With everyone around the world re-adjusting their routines amid the various COVID-19 restrictions, YouTube has announced a new slate of updates in line with rising demand and need, as it seeks to address key considerations for its services. First off, YouTube is reducing its streaming quality options in response to concerns around choking web traffic. … Read more
Amid concerns that WhatApp is being used to spread misinformation around the COVID-19 outbreak, the Facebook-owned messaging giant has launched a new COVID-19 info hub, where users will be able to access timely, accurate information related to the pandemic. As explained by WhatsApp chief Will Cathcart: “Today WhatsApp has launched a hub for health workers, educators, small businesses, and others that are … Read more
This will no doubt be a concern to privacy advocates. According to a report in The Washington Post, the US Government is currently in talks with several tech companies, including both Facebook and Google, as to how it might be able to use location data from cell phones to better track and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic across the nation. … Read more
This is interesting – according to a new discovery by reverse engineering expert Jane Manchun Wong, Instagram is testing out the capability to add up to four hashtags and a location to your Instagram Stories highlights. Stories Highlights are collections of Stories that you opt to keep active on your profile after the regular 24-hour expiry. And up till now, … Read more
LinkedIn is the latest platform to update its measures in response to the evolving coronavirus outbreak. This week, LinkedIn has outlined the steps it’s taken to keep its members informed, including broadcasting WHO updates live daily and “scaling its events platforms to enable companies to reach audiences virtually”. LinkedIn has also created a new Trending News element, in order to … Read more
TikTok has announced plans to open a new transparency center in LA as part of its ongoing effort to distance itself from concerns around potential Chinese Government interference. The center would facilitate more oversight into the platform’s moderation practices – as per TikTok: “This new facility in our LA office will provide outside experts an opportunity to directly view … Read more
As Twitter works to improve its action against the misuse of its platform by political operatives, one key area that Twitter, specifically, needs to focus on is bots, and the use of automated profiles to amplify specific messaging. Bots have repeatedly been identified as a key issue in influencing tweet discussion – in the wake … Read more
The applications for AR tools continue to expand. This week, Google has launched a new initiative, in partnership with The New York Times, which will enable users to scan in elements of the physical NYT publication in order to get further context and information via the AR capacity of Google Lens. As explained by Google: “Throughout the … Read more
YouTube is replacing the ‘Trending’ tab in its app with a new ‘Explore’ listing, which will showcase more video categories, along with popular videos, in order to prompt broader discovery. As explained by YouTube: “We’ve been testing a new tab in the YouTube mobile app called Explore – with Explore, you not only have access to Trending videos … Read more
Despite various content moderation and data privacy concerns, TikTok continues to gain momentum, with the latest data from app analytics firm SensorTower showing that February 2020 was TikTok’s best performing month, in terms of total app downloads, to date. As per SensorTower: “TikTok was downloaded by close to 113 million App Store and Google Play users worldwide in February, making it the … Read more