for X, but he swatted those rumors away, claiming they were off the mark. Nevertheless, it seems boosting the ranks of paid subscribers is still the game plan.
October 6, 2023Source

Internet — Software — October 5th, 2023

Apple considered, rejected default search switch to DuckDuckGo from Google
Apple held talks with DuckDuckGo to replace Alphabet subsidiary Google's search engine as the default for the private mode on Apple's Safari browser, but ultimately rejected the idea, the U.S. government's antitrust trial revealed Wednesday via transcripts.
October 5, 2023Source

Apple Considered Making DuckDuckGo Default Search Engine in Safari Private Browsing Mode
Back in 2018, Apple held talks with DuckDuckGo to replace Google as the default search engine in private browsing mode, but ultimately rejected the idea, according to transcripts unsealed by the judge overseeing the US government's antitrust trial against Google in Washington.
October 5, 2023Source

How TikTok profits off dangerous health trends
Castor oil won't dissolve cysts and tumors. Some creators on TikTok Shop are earning commissions by suggesting otherwise.
October 5, 2023Source

Media entrepreneur unites young activists with power brokers for fight to make social media safe
A media entrepreneur is trying to connect young people disturbed by the impact of social media on mental health with older power players to fight for change in how tech companies do business.
October 5, 2023Source

X starts removing headlines from posted links
Elon Musk previously said that the format would 'greatly improve the [platform's] esthetics.'
October 5, 2023Source

X, formerly Twitter, no longer shows headlines from articles
Musk thinks this move will make X posts look cleaner.
October 5, 2023Source

Internet — Software — October 3rd, 2023

A Florida company called "X" is suing Elon Musk's X over trademark infringement
It's unlikely to be the only one
October 3, 2023Source

TikTok Currently Testing Ad-Free Subscription Tier
Rolled out to a single English-speaking country outside the U.S.
October 3, 2023Source

TikTok is testing the waters with an ad-free subscription plan
TikTok is one of the biggest social media platforms in the world, boasting a whopping 1.7 billion monthly active users and anticipating ad revenue to soar beyond $18 billion this year, a notable leap from 2022's $11 billion. If you're a TikTok user, you're likely familiar with those ads that are as persistent as a used car salesman.
October 3, 2023Source

X (aka Twitter) used to be great for customer service. Here's where to go now
I still use X when I can--but I'm no longer out of luck whenever it crumbles further.
October 3, 2023Source

X Social Media sues Twitter 2.0 over alphabet soup branding
The wisdom of Twitter's pivot to X under Elon Musk has been repeatedly questioned and now those chickens are coming home to roost with a lawsuit brought by Florida ad agency X Social Media.
October 3, 2023Source

Internet — Software — October 2nd, 2023

Apple's "Pegasus" search engine could take on Google
Apple is apparently working on its own search engine internally which could possibly one day take on Google Search, the search engine is called 'Pegasus" internally at Apple, the news comes from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman in his weekly PowerON newsletter.
October 2, 2023Source

Amid Twitter chaos, Mastodon grew donations 488% in 2022, reached 1.8M monthly active users
Consumer interest in open source, decentralized social networking isn't something that was only reflected in news headlines over the past year, it's also apparent in the financials behind Mastodon.
October 2, 2023Source

The best dating apps and sites in October 2023
Find love (or something more casual) this month.
October 2, 2023Source

TikTok might soon let you go ad-free with a monthly subscription plan
TikTok is free to use but you often have to deal with the ads to enjoy short-format videos. However, the video hosting platform might be testing a monthly subscription plan that will let you get rid of ads.
October 2, 2023Source

X Corp is now suing a sublessee for unpaid rent
Irony alert: Complaint cites defendant as claiming X 'did not even pay rent for such period'
October 2, 2023Source

X is working on game streaming and live shopping features
The company s promising new video tools in an attempt to lure more creators to its platform.
October 2, 2023Source

Internet — Software — September 29th, 2023

Claire Murashima's semi-nocturnal life re-energizes the TikTok 'day in the life' format
"I don't want to be a TikTok personality. I want to be the ASMR videos that you watch when you can't fall asleep."
September 29, 2023Source

Meta’s new AI assistant is fueled by your public Facebook and Instagram posts
At Connect 2023, Meta rolled out a slew of AI editing tools and features, introducing AI stickers and image editing capabilities like restyle and backdrop. The showstopper, however, was the unveiling of Meta's new AI assistant, set to join WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram in the coming days. But, the method used to train this assistant might not sit well with everyone.
September 29, 2023Source

New X CEO's iPhone Home screen is missing an app and you won't believe which one
Does she not use it?
September 29, 2023Source

X in trouble once again after reportedly removing tool to report election misinformation
X (or the former Twitter) has been finding itself in the headlines recently, especially due to alleged widespread misinformation on the platform. Now, AndroidHeadlines reports that X appears to have removed a feature that allowed users to report misinformation related to elections.
September 29, 2023Source or Source

X (Twitter) has paid almost $20M to creators, CEO says
The company formerly known as Twitter has paid out nearly $20 million to creators, according to a post from X CEO Linda Yaccarino.
September 29, 2023Source

Internet — Software — September 28th, 2023

Artifact co-founder Mike Krieger says there's a 'flavor' of Twitter in app's latest release
The AI-powered news reading app Artifact, built by Instagram's co-founders, has been transforming itself into a more social experience over time with recent launches like profiles, commenting, link sharing and more.
September 28, 2023Source

You can't opt out of ad personalization on Reddit anymore
Sounds bad!
September 28, 2023Source

X reportedly cuts half of its election integrity team
The news follows an EU report accusing X of having a major disinformation problem.
September 28, 2023Source

Internet — Software — September 27th, 2023

ChromeOS 117 rolls out with a new look, plus better control over charging and cameras
Google adds a new Quick Settings view with bigger buttons, adaptive charging, a separate notifications view, and a bunch of other new features.
September 27, 2023Source

Meta confirms highly-anticipated feature for Threads will come by December
Ever since Meta launched Threads a few months ago, the accounts were tied to Instagram. To delete your Threads account, you would have to delete your Instagram account too, which was very annoying, especially for those with a high number of followers.
September 27, 2023Source or Source

Thunderbird 115.3.0
The developers of the Thunderbird. September 2023 another update of the email client to version 115.3.0 released. It is an update that should fix numerous errors, but contains no innovations and security fixes.
September 27, 2023Source

Twitter/X is biggest source of social media disinformation, EU warns
Musk will have to comply with the bloc's new content rules
September 27, 2023Source or Source

Internet — Software — September 26th, 2023

Gmail's basic HTML view is getting killed off in 2024
A sad, anticlimactic farewell to a useful Gmail feature.
September 26, 2023Source

Meta will add the ability to permanently delete Threads account separately in December
Meta has confirmed that the company is working on the ability to permanently delete a Thread account without deleting the associated Instagram account. Earlier this year, Meta had announced Threads to compete with Musk's X (formerly Twitter).
September 26, 2023Source

Skype Insider 8.105 is out with improved chat management
Microsoft has released a new Skype preview update for testing in the Skype Insiders program. Version 8.105 reworks chat management in the messenger, improves conversation pinning, adds a new favorite icon, and various bug fixes.
September 26, 2023Source

Twitter, aka X, tops charts for misinformation, EU official says
In measure of fakery, Musk's social media biz has highest noise-to-signal ratio
September 26, 2023Source

YouTube relaxes advertiser-friendly guidelines around controversial topics, like abortion, abuse and eating disorders
YouTube today announced an update to its advertiser-friendly guidelines that relaxes some of its rules around controversial issues, including sexual and domestic abuse, abortions and eating disorders. The changes will allow YouTube creators to monetize their videos on these topics under some circumstances, though not if they go into graphic detail.
September 26, 2023Source

Internet — Software — September 25th, 2023

Is Instagram making the great outdoors more crowded? Not as much as you might suspect
Except for modest visitor increases at a small percentage of iconic places, Instagram content is not resulting in more tourist traffic on public lands, according to a study by researchers at Oregon State University.
September 25, 2023Source

Microsoft gets generous and adds 3 new plugins to Bing Chat's pane on Edge (but only limited users have access)
Microsoft enhanced support for plugins on Bing Chat.
September 25, 2023Source

TikTok Health Advice: How To Spot Misinformation, And Why You Need To Be Careful
For about as long as the internet has been publicly available, it has been a force for both good and bad. Of course, with the power of the internet, nearly all of the world's knowledge is easily accessible, and you can learn just about anything you want.
September 25, 2023Source

WordPress Deployment: Docker, Nginx, Apache, and SSL
Install and set up WordPress with Docker Compose, Nginx, Apache, and Let's Encrypt SSL on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS. This setup is tested on a Google Cloud Compute Engine VM.
September 25, 2023Source

X will make audio and video calls a premium subscriber-only feature
Last month X CEO Linda Yaccarino confirmed that video calls would be coming to the app formerly known as Twitter as part of its transition into an "everything app." Now, new code in the X app reveals that both audio and video calls will be supported.
September 25, 2023Source

YouTube's latest new feature lets creators dub their videos
YouTube is back in the news with yet another set of important new features meant to help creators tap into more audiences. During its Made On YouTube event, the company announced several new tools that are coming soon to users and creators alike, including a couple of AI-powered features like Aloud and Dream Screen.
September 25, 2023Source

Internet — Software — September 22nd, 2023

Bluesky saw record usage after Elon Musk announced plans to charge all X users
Social network Bluesky once again benefited from Elon Musk's missteps with X, the network formerly known as Twitter. According to a new analysis of Bluesky's web traffic and mobile app usage, the would-be X competitor hit a daily active user record just after Musk announced he would begin charging all X users a small monthly fee to use its services.
September 22, 2023Source

Did You Know Gmail Can Password Protect Your Emails? Here's How
Gmail has become an indispensable part of the daily lives of billions around the globe, but many don't think about security when they hit the send button. Instead, they assume that their emails will arrive safely at their destination. While that may be the case most of the time, if you send sensitive information via Gmail, you may want to consider protecting it with a password.
September 22, 2023Source

Negative 'retweets' appear to add to voter fraud conspiracy theories
A team of behavioral scientists using big data and a simulation-based model to analyze social media "tweets" around the 2020 presidential election found that the spread of voter fraud conspiracy theories on Twitter (now called X) was boosted by a negativity bias.
September 22, 2023Source

The Supreme Court showdown over social media "censorship," explained
A rogue federal court effectively put the Republican Party in charge of social media, and now the justices have to deal with this mess.
September 22, 2023Source

Threads adds easy profile switching to its mobile apps
Twitter rival Threads has finally added a way to switch between multiple accounts without logging out.
September 22, 2023Source

Threads by Instagram may soon be giving us for free that edit button that X is charging us for
Meta is developing an edit button for Threads, the social media app that is part of Instagram and aims to compete with X (Twitter) for the top spot in that category. The edit button would let users edit their posts within five minutes of publishing them.
September 22, 2023Source or Source

TikTok may integrate Google search results in-app
The company confirmed it's testing the feature.
September 22, 2023Source

What the Elon Musk biography revealed about his tumultuous Twitter takeover
"The judge basically said that I have to buy Twitter or else."
September 22, 2023Source

X adds "Formerly Twitter" to App Store listing as app plunges in the charts
Ever since Elon Musk changed the platform's name to X, the social media app's downloads have continued to fall.
September 22, 2023Source

X's Twitter Circles feature to be retired soon
X, formerly known as Twitter, has notified its users that it will be shutting down Circles, a feature that allowed users to share tweets with a limited group of people. X confirmed this decision on both its help pages and via an X post.
September 22, 2023Source

Internet — Software — September 21st, 2023

TikTok is testing Google results in its search pages
Some users are seeing Google Search results linked when they search within the TikTok app. The feature was spotted as the Google antitrust case is underway.
September 21, 2023Source

Internet — Software — September 20th, 2023

As TikTok surveils staff's office hours, research indicates WFH is good for planet
Not leaving home for work cuts an individual's carbon footprint by 54%, says research
September 20, 2023Source

Meta Verified for business will cost $965 less per month than X's business verification
Plus businesses will get verified on two platforms: Facebook and Instagram.
September 20, 2023Source

The best dating site alternatives to Pornhub
Porn feeling a bit one-sided? We got you.
September 20, 2023Source

Internet — Software — September 19th, 2023

Bluesky sees record signups day after Musk says X will go paid-only
The day isn't even over yet Bluesky has already seen its biggest influx of new users in a single-day
September 19, 2023Source

Cortana support will be killed soon in Microsoft Teams Rooms and Teams Display
In June, Microsoft announced it would be ending support for its Cortana voice assistant before the end of 2023. In August, it disabled support for the Cortana Windows 11 app. Today, the company revealed plans to remove support for Cortana in both Microsoft Teams Rooms and Teams Display device.
September 19, 2023Source

Elon Musk says Twitter, now X, will charge all users a 'small' monthly subscription fee
The social media platform might soon no longer be free, though we don't know when or how much we'll have to pay.
September 19, 2023Source

Elon Musk wants to charge all users of X, formerly Twitter, a monthly fee
To combat the bot problem, allegedly
September 19, 2023Source

'Small monthly payment' only thing that stands between X and bot chaos, says Musk
Yes, because automated accounts are really the problem here
September 19, 2023Source

TikTok goes full 'Big Brother'
What if you lived your entire life on TikTok Live?
September 19, 2023Source

TikTok is launching new tool that will help creators label AI content on the app
In its bid to curb misinformation, TikTok said on Tuesday it will begin launching a new tool that will help creators label AI-generated content they produce.
September 19, 2023Source

TikTok now lets creators label AI-generated content
It's also working on software that automatically detects artificial intelligence.
September 19, 2023Source

YouTube demonetizes Russell Brand's channel following allegations
Following an investigation into sexual assault allegations against the comedian, his conspiracy-ridden YouTube channel has been suspended from making money.
September 19, 2023Source

Internet — Software — September 18th, 2023

Elon Musk says X will charge users 'a small monthly payment' to use its service
X owner Elon Musk today floated the idea that the social network formerly known as Twitter may no longer be a free site. In a live-streamed conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, Musk said the company was "moving to a small monthly payment" for the use of the X system. He suggested that such a change would be necessary to deal with the problem of bots on the platform.
September 18, 2023Source

TikTok's Tube Girl has everyone talking
A wave of 0.5 videos taken on public transport is known as the "Tube Girl effect".
September 18, 2023Source

WordPress is coming to the fediverse
It's all happening thanks to a new ActivityPub plugin.
September 18, 2023Source

Internet — Software — September 15th, 2023

Google exec: Microsoft Teams concession 'too little, too late'
If you don't tackle Redmond's abuse of software licensing in rival clouds it'll be game over for innovation, warns Amit Zavery
September 15, 2023Source

X attempts to fight impersonation with government ID verification
It's launching in multiple countries but not Europe or the UK.
September 15, 2023Source

X continues to throttle links to competitors
Want to open a link to Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, or Substack? You better be patient.
September 15, 2023Source

Internet — Software — September 14th, 2023

Elon Musk's X finally agrees to settlement talks with unpaid laid off Twitter employees
Thousands of Twitter employees were promised severance. Musk has avoided them since.
September 14, 2023Source

Ex-Twitter employees pull Musk back to money table over missing severance
Will Elon actually pay this bill?
September 14, 2023Source

Mass Effect: Dark Horse Reveals Liara T’Soni and Garrus Vakarian Figures
Dark Horse continues to show love to the Mass Effect franchise.
September 14, 2023Source

Microsoft Teams suffers another outage in the North America region
Microsoft 365 suite of applications continues to face downtime at least once every month this year.
September 14, 2023Source

Microsoft's offer to split off Teams in Europe reportedly didn't satisfy EU regulators
Microsoft has reportedly failed in its attempt to keep a formal complaint about how it sells its Teams collaboration services from being filed by the European Union. A new report says that the EU's regulatory body, the European Commission, did not feel Microsoft's plans to sell Teams as a stand-alone product was enough to stave off a possible punishment.
September 14, 2023Source

WordPress blogs can now be followed in the fediverse, including Mastodon
In March, WordPress.com owner Automattic made a commitment to the fediverse — the decentralized social networks that include the Twitter rival Mastodon and others — with the acquisition of an ActivityPub plug-in that allows WordPress blogs to reach readers on other federated platforms.
September 14, 2023Source

X agrees to negotiate with laid-off employees after 2,000 arbitration demands
"Twitter wants to mediate with us... to settle all claims," lawyer's memo says.
September 14, 2023Source

X Premium users can now hide the shame of their likes
This is great news if you're a public official.
September 14, 2023Source

Internet — Software — September 13th, 2023

Apple Announces 12TB iCloud+ Storage Tier for $60 per Month
Although easy to miss among the flurry of Apple Watch and iPhone news at yesterday's Apple Event, the company added a pair of iCloud+ storage tiers to its offerings, providing users with new 6TB and 12TB options.
September 13, 2023Source

The anti-hate group sued by Musk releases another damning report on X
The Center for Countering Digital Hate says X failed to take action on over 200 posts with hateful content.
September 13, 2023Source

X Corp faces Dutch privacy class action over MoPub data trading
Make way for another Dutch class action privacy damages lawsuit — this one targeting the company formerly known as Twitter (now X Corp); and MoPub, the mobile ad platform it used to own (before selling it to AppLovin at the start of last year), which is accused of "illegal trafficking" of millions of app users' personal data.
September 13, 2023Source

Internet — Software — September 12th, 2023

Glassdoor: Dropbox Ranks No. 1 for Culture and Values Among Tech Companies
In a new survey, tech firms received high marks for making employees feel valued, fostering inclusive environments, and offering learning and career growth programs.
September 12, 2023Source

The best sexting apps for those NSFW exchanges
These are the best sexting apps to get you off — to a good start, that is.
September 12, 2023Source

X is allegedly limiting user reach to posts that link to the New York Times
The platform, formerly Twitter, is once again slowing down links to third-party websites.
September 12, 2023Source

Internet — Software — September 11th, 2023

Snapchat partners with MTV to let users vote for VMAs through Lenses
MTV has partnered with Snapchat to let users vote for a Video Music Awards category through Lenses. The entertainment company is leveraging Snap’s Camera Kit to integrate AR-based experiences into the award show.
September 11, 2023Source

Your weekly TikTok R.E.P.O.R.T. is just more self-surveillance
Have you posted your R.E.P.O.R.T. yet? No? How embarrassing. Everyone else has, and now they're saying you didn't post one because you can't read.
September 11, 2023Source

Internet — Software — September 8th, 2023

Patreon app adds simple Discord-like group chats
This should keep subscribers from having to use other platforms for conversations.
September 8, 2023Source

Snapchat's security gets upgraded to protect teens. So what's the plan?
Snapchat has come a long way since its launch more than a decade ago. The app can certainly be credited with popularizing the concept of media-messages, such as photos with captions, which is something that most of us do nowadays, through some of the best phones on the market.
September 8, 2023Source

X is no longer labeling ads for some users
Not disclosing advertisements runs afoul of the FTC's rules.
September 8, 2023Source

X seems to be slipping unlabeled ads into people's feeds
Numerous users have reported seeing ads that are mysteriously missing the "Ad" label.
September 8, 2023Source

Internet — Software — September 7th, 2023

Clubhouse is making a comeback as an audio messaging app
In April, the app laid off more than half of its staff to help "launch the next evolution of the product."
September 7, 2023Source

Musk calling shots on X content explains advertiser exodus, former exec says
Lawsuits won't end the #StopToxicTwitter pressure campaign on X advertisers.
September 7, 2023Source

Snapchat announces new updates to foster teen safety and age-appropriate content
National child safety nonprofits pitch in to address minor safety on Snap.
September 7, 2023Source or Source

Internet — Software — September 6th, 2023

Elon Musk’s strange new feud with a Jewish anti-hate group, explained
Elon Musk is venturing into some dangerous territory about Jews.
September 6, 2023Source

Frontiers of multimodal learning: A responsible AI approach
In the realm of AI, the new frontier isn’t confined to a singular form of expression; fast-paced developments are happening at the juncture of multiple modalities. Multimodal AI systems that can analyze, synthesize, and generate across text, images, and other data types are paving the way for exciting applications in areas such as productivity, health care, creativity, and automation.
September 6, 2023Source

Microsoft announces EXCLUSIVE online event that will showcase its plans for OneDrive
The event will take place on October 3, 2023, highlighting Microsoft's advancements on the platform.
September 6, 2023Source

TikTok rejects inclusion in EU online 'gatekeepers' list
TikTok rejected the EU's decision Wednesday to include the video sharing platform on a list of "gatekeeper" companies that must comply with tougher curbs on how they do business online.
September 6, 2023Source

Internet — Software — September 5th, 2023

AdultFriendFinder is essentially a porn hookup site that needs a makeover
Finding quick sexual encounters shouldn't be this easy.
September 5, 2023Source

As X bleeds cash, Musk threatens Anti-Defamation League with defamation lawsuit
Musk claimed that ADL could be "on the hook" for $22B in X losses.
September 5, 2023Source

This change to OneDrive will effectively lower your cloud storage
Microsoft will effectively limit how many photos you can store on the cloud.
September 5, 2023Source

TikTok appears to be gearing up for a big push into messaging
The 'TikTok Social' team is about to get a lot bigger and a lot more ambitious.
September 5, 2023Source

TikTok starts shifting European data to its first local data center; full migration expected by Q4 2
Social network announced its first European data center more than 3 years ago
September 5, 2023Source

Internet — Software — September 4th, 2023

Reddit faces content quality concerns after its Great Mod Purge
Concerns of Redditor safety, jeopardized research amid new mods and API rules.
September 4, 2023Source

X (Twitter) will start collecting user biometrics and more from Sept 29th 2023
In a significant shift in its privacy policy, X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, has announced plans to begin collecting biometric data from its users. This move, which includes the collection of facial photographs, is a part of a broader strategy to enhance platform security and combat impersonation attempts. The new policy, set to take effect from September 29, has sparked a flurry of reactions from users, tech experts, and data privacy advocates.
September 4, 2023Source

Internet — Software — September 1st, 2023

Facebook and Instagram may offer paid, ad-free plans in Europe to sate EU privacy concerns
Among other recent penalties, the EU fined Meta €1.2 billion in May for moving EU citizens' data to US-based servers.
September 1, 2023Source

Instagram is Pushing Recommended Threads Among Traditional Posts
Instagram is now pushing Recommended Threads among traditional feed posts in a bid to bring users back to the Meta's text-first social media app.
September 1, 2023Source

X may train AI with its users' posts. Are other social media sites doing the same?
X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Threads, and Instagram all take user data to train AI. What about TikTok, Snapchat and the rest?
September 1, 2023Source

X's privacy policy confirms it will use public data to train AI models
X's recently updated privacy policy informed its users it would now collect biometric data as well as users' job and education history, Bloomberg spotted earlier this week. But it appears that's not the only thing that X plans to do with user data.
September 1, 2023Source

Internet — Software — August 31st, 2023

Bumble tackles no-shows for IRL dates with its updated community guidelines
The company is also taking aim at the use of bots as well as the promotion of OnlyFans pages.
August 31, 2023Source or Source

Elon Musk's X to launch video and audio calling feature
Social media platform X plans to launch video and audio calls as owner Elon Musk continues work to build an "everything app."
August 31, 2023Source

Instagram Tests 10-Minute Reels To Compete With TikTok And YouTube
Instagram is internally testing the ability to increase the length of Reels from three minutes to 10 minutes — in an apparent bid to compete with the long-form video content available on TikTok and YouTube.
August 31, 2023Source

Keyword search is finally coming to Threads
Meta is testing it in Australia and New Zealand.
August 31, 2023Source

Microsoft Teams updates in August 2023 include new animated background and more
As usual, Microsoft is packing in a bunch of new features to its various Teams collaboration services for the month of August. In a blog post, Microsoft announced that the animated background for Teams video users is now available after being launched in June for Microsoft 365 Insiders.
August 31, 2023Source

Microsoft to stop packaging Teams and Office software in Europe to head off EU antitrust action
Microsoft will stop packaging its Teams videoconferencing app with its Office software in Europe in an effort to head off antitrust penalties by regulators.
August 31, 2023Source

or Source or Source or Source

Thunderbird 115.2.0 / 102.15.0
The developers of Thunderbird./ 30.August 2023 another update of the email client to version 115.2.0 released. It is an update to fix bugs. Furthermore, the last version in this branch was released with the Thunderbird 102.15.0.
August 31, 2023Source

Twitter says it may harvest biometric, employment data from its addicts
Not so much X gon' give it to you, you gonna give it to X
August 31, 2023Source

We read X's new privacy policy so you don't have to
The company will now collect a lot more personal data and use it in new ways. We break it down for you.
August 31, 2023Source

X is letting paid users hide their likes
Huge day for Ted Cruz.
August 31, 2023Source

X (nee Twitter) wants to collect your biometric data and employment history
X to collect more user data as Musk teases plan to offer video and audio calls.
August 31, 2023Source

X plans to collect users' biometric data, along with education and job history
X, formerly known as Twitter, will begin collecting users' biometric data, according to its new privacy policy that was first spotted by Bloomberg. The policy also says the company wants to collect users' job and education history.
August 31, 2023Source

Internet — Software — August 30th, 2023

Chrome OS Flex is a strong Windows alternative for really old PCs
When using older PCs, working with Windows can be slow and tedious. Google's Chrome OS operating system is an alternative here.
August 30, 2023Source

Instagram reportedly making Reels longer to take on TikTok and YouTube
The length limit could be expanding from three minutes to 10 minutes.
August 30, 2023Source

Snapchat Launches New AI Selfie Feature Called 'Dreams'
Snapchat announced its new generative AI tool in a blog post on Tuesday. Dreams allows users to turn their selfies into fantastical portraits that "let them try on new identities — be it a mermaid in a deep-seascape, or a renaissance era royal."
August 30, 2023Source or Source

WordPress migration add-on flaw could lead to data breaches
All-in-One WP Migration, a popular data migration plugin for WordPress sites with 5 million active installations, suffers from unauthenticated access token manipulation that could allow attackers to access sensitive site information.
August 30, 2023Source

X removing the 'block' feature: Why businesses are better than people at moderating negative comments
In a recent post, the owner of X, (formerly Twitter), Elon Musk, announced his plans for the social media platform to remove its blocking feature, except for in direct messages.
August 30, 2023Source

Internet — Software — August 28th, 2023

Wordpress sells 100-year domain, hosting plan for $38K
This assumes MySQL, PHP, the web — and humanity — will be around that long
August 28, 2023Source

X saw weekly active users and rankings drop post rebrand, but Twitter Lite installs grew
Reports that X's (formerly Twitter) downloads decreased after Elon Musk's rebranding of the microblogging social network only tell part of the story. Twitter's renaming also saw its weekly active users drop 4% over the following weeks after the rebrand (August 6-20), while the X app fell four spots in the Overall category rankings to No. 36, according to a new analysis from app intelligence firm Sensor Tower.
August 28, 2023Source

Internet — Software — August 25th, 2023

Dropbox drops unlimited storage, blames crypto miners and resellers for the change
Dropbox is ending its unlimited option because some customers were using it for purposes like crypto mining, pooling storage for personal use cases and even reselling storage. The company's highest-tier "all the space you need" storage plan will now be capped.
August 25, 2023Source or Source

Google plays nice with Microsoft to improve the meeting experience
Google Calendar will now feature Microsoft Outlook names.
August 25, 2023Source

How To Change The Fonts In Your Instagram Bio
Your Instagram biography appears on your profile page and is meant to give your followers or anyone visiting your grid a brief idea about you. The basic information most people have on their profile are their name and profile picture. You can only change your name on Instagram twice in 14 days, but your profile picture and bio can be updated more frequently.
August 25, 2023Source

Instagram is working on a disable seen status option to make chats more private
One of the things you can't do on the Instagram app right now is hide whether you have seen a message or not. However, that might change in the future according to a screenshot shared by Alessandro Paluzzi who has a history of sharing information about underdevelopment Instagram features.
August 25, 2023Source

Meta Threads its way onto the web, with more features on the way
Users on the web will have most of what the mobile app offers.
August 25, 2023Source

Meta's Twitter rival Threads launches web version
Threads, Meta's challenger to depose Twitter as the go-to platform for celebrities, companies and governments, is now available on the web as it seeks to revive its underwhelming launch.
August 25, 2023Source

The best VPNs for iPhone and iPad (yes, you need to use one)
ZDNET tested the best VPNs for your iPhone and iPad to find which can keep your Apple devices secure and private.
August 25, 2023Source

The EU's Digital Services Act goes into effect today: here's what that means
The Digital Services Act forces companies to rethink their policies on advertising, transparency, and moderation.
August 25, 2023Source

Threads just launched on the web — here's how to install it as an app or in Edge's Sidebar
You can now use Threads on your browser and install it as an app on your PC.
August 25, 2023Source

Internet — Software — August 24th, 2023

Instagram's X Competitor Threads Is Now on the Web
Threads on webs.
August 24, 2023Source

Meta's Threads website is now live for everyone
People can now sign in, respond to posts, and create their own posts directly from their desktop browsers.
August 24, 2023Source

Soon, the algorithm won't force you to doomscroll as much on Instagram, but only in the EU
Hey, who remembers Vine? Regardless if that was the first instance of shortform, vertical video content — and if you watched them in the form of compilations on YouTube or not — the fact of the matter is that it kickstarted this revolution.
August 24, 2023Source

Thunderbird 115 Will Be Rolling Out To Fedora Users
Fedora with their more liberal update policies will soon be rolling out the Thunderbird 115 mail client to stable Fedora Linux users.
August 24, 2023Source

X (Twitter) blocked links to a Democratic political tool for a week
Formerly known as Twitter, the social platform X temporarily blocked links to EveryAction's NGP VAN, possibly the most popular political organizing software for Democratic and progressive campaigns.
August 24, 2023Source

YouTube is testing a new search feature powered by humming
Users can hum or record a song snippet to find it on YouTube.
August 24, 2023Source

Internet — Software — August 23rd, 2023

Messenger's encrypted chats expand to more users ahead of full rollout later this year
The switch to secure chats forced Meta to 'redesign the entire system.'
August 23, 2023Source

Running Windows apps on ChromeOS just got easier thanks to Cameyo's virtualization platform
Turning desktop applications into browser-based apps?
August 23, 2023Source

YouTube tests a search feature where users hum to identify songs
YouTube announced a new experiment on Android devices that determines a song via humming — which seems like a major step up from Apple's music recognition app Shazam.
August 23, 2023Source

Internet — Software — August 15th, 2023

Dropbox review: Still the best at syncing and sharing
The original cloud sync is still a great choice if fast, reliable synchronization of files and sharing with others is all you're after.
August 15, 2023Source

Internet — Software — August 14th, 2023

14 Alternatives to Zoom video chat service
In the realm of digital communication, Zoom has undeniably made its mark as a popular video conferencing app especially through the pandemic years. However, it may not necessarily be the best fit for everyone. Depending on specific needs, such as your required chat features, the ability to access artificial intelligence, or perhaps higher quality video, there may be more suitable alternatives to Zoom video chat service.
August 14, 2023Source

Child influencers in Illinois can now sue their parents
It's the first law of its kind in America.
August 14, 2023Source

Chris' Corner: React is Good, Bad, Old, Reliable, Stodgy, Stable, and Obsoleted
There is something about [INSERT MOST POPULAR THING] that inspires people to philosophize. Sometimes it's a bummer. It's tough to avoid the never-ending stream of "news" about Elon Musk, which strongarms your brain into having an opinion about him.
August 14, 2023Source

ChromeOS 118 could bring new widgets to your Chromebook's Shelf
Glanceable widgets might be finally on the way for Chromebooks.
August 14, 2023Source

Evolving the Federated GraphQL Platform at Netflix
In this article, we will describe our migration journey toward a Federated GraphQL architecture. Specifically, we will talk about the GraphQL platform we built consisting of the Domain Graph Services (DGS) Framework for implementing GraphQL services in Java using Spring Boot and graphql-java and tools for schema development. We will also describe how the ecosystem has evolved at various stages of adoption.
August 14, 2023Source

Getting Ready for Interviews in Software Engineering
This article outlines a comprehensive approach to prepare for software engineering coding interviews which can enhance candidates' chances of succeeding.
August 14, 2023Source

Iraq lifts ban on Telegram after messaging app complies with authorities
Iraq's telecom ministry lifted the ban on Telegram over the weekend, days after the agency blocked the chat app over security concerns.
August 14, 2023Source

Telegram rolls out its Stories feature to all users
Telegram is officially rolling out Stories to all users, the company announced on Monday. The feature first launched to Premium users last month, and is now available to everyone on the platform. Today's announcement comes as Telegram is celebrating its 10th birthday.
August 14, 2023Source or Source

Telegram turns 10, launches Stories, Dual Camera Mode, and more
Telegram is celebrating its 10th birthday, since it launched it has introduced many new features and today it's releasing even more. Among the new features in this update are Stories, a dual camera mode that uses front and rear cameras simultaneously, granular privacy settings and more.
August 14, 2023Source

Meta's X wannabe Threads unravels
According to Similiarweb measurements, daily user numbers at X rival Threads, from Meta Platforms, has fallen by nearly 80 percent in just over three weeks.
August 14, 2023Source

You can now add music to your photo carousels on Instagram
Sometimes pictures just don't cut it when trying to express yourself, so that's where music comes in handy. Instagram has introduced a new feature that gives you even more control over the music in your posts.
August 14, 2023Source

Internet — Software — August 11th, 2023

ByteDance again looks to TikTok to promote its other social app, Lemon8
TikTok appears to be working on an integration with Lemon8, another social app owned by TikTok's Beijing-based parent company, ByteDance, according to new findings from product intelligence firm Watchful.ai.
August 11, 2023Source

How to join and use Bluesky Social
Bluesky is one of several social networks striving to offer an alternative to X, formerly known as Twitter. Here's how to get started with it.
August 11, 2023Source

Instagram testing a new feature to tag an entire group at once
The Meta-owned social media platform Instagram is working on a new way people can tag multiple users while posting a Story in the app. Instagram head Adam Mosseri announced the upcoming change on his broadcast channel.
August 11, 2023Source

Instagram's musical photo carousels are a lot like TikTok's Photo Mode
Collabs also now lets you add up to three co-authors.
August 11, 2023Source or Source

X lowers the eligibility requirements for creator monetization
Elon Musk and company have used monetization to push users to subscribe to X Premium fka Twitter Blue. But will it work?
August 11, 2023Source

X will soon introduce video calls on the platform
Developing an everything app might be a never-ending job, but it looks like Elon Musk and his team are determined to do it. Rebranding Twitter to X was just one of the first steps, and an interview with Linda Yaccarino, X Corp CEO, proves it.
August 11, 2023Source

Zoom goes for a blatant genAI data grab; enterprises, beware
Zoom stirred up a kerfuffle this month when it amended its terms of service to make execs comfortable that it wouldn't use Zoom data to train generative AI models. In reality, it was really doing spin control worthy of the sleaziest politician.
August 11, 2023Source

Zoom now says it won't use any customer content for AI training
Its terms previously said it wouldn't do so 'without customer consent.'
August 11, 2023Source

Zoom rewrites its policies to make clear that your videos aren't used to train AI tools
Zoom explicitly says that it won't use the content of your videoconferencing to train its AI models.
August 11, 2023Source

Internet — Software — August 9th, 2023

Is Zoom using your meetings to train its AI?
Zoom returns to the office — and to its problematic privacy ways.
August 9, 2023Source

Threads now lets you share posts directly to Instagram DMs
Meta's X rival also added a dedicated mention button and custom alt-text entry.
August 9, 2023Source or Source

or Source

Threads is getting some useful new features
Including the ability to add custom alt text to photos and videos.
August 9, 2023Source

TikTok is seemingly making it easier to disclose if your content was generated by AI
TikTok had previously said that deepfakes and AI content must be 'clearly disclosed,' and it appears to be adding a toggle that lets creators easily do that.
August 9, 2023Source

Want to pay less for your X ads? Just place them next to spam
X says it has "delivered a decade's worth of innovation focused on creating an engaging and healthy environment" since Elon Musk's acquisition. Sure!
August 9, 2023Source

Why Are We Arguing? 3 Tools for Structuring Conflict in Teams
A healthy relationship with conflict is at the heart of all high-performing teams (and organisations). It's pivotal to setting principles, making decisions, and delivering value. But when conflict so easily intermingles with a plethora of social dynamics, it's often squandered.
August 9, 2023Source

X, formerly Twitter, introduces 'sensitivity settings' to revive ad sales
Advertisers can choose how much spam and gore their ads appear beside.
August 9, 2023Source

You can now verify your Threads profile on Mastodon
Verified Threads links are the platform's first tangible connection to decentralized social media.
August 9, 2023Source

Internet — Software — August 8th, 2023

August 2023 Patch Tuesday: Microsoft fixes critical bugs in Teams, MSMQ
August 2023 Patch Tuesday is here; among the 76 CVE-numbered issues fixed by Microsoft this time around is a DoS vulnerability in .NET and Visual Studio (CVE-2023-38180) for which proof-of-exploit code exists.
August 8, 2023Source

Instagram is finally not trash on foldables, new tablet UI comes to the Galaxy Z Fold 5
The app is getting a significant UI change for large-screen devices, starting with foldables.
August 8, 2023Source

Snapchat facing a possible $184 million fine, if found guilty over underage users
Social media platforms don't have it too easy these days, and Snapchat is no exception to that. Snapchat owner Snap Inc could face a formal investigation and, if found guilty, be fined some $184 million. All of this — over mismanaging and not enforcing strict enough policies to remove underage users from its platform.
August 8, 2023Source

X's takeover of @music handle hints toward possible music plans
X, the company formerly known as Twitter, appears to be hinting toward plans to move deeper into the music industry or collaborate with artists and labels with its recent takeover of the @music handle on the social network.
August 8, 2023Source

YouTube no longer suggests videos if your 'watch history' is turned off
YouTube announced Tuesday that its newest update disables all its video recommendations for users who have their watch history turned off, solving an arguably annoying problem for those who may not want to be bothered by a sea of suggested videos.
August 8, 2023Source

Zoom addresses concerns over AI training on user data; employees asked to return to office
The company that symbolized working from home wants employees to return
August 8, 2023Source

Internet — Software — August 7th, 2023

Apple just gave Meta's Threads app a boost with better iMessage integration
Rich link support helps Threads growth
August 7, 2023Source

Elon Musk says Twitter (X) will get a new and better AI-based search
Twitter (or X) is gearing up for a major search overhaul. Elon Musk announced today that X will add semantic search capabilities to improve users' ability to find relevant content on the platform.
August 7, 2023Source

Google Search gains a 'grammar check' tool for sentences and phrases
Just another tool in Search's arsenal.
August 7, 2023Source or Source

Microsoft Teams Shifts app now has improved notifications for more selective alerts
Microsoft Teams is getting some new and improved features in its Shifts app, specifically around users getting notifications from the app. In a blog post, Microsoft said it was getting some feedback from users who received "noisy and irrelevant notifications" from the Shifts app, and as a result, didn't get the information they needed if job shifts needed to be changed.
August 7, 2023Source

MrBeast's new video breaks YouTube record
That's...a lot of views.
August 7, 2023Source

Sega Unveils Super Cute Trailer for Sonic & Friends Animated Shorts on TikTok
Cuteness overload!
August 7, 2023Source

Threads is adding the two most user-requested features
The Twitter rival had a huge launch
August 7, 2023Source

TikTok is launching a livestream music competition
The winner of the competition will get 50,000 TikTok 'Diamonds,' but the company won't say what the USD conversion rate is.
August 7, 2023Source

TikTok users can now watch a full episode of Peacock's 'Killing It'
Peacock is trying out a new strategy to promote its shows--posting full episodes on the popular short-form video app TikTok. As a first for the company, episode one of "Killing It" Season 2 will be available to watch for free on TikTok, parent company NBCUniversal announced Monday.
August 7, 2023Source

TikTok Users Will Be Able to Opt Out of the Algorithm in Europe
TikTok users in Europe will soon be able to opt out of its powerful content-selection algorithm as the app prepares to comply with the European Union's (EU) new Digital Services Act (DSA).
August 7, 2023Source

Tinder reveals how to create the ultimate profile
How many words should your bio be?
August 7, 2023Source

YouTube opens enhanced 1080p resolution to the desktop
1080p Premium resolution is now available on laptops and desktops, if you pay up
August 7, 2023Source

Why Thread is Matter's biggest problem right now
The Thread protocol offers a robust mesh network designed to solve many of the smart home's biggest problems. But only if everyone can agree on how to use it.
August 7, 2023Source

Zoom launches an asynchronous video tool for the meeting-averse
In its continued attempt to diversify its product offerings, Zoom today launched a new asynchronous video tool, Zoom Clips, that lets users record, edit and share video clips without having to hop on a meeting.
August 7, 2023Source

Internet — Software — August 4th, 2023

The biggest names in food are just regular people on TikTok
How fancy chefs and the Food Network became the old guard of food media.
August 4, 2023Source

The number of daily Threads users is in free-fall
The early strength of X competitor Threads has disappeared. If you were the kind of person to throw out puns, you might say that the Instagram-based social media platform was (ahem) getting to be threadbare. Luckily, this writer would never subject you to this kind of corny writing style (ahem, again). Let's get to some actual data thanks to CNN. The latter cites information from app research firm Sensor Tower which shows that Threads' daily active users count has plummeted 82% from its launch day through the end of July. Ouch.
August 4, 2023Source or Source

TikTok adapts to EU digital rules: non-personalized For You feed coming soon
In 2022, the European Union created clear rules for online platforms' regulations with the Digital Services Act (DSA). The DSA oversees platforms like social media, online marketplaces, and search engines, introducing measures to curb discriminatory targeted ads, reduce illegal and hateful online content, and enhance safeguards for minors against harmful material.
August 4, 2023Source

TikTok unveils changes to meet tough new EU rules
Video-sharing platform TikTok announced Friday changes to meet strict EU rules including allowing European users to turn off the addictive feature that shows content based on their interests.
August 4, 2023Source

TikTok will let European users decide whether they want a personalized For You Page
The service is implementing massive changes to comply with the EU's Digital Services Act.
August 4, 2023Source

Tinder embraces AI to help you find someone to embrace you
Dating app Tinder (iOS, Android) is the latest app to test the use of artificial intelligence (AI). According to some who use the site, it might be the only intelligence found on the app. However, that's another story for another day. According to The Guardian, Tinder is working on a new feature that would use AI to help users decide which photo of them should be posted on the app.
August 4, 2023Source

Internet — Software — August 3rd, 2023

Elon Musk responds to whether the X stock trading app is in development
According to a report on Thursday, Twitter or X is in talks with financial data providers to potentially add stock trading and other financial services to its app.
August 3, 2023Source or Source

Elon Musk thinks he can get the 'Apple tax' policy changed for X
Is Elon Musk asking if Tim Cook can divide by zero?
August 3, 2023Source or Source

Elon Musk's X faces copyright lawsuit in France over news content
Elon Musk's company, formerly known as Twitter, is facing a lawsuit in France for alleged copyright infringement. The Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency shared that it has taken legal action against the social media platform. AFP claims that X has outright refused to discuss compensation for using AFP's news content on its platform.
August 3, 2023Source or Source

Instagram is changing how unknown users can (or can't) text you
Instagram is changing the way its DM requests or message requests feature works. The feature allows you to filter out messages from unknown senders by putting them into a separate folder until you accept their request.
August 3, 2023Source or Source or Source

Is decentralization the future of social media?
Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter created an opportunity for a new kind of social platform.
August 3, 2023Source

Lacros rescues Chromebooks by extending their lifespans
'Play sports and live longer' apparently now applies to ChromeOS as well as sedentary geeks
August 3, 2023Source

The Agence France-Presse is suing Elon Musk's X over news content payments
A 2019 French law copyrighted news publishers' content.
August 3, 2023Source

TikTok competitor Triller files to go public
Triller has long teased its ambitions to go public, and now, the short-form video platform seems to on its way to an IPO. Triller filed an S-1 on Wednesday, seeking to directly list on the New York Stock Exchange.
August 3, 2023Source

Tinder Tests AI That Will Choose the Best Photos for Your Dating Profile
Tinder is testing an artificial intelligence (AI) feature that looks through a user's photos for the ones that represent them best on their dating profile.
August 3, 2023Source

X, the former Twitter, lets users hide once-vaunted blue check
Users on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, will now be allowed to hide their once-prized blue check marks, the company says.
August 3, 2023Source

Internet — Software — August 1st, 2023

BBC is testing being on Mastodon, says fediverse better fit for public purposes than Twitter or Threads
In another sign of shifting forces in the social media universe, the U.K.'s national public service broadcaster, the BBC, is dipping a toe into the fediverse by setting up its own Mastodon instance.
August 1, 2023Source

Facebook and Instagram's news blackout in Canada starts today
Meta is responding to new legislation by blocking news content on the two platforms.
August 1, 2023Source

How to report abusive comments on Instagram
See something, say something.
August 1, 2023Source

Microsoft Teams launches support for spatial audio for desktop users
In March, it was revealed that Microsoft Teams would soon add support for spatial audio to its online conferencing service. It might have taken a bit longer than expected, but today, the company announced that the new audio feature is generally available for desktop Teams users.
August 1, 2023Source

Reddit has rolled out a bunch of changes to the logged-out web experience
One notable change is that the site should feel faster.
August 1, 2023Source

Reddit just got better for people who aren't logged in
Not everyone is a dedicated poster.
August 1, 2023Source

Snapchat Aims to Entice AR Creators with a New Lens Rewards Program
Snapchat has announced Lens Creator Rewards, a new program that pays augmented reality creators who make popular Lenses.
August 1, 2023Source

Snapchat is launching a new rewards program for AR Lens creators
Snapchat is introducing a new Lens Creator Rewards program to give AR creators and developers the chance to earn money for top-performing Lenses, the company announced on Tuesday. Creators could be rewarded up to $7,200 per month if their creation is a top-performing Lens with high engagement in the United States, India and Mexico.
August 1, 2023Source

YouTube is adding more creator tools to Shorts to help it take on TikTok
It's also testing a mobile-first vertical live experience for viewers.
August 1, 2023Source

YouTube experiments with AI auto-generated video summaries
YouTube is running a new test to auto-generate video summaries with the use of AI. As noted on the support page, the summaries have begun appearing on the watch and search pages, but are only available for a limited number of English-language videos and viewers.
August 1, 2023Source or Source or Source

Internet — Software — July 28th, 2023

As Threads soars, Twitter rival Bluesky adopts a new personalized, algorithmic feed
Bluesky, one of the many would-be Twitter replacements now on the market, is making a notable change to how users discover new content on its network. Previously, the Bluesky app would feature popular posts in a feed it called the “What’s Hot” feed — something that its users aspired to find a place on, as it would bring their content more attention and potentially gain them more followers.
July 28, 2023Source

Elon Musk's 25-year obsession with 'X' explains what he did to Twitter
To understand why this billionaire just trashed a beloved brand, peer into his PayPal past.
July 28, 2023Source

Elon Musk reverses plan to get rid of 'light mode' on X
'Dark mode' will become the default, though.
July 28, 2023Source

Meta’s X rival ‘Threads’ hemorrhages more than half of its users
Meta Platforms executives are focusing heavily on user retention for their new 𝕏 (née Twitter) rival, Threads, after the app lost more than half of its users in the weeks following its launch.
July 28, 2023Source

Microsoft faces EU antitrust probe for bundling Teams with M365
The European Commission said it is concerned that the bundling of Teams with Microsoft 365 was disallowing choices for enterprises and giving Teams an unfair advantage over competing applications.
July 28, 2023Source

Twitter's rebrand to X is causing scam alerts on Microsoft Edge
Edge suggests you delete the app if you think it's tricking you.
July 28, 2023Source or Source

Twitter, now X, opens up its ad revenue sharing program with global creators
Earlier this month, Twitter — which has since rebranded as X — began sharing ad revenue with verified creators in an attempt to retain top talent on its platform. Today, the company announced its “Ads Revenue Sharing” program is now available for eligible creators globally.
July 28, 2023Source

Internet — Software — July 27th, 2023

Elon Musk capitulates: Twitter will default to dark mode but still offer a light option
Because dark mode isn’t ‘better in every way.’ Who knew?
July 27, 2023Source

Elon Musk wants to turn tweets into 'X's'. But changing language is not quite so simple
Elon Musk may want to send "tweet" back to the birds, but the ubiquitous term for posting on the site he now calls X is here to stay--at least for now.
July 27, 2023Source

It's official: EU probing bundling of Teams with Microsoft 365
Antitrust inspectors trying to figure out if Redmond has breached local competition laws
July 27, 2023Source or Source or Source

Musk extols Twitter's new X name, but analysts are dubious
Musk sees bigger things ahead for Twitter, necessitating the name change, though analysts and experts question the impact of the rebranding.
July 27, 2023Source

Not just @x: Elon Musk also took @xAI from its original user for his AI company
A pattern is emerging.
July 27, 2023Source

'The brand became the verb.' Why the blue Twitter bird worked, until it didn't
Over the weekend, millions of (now formerly) Twitter users called up their feeds, and for the first time in 13 years, a cerulean feathered mainstay wasn't there to greet them.
July 27, 2023Source

Twitter stole its new @X username without paying its owner a dime
Forget @Twitter, @X is here.
July 27, 2023Source

What is Elon Musk's X, the 'everything' app? Here's what you need to know
"Twitter is an accelerant to fulfilling the original X.com vision," Musk tweeted just days before buying Twitter last year.
July 27, 2023Source

X placed ads from Discovery, Showtime and USA Today on a neo-Nazi account
Hate groups are potentially monetizing their tweets.
July 27, 2023Source

X threatens brands with lost verification if they don't cough up $1,000 a month
That's quite the ultimatum.
July 27, 2023Source

Internet — Software — July 25th, 2023

Doja Cat Loses 250K Followers on Instagram After Controversial Comments Toward Fans
Doja Cat has found herself in hot water again on Instagram. The "Attention" singer has made a series of controversial comments over the last few months. In her latest social media rant, she criticized fans for calling themselves "Kittenz."
July 25, 2023Source

FBI Seizure of Mastodon Server Data is a Wakeup Call to Fediverse Users and Hosts to Protect their Users
We're in an exciting time for users who want to take back control from major platforms like Twitter and Facebook. However, this new environment comes with challenges and risks for user privacy, so we need to get it right and make sure networks like the Fediverse and Bluesky are mindful of past lessons.
July 25, 2023Source

Threads rolls out new features, including a chronological "Following" feed on iOS and Android
In today's increasingly competitive social media landscape, it can be tough to keep up with all the changes and new apps that keep spawning up. Fortunately, Meta is now making our decision-making a bit easier by finally giving us the chronological following feed we have been clamoring for in Threads.
July 25, 2023Source or Source

The user behind @x on Twitter has no idea what happens next after Elon Musk's X rebrand
Musk and company hasn't reached out to him. Will they?
July 25, 2023Source

The Disastrous Cost Of Elon Musk's Twitter Rebrand
After months of teases, the Twitter brand is being phased out by owner Elon Musk. The rebrand officially began on July 23 with the announcement that the social media giant would soon become "X," described on Twitter by CEO Linda Yaccarino as "a global marketplace for ideas, goods, services, and opportunities.
July 25, 2023Source

Twitter Blue subscribers can now download videos posted to X
If you're shelling out for X's Twitter Blue, you can now download videos posted to the site, with certain restrictions.
July 25, 2023Source

Twitter's rebranding to X.com may get complicated as Microsoft and Meta own the trademark
Elon Musk may have legal huddles on his hands as he attempts to rebrand Twitter as X.com with Microsoft and Meta both holding the important trademarks.
July 25, 2023Source

Internet — Software — July 21st, 2023

Leave sex workers out of your NPC TikTok discourse
Is it fetish content? Probably not.
July 21, 2023Source

Looking for a new job? Twitter might help you with that
Twitter updates have become a regular occurrence since Elon Musk acquired the social media platform last year. While most new features and upgrades are exclusive to paid subscribers, some may still benefit all users.
July 21, 2023Source

The new Thunderbird UI is now available and it's a long overdue refresh
Mozilla's latest version of Thunderbird email has a brand-new interface that finally brings the aging application closer to modern aesthetic standards.
July 21, 2023Source

Internet — Software — July 20th, 2023

Instagram launches new tools to make it easier to create Reels
Instagram is bringing its users new features to help them create content faster and easier. With Reels templates, Instagram hopes to bring the right tools to further improve the overall content creation experience on its social app.
July 20, 2023Source

Reddit is trying to make nice with its moderators. They aren't buying it.
It's like watching an AITA post play out in real time.
July 20, 2023Source

‘Sharenting’ Campaign Warns Parents About Posting a Child’s Photo Online
A police force in India has made an AI-generated campaign advising parents not to be a “sharent” — warning them not to post photos of their children online.
July 20, 2023Source

TikTok expands research API to Europe and launches ads transparency library
TikTok has finally launched an ads transparency library — starting with data on ads and other commercial content running in Europe but with plans to expand that.
July 20, 2023Source

TikTok gives European researchers access to API in transparency pledge
Access to the social media platform's public data, including content and user profiles, has been expanded beyond the US to include researchers in Europe.
July 20, 2023Source

TikTok's 'blueberry milk nails' have the internet questioning trend culture
"America is having an individuality crisis."
July 20, 2023Source

Twitter is prepping a job listings feature for verified organizations
Twitter appears to be prepping a feature that allows verified organizations on the platform to post job listings on their profiles. The social media giant has also created an official @TwitterHiring account, but hasn’t tweeted anything from it yet.
July 20, 2023Source

YouTube Premium quietly goes up in price to $14 per month
That's a significant $2 increase with no official announcement.
July 20, 2023Source or Source or Source

Internet — Software — July 19th, 2023

Instagram adds templates to 'easily create' Reels
Tested since April last year, these pre-made blueprints are finally rolling out.
July 19, 2023Source

Instagram Beats Photographers' Copyright Case Over Embedded Images
Instagram has beaten a class of photographers in a lawsuit that claimed the Meta-owned platform contributes to copyright infringement by letting outside websites embed images.
July 19, 2023Source

Google Meet is testing AI-generated backgrounds
Put me on a tropical beach. Add a coconut tree or two.
July 19, 2023Source or Source or Source

Microsoft Teams video call users can now access virtual makeup looks from Maybelline
More and more companies are using virtual meeting services like Microsoft Teams, especially since remote workers have not gone away after the COVID-19 pandemic. However, some people who attend video calls in Teams might look at themselves in the camera and wish they had taken some time to look a bit better.
July 19, 2023Source

No, Threads didn't rate limit like Twitter. Here's what Meta did.
Not all rate limits are the same. Some are more extreme than others.
July 19, 2023Source

This is how you lose the Threads-Twitter war
Memo to Zuck: Don't f**k this up.
July 19, 2023Source

Threads is introducing rate limiting
Not this again.
July 19, 2023Source

Threads Rolls Out First Feature Update After Losing Half its Active Users
Threads has rolled out its first major feature update since its launch two weeks ago — after reportedly losing half of its active users.
July 19, 2023Source

Twitter's surge in harmful content a barrier to advertiser return
Elon Musk's Twitter acquisition, and the series of content policy changes that ensued, has led to a dramatic spike in hateful, violent and inaccurate posts on the platform, according to researchers.
July 19, 2023Source

Internet Software — Bluesky

Bluesky Hits 1 Million Installs As Competition With Threads Heats Up
Social media is an ever-evolving landscape that sees some once-vaunted sites laid low, and fresh upstarts that soon come to rule the proverbial roost. With this in mind, there are now multiple sites and applications out there that are looking to challenge Twitter's dominance of the micro-blogging scene, with Bluesky and Threads being two of the most noticeable.
July 7, 2023Source

Bluesky invites become a hot commodity as demand for the Twitter alternative outstrips access
Consumer demand for the Jack Dorsey-backed Twitter alternative Bluesky is outstripping access, according to the latest App Store data and figures published today by the company. In a new FAQ on Bluesky's website, the company shares that its community has topped 50,000 users.
May 2, 2023Source

Bluesky is getting flooded with signups after Twitter's move to limit number of read posts
Elon Musk's latest decision to limit the number of posts users can read per day has not only caused lots of confusion among its audience, but it's also caused many of the social network's members to try something else.
July 3, 2023Source

Bluesky now lets you choose your own algorithm
A future update will allow users to create their own within the app.
May 26, 2023Source

Bluesky rolls out feeds with custom algorithms
Yes, there is an Alf-focused feed.
May 26, 2023Source

Bluesky's growing pains strain its relationship with Black users
Users expect the site to crack down on bigotry — even if it conflicts with Bluesky's decentralized goals
June 8, 2023Source

For Bluesky to thrive, it needs sex workers and Black Twitter
If Bluesky wants to be a genuine rival to Twitter, it needs to protect vulnerable communities
May 2, 2023Source

Live audio is getting another go on Bluesky
Plus, Gimlet Media's Stolen gets a third season.
May 9, 2023Source

Twitter Alternative Bluesky Hits 100k Members Before Exiting Beta
Newly updated usage stats show that more than half of this count contributed over 3 million posts to date, averaging 55 posts per account since data collection started on May 1. That leaves about 43,000 users who probably signed up to take a tour.
May 30, 2023Source

Internet Software — Google Chrome OS

How to activate your Chromebook's crafty new shortcut system
Get early access to Google's ChromeOS keyboard shortcut customizer with these quick 'n' simple steps.
June 20, 2023Source

Internet Software — Google Meet

Microsoft Teams says stop f***ing cursing with new profanity filter
You can now filter out inappropriate language from Live Captions.
June 27, 2023Source

Internet Software — Instagram

How to delete an Instagram account
Bye, bye Instagram.
May 12, 2023Source or Source

Instagram feed fix: How to see more of what you want (and less of what you don't)
Instagram's algorithms manage what you see. Here's how to control your view.
June 8, 2023Source

Instagram is gearing up to release a Twitter competitor
The new standalone app will integrate with ActivityPub, the same protocol powering social media sites like Mastodon.
June 9, 2023Source or Source

Instagram Is Working On Bringing AI Chatbot For Chats To Make Your Experience More Engaging
AI has been all the rage, and we are well aware of that. It has already made its way to several apps, including Swiftkey and Snapchat, and we are sure a lot more. Now, it might make its way to Instagram as well, as the Meta-owned platform appears to be testing a feature that would enable an AI chatbot in Chats so you can talk to the AI and make the conversations even more fun.
June 6, 2023Source or Source

Instagram may roll out its own AI chatbot in the near future
You might be able to select a preferred personality for the AI agent.
June 6, 2023Source

Instagram 'most important platform' for child sex abuse networks: report
Instagram is the main platform used by pedophile networks to promote and sell content showing child sexual abuse, according to a report by Stanford University and the Wall Street Journal.
June 8, 2023Source

Instagram's text-based app might make Twitter users jump ship
Could this be the one that makes people switch for good?
May 19, 2023Source

Meta doesn't want to give you yet another inbox, use Instagram DMs for now
The Threads app has been live and running for more than a day now and it has already been the center of some drama and chaos. Over 30 million users joined the app within 24 hours of its launch, which was followed by reports of Twitter planning to take legal actions against the "copycat".
July 7, 2023Source

Meta is going to let you make video calls as your avatar
If you want to show up as your virtual self, now you can.
July 11, 2023Source or Source

Meta is rolling out new parental control tools for Instagram and Messenger
Meta announced new parental control tools across Instagram, Facebook and Messenger today. This includes a new parental supervision hub in Messenger, a feature that pre-emptively blocks unwanted DMs on Messenger and Instagram, and nudges to remind teens that they should take a break.
June 27, 2023Source or Source or Source

Retro is a deeply personal photo journaling app for close friends
These Instagram veterans go back to the drawing board to revive the simple joy of photo sharing
July 7, 2023Source

Which Instagram theme should you use for business
Instagram is a powerful tool for businesses looking to build their brand, reach new customers, and engage with their existing audience. One way to make your Instagram account stand out is by using a consistent and visually appealing theme.
May 12, 2023Source

Internet Software — Microsoft Teams — H

How To Integrate Microsoft Team With Cypress Cloud
The Microsoft Teams integration with Cypress allows you to see your test results directly in your Microsoft Teams channels.
May 26, 2023Source

Internet Software — Microsoft Teams — M

Microsoft Teams free version receives major update and new features
If you are an avid user of Microsoft Teams, you will be pleased to know that Microsoft recently announced a host of substantial updates to its free version. The rollout is currently underway, giving Teams a boost in its ability to support and engage communities across different platforms.
June 6, 2023Source

Microsoft Teams is rolling out new and detailed virtual backgrounds
With over 300 million people using Microsoft Teams for online meetings and chats, it stands to reason that there will be more of a need for customization for each of those users. Today, the Microsoft Design team announced it has created a new and large collection of virtual backgrounds for Teams that have started rolling out worldwide.
May 5, 2023Source

Microsoft Teams now lets you charge for a class, webinar, or other in-meeting service
Designed for small businesses, the new, integrated Payments app lets you collect payments during a meeting.
May 2, 2023Source

Microsoft Teams Payments app unveiled
Microsoft is launching a new app for Teams, the Teams Payments app which is designed for small businesses. The app is designed to allow payments within Teams and businesses will be able to collect payments during meetings.
May 2, 2023Source

Microsoft Teams Phone just made vacations better for executives
New enhancements for Teams Phone users make delegation easier.
July 14, 2023Source

Microsoft Teams Premium is rolling out support for AI-based Intelligent meeting recaps
The intelligent meeting recap feature in Microsoft Teams Premium will use AI to automatically create an overview of an online meeting so people who miss it will get all the info they need.
May 30, 2023Source

Microsoft Teams update increases file upload limit to 250GB and more
Microsoft Teams as been specifically designed to help improve our productivity at work in the way we communicate both with internal colleagues and external customers. The platform's dedication to enhancing collaborative efforts through continuous improvements is noteworthy.
July 3, 2023Source

Microsoft's Walkie Talkie experience is coming to Teams phones
The feature's Teams phones debut is slated for a September 2021 release.
July 13, 2021Source

Internet Software — Microsoft Teams — N

New Microsoft Teams for Education is up to twice as fast, and it's in preview now
Earlier this year, Microsoft launched Teams 2.0 in preview on Windows. The app will become the default version of Teams once it reaches feature parity with Teams "classic." It is also expected to ship in preview to macOS, the web, and other platforms later this year.
July 3, 2023Source

Internet Software — Microsoft Teams — T

The Microsoft Teams public preview adds zoom button support for screenshare in meetings
Microsoft continues to throw in small but useful new features for its Teams online meeting service. Today, the company revealed that people who can access the public preview version of Teams can try out the new zoom controls for when meeting attendees are interacting with content in screenshare.
June 2, 2023Source

These three improvements are on the way to Microsoft Teams Together mode
Together mode in Microsoft Teams will soon show more details alongside meeting participants.
May 12, 2023Source

Internet Software — Resources — A

A Reddit transcription community will shut down over a 'lack of trust' in the platform
Moderators of r/TranscribersOfReddit also blamed API changes
June 23, 2023Source or Source

A survival guide to dick pics (both solicited and unsolicited)
In a strange way, dick pics have defined this weird, at times beautiful, but mostly horrifying place we call the world wide web.
July 3, 2023Source

Internet Software — Resources — H

How to view email priority in Thunderbird
If you use the Thunderbird email client, and you've been missing out on priority status, it's time you made it easy to see when an email is urgent.
July 7, 2023Source

Internet Software — Resources — M

Mastodon fixes "confusing" sign-up process to attract users fleeing Twitter
Mastodon forms a plan to make decentralized social networks go mainstream.
May 2, 2023Source

Match Group removes 44 spam accounts every minute
The parent company of Tinder, Hinge, and other dating apps is making efforts to curb spam and bot accounts.
June 9, 2023Source

More Reddit developers announce their apps will switch to a subscription model
Relay for Reddit and Now for Reddit will remain available after July 1st, but you'll eventually have to pay for them.
June 30, 2023Source

Internet Software — Resources — N

New social media recommendations for teens focus on preventing harm
Many of these American Psychological Association guidelines are meant to help parents protect their pre-teens and teenagers.
May 9, 2023Source

Internet Software — Resources — P

'Profound risk of harm': Surgeon General issues warning about youth social media use
Advisory calls for urgent action to protect mental health of tweens and teens.
May 23, 2023Source

Internet Software — Resources — R

Reddit CEO Steve Huffman defends API changes in AMA
"We'll continue to be profit-driven until profits arrive," he said.
June 9, 2023Source

Reddit's API protest just made John Oliver a special job offer
"Yes, we're serious."
July 11, 2023Source

Internet Software — Resources — S

So where are we all supposed to go now?
It's the end of a social era on the web. That's probably a good thing. But I already miss the places that felt like everyone was there.
July 3, 2023Source

Social app IRL, valued at $1 billion, shuts down because it doesn't have any users IRL
95 percent of the company's users were bots
June 27, 2023Source

Internet Software — Resources — T

The best — and worst — social media apps in 2023 (so far)
For a bunch of people who supposedly hate social media, we sure do spend a lot of time on it.
June 2, 2023Source

The Law Should Not Require Parental Consent for All Minors to Access Social Media
Numerous state laws passed this year, and bills proposed in Congress, would set onerous new restrictions on what young people can do online, depriving teenagers of their First Amendment rights to express themselves, access protected speech, engage in anonymous speech, and participate in online communities.
May 12, 2023Source

Thunderbird 115 Now Available & It Looks Fantastic
As a devoted Thunderbird mail client user for the past nearly twenty years since its first release, I'm elated today by the release of Thunderbird 115.
July 11, 2023Source

Two climate podcasters walk into a bar
The creators of environmental comedy podcast "Sustainababble" discuss the potential and limitations of climate humor.
May 26, 2023Source

Internet Software — Resources — U

US top court backs Big Tech over terror claims
The US Supreme Court handed a victory to Twitter and Google on Thursday, saying the social media giants could not be held liable by victims of terrorist attacks for posts that endorsed the Islamic State group.
May 19, 2023Source

Internet Software — Resources — W

Why do rational people believe lies online? Research explains how misinformation spreads
Misinformation is an unfortunate reality of social media. On any given day, visitors to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other websites can find made-up "facts" about anything from vaccines to the war in Ukraine to climate change.
July 3, 2023Source

Internet Software — Resources — Y

You Can't Escape Stories, Now Coming to Telegram
Telegram, our go-to messaging app here at DL, announced some sad news this week — Stories are coming to Telegram.
June 27, 2023Source

Internet Software — OneDrive

OneDrive's new UI focuses on people, not files, and that's great
Any files you have stored in OneDrive or other cloud services are probably organized by file and name so you know where they are. But in the workplace, all bets are off. A new OneDrive for the web UI feature helps solve that problem.
May 2, 2023Source or Source

Internet Software — SnapChat

How to unpin Snapchat's My AI from your Chat feed
If you're not a Snapchat+ subscriber, you're out of luck!
April 21, 2023Source

Snapchat convinced more than 4 million people to pay for its subscription service
Back in August, Snapchat announced that 1 million users have decided to pay for its subscription service. Fast forward almost one year and the social company revealed Snapchat+ has more than 4 million subscribers.
June 30, 2023Source

Snapchat seeks path to profit without losing its way
Snapchat parent Snap on Wednesday unveiled new tactics including the increased use of artificial intelligence in its struggle to expand beyond the app's loyal user base and reach profitability.
April 20, 2023Source

Snapchat uses ChatGPT to haul a million new premium subscribers
It's the era of artificial intelligence! After ChatGPT made headlines with its powers to write, draw and code, other companies started to integrate the powerful AI into their services.
April 25, 2023Source

Snapchat's AI bot isn't very smart, but at least it won't send nudes
Snapchat now has an AI bot that you can send snaps to, and if you're a premium subscriber, it can even send you pictures back. So, what happens if you send Snapchat's My AI bot nudes?
June 2, 2023Source

Snapchat's users seem to really hate AI
Maybe AI isn't for everyone.
April 25, 2023Source

Internet Software — Threads

All the questions we still have about Threads, Meta's Twitter killer
Threads may be generating a lot of buzz, but there are many unanswered questions about the service.
July 7, 2023Source

All these features are on the way to Threads by Instagram
Threads has some catching up to do since it was launched quickly.
July 7, 2023Source

How to join and use Meta's Twitter rival Threads
Available for iOS and Android, Meta's new Threads app is now accessible to Instagram users who'd like to try a text-based conversation app other than Twitter. Here's how to dive in.
July 7, 2023Source

Instagram's Threads Engagement Has Already Dropped off
The engagement on Meta's Twitter rival app Threads has already dropped off — after it hit 100 million users barely a week after its launch.
July 14, 2023Source

Meta confirms it is blocking EU-based users from accessing Threads via VPN
After multiple EU-based users complained about not being able to access Instagram's Threads app through VPN, Meta confirmed that it is blocking such efforts.
July 14, 2023Source

Meta is working to stop deleted Threads accounts from nuking Instagram too
Currently, deleting your Threads account will also delete your Instagram.
July 7, 2023Source

Meta faces criticism for poor accessibility features in Threads
Social platform Threads may only be a couple of days old, but it has already amassed millions of users. While Meta might be celebrating the popularity of its new Twitter rival, the company is also facing criticism from various quarters.
July 7, 2023Source

Meta publishes Threads Dictionary to help newcomers decipher the jargon
For many people the release of Threads, Instagram's text-based conversation app, represents an alternative to Twitter — a platform which is widely considered to have become more toxic and problematic under Elon Musk. But for an even larger number of people, Threads will be their first step into this type of social media.
July 7, 2023Source

Meta's vision for Threads is more mega-mall than public square
In the latest sign that Meta's new Twitter lookalike Threads is unlikely to capture the essence of its predecessor, the company is apparently actively disinterested in cultivating its new app into a useful hub of breaking news and world events.
July 7, 2023Source

Musk threatens lawsuit as Twitter rival Threads takes off
Twitter threatened to sue Meta just hours after the Instagram parent company launched Threads, an app it hopes will beat out the struggling site owned by Elon Musk.
July 7, 2023Source

These 12 Threads features are on the way, according to Instagram head Adam Mosseri
Meta's newly launched social media app Threads crossed over 30 million users within the first 24 hours of its arrival. However, the text-based version of Instagram built on the likes of Twitter currently deprives its users of various basic features. Moreover, users can't delete their Threads profile without saying goodbye to their Instagram account.
July 7, 2023Source

Threads already has a hate speech problem, civil rights groups warn
Carrying over Instagram's Community Guidelines might not be enough.
July 14, 2023Source

Threads Engagement Reportedly Stumbles After Impressive Start
Threads, the Twitter rival spun off from Instagram, was one of the fastest apps to clock 100 million users, achieving the milestone within a week of its launch. But it appears that interest in the app has declined, and the meteoric rise has plateaued.
July 14, 2023Source

Threads Is Working On A Chronological Feed
Threads, Meta's newly-released companion app to Instagram, is already doing some impressive numbers — and drawing the ire of Twitter owner Elon Musk for allegedly duping his site's design.
July 7, 2023Source

Threads isn't for news and politics, says Instagram's boss
Adam Mosseri ran Facebook's News Feed in 2016, and now he tells Alex Heath that politics and hard news aren't 'worth the scrutiny, negativity (let's be honest), or integrity risks.'
July 7, 2023Source

Threads usage drops as Meta blocks VPN access in EU
Move comes as Meta tries to avoid violating privacy laws.
July 14, 2023Source

Threads Will Get a Chronological Feed Option Eventually
We'll keep tabs on it.
July 7, 2023Source

Threads working on letting users delete accounts without wiping out Instagram
Right now, if you want to delete your Threads account altogether, you'll also take your Instagram account with it.
July 7, 2023Source

Threads: New Twitter rival looks like a shrewd move but Meta lacks credibility
Mark Zuckerberg's new social media platform, Threads, has been released in smartphone app stores (although not in the EU). Zuckerberg, who is chief executive of Threads' parent company Meta, says that at least 30 million users signed up in the app's first day. According to some speculative reporting, Threads might be a reliable alternative to Twitter.
July 7, 2023Source

View your Threads (or anyone else's) on the web
Although it only launched a couple of days ago, Meta's new Twitter rival Threads is already a big success. It's lacking some important features at the moment, although they are coming, and not all of its capabilities are obvious.
July 7, 2023Source

Why you might not want to sign up for Threads
Mark Zuckerberg claims that some 30 million people have signed up for Meta's Threads app since its launch on Thursday.
July 7, 2023Source

Internet Software — TikTok

Australia bans TikTok from federal government devices
Australia has become the last of the "Five Eyes" security partners to ban the Chinese-owned video-sharing app TikTok from its federal government's devices.
April 4, 2023Source

Charli D'Amelio talks Tamagotchis and TikTok trends
Easily one of the most recognizable faces online, this 19-year-old is representing a new generation of Tamagotchi.
June 8, 2023Source

Former ByteDance exec claims company used bots to inflate TikTok engagement
The former head of engineering says the company stole content from other apps.
May 12, 2023Source

Former ByteDance exec says China can access TikTok user data, even when it's stored on US soil
In an amendment to his wrongful termination suit, Yintao Yu outlines his alleged witnessing of how ByteDance supplies user data to the CCP.
June 8, 2023Source

How is TikTok affecting our mental health? It's complicated, new study shows
With the rise of TikTok, many people have wondered about its potential impacts on society, in particular surrounding mental health. According to a first-of-its-kind study from University of Minnesota Twin Cities computer science researchers, the social media platform and its unique algorithm can serve as both a haven and a hindrance for users struggling with their mental state.
April 18, 2023Source

How Montana could enforce its TikTok app ban
U.S. state Montana on Wednesday banned the CCP-controlled TikTok app, with the state's lawmakers saying they aimed to protect residents from alleged intelligence gathering by the Chinese Communist Party.
May 19, 2023Source

How to add Tyler, the Creator saying 'I'm not finished' to your TikTok video
"Uhh, I'm not finished. First off you — oh my God can you let me do what I need to do."
May 2, 2023Source

Inside the US government's fight to ban TikTok
The Verge met with lawmakers, creators, and civil rights experts to determine whether the government will ban TikTok.
April 14, 2023Source or Watch Video

It Looks Like TikTok's BeReal Competitor Is Dead
Social media, as a business, has often been focused on chasing trends. Whenever a new network on the block sets the App Store alight with a bright idea, every other platform takes a swing at the same concept (or something similar) in order to keep their users from moving on to something new. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. 
June 27, 2023Source or Source or Source

Max Greenfield on Schmidt's hutch, 'Succession,' and why his daughter isn't allowed on TikTok
The 'New Girl' star is really passionate about helping children learn to read — and keeping his teen off TikTok.
April 27, 2023Source

Montana is about to become the first state to ban TikTok
The state legislature passed a bill that requires app stores to block the service.
April 14, 2023Source

Opinion: Australia needs a robust cybersecurity overhaul, not whack-a-mole bans on apps like TikTok
Australia has joined other countries in announcing a ban on the use of TikTok on government devices, with some states and territories following suit. The rationale was based on security fears and, in particular, the risk the platform will be used for foreign interference operations by China.
April 14, 2023Source

Politicians Push for TikTok Ban, Saying It's a Threat to National Security
Tech experts say that might not be the right way to handle the problem, and instead argue for privacy protections.
April 4, 2023Source

Republicans demand a ban on lawmakers using TikTok
Congress has already banned TikTok from government-issued devices.
April 18, 2023Source

The wonderful horror of the Grimace shake TikTok trend
Happy birthday, Grimace.
June 27, 2023Source

TikTok adds content filtering tool to Family Pairing
TikTok is bringing one of the features that's been available since last year, content filtering, to Family Pairing. Ever since the feature was released back in July 2022, the content filtering tool that allows TikTok users to filter out videos with words or hashtags was among the most popular features among the app's users.
June 27, 2023Source

TikTok ban bill is so broad it could apply to nearly any type of tech product
RESTRICT Act could be read as criminalizing some VPN use, EFF says.
April 7, 2023Source

TikTok 'confident' of stopping Montana ban: CEO
TikTok is confident of stopping a ban in the US state of Montana, its CEO said on Tuesday, after the Chinese-owned social media app launched a legal challenge.
May 23, 2023Source

TikTok considers ditching its 'Friends' tab for a new 'Explore' experience focused on discovery
Unlike Facebook, TikTok grew in popularity by connecting users with their interests, not their real-life friends and family. In fact, many people today deny the app's request to upload their contacts because TikTok is a place where they don't want to interact with people they know.
April 11, 2023Source

TikTok creators file suit against Montana's statewide ban of the app
Earlier this week, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte signed a bill, SB 419, into law that will ban the use of the TikTok social network for all citizens of that US state. While that ban won't go into effect until January 1, 2024, it's already being challenged by a lawsuit that is backed by a group of TikTok content creators.
May 19, 2023Source or Source or Source or Source

TikTok faces its first potential statewide ban in Montana
The state's lawmakers have approved a bill to ban the app.
April 18, 2023Source

TikTok fined $15.9M by UK watchdog over misuse of kids' data
Britain's privacy watchdog hit TikTok with a multimillion-dollar penalty Tuesday for misusing children's data and violating other protections for young users' personal information.
April 4, 2023Source or Source or Source

TikTok gives parents even more control over what their teens see
New Family Pairing features allow content filtering by words or hashtags.
June 27, 2023Source

TikTok gives parents personalized control over the content their teens see
TikTok is bringing its content-filtering tool to its Family Pairing offering, which lets parents link their account to their teen's to enable content and privacy settings, the company announced on Tuesday. Content filtering allows users to filter out videos with words or hashtags they don't want to see in their For You or Following feeds.
June 27, 2023Source

TikTok gives "supreme access" to CCP, says former ByteDance executive
The claims include the Chinese Communist Party having a committee within ByteDance with kill switches and access to data, including that of US users. Yu also alleges that the company promoted anti-Japanese sentiments, stole data from rivals early on, and suppressed Hong Kong pro-democracy content.
May 12, 2023Source

TikTok hit with $15.7M UK fine for misusing children's data
TikTok has been issued with a fine of £12.7 million (~$15.7M) for breaching U./K. data protection law, including rules intended to protect children.
April 4, 2023Source

TikTok is banning all climate change denial content
A ban TikTok can get behind.
April 20, 2023Source

TikTok is making it easier for you to discover new music
TikTok and Spotify are having a mid-off.
May 12, 2023Source or Source

TikTok is opening up its paywall and 20-minute video feature to more users
The feature, called Series, was first announced in March and only open to select creators. Participants can charge money for access to exclusive content.
June 6, 2023Source

TikTok is Testing a Lensa-Like AI Avatar Generator
TikTok is jumping on the artificially intelligent (AI) photo-editing trend, popularized by Lensa last year and is working on its own new AI avatar generator.
April 27, 2023Source

TikTok is testing an in-app AI chatbot with some users
TikTok is working on its own AI chatbot. Here's what you need to know.
May 26, 2023Source

TikTok Is Turning Grimace's Milkshake Into A Horror Movie
It might not be the most brand-positive take on things, but McDonald's is probably selling a lot of purple shakes
June 27, 2023Source

TikTok launches a new hub to help brands better connect with its audiences
TikTok announced today that it's launching a new "TikTok World Hub" for brands that is designed to help them learn how to connect with audiences and get discovered. The hub outlines TikTok's suite of advertising tools and best practices when it comes to marketing on its platform.
May 9, 2023Source

TikTok may be bad for privacy, but is it also harming our cognitive abilities?
The United States government is considering a national ban of TikTok, a social media application used by over 150 million Americans. Although the primary reason for the ban is privacy concerns, it presents an opportunity to consider other potential risks.
April 7, 2023Source

TikTok owner reportedly working on a ChatGPT rival chatbot "Grace" as it joins the AI race
After seeing the widespread inculcation of AI in various technologies across different fields, it seems that Chinese tech giant, ByteDance Ltd. is wanting to jump on the AI bandwagon too.
June 9, 2023Source

TikTok Owner's Latest App 'Ripple' Can Turn Your Hums Into Real Music
ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, has launched a new app called Ripple that allows users to generate an original tune by just humming.
June 30, 2023Source

TikTok quietly launched a GIF-like 'video stickers' feature for direct messages
TikTok quietly launched "animated video stickers" for direct messages in February, the company confirmed to TechCrunch. Video stickers essentially work like GIFs and are an expansion of TikTok Stickers, which rolled out last December and allow users to create and upload their own custom images to be used in direct messages.
April 11, 2023Source

TikTok rolled out a new way for creators to make money — but there's a catch
This new feature might be a double-edged sword for creators. Here's what you need to know.
June 27, 2023Source

TikTok updates Family Pairing with new content filtering options
TikTok's global Youth Council is coming soon...
June 27, 2023Source

TikTok--banned or not, it's probably here to stay, an Ars Frontiers 2023 recap
Experts discussed the legal impossibility of a nationwide TikTok ban.
May 26, 2023Source or Watch Video

TikTok's head of US trust and safety is leaving
He was a key leader for the separate entity TikTok recently created to try and avoid a US ban.
May 2, 2023Source

TikTok's Hyper-Realistic 'Aged' Face Filter is Praised By Users
A new artificial intelligence (AI) powered face filter that realistically shows TikTok users how they might look as they age is being praised online.
July 11, 2023Source

TikTok's lead privacy regulator in Europe takes heat from MEPs
MEPs in the European Parliament had the opportunity of a rare in-person appearance by Ireland's data protection commissioner, Helen Dixon, to criticize the bloc's lead privacy regulator for most of Big Tech over how long it's taking to investigate the video-sharing social media platform TikTok.
May 23, 2023Source

TikTok's new feature asks creators to make branded videos for a chance at ad money
The new feature called Creative Challenge allows brands to pick from a selection of videos submitted by creators. But there's no guarantee content creators will make money.
June 27, 2023Source

TikTok's parent ByteDance eyes a new chapter in book publishing
After aggressively promoting its new lifestyle social media platform Lemon8 in the U.S., ByteDance appears to be brewing another content app for its biggest overseas market.
May 9, 2023Source

TikTok's policies on vaping are frequently violated, putting teens at risk, study finds
New Curtin University research has found TikTok's policies on the promotion of vaping are frequently violated, putting the social media platform's predominantly young users at potential risk of e-cigarette exposure and use.
May 12, 2023Source

TikToker Notices Something Strange About Her Face in the App's Camera
A TikTok creator noticed there was something troublingly "off" about her face when she filmed a video using the app's front-facing camera.
May 26, 2023Source

US govt now bans TikTok from contractors' work gear
The US federal government's ban on TikTok has been extended to include devices used by its many contractors — even those that are privately owned. The bottom line: if some electronics are used for government work, it better not have any ByteDance bits on it.
June 6, 2023Source

US Lawmakers May Change TikTok Ban Bill After its 'Aggressive Lobbying'
U.S. lawmakers are considering making changes to the bill that would give the Biden administration new powers to ban Chinese-owned TikTok — after the company's "aggressive lobbying."
July 11, 2023Source

Web Roulette is an addictive, 'swipeable' web browser for the TikTok era
If mindlessly browsing the internet is your preferred way to combat boredom and waste time, the indie app makers behind to-do list app Clear and game Heads Up! have a new product you'll want to try: Web Roulette, a mobile web browser app for iOS built for the short attention spans of the TikTok era.
May 30, 2023Source

Which countries have banned TikTok?
A growing list of nations and government bodies are taking action against the app.
April 4, 2023Source

Why was TikTok banned on Australian government devices? An expert on why the security concerns make sense
Australia has joined a raft of other countries in banning the popular video sharing app TikTok from government devices, as several outlets have today reported.
April 4, 2023Source

Internet Software — Twitter — A

As Twitter flounders, Mastodon refreshes its official app for Android users
While Twitter is busy limiting the number of readable tweets and breaking its TweetDeck app, open source Twitter alternative Mastodon is celebrating the launch of a significant refresh of its Android app.
July 3, 2023Source

Internet Software — Twitter — D

Dril and other Twitter power users begin campaign to 'Block the Blue' paid checkmarks
After Elon Musk removed legacy verified users' checkmarks, Twitter's biggest users are blocking everyone who pays.
April 21, 2023Source

Internet Software — Twitter — E

Elon Musk Buys Thousands of GPUs for Twitter's Generative AI Project
Twitter is reportedly building a ChatGPT rival.
April 11, 2023Source

Elon Musk claims Twitter has hired a new CEO but doesn't reveal who she is
Tesla investors are very happy over the news. But, Musk claims he's staying on board at Twitter too.
May 11, 2023Source or Source

or Source or Source

Elon Musk Just Made Twitter Irresistible To Content Creators, Even Those Who Hate His Guts
A compelling proposition. That's how Twitter's latest changes, announced by Elon Musk in his characteristically effusive tweets, could be described. The world's richest person appears to be placing his bets on a scenario where some of the best content creators would continue to countenance his supposed toxicity in light of Twitter's unmatched reach and appeal.
April 14, 2023Source

Elon Musk Just Slammed AI Tech, But His Secret Twitter Project Tells Another Story
Artificial intelligence has had a large number of critics since it was even a concept, not the least of which is social media user and owner Elon Musk. As recently as last month, Musk signed an open letter that critiques AI technology as it currently stands, and to halt all further training and advancement on AI technology in an effort to stop it from becoming dangerous in the future.
April 11, 2023Source

Elon Musk put new limits on tweets. Users and advertisers might go elsewhere
TikTok and Instagram users can scroll with abandon. But Twitter owner Elon Musk has put new curfews on his digital town square, the latest drastic change to the social media platform that could further drive away advertisers and undermine its cultural influence as a trendsetter.
July 3, 2023Source

Elon Musk says verified Twitter accounts are now prioritized, whatever that means
The beatings will continue until morale improves.
April 25, 2023Source

Elon Musk's Move To Limit the Number of Viewable Tweets Is Partially Aimed At Combatting ChatGPT's Exploitation of Twitter
In a perverse bit of irony, those who've consistently maintained that Twitter is nothing more than a cesspool were the same people expressing outrage this weekend when Elon Musk announced a significant step aimed at curtailing unauthorized data scrapping.
July 3, 2023Source

Elon Musk's rate limit breaks Twitter's own TweetDeck app
TweetDeck has been affected by Twitter's recent efforts to combat data scraping. Users have reported experiencing restrictions and technical problems within the application due to Twitter's decision to impose read limits on user accounts.
July 3, 2023Source

Elon's blue check disaster is getting worse
Celebrities are refusing to pay, and the trolls keep trolling.
April 25, 2023Source

EU tells Twitter 'you can run but you can't hide' from disinformation policy
Avian platform pulled out of the voluntary Code of Practice last week
May 30, 2023Source

Ex-Twitter CEO reveals DOJ probe in pursuit of legal fees repayment
Twitter Inc.'s former chief executive officer revealed the U.S. Justice Department and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission investigated the social-media platform in the past as part of his effort to force the company to cover legal fees related to lawsuits and government probes.
April 11, 2023Source or Source

Internet Software — Twitter — G

Germany accuses Twitter of failing to remove illegal hate speech
In an early FAFO test for Elon Musk, Germany could be set to fine Twitter for repeatedly failing to comply with a social media hate speech takedowns law, aka the NetzDG, which requires swift removal of illegal content like hate speech.
April 4, 2023Source

Internet Software — Twitter — H

How one Twitter account disappeared for a week — and why nobody knew how to fix it
Beware of birth dates on Twitter. If you're not careful, they'll break everything.
April 7, 2023Source

How To Directly Share Threads Posts On Twitter
Meta's new Threads app has crossed over 100 million download milestone in just five days and the platform continues to grow at a rapid pace. Twitter seems to be worried about users switching to the new platform as it is blocking Threads links on its platform.
July 11, 2023Source

How two insurgents are taking on Twitter
Artifact's Kevin Systrom on the disruptive power of good comments, and Substack's naivete around Notes
April 14, 2023Source

Internet Software — Twitter — L

Linda Yaccarino is officially on the job as Twitter CEO
Incoming Twitter CEO Linda Yaccarino started her new gig on Monday, according to a tweet.
June 6, 2023Source or Source

Internet Software — Twitter — M

Microsoft is dropping support for Twitter from its advertising platform
Microsoft has announced that it is dropping support for Twitter from its advertising platform and the changes will come into force from the 25th of April, the changes are likely because of recent fees that Twitter introduced for using its API. Microsoft is the latest company to start to distance itself from Twitter.
April 20, 2023Source

Microsoft nopes out after Twitter starts charging $$$ for API access
Plus: Musk threatens lawsuit, claims Redmond trained models 'illegally using Twitter data'
April 20, 2023Source

More than half of Twitter Blue's earliest subscribers are no longer subscribed
The early birds cancel their subscriptions.
May 5, 2023Source

Musk labels CBC "69% Government-funded" as more news outlets quit Twitter
CBC stops posting on Twitter, says "our journalism is independent."
April 18, 2023Source

Musk vows to sue as Microsoft drops Twitter from its ad platform
It would open a new front in Musk's feud with OpenAI, a company he helped start.
April 20, 2023Source

Internet Software — Twitter — N

National Weather Service accounts were not granted API exemptions by Twitter
Public safety accounts will still be limited unless they pay up for Twitter API access.
April 18, 2023Source

Internet Software — Twitter — P

Paying Twitter users can now post up to 10,000 characters
The newly-expanded limit seems to be a direct response to Substack's Notes feature
April 14, 2023Source or Source or Source

Popular B2B business dumps Twitter over Musk's API price hike
Is this a sign of things to come?
April 14, 2023Source

Public services will get free API access again, Twitter says
Good news from Twitter: It's not implementing one of its bad ideas.
May 2, 2023Source or Source

'PlugwalkJoe' pleads guilty for the massive 2020 Twitter hack
The hack compromised numerous high-profile accounts, including Elon Musk and Barack Obama.
May 9, 2023Source

Internet Software — Twitter — R

Radio-Canada, CBC returning to Twitter
Canada's public broadcaster CBC and its French-language arm Radio-Canada said Tuesday that they were returning to Twitter after the social media site removed a "government-funded media" label.
May 9, 2023Source

Republicans defend Elon Musk in FTC's Twitter probe
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) accused the agency of 'harassing' Musk.
July 14, 2023Source

Right-wing Twitter worried Musk's CEO pick could return Twitter to its roots
Twitter's next CEO will be former NBCUniversal ad chief Linda Yaccarino
May 12, 2023Source or Source or Source or Source

Internet Software — Twitter — S

Search still on for alternatives to Musk-owned Twitter
Since Elon Musk took over Twitter in October, users irked by the platform's new regime have vowed to move their online presence elsewhere, though this has proved harder than some had banked on.
May 2, 2023Source

Secure messaging arrives on Twitter--sort of. 'Don't trust it yet,' Musk warns
Twitter launched encrypted messaging Wednesday, offering select users the ability to communicate more securely. But its new service is much more of a baby step than a giant leap forward.
May 12, 2023Source

Sex workers explain why blue check stigma and #BlockTheBlue aren't so straightforward
Not every new blue check on Twitter is a fan of Elon Musk.
May 2, 2023Source

'Shadowbanned' tweets are now officially labeled on Twitter
Certain "hateful" tweets can remain on Twitter but the algorithm will not promote them.
April 25, 2023Source

Sigh, Twitter Blue users can now post even longer tweets
Just in case the site wasn't annoying enough.
June 27, 2023Source or Source

Substack copied Twitter so Twitter is copying Substack
Actual features pending, please pay us now
April 14, 2023Source

Sweden public radio exits Twitter, says audience already has
Sweden's public radio said Tuesday that it would stop being active on Twitter, but it did not blame new labels that Elon Musk 's social media platform has slapped on public broadcasters, leading some major North American outlets to quit tweeting.
April 18, 2023Source

Internet Software — Twitter — T

The dumb reason Twitter won't allow retweeting tweets linking to Substack
"Some actions on this tweet have been disabled by Twitter."
April 7, 2023Source

The Morning After: Twitter says Meta stole trade secrets to build Threads
And former employees.
July 7, 2023Source

Tucker Carlson is taking his show to Twitter
Now you can ignore Twitter and Tucker Carlson at the same time.
May 9, 2023Source or Source

Tucker Carlson's TV-to-Twitter move could actually pay off
Here's the math.
May 11, 2023Source

Twitter ad revenue to plummet 28% in 2023: forecast
Twitter's income from advertising will fall by 28 percent in 2023, a closely watched forecast said Tuesday, as the platform struggles under the ownership of Elon Musk.
April 11, 2023Source

Twitter adds an enticing new Twitter Blue feature
Is this finally the thing that will make you switch?
April 7, 2023Source

Twitter alerts back on track for NYC subway after week off
Service alerts for New York City's subway, commuter trains and buses were back on Twitter on Thursday, a week after transit officials balked at paying to provide the information.
May 5, 2023Source

Twitter appears to be going to war with Substack
Substack writers cannot embed tweets in their posts. Twitter users cannot retweet or like tweets with Substack links.
April 7, 2023Source

Twitter blocks interactions on tweets with Substack links
Substack says this is "a reminder of why writers deserve a model that puts them in charge."
April 7, 2023Source or Source

Twitter blocks links to rival Threads, while CEO downplays reports of traffic decline
Recently hired Twitter CEO Linda Yaccarino is pushing back at reports that Twitter traffic is tanking as a result of the July 5 launch of a new competitor, Instagram Threads. But the company does seem to be concerned about the potential threat posed by Meta's rival, now topping 100 million users.
July 11, 2023Source

Twitter Blue subscribers can now monetize their massive tweets
With many people balking at the notion of shelling out money to use Twitter Blue, Twitter is continually trying to sweeten the deal with new features.
April 14, 2023Source

Twitter Bug Is Reviving Deleted Tweets Automatically For Some Users
The company went through a lot of changes after Elon Musk took over, especially the deal with the Blue verification ticks. According to the latest, a Twitter bug is causing an issue where deleted tweets are resurrected for some users. Scroll down to read more details on the matter and what you can do to fix it.
May 23, 2023Source

Twitter CEO Linda Yaccarino will be at the Code Conference
This year's Code will be September 26th and 27th at the Ritz-Carlton in Laguna Niguel. And wow, there's a lot to talk about.
June 20, 2023Source

Twitter changes its mind and removes "government-funded" label from news accounts
Twitter recently began adding a "government-funded" and "state-affiliated" label to media accounts that it considered as having received either partial or full financial support from a government agency. Although practical for accounts that were clearly 100% funded by a foreign government, the practice drew heavy criticism when it was applied to popular news organizations, such as NPR or PBS, that claimed they were editorially independent.
April 21, 2023Source

Twitter check marks explained: What Blue, Gold, and Gray mean
Don't count on these definitions staying the same for long.
April 21, 2023Source

Twitter Check Marks: A Handy Guide for the New Color Code
You may have noticed many changes on Twitter. To clear up the confusion over Twitter's check marks, we have answers.
April 4, 2023Source

Twitter Circles bug has made semi-private tweets public
Never tweet.
April 11, 2023Source

Twitter claims Microsoft broke API rules; Musk already threatened lawsuit
Twitter demands Microsoft audit a month after Musk declared, "Lawsuit time."
May 19, 2023Source or Source or Source or Source

Twitter DMs are now encrypted but there's one huge catch
It's going to cost.
May 11, 2023Source or Source or Source

Twitter Expands Crowdsourced Fact-Checking Following Phony Viral Photo
About a week after an artificial intelligence (AI) generated image of an explosion outside the Pentagon went viral on Twitter, the social media giant is using its crowdsourced fact-checking program, Community Notes, to fight back against fake or misleading images.
May 30, 2023Source or Source

Twitter faces 'stress test' of Europe's tough new Big Tech rules
A top European Union official is in Silicon Valley to check whether Twitter is ready to comply with the bloc's tough new digital rulebook, a set of sweeping new standards that the world's biggest online platforms all must obey in just two months.
June 23, 2023Source

Twitter finds an unlikely supporter in Taliban leader who criticizes "intolerant" Meta
Not the best person to do Twitter's PR
July 11, 2023Source

Twitter gets buggier: Followers don't display, users restricted in error
Twitter looking into a bug restricting some users from liking and retweeting.
June 27, 2023Source

Twitter gives academics 30 days to delete Twitter data or pay $42,000 a month for API access
Twitter is revoking rights of access to data by academics unless they pay a whopping $42,000 every month to the tech giant. These academic researchers have 30 days to make their call to either delete all the data Twitter has allowed access to or to pay the monthly fee.
May 26, 2023Source

Twitter has announced that it will soon begin purging inactive accounts on the platform. This move is part of Twitter's efforts to free up usernames that have been taken up by inactive accounts.
or Source


May 9, 2023Source or Source

Twitter Is Advising Users to Log in at Least Once a Month to Avoid Purging Over Inactivity
"We encourage people to actively log in and use Twitter when they register an account."
May 11, 2023Source

Twitter Is Currently Blocking Threads Links In Searches As The CEO Claims How Twitter Is Not Going Anywhere
Both Twitter and Threads are having a fun time battling it out, and while the latter is clearly gaining more traction, I have a reason to believe that Musk's behavior towards Meta's latest platform has a lot to do with its growth, as well. Now, a developer found out that Twitter is actively blocking links from Threads in searches, which is just funny at this point because one could imagine how this behavior could be damaging in any way.
July 11, 2023Source

Twitter is now worth one-third what Elon Musk paid
Twitter's new valuation comes from Fidelity, which has a stake in Musk's company.
May 30, 2023Source

Twitter is paying influencers (a lot!) to stay on its platform as Threads user base grows
One account received a $37,000 payout!
July 14, 2023Source

Twitter is "tanking" amid Threads' surging popularity, analysts say
"There's only ONE Twitter," Linda Yaccarino tweeted.
July 11, 2023Source

Twitter is testing Community Notes for images
As AI-generated images and video become more prominent on Twitter, the company is testing out a new feature that could make it easier for people to identify potentially "misleading media."
May 30, 2023Source

Twitter is willing to comply with EU's Digital Services Act, says Breton
Thierry Breton, the European Union's commissioner for the internal market, has revealed that Twitter has a strong willingness to comply with the EU's Digital Services Act, which comes into force in August. The DSA has two main aims: the establishment of a level playing field for businesses and the creation of a safer digital space.
June 23, 2023Source

Twitter just made it even harder to believe what you read on the internet
Especially on Twitter.
May 30, 2023Source

Twitter launches API 'Pro' plan for 'startups.' Developers think it's a slap in the face.
Elon Musk has blown it with Twitter's once-burgeoning third-party ecosystem.
May 26, 2023Source

Twitter lawyer quits as Musk's legal woes expand, report says
Twitter is now facing probes from the FTC and German authorities.
April 7, 2023Source

Twitter limited the reach of 700,000 tweets since April for violating its hateful conduct policy
Twitter has now published a new post in which it explains how it is approaching moderation on its platform, reports Engadget. The post is dubbed "Freedom of Speech Not Reach", and it focuses on the fact that tweets that violate its hateful conduct policy are getting a limited reach, a practice that the company started back in April.
July 14, 2023Source

Twitter loses its second head of trust and safety since Musk take-over
Ella Irwin is leaving the role after just six months as head of the trust and safety team. While Roth has been openly critical of Twitter since his resignation last year, the reasons behind Irwin's departure are not yet clear.
June 2, 2023Source or Source or Source

Twitter Open-Sources Recommendation Algorithm
Twitter recently open-sourced several components of their system for recommending tweets for a user's Twitter timeline. The release includes the code for several of the services and jobs that run the algorithm, as well as code for training machine learning models for embedding and ranking tweets.
April 11, 2023Source

Twitter quietly removes policy against misgendering trans people
Twitter updated its content moderation guidelines regarding hateful content, removing a policy that prohibited the targeted deadnaming or misgendering of transgender people. Enacted in 2018, the policy explicitly stated that it violated Twitter's rules to repeatedly and purposefully call a transgender person by the wrong name or pronouns.
April 18, 2023Source or Source

Twitter quietly updates Hateful Conduct policy to remove protections for transgender users
Twitter has undergone some huge changes since Elon Musk took over at the social media platform, many of which have been very public. But others, like a recent update to its Hateful Content policy, have been quietly slipped out without announcement.
April 20, 2023Source

'Twitter rate limit exceeded'? How many tweets you can read per day now — and why
The new limits are meant to 'address extreme levels of data scraping and system manipulation,' says Musk. But that's apparently not the whole story.
July 3, 2023Source

Twitter relaxes pot ad rules to lure in more advertisers
Twitter under its 420-friendly owner Elon Musk earlier this year became the first major social media company to allow cannabis advertisements. Now, the platform is relaxing those rules in an attempt to lure in more advertisers from U.S. states where marijuana is legal.
April 27, 2023Source

Twitter Removes Checkmarks From Game Companies, And Fake Game Announcements Are Afoot
Twitter now charges a monthly fee for verification checkmarks, and many game companies are opting not to pay for it.
April 21, 2023Source or Source

Twitter removes policy against deadnaming transgender people
Twitter has quietly removed a policy against the "targeted misgendering or deadnaming of transgender individuals," raising concerns that the Elon Musk-owned platform is becoming less safe for marginalized groups.
April 18, 2023Source

Twitter restores free API access for emergency, weather and transportation alerts
Governments and public services will have access.
May 2, 2023Source

Twitter seemingly now requires all advertisers to have a verified checkmark
As Twitter's legacy blue check mark system finally comes to an end, the social network's new paid-for verification system is causing more than a little chaos, with CEO Elon Musk himself stepping in to pay for some celebrities' verification when they refuse to do so.
April 21, 2023Source or Source

Twitter starts putting labels on tweets with restricted reach
It should be clear if a tweet's visibility has been limited over possible hateful conduct.
April 25, 2023Source

Twitter stops labeling Russia's RT and China's Xinhua as "state-affiliated media"
NPR loses controversial tag, but state-controlled outlets had labels removed, too.
April 21, 2023Source

Twitter Subscriptions give creators a new way to make money
Do you like sharing your thoughts on Twitter? Now you could get paid for it.
April 25, 2023Source

Twitter's ad sales down 59% as advertisers worry about toxicity, Musk's tweets, and porn
Gambling, marijuana, and sexual performance ads are popular, though
June 6, 2023Source or Source

Twitter's biggest ad buyer no longer considers it 'high risk,' says report
Appointing seasoned advertising exec Linda Yaccarino as chief Twit has seemingly soothed GroupM's concerns.
May 19, 2023Source

Twitter's free API is gone and apps are breaking as a result
It's finally happened.
April 7, 2023Source

Twitter's lawsuit over censorship in India has been dismissed
Twitter had accused the government of acting 'arbitrarily and disproportionately' with takedown orders.
June 30, 2023Source

Twitter's legacy blue check mark era is officially over
Twitter appears to have officially killed off its legacy blue check marks, one of the last remaining vestiges of the pre-Elon Musk era.
April 20, 2023Source or Source or Source

Twitter's 'new' TweetDeck lives behind a verified paywall
Twitter is rolling out the new TweetDeck and making it a Twitter Blue-exclusive feature.
July 3, 2023Source

Twitter's running busted ads for Amazon and Sky TV
Ads from Amazon, Sky, and On Running are showing people a placeholder image with Twitter's logo.
July 7, 2023Source

Twitter's withdrawal from disinformation code draws ire of EU politicians
France is threatening to kick the company out should it fail to comply when rules become obligatory
May 30, 2023Source

Twitter, Inc. is now X Corp.
Twitter, Inc. is now called X Corp., according to a court filing in California.
April 11, 2023Source or Source

Internet Software — Twitter — W

We will find you and we will sue you, Twitter tells 4 mystery alleged data-scrapers
Lawyers say unknown John Does are profiting at Musk's expense
July 14, 2023Source

Welcome to open source, Elon. Your Twitter code just got a CVE for shadow ban bug
Plus: Substack shanked by bitter Twitter?
April 7, 2023Source

While Twitter wants to sell its verification, Microsoft will do it for free on LinkedIn
Redmond expands a digital ID process for its platform as Musk seeks cash for blue check marks
April 14, 2023Source

Internet Software — Twitter — Y

Your tweets can now be longer than our blog posts
10,000 characters at your disposal.
April 14, 2023Source

Internet Software — Wordpress

10 Best Multipurpose WordPress Themes for 2023
Discover the top 10 multipurpose WordPress themes that will help you build a responsive, user-friendly website with features you need for engaging visitors and improving conversions.
May 2, 2023Source

Abandoned WordPress Plugin Abused for Backdoor Deployment
Attackers are installing the abandoned Eval PHP plugin on compromised WordPress sites to inject PHP code into web pages.
April 21, 2023Source

Attackers use abandoned WordPress plugin to backdoor websites
Attackers are using Eval PHP, an outdated legitimate WordPress plugin, to compromise websites by injecting stealthy backdoors.
April 20, 2023Source

Easy Microdata in WordPress
HTML5 is making huge strides toward the semantic web — and the semantic standards defined by the Google/Bing/Yahoo-backed schema.org are probably prudent standards to follow.
May 23, 2023Source

Incorporate ChatGPT into your website with this WordPress plugin
TL;DR: Add the power of ChatGPT to your website with an extra $20 off this WordPress plugin, bringing the lifetime price down to just $39.97.
April 14, 2023Source

Massive Balada Injector campaign attacking WordPress sites since 2017
An estimated one million WordPress websites have been compromised during a long-lasting campaign that exploits "all known and recently discovered theme and plugin vulnerabilities" to inject a Linux backdoor that researchers named Balad Injector.
April 7, 2023Source

This WordPress plugin for Elementor leaves websites vulnerable to hackers
Update your plugin ASAP to close this security flaw that allows hackers take over vulnerable websites.
May 12, 2023Source or Source or Source

WordPress AIOS plugin used by 1M sites logged plaintext passwords
The All-In-One Security (AIOS) WordPress security plugin, used by over a million WordPress sites, was found to be logging plaintext passwords from user login attempts to the site's database, putting account security at risk.
July 14, 2023Source

WordPress custom field plugin bug exposes over 1M sites to XSS attacks
Security researchers warn that the 'Advanced Custom Fields' and 'Advanced Custom Fields Pro' WordPress plugins, with millions of installs, are vulnerable to cross-site scripting attacks (XSS).
May 5, 2023Source

WordPress plugin All-In-One Security (AIOS) 5.1.9 with severe security vulnerability
Users of WordPress who are still using the Plugin All-In-One Security (AIOS) in version 5.1.9 should react immediately. The maintainer UpdraftPlus has issued a security advisory because the plugin stores passwords for user logins in plain text in the database.
July 14, 2023Source

WordPress plugin 'Gravity Forms' vulnerable to PHP object injection
The premium WordPress plugin 'Gravity Forms,' currently used by over 930,000 websites, is vulnerable to unauthenticated PHP Object Injection.
May 30, 2023Source

Internet Software — YouTube

Cancel culture: YouTube videos on 'getting cancelled' are now their own genre and have links to the past
The explosion of user-created content on platforms like YouTube, Twitch and TikTok has unsettled traditional notions of authorship.
April 25, 2023Source

Google reveals it deleted more than 20,000 YouTube channels in Q1 2023
Google's Threat Analysis Group (TAG) terminated over 20,000 YouTube channels in the first quarter of 2023, according to its new bulletin. These channels were purged as part of the team's investigation into "coordinated influence operation campaigns" linked to various countries, it said.
May 2, 2023Source

YouTube changes misinformation policy to allow videos falsely claiming fraud in the 2020 US election
The company said it 'carefully deliberated' the reversal without explaining further.
June 2, 2023Source

YouTube integrates AI-powered dubbing tool
YouTube is currently testing a new tool that will help creators automatically dub their videos into other languages using AI, the company announced Thursday at VidCon. YouTube teamed up with AI-powered dubbing service Aloud, which is part of Google's in-house incubator Area 120.
June 23, 2023Source or Source

YouTube Is Apparently Testing AI-Generated Quizzes To Check Whether You Have Learned Something From The Videos You Have Watched
A lot of people prefer using YouTube on their phones and tablets instead of their computers. While I am more comfortable with using it on my computer, it seems that the service actually has some really interesting tools for those who are using the platform on smartphones and tablets in general.
July 7, 2023Source or Source

YouTube is making the Community tab available to more creators
YouTube's Community tab is now open to all creators, regardless of subscriber count. Previously, this was only available to creators with more than 500 subscribers, but a recent change in policy now makes it possible for all YouTube content creators to enjoy this benefit.
May 19, 2023Source

YouTube Premium gets a range of new features
Google has announced that it is adding a range of new features to its YouTube Premium subscription service, this is for the paid version of YouTube that does not have any adverts, these features are not available on the standard free version.
April 11, 2023Source

YouTube updates its policies on eating disorder content, will ban videos showing 'imitable behavior'
Although the platform has long removed content that glorifies or promotes eating disorders, YouTube will now also prohibit content about eating disorders that users could be prompted to imitate.
April 18, 2023Source or Source

Internet Software — Zoom

Q&Amp;A: Zooming for the socially anxious
Have you ever squirmed with self-consciousness during a Zoom meeting? Then this might be a relief: Social anxiety doesn't seem to hinder your ability to know how others see you on Zoom as much as it does during in-person meetings.
June 8, 2023Source

Zoom brings local data storage to paying European customers
Zoom has announced a slew of privacy-focused features and services, as the video communication company looks to appease customers concerned about where their data resides.
June 6, 2023Source

Zoom summarizes missed meetings with its latest AI-powered update: Zoom IQ
Missed a Zoom meeting? Get caught up with everything using AI summaries!
June 6, 2023Source

Zero trust for Zoom calls: ChromeOS getting universal microphone/camera toggles
No more guessing which web meeting apps auto-start your audio or video.
April 25, 2023Source

Internet Software — Resources

CloudMe
Upload, access and share your files from anywhere, even your phone
Provides a ServiceSource

Docs can be friendly too.
Now you can discover, create, and share Microsoft Office documents with your Facebook friends. Built using Microsoft Office 2010 — Docs for Facebook lets you work from just about anywhere with the familiar Office experience.
Provides InformationSource

FolderShare
Keep important files at your fingertips — anywhere. all file changes are automatically synchronized between linked computers, so you are always accessing the latest documents, photos, and files.
Provides a ServiceSource

How to Fix Print to PDF Missing in Windows 10 & 11
If your Print to PDF is missing in Windows 10 or 11, here are some steps to get it back.
January 11, 2024Source

Outlook.com
A preview of modern email from Microsoft
Provides a ServiceSource

Text Chat Operators | Bulk SMS Messaging Services | Chat Room Help
Text chat operators offers Live text chat services, SMS messaging services Email processing, Live website chat support, Chat Room Help and SE0 service.
Provides a ServiceSource

Tucows
Dive into Tucows-tested and rated Internet software. all manner of editors, Internet utilities, viewers, Web-design programs and browser tools are at hand.
Provides ProductsSource

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