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☆ All kids want for Christmas this year … Robux and gaming subscriptions
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Nicole Randol — a Missouri-based mother of two boys, ages 6 and 10 — recently posted a message on a popular Facebook parenting group about Robux, the virtual gaming currency for the platform Roblox: Target was having a 40%-off sale for Robux. “I expect it to be the most exciting thing they open [on Christmas],” Randol, who bought two $100 Robux cards, told CNN. Gaming subscriptions continue to gain popularity, too. “What’s changed, naturally, is the games that families are playing.”According to ESA, more than 212 million Americans play video games on a regular basis. Still, with the rise of subscriptions and gaming currency, what lands under the Christmas tree may be smaller in size than years before.

Persons: CNN — Nicole Randol —, —, ” Randol, Fortnite, trumping, ”, Christopher Byrne, Guy, “, ” Roblox, Robux, Michael Inouye, Cozy, Byrne, “ What’s, ” Byrne, Jim Silver, Bitzies, ” Bryne, Parija Kavilanz Organizations: CNN, Robux, Entertainment Software Association, Epic Games, PlayStation, Pro, Apple, ABI Research, National Retail Federation, ESA, Gaming Locations: Missouri

☆ Apple will make a big change to iPhone messages next year
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | Samantha Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The change – first reported by tech site 9to5Mac – will add features, such as read receipt, typing indicators, better support for group chats and higher quality media sharing of images and videos, across platforms. Apple told CNN in a statement it will add support for the standard, called RCS (Rich Communication Services), later next year. Meanwhile, Google, which already has support for RCS within its messaging app, has been vocal about wanting Apple to adopt the standard. The move, however, doesn’t necessarily mean the green bubbles (Android or other users) and blue bubbles (Apple users) that are displayed when messaging someone on the other platform will go away anytime soon. “Instead, RCS support will enable a smoother and better customer experience of iPhone users communicating across platforms.

Persons: iMessage, Apple, Steve Jobs, Tim Cook, Cook, ”, Dipanjan Chatterjee, Michael Inouye, ” Inouye, Chatterjee, ” Chatterjee, that’s Organizations: CNN, Apple, Communication Services, Universal, Google, Commission, European Union, “, Forrester Research, ABI Research, GSM Association Locations: Europe

☆ Netflix is ending its subscriber-based DVD rental service
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Introduced in 1998 when Netflix first launched, the DVD service promised an easier rental experience than having to drive to the nearest Blockbuster or Hollywood Video. McEvoy has remained faithful to Netflix’s DVD service so he can keep watching Bollywood and obscure independent films not often found on streaming services. Bill Rouhana, the CEO of Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment – which owns DVD rental service Redbox – told The Hollywood Reporter in April he hoped to purchase Netflix’s DVD business. Still, he said, he’s “sad” to see Netflix’s DVD service depart. “I absolutely would not have been able to find all of those movies [I’ve watched] if not for the Netflix DVD service,” he said.

Persons: Colin McEvoy, McEvoy, ”, “, who’ve, Brandon Cordy, Michael Inouye, Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s, Eric Schmitt, ” Cordy, Bill Rouhana, Redbox –, he’s, Viki Organizations: CNN, Netflix, Blockbuster, Hollywood, ABI Research, Gartner Research, Soul Entertainment, Disney Locations: Bethlehem , Pennsylvania, Atlanta

☆ Maui conspiracy theories are spreading on social media. Why this always happens after a disaster
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —A slew of viral conspiracy videos on social media have made baseless claims that the Maui wildfires were started intentionally as part of a land grab, highlighting how quickly misinformation spreads after a disaster. Still, conspiracy theories continue to circulate as nearly 400 people are still unaccounted for. It’s not uncommon for conspiracy theories to make the rounds after a national crisis. Social media platform X did not immediately respond to a request for comment. That means posts sharing conspiracy theories that spark fear and emotion may perform better in a crisis than those sharing straightforward, accurate information.

Persons: hasn’t, Hurricane Dora, It’s, Renee DiResta, ” DiResta, “, ”, TikTok, Elena Hernandez, ” Hernandez, Instagram, Michael Inouye, ” Inouye Organizations: CNN, Electric, Stanford University, SpaceX, YouTube, ABI Research Locations: Maui —, Maui, Hurricane, ”, California, Hawaii

☆ This is Google’s new folding phone
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Just a few days ahead of its product launch, Google unveiled an early look at its first foldable smartphone. In a video posted to Twitter and YouTube, the company teased a Pixel phone with a vertical hinge that can be opened to reveal a tablet-like display. According to ABI Research, foldable and flexible displays made up about 0.7% of the smartphone market in 2021, and in 2022 expected to fall just shy of 2%. Google's new Pixel Fold smartphone From Google StoreHigh price points have limited consumer adoption, too. The Pixel Fold is rumored to start at $1,700.

☆ End of an era: Netflix DVD subscribers mourn the service’s imminent demise
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Samantha Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

But in 2007, Netflix began streaming content online, and gradually shifted the focus away from its original DVD business. Colin McEvoy is one of the holdouts still using Netflix's DVD service despite the mainstream adoption of streaming services. But I didn’t want it to end if I could help it.”Other DVD subscribers are hoping there may still be a happy ending. For now, at least, some DVD subscribers plan to focus on watching as many DVDs as they can before the service goes away. “I absolutely would not have been able to find all of those movies if not for the Netflix DVD service,” he said.

☆ The viral new ‘Drake’ and ‘Weeknd’ song is not what it seems
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —One of the buzziest songs recently circulating on TikTok and climbing the Spotify charts featured the familiar voices of best-selling artists Drake and the Weeknd. But there’s a twist: Drake and the Weeknd appear to have had nothing to do with it. The viral track, “Heart on my Sleeve,” comes from an anonymous TikTok user named Ghostwriter977, who claims to have used artificial intelligence to generate the voices of Drake and the Weeknd for the track. The original TikTok video has seemingly been taken down, and the song has since been removed from streaming services including YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify. Taryn Southern’s debut song “Break Free,” which was composed and produced with AI, hit the Top 100 radio charts back in 2018, and VAVA, an AI music artist (i.e.

☆ Should parents decide what their kids do online? These states think so
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-15 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

That, at least, is the vision emerging from a growing number of states introducing — and in some cases passing — legislation intended to protect kids online. Now, in the absence of federal legislation, states are taking action, and raising some alarms in the process. On the surface, providing more guardrails for teens is a step forward that some parents may welcome after years of worrying about the potential harms kids face on social media. “Not all parents are passionate, kind and supportive of their kids, and even the ones who are don’t have the capacity or time to deal with the 24/7 nature of social media,” said Heitner. “It’s an unfair burden.”Enforcement issuesGiven that the bills are unprecedented, it’s unclear how exactly social media companies will adapt and enforce it.

☆ Utah governor signs bill requiring teens to get parental approval to join social media sites
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

As part of the bill, called the Utah Social Media Regulation Act, social media platforms will have to conduct age verification for all Utah residents, ban all ads for minors and impose a curfew, making their sites off limits between the hours of 10:30 p.m. - 6:30 a.m. for anyone under the age of 18. The bill will also require social platforms to give parents access to their teens’ accounts. “Social media provides a lifeline for many young people, in addition to community, education, and conversation,” said Jason Kelley, director of activism at the EFF. Given that the bill is unprecedented, it’s unclear how exactly the social media companies will adapt. Inouye said minors could “steal” identities – such as from family members who don’t use social media – to create accounts that they can access and use without oversight.

☆ Why you’re about to see ChatGPT in more of your apps
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

OpenAI is opening up access to its ChatGPT tool to third-party businesses, paving the way for the viral AI chatbot to be integrated into numerous apps and services. Instacart, Snap and tutor app Quizlet are among the early partners experimenting with adding ChatGPT. The initial batch of companies tapping into OpenAI’s API each have slightly different visions for how to incorporate ChatGPT. Dating website OkCupid has already experimented with using ChatGPT to write matching questions. Some school systems, such as in New York and Seattle, banned the use of ChatGPT in the classroom over concerns about students cheating.

☆ Paris Hilton wants to be the ‘Queen of the Metaverse’
▼ + stars: | 2022-05-27 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Paris Hilton has arrived. On New Year’s Eve, she DJed a live set in the same virtual world, playing as her avatar. It also includes her production company Slivington Manor Entertainment – which is behind TV projects including “Cooking with Paris” and “Paris Hilton in Love” – and her podcast company London Audio. Paris Hilton attends the 64th Annual Grammy Awards in her "Queen of the Metaverse" dress Frazer Harrison/The Recording Academy/Getty ImagesOther celebrities including Snoop Dogg, Lindsay Lohan and Shawn Mendes have launched their own NFTs. Earlier this month, Hilton visited the White House to discuss new legislation aimed protecting children in such programs.

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