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☆ Meta exploring plans for Twitter rival
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

March 10 (Reuters) - Meta Platforms Inc (META.O) is exploring plans to launch a new social media app in its bid to displace Twitter as the world's "digital town square". "We're exploring a standalone decentralized social network for sharing text updates. A Twitter-like app would allow Meta to take advantage of the current chaos at the Elon Musk-led company, where cost-cutting has been rampant. Twitter has been struggling to hold on to its advertising base since Musk's takeover of the platform late last year. "They're just trying everything... at least with a mini blogging site like Twitter, there's some expectation that it could start to make money out of much quicker timeline than the metaverse investment."

California Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee made her long-awaited Senate bid official Tuesday in a new social media video. "No one is rolling out the welcome mat, especially for someone like me," Lee says to start the video. I escaped a violent marriage, became a single mom, a homeless mom, a mom who couldn't afford childcare and brought her kids to class with her. They didn't want to hear my voice, or anyone who wasn't like them, but by the grace of God, I didn't let that stop me." The ad continues to reference her relationship with former President Barack Obama, her role in the Violence Against Women Act, support of the LGBTQ community.

☆ 'Sushi terrorism' is spreading as pranksters lick food, utensils in Japan's conveyor belt restaurants
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Conveyor belt sushi restaurants have been an affordable option across Japan for decades. The prank videos, often perpetrated by younger culprits, show customers at any one of Japan's many conveyor belt sushi restaurants taking things off the belt like utensils, soy sauce bottles, or food. He later licks a finger then at least one plate of sushi on the conveyor belt. The videos have prompted sushi restaurants to remind customers that they frequently clean and disinfect utensils, and will provide clean utensils upon request. "Kaiten-zushi," or conveyor belt sushi, restaurants have been a mainstay in Japan for decades as an affordable option.

☆ A mailman, a NASA scientist and a park ranger: Some government employees shrug off TikTok bans
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-28 | by ( David Ingram | David Ingram Covers Tech For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

Jean-Pierre, who’s from Morristown, New Jersey, has attracted 215,500 followers on the video app where most days he posts from his mail truck during his lunch break. As of last month, all federal workers are banned from having TikTok on their work phones. In some places, using a personal device isn’t enough to get around TikTok restrictions. There’s no telling precisely how many federal workers use TikTok, but certain hashtags show the breadth of its popularity. The public relations staff at some federal agencies said they had no plans to interfere with what federal workers did on their own.

☆ True, a budding social platform with $15 million in backing from Microsoft veteran Paul Maritz, takes aim at Facebook by rejecting user tracking and targeted ads
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-14 | by ( Kali Hays | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

True is another newer entrant into the social media space, long dominated by Facebook and Twitter. Bret Cox and Paul Maritz want to prove that a social media platform can be a sustainable business without tracking and selling users' every online move. "It's not nearly as lucrative as targeted advertising, but it will be sustainable," Cox said. Although he admits True is something of an "experiment" in the world of social media. Do you work in social media or are you someone else with insight to share?

☆ Twitter alternatives like Mastadon see downloads plunge
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Kali Hays | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Long before Elon Musk came along, Twitter users bemoaned the service yet remained addicted to it. It is a text-based social platform, or "microblogging" site, home to independent servers, or "instances." In early November, the hashtag TwitterMigration was trending on Mastodon for several days as Twitter users set up accounts amid Musk's chaotic takeover. Daily users have held steady though, at 1.4 million, a major increase from its usage prior to Musk's takeover of Twitter, which typically hovered around 20,000 daily users. Downloads of the iOS app have grown 290,000% to 1.5 million since Oct. 24, with daily users up 660,000% to 321,000, according to Apptopia data.

☆ Check out Landing, a 'Pinterest for Gen Z', where users make vision boards on everything from their dream wedding with Harry Styles to the first day of school
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-29 | by ( Lakshmi Varanasi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Landing, a vision board site similar to Pinterest, is becoming popular with Gen Z.Gen Z users told Insider they make several vision boards a week on the site. Scroll through Landing and you'll see playful, irreverent, and even otherworldly vision boards from users showcasing everything from New Year's resolutions to their dream wedding with musician Harry Styles. The founders said the velocity with which Gen Z makes vision boards is unlike anything they expected. Creating a vision board is akin to making a list of goals, journaling, or writing oneself an encouraging note. Vega's 2023 vision board.

☆ Twitter alternatives that got traction after Elon Musk takeover are suddenly seeing downloads plunge. Which has staying power and who is the next Clubhouse?
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-24 | by ( Kali Hays | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Long before Elon Musk came along, Twitter users bemoaned the service yet remained addicted to it. It is a text-based social platform, or "microblogging" site, home to independent servers, or "instances." In early November, the hashtag TwitterMigration was trending on Mastodon for several days as Twitter users set up accounts amid Musk's chaotic takeover. Daily users have held steady though, at 1.4 million, a major increase from its usage prior to Musk's takeover of Twitter, which typically hovered around 20,000 daily users. Yet, it has maintained more than 500,000 daily users.

☆ This 22-year-old got scammed by a fake job—here are 4 lessons she learned after getting a new (real) one
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-22 | by ( Jennifer Liu | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

It's been a rough year for Callie Heim: Within a span of a few months, the 22-year-old lost her mother, moved back home, stressed over college graduation and then over the summer, in a nightmarish whirlwind, got scammed by a fake job listing. After taking some time to emotionally recover, Heim candidly posted about her experience on TikTok to warn others about fake job scams. Within days, Heim was flooded with an outpouring of support and legitimate offers to interview for a new job. "I never thought this summer, when I was crying, this would be how my life would be," Heim says. Below, Heim shares the four biggest lessons she learned after bouncing back from the experience of getting scammed by a fake job listing.

An image of new Twitter owner Elon Musk is seen surrounded by Twitter logos in this photo illustration in Warsaw, Poland on 08 November, 2022. On Sunday, Twitter's new owner and CEO Elon Musk posted an informal poll of users of the social media platform asking if he should step down as head of the company. In court in November, Musk said, "I expect to reduce my time at Twitter and find somebody else to run Twitter over time." "The question is not finding a CEO, the question is finding a CEO who can keep Twitter alive," he wrote. Tesla's largest retail shareholder, Leo Koguan, wrote in a tweet on Dec. 14, that "Elon abandoned Tesla and Tesla has no working CEO."

☆ Here's what Charles Schwab's Liz Ann Sonders has to say about the economy, her favorite book, and investing in a recession
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-10 | by ( Phil Rosen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Today's newsletter features my conversation with Liz Ann Sonders of Charles Schwab, and why she thinks the economy's already in a recession. Charles SchwabLiz Ann Sonders is the chief investment strategist at Charles Schwab. Phil Rosen: Can you explain your "rolling recession" assessment of the US economy? Liz Ann Sonders: Typically when you go into a recession, everything's sort of hit all at once. Read the full interview with Liz Ann Sonders here.

☆ Meta considered building a Twitter competitor to capitalize on Elon Musk's 'crisis' at company, report says: 'LET'S GO FOR THEIR BREAD AND BUTTER'
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Meta brainstormed how to build a Twitter competitor as Elon Musk took over the platform, NYT reports. Since, Elon Musk took over Twitter the company has lost advertisers and around half its staff. "Twitter is in crisis and Meta needs its mojo back," one Meta employee wrote in a post, per The Times. Since the richest man in the world took Twitter private in October there's been a large amount of uncertainty regarding the company's future. Without major advertisers, Twitter could flounder as ads accounted for about 90% of Twitter's revenue last year.

☆ 'Goblin mode' is Oxford University Press' 2022 word of the year
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Christian Edwards | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

If so, you might already be in “goblin mode” – chosen by the public as the 2022 Oxford word of the year. In its place is goblin mode – the opposite of trying to better yourself. The OUP word of the year – also known as the Oxford word of the year – was chosen by the public for the first time. A group of lexicographers at OUP gave people a choice of: “Goblin mode,” “metaverse,” and “#IStandWith.”“Goblin mode” triumphed, racking up 318,956 votes – 93% of the total. Hello goblin mode.

☆ Some adult content creators are worried about losing their community if Twitter dies
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( Morgan Sung | Morgan Sung Is A Trends Reporter For Nbc News Digital. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +12 min

As she followed reports of the chaos within Twitter, OnlyFans creator and artist Stephanie Michelle fretted over what losing Twitter would mean for her livelihood. The pandemic and subsequent OnlyFans boom brought a new wave of adult content creators to the so-called sex work Twitter. The online sex work community is also tight-knit, so it’s also become a space to warn others of potential dangerous customers. Because sex work is so widely stigmatized, sex workers rely on each other for mutual aid and support. She added that many sex workers have experienced losing their followings and community because of how hostile other social media platforms are to adult content creators, even if they aren’t posting explicit content.

☆ Elon Musk jokes about overpaying for Twitter and reiterates plan to charge $8 a month at confab for wealthy investors as the company enacts mass layoffs
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( Hayley Cuccinello | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Musk said the layoffs will save the company $400 million a year, and presented his turnaround plan. Musk's appearance comes as he gears up to lay off as much as 50% of Twitter's 7,500 staff — one week after purchasing the struggling social media company. Musk also gave his pitch for turning the troubled social media company around, including plans to start charging verified user $8 a month. Twitter emailed staff on Thursday, warning of impending layoffs "in an effort to place Twitter on a healthy path." Former Twitter employees are flocking to social media to share their experiences.

☆ As Elon Musk finalized his Twitter deal, company founder Jack Dorsey launched a beta for his new social media company
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-30 | by ( Sarah Jackson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Jack Dorsey's decentralized social media platform, Bluesky Social, is accepting beta users. The news coincides with Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter, which Dorsey founded and ran for several years. Dorsey left Twitter in 2021 and named Parag Agrawal as his successor, whom Musk fired shortly after taking over this week. Dorsey's blockchain-based Bluesky Social announced last Tuesday that it's launching soon and is currently enlisting users for beta testing. Dorsey had said in 2019 that Twitter was funding work into developing "an open and decentralized standard for social media."

☆ For the first time in years, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter are 'weak' and VCs are eager to back alternatives, they say.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Darius Rafieyan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

VCs see an opportunity to back the next big social network and take on existing giants. "Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, they're weak, and they're just losing that edge," one investor said. And there may be room for even more young social media companies to rise. For her, identity verification and responsible content moderation are non-negotiable in any new social platform that she backs. "There is a sense of decline for some of these large social media platforms," Lee said.

☆ A new social media app for high schoolers has dethroned TikTok and BeReal in the App Store rankings — and is surprisingly not toxic
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Hannah Towey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A new app for high schoolers is ranked #1 in the app store right now, beating out BeReal and TikTok. The app "Gas" lets users send anonymous compliments to their friends and classmates through polls. Gas app screenshotsAnonymous social media apps for teenagers have a history of burning up in flames. "Gas" app screenshotsCurrently, the app is fighting a different kind of controversy: a rumor spreading across TikTok and Snapchat that it's involved in human trafficking. Right now, "is gas a sex trafficking app" is a top Google Search query related to the app.

☆ Digital World Acquisition Corp prepares merger-delay vote as Trump Media exec warns company will fail
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-10 | by ( Jack Stebbins | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The former US President announced his intention to create a new social media platform after he was banned from Facebook and Twitter last year. The company is also dealing with the fallout from a Trump Media executive's whistleblower complaint to federal regulators. A senior vice president at Trump Media, William Wilkerson, filed a whistleblower complaint alleging securities violations in August. Trump Media recently announced that the company was exploring legal action against the SEC for delaying the deal. "If they don't come with the financing I'll have it private," Trump said to supporters in an early-October rally in Michigan.

☆ Trump-linked SPAC lacks votes to delay merger, adjourns shareholder meeting until October
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-08 | by ( Jack Stebbins | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

This illustration photo shows Donald Trump's new social media app Truth Social, glitching on a smartphone in Los Angeles, February 21, 2022. Digital World Acquisition Corp ., the SPAC aiming to take former President Donald Trump's media company public, adjourned its shareholder meeting until Oct. 10 to allow voting to continue on delaying the merger. DWAC had already twice adjourned the meeting earlier in the day after previously adjourning it Tuesday. Trump Media owns Truth Social, which was founded by the former president after he was banned from Twitter following the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Digital World had previously warned that the vote's failure could result in the SPAC's liquidation.

☆ Trump-linked SPAC to resume meeting Thursday as it seeks votes to delay merger with ex-president's firm
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-06 | by ( Jack Stebbins | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The special purpose acquisition company had a Thursday deadline to take Trump's media company and its Truth Social platform public. Digital World Acquisition Corp . adjourned its shareholder meeting after two minutes on Tuesday and said it will continue counting votes on whether to delay a merger with former President Donald Trump's media company. The former US President announced his intention to create a new social media platform after he was banned from Facebook and Twitter last year. Trump Media denied reports of financial strife that surfaced at the end of August. Orlando has been on a media campaign and posting on Truth Social to drum up enough votes for the extension.

☆ This social app prohibits edited photos to encourage users to be more authentic. It’s growing fast
▼ + stars: | 2022-04-21 | by ( Faith Karimi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

BeReal is a social media app that encourages users to share a slice of their life in real time. The result is a far cry from the polished, overly curated photos popular on other social media platforms. The BeReal app launched in late 2020 and is rapidly growing in popularity among young people. Telerski says he tries to maintain a certain level of authenticity on social media regardless of the platform. “For those who think we need a new social media app in order to be truly authentic, maybe we should take that as a sign to be more authentic throughout our existing social media presence,” he says.

Persons: it’s, Austin Steele, “, Ben Telerski, ”, Telerski, ” Ben Telerski, Alexandra Henn, Ben, you’re, BeReal, BeReal Morgan Nott, Nott Organizations: CNN, Facebook, Georgetown University Locations: Apptopia, France, Reno

☆ BeReal: This social app bans edited photos to encourage users to be more authentic
▼ + stars: | 2022-04-21 | by ( Faith Karimi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

BeReal is a social media app that encourages users to share a slice of their life in real time. The result is a far cry from the polished, overly curated photos popular on other social media platforms. The BeReal app launched in late 2020 and is rapidly growing in popularity among young people. If someone tries to keep their social media presence highly polished and produced, BeReal is not the app to use.”Ben Telerski and Alexandra Henn in an image from his BeReal app. “For those who think we need a new social media app in order to be truly authentic, maybe we should take that as a sign to be more authentic throughout our existing social media presence,” he says.

☆ Richard Simmons, Internet Star?
▼ + stars: | 2013-08-25 | by ( Brooks Barnes | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — “Richard, honey, you’ve got lipstick on your teeth.”Too forward of me? I had only met Richard Simmons once before. This time, the 65-year-old star of “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” was dressed as Medusa, replete with shimmering green gown and rubber snake headpiece. But if his new William Morris Endeavor agent and his new social media managers have their way, he will soon add another line to his voluminous résumé: Internet star. Like a lot of older people in show business, Mr. Simmons has been slow to fully grasp social media.

Persons: — “ Richard, Richard Simmons, ’, William Morris, Simmons Organizations: William Morris Endeavor Locations: BEVERLY HILLS, Calif

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