TikTok

TikTok Employees Versus US Government: Plans Legal Action Against US Government

All’s quiet on the TikTok acquisition front, with Microsoft still looking like the leading contender to potentially acquire the short-form video app. But even so, TikTok still has a range of other concerns to deal with, as more investigations and reports highlight issues of note with the app. Here’s a quick round-up of some of…

TikTok

Facebook Tests TikTok-Like Short-Form Video clips in its Main App with Indian Users

Facebook is determined to heap the pressure onto TikTok wherever it can, and this week, The Social Network has launched a new test of a feed of short-form video clips in its main app, exclusively in the Indian market, where TikTok is currently banned. As you can see in the above screenshots, posted by user Roneet Michael on Twitter (and…

Facebook

Facebook Adds New Tools to Track Political Ad Spent in its Ad Library

With the 2020 US Presidential Election drawing near, Facebook has this week added some new tools to its Ad Library to better track political ad spend and provide more transparency into how each campaign is using the platform’s ad options. As outlined by Facebook’s Rob Leathern, the new tools are designed to help researchers and journalists better understand,…

Facebook

Facebook Launches New ‘Educator Hub’ designed to help Students

This year has posed many challenges, and they may be no more acutely felt than in the education sector, where massive changes in process, assessment, and curriculum as a result of COVID-19 will have long-lasting impacts on many students. In recognition of this, and ahead of the broader return to school across the US, Facebook has…

Google

Google Tells Australian Users the Negative Impacts around the Proposed New Revenue-Sharing Laws

As the Australian Government pushes ahead with law reform that would essentially force Google and Facebook to share their revenue with Australian news publishers, Google has this week launched a new campaign to inform Australian users of the threat such regulations could pose to its services in the region. As you can see in the above messaging,…

TikTok

TikTok Launches New Information Hub to Counter Inaccurate Rumors About the App

Amid ongoing negotiations about its future, and its likely sell-off to an American-owned organization to avoid a ban in the US, TikTok has this week launched a new information hub, which it says will ‘serve as a source of truth’ is counter to the various rumors around the app. The ‘Last Sunny Corner of the Internet’ is…

Google

Google Expands Audio Advertising Options to Help Businesses Tap Into the Rising Consumption of Podcasts

Google has announced a new range of audio advertising options in order to help businesses tap into the rising consumption of podcasts, digital radio, and other digital audio forms. As explained by Google: “In 2020, US adults are projected to listen to digital audio more than radio for the first time ever. As the audio landscape continues to shift…

Facebook

Facebook Launches New $25 Million Funding Program to Assist Black Creators

As part of its ongoing effort to support diversity and inclusion, Facebook has today announced a new $25 million funding program to assist black creators. As explained by Facebook: “We want to empower the next generation of Black storytellers to become successful. By participating in this initiative, creators will receive the support they need to help them propel…

YouTube

YouTube Publishes a New Set of Insights on Rising Trends during COVID-19

YouTube has published a new set of insights into rising topic trends during COVID-19, based on viewer searches and behaviors across the world. And interestingly, as YouTube notes, similar trends were reflected in almost all regions: “The global pandemic is not over. But, it’s shocking onset allowed us to see an astonishing uniformity in content trends around…

Snapchat

Snapchat Adds New Voter Registration Tools Ahead of the US Election to Assist First-time Voters

Snapchat is rolling out a collection of new tools to encourage Snapchatters to vote in the upcoming US Presidential election, including registration, prompts, and new guides to assist first-time voters in having their say. As reported by Axios, the new push from Snap will include four elements: Voter Registration – Through its new mini-apps, Snapchat’s adding…