Category: socialnetworking

Facebook expands ‘community help’ hub for people in quarantine

[ad_1] With the update, Facebook users can post offers to help with things like transportation, groceries, baby supplies and volunteer work. Likewise, those seeking assistance can post about what they need, or filter existing offers to find one that matches what they need. The page also includes links to fundraisers and Facebook’s coronavirus information center. […]

Facebook introduces new livestreaming features as demand skyrockets

[ad_1] Facebook is also adding new options that will allow livestreamers to reach those without a smartphone or access to reliable mobile data. Called “Public Switch Telephone Network,” it will allow people to listen in on a livestream via a toll free number, similar to calling into a conference call. Similarly, Facebook Live is getting […]

Facebook is struggling to keep up with ‘unprecedented’ traffic

[ad_1] That may seem like good news for Facebook, which has seen growth in its main app slow in recent years. But the company says the usage is straining its own resources. “The usage growth from COVID-19 is unprecedented across the industry, and we are experiencing new records in usage almost every day,” the company’s […]

Twitter will verify more health experts to fight coronavirus misinformation

[ad_1] The update comes as Twitter has taken more aggressive steps to beat back a wave of hoaxes and other disinformation that’s spread on social media in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The company previously announced it would ban tweets spreading fake cures or other inaccurate pseudo-scientific information. Now, that effort is also extending […]

Snapchat adds mental health tools to ease coronavirus anxiety

[ad_1] With the new feature, Snapchat users can find mental health resources in the app when they search for terms like “anxiety,” “stress,” “depression,” or “bullying.” Search results turn up videos from organizations, such as Crisis Text Line or the Ad Council. Besides these previously-planned updates, Snap says it’s working on a section of “Here […]

TikTok names experts who will help shape its content policies

[ad_1] What’s not clear is just how much influence this advisory council will ultimately have, or if their involvement will help diffuse criticism of the app, which is owned by Chinese company ByteDance. As TikTok’s popularity in the US has skyrocketed, the app has been accused of censoring content critical of the Chinese government. TikTok […]

San Francisco’s 25-year-old FogCam shuts down this month

[ad_1] FogCam’s creators, Jeff Schwartz and Dan Wong, known online as Webdog and Danno, announced the shutdown on Saturday. “The Internet has changed a lot since 1994, but Fogcam will always have a special place in its history,” the two wrote on Twitter. In an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, Schwartz added additional context […]

Facebook limits ad targeting following discrimination settlement

[ad_1] The changes should take effect before the end of 2019. The settlement also includes payouts under $5 million to the groups that filed the lawsuit, $2.5 million of which is going to the National Fair Housing Alliance to both train advertisers on compliance and run ads for fair housing. Facebook had culled some ad […]

Internet Archive races to preserve public Google+ posts

[ad_1] If you’d rather not have your activity recorded for posterity, you can either delete your Google+ account (if it’s not too late) or else follow the Internet Archive’s process for removing specific content. It’s not completely surprising that efforts would be underway to preserve Google+, but it’s an unusual situation. You don’t see archivists […]

US conducts criminal investigation into Facebook’s data deals

[ad_1] Facebook acknowledged the investigation to the Times, stating that it was “cooperating with investigators” and was taking probes “seriously.” The deals typically revolved around making it easier to fill out contacts, share content and otherwise integrate Facebook with devices and websites. There’s a concern that these deals weren’t always transparent to everyday users, though. […]