Category: social networking

Twitter follows up voice tweets by testing voice DMs

[ad_1] The Verge / Twitter The Verge also got to see the interface for voice messages. At the moment, it’s a simple affair. Playback control is limited to playing and pausing a message, but you can record a missive directly in-line. Rounding things out is an option to report a message if someone is misusing the […]

TikTok bans ads for fasting apps and weight loss supplements

[ad_1] “As a society, weight stigma and body shaming pose both individual and cultural challenges, and we know that the internet, if left unchecked, has the risk of exacerbating such issues,” the company said. “That’s why we’re focused on working to safeguard our community from harmful content and behavior while supporting an inclusive — and […]

Twitter has ‘more analysis to do’ after algorithm shows possible racial bias

[ad_1] Twitter is learning first-hand about the challenges of eliminating racial bias in algorithms. The social network’s Liz Kelley said the company had “more analysis” to do after cryptographic engineer Tony Arcieri conducted an experiment suggesting Twitter’s algorithm was biased in prioritizing photos. When attaching photos of Barack Obama and Mitch McConnell to tweets, Twitter […]

Trump approves TikTok deal with Oracle and Walmart ‘in concept’

[ad_1] The new company will also be required to have an IPO on a US stock exchange, and American ownership is expected to “grow over time.” The Commerce Department simultaneously created a window for the potential deal by delaying the ban on TikTok’s app by a week, until the end of September 27th. TikTok had […]

TikTok’s owner might refuse to sell its algorithm to a US buyer

[ad_1] To some extent, ByteDance doesn’t have much choice. China recently instituted new rules on AI exports that would require the company to obtain a license if it sold the algorithm to a US firm. Given that China would supposedly prefer to see TikTok shut down than sold off, that’s not particularly likely. It wouldn’t […]

Facebook takes down false claims of extremists starting Oregon wildfires

[ad_1] As with the company’s response to a Wisconsin militia group in light of a deadly shooting, though, there are concerns Facebook didn’t move quickly enough. Law enforcement warned about wildfire misinformation roughly two days before the crackdown, on September 10th, around the same time when a key Law Enforcement Today article spurred the false […]

Twitter bans far-right extremist group the Oath Keepers

[ad_1] Twitter has banned the accounts of far-right extremist group the Oath Keepers and its founder, Stewart Rhodes. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, the group is one of the US’s largest anti-government movements. It claims to have tens of thousands of members, many of whom identify as former law enforcement and military. The group […]

TikTok is trying to stop a suicide video from spreading

[ad_1] Since Sunday evening, TikTok has been trying to stop the spread of a graphic video showing a man committing suicide with a gun (via The Verge). The clip opens with an image of a grey-bearded man sitting in front of his desk. The seemingly innocuous nature of the video’s start and its appearance in […]

Facebook blocks terminally ill French man from livestreaming his death

[ad_1] Cocq has a rare condition that leads his artery walls to stick together. He had reached out to President Emmanuel Macron to allow for euthanasia, but the leader declined saying that he “respect[ed]” the effort but couldn’t go beyond the law. Cocq wasn’t deterred by Facebook’s restrictions. He promised a “back-up” solution for the […]

Twitter says Chadwick Boseman’s final post is the most liked tweet ever

[ad_1] Twitter has a new record for the most liked tweet, but it’s a bittersweet moment. The social network has confirmed (via Deadline) that the late Chadwick Boseman’s last post, the news of his death by his family, is the “most liked tweet ever.” The Black Panther star’s obituary post had 7.7 million likes as […]