Facebook has reportedly committed more than $1 billion to the development of a new sub-sea cable link designed to improve connectivity in Africa, and connect more people to the internet – and subsequently, connect more users to Facebook. The plan’s part of Facebook’s broader mission to connect with the world, with over 3.5 billion people reportedly still unable to access … Read more
Instagram continues to explore new ways to help people and businesses impacted by COVID-19. Today, Instagram has launched a new fundraising option within Instagram Live, which will enable users to raise funds during an Instagram Live stream – like a small-scale telethon via the app. As explained by Instagram: “Many people are facing challenges at this time, … Read more
While TikTok is seeing a significant increase in usage amid the COVID-19 lockdowns, questions still remain around how it tracks user data, how its algorithm surfaces content, and what types of information it is, and is not, obligated to share with the Chinese Government. Indeed, just this week, the UK Ministry of Defence issued an internal directive that … Read more
Instagram looks to be testing a new Stories sticker option which would enable users to share a business profile with their followers, including a header and a three-image preview that links through to a brand’s on-platform presence. As you can see in this example, shared by reverse engineering expert Jane Manchun Wong, the new ‘Share Professional’ sticker would … Read more
In what could be a significant move in the broader regulation of the digital eco-sphere, the Australian Government has announced that it’s looking to provide financial assistance to struggling local news organizations by implementing a new, mandatory code of conduct which would require Google and Facebook to share any revenue they generate as a result … Read more
Instagram is testing a new ‘Challenge’ sticker for Stories which would enable users to call on their connections to participate in visual competitions, prompting more engagement. As you can see in these screenshots, posted by reverse engineering expert Jane Manchun Wong, the Challenge sticker would be added to the regular sticker tray in Stories. When applied, you’d then be … Read more
TikTok is releasing an important new function called ‘Family Pairing‘ which will give parents more options to better manage their kids’ time in the app, while also protecting them from unwanted exposure to both offensive content and potential predators. As explained by TikTok: “Today, we are advancing our commitment to building for the safety of our … Read more
In order to provide some level of assistance on this front, Instagram has this week announced a new partnership with Netflix, which will see with the stars of some of Netflix’s most popular programs among young adult viewers talking about mental health and self-care amid the pandemic. Among the wide-ranging consequences of the COVID-19 lockdowns, one element … Read more
The big tech news to end last week was that Apple and Google have agreed to a partnership that will enable health authorities to better track COVID-19 patients and alert people who’ve been in contact with them, which could provide significant help in containing the virus. The process would work like this: Apple and Google will provide … Read more
As part of its ever-expanding COVID-19 relief and assistance efforts, Facebook has this week launched a new platform called ‘Community Help’ where people can either offer assistance to others within their community or request help with tasks from locals. As explained by Facebook: “Today we’re announcing Community Help, a place for people to request or offer help to … Read more