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☆ The social media world is splintering, and it'll pave the way for a new breed of influencer
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-29 | by ( Lindsay Dodgson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A splintered social media world is on the horizon — and it's paving the way for a new, more authentic breed of influencer. "People are just trying to find authentic communities," Eric Wittman, CEO of photo-editing app VSCO, told Business Insider. Smoothy said she sees things changing, with different "tiers" of content creators emerging from the industry's oversaturation. New social media horizonsLucy Edgerley, the head of influence at the global social media agency Born Social, told BI that Gen Zers, in particular, are craving creativity, entertainment, and inspiration. Young people who have grown up with social media are learning the lessons about the dark side of it — the mental health toll, the bullying, and the over-consumerism — the hard way, he said.

Persons: Reddit, Eric Wittman, Wittman, Chand Rajendra, Kate Smoothy, Smoothy, Lucy Edgerley, Zers, Kim Murray, Murray, Edgerley Organizations: University of Massachusetts Amherst, Webhive, Social, Virality

☆ How Bluesky rose out of Twitter's ashes to challenge X and Threads
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-26 | by ( Jonathan Vanian | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

And while these larger social media platforms still dwarf Bluesky, the startup now has more than 22 million users and is not showing any signs of slowing down. Bluesky had experienced a previous surge in July 2023 after X, then still named Twitter, temporarily limited the number of posts users could read per day. Just days before Musk officially took over Twitter, the Bluesky team publicly unveiled more details about their project and rolled out a waitlist for the Bluesky app. Despite Bluesky starting as a side project within Twitter, the startup has lost its last connection to the original micro-blogging app. Bluesky is looking for ways to support the users "who are actually the ones making the network awesome and fun," Wang said.

Persons: Rose Wang, Elon Musk's, Bluesky, Wang, David Carr, Carr, Jay Graber, Jack Dorsey, Jay, Graber, Daniel Holmgren, Paul Frazee, Dorsey, Parag Agrawal, Musk, Nostr, Jack, we're, Mark Zuckerberg, Jack Johnston, Johnston, Gen, That's, It's, Similarweb's Carr Organizations: Twitter, CNBC, Brazilian Supreme, Google, Yahoo, Myspace, Facebook, Anthropic, Delaware State, PBLLC, Bluesky, Blockchain Capital, Blockchain, cryptocurrency Locations: Brazil, San Francisco

☆ Watch: CEO of new social media company competing with X describes users’ experiences
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-20 | by ( Ak Pohlers | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

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☆ Bluesky's 'acceleration is tremendous' as users flock to the new 'old Twitter'
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-19 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Many new Bluesky users are praising the feeling on the site as being similar to "old Twitter." This week, the app shot to the top of Apple's App Store and Google's Play Store, and a Bluesky spokesperson told Business Insider it hit 18.3 million registered users. Advertisement"Consumers, time and time again, show us that they will put a brand in jeopardy if the leadership is associated with ideology the consumers don't care for," Lind told Business Insider. A spokesperson for Bluesky told Business Insider that the platform aims to give users more choice and offer creators independence from being locked into specific platforms. A few weeks ago, Bluesky had less than 1 million daily users in the US, "so the acceleration is tremendous," said David Carr, an editor at Similarweb.

Persons: Bluesky, Elon Musk's, Jonathan Bellack, Mark Cuban, he'd, That's, Stephen Lind, Lind, We've, Jack Dorsey, Twitter, Dorsey, David Carr Organizations: Social, Business, Applied Social Media, Cuban, Meta, USC Marshall School of Business, Bluesky, Twitter Locations: Similarweb

☆ The Onion has won the bid for Infowars’ assets
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-14 | by ( Hadas Gold | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Satirical news site The Onion won the auction to acquire conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ Infowars, which was sold off as part of a defamation settlement after he falsely called the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre a hoax. The Onion’s bid was backed by the families of eight victims of school shooting and one first responder. Jones was previously ordered to pay $1.5 billion to families of the Sandy Hook shooting victims. Jones had used Infowars to spread some of the most disturbing and disgusting lies and conspiracy theories into the public discourse. Though Collins declined to detail the bid amount, he said it was the highest and that the funding came from The Onion itself.

Persons: Alex Jones ’, Jones, Sandy Hook, he’s, motorhome, ”, Ben Collins, ” Alex Jones, David J, Phillip, Collins, “ We’re, Chris Mattei, Alex Jones, Robbie Parker, Emilie, Infowars, Jones ’, Oliver Darcy Organizations: CNN, Elementary, Gun Safety Locations: Sandy, Houston, harm’s

☆ I moved from New York City to London. The job hunt was a culture shock but it was worth it for the healthcare and work-life balance.
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-14 | by ( Pooja Shah | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

When I moved to London with my husband just almost two years ago it was a major culture shock. Job hunting and finding friends was a challenge, but the free healthcare has been invaluable. The job hunt was a culture shock for meAs a New York-qualified attorney, I was used to a competitive job hunt involving dozens of applications, multiple interviews, and aggressive salary negotiations. But London's work-life balance has been a huge reliefI'm not burned out from work in London like I was in NYC. Though I miss my family and friends in New York City, London is now home for the foreseeable future.

Persons: Pooja Shah I, Pooja Shah, It's, aren't, I've, I'm Organizations: National Health Service Locations: New Yorker, London, Queens, Flushing, New York, East, Asia, New York City

☆ Infowars attracts ‘seven-figure’ auction bids that will decide fate of Alex Jones’ empire
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-12 | by ( Hadas Gold | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New York CNN —On Wednesday morning, conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ notorious Infowars media empire will go up for auction in a court-mandated sale, and at least one bid is in the “seven-figure” range, a person familiar with the matter told CNN. Jones was found guilty of defamation by juries in Texas and Connecticut for using his Infowars megaphone to falsely claim the massacre was a hoax. But if “bad guys” buy Infowars, as Jones put it Monday, he’ll “keep broadcasting until they show up” after the Wednesday auction and shut down the fringe outlet. The Onion CEO Ben Collins was previously a journalist at NBC where he extensively covered disinformation and conspiracy theorists, including Jones and Infowars. The Barbed Wire, a progressive Texas-based outlet, said it had planned to bid in the Infowars auction but ultimately decided against it.

Persons: Alex Jones ’, ”, Jones, Sandy, “, ” Jones, Infowars, Roger Stone, Donald Trump, Stone, he’ll, AJNLive, they’re, imploring, Sandy Hook, Ben Collins, Collins, Christopher Mattei Organizations: New, New York CNN, CNN, Elementary, AP, NBC, Elon, ” Representatives, Media Locations: New York, Texas, Connecticut, Infowars

☆ Trump’s return to power raises serious questions about the media’s credibility
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-06 | by ( Brian Stelter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN —Donald Trump’s return to power is a hinge point for the American media – in ways big, small, and to be determined. A severe trust deficit exists between the Trump base and big institutional media outlets. “Maybe ‘misinformation’ is a lazy word that was never applied to press coverage of Biden’s health or the border. Thus, Trump’s reelection portends a new period of hostility with major media outlets that strive for impartiality as well as partisan outlets that oppose him. Further, will media outlets engage in self-censoring to appease Trump, and if so, how will readers and viewers who oppose Trump react?

Persons: New York CNN — Donald Trump’s, Kamala Harris, Matt Walsh, Trump, ”, we’ve, “, Dave Weigel, Harris, Scott Jennings, Trump’s, ” Jennings, Liz Cheney, Nikki Haley, Tim Walz, ‘, ’ ”, Ashley Allison, Rupert Murdoch, portends, ” Conde Nast, Roger Lynch Organizations: New, New York CNN, Trump, Republicans, CNN, ’ ” Liberal, Fox News, White Locations: New York, United States, America, York, Puerto Rico

☆ Meta fires employees for spending food allowances on personal items like acne pads and wine glasses
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-17 | by ( Clare Duffy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —Meta fired around two dozen employees from its Los Angeles office for misusing company meal credits for things like laundry detergent, wine glasses and acne treatment pads, a source familiar with the company confirmed to CNN. Many of the social media giant’s corporate offices feature elaborate food services to provide employees with meals as a perk. Meta’s two-year-old office near New York City’s Penn Station, for example, features a cafeteria that feels like an upscale food court, with various stalls all free for staff. An internal investigation found that some LA-based employees used the meal funds to purchase things other than food instead, or had meals delivered to their homes, the source said. Meta’s median total annual compensation for individual employees (other than CEO Mark Zuckerberg) is $379,050, the company said in a regulatory filing earlier this year.

Persons: Meta, Mark Zuckerberg, Tracy Clayton, ” Meta, Jane Manchun Wong, Zuckerberg Organizations: New, New York CNN, CNN, Financial Times, Meta, ”, Reality Labs Locations: New York, Los Angeles, “, Instagram

☆ New dating apps and social-networking startups are gaining steam. Read pitch decks 6 used to raise millions of dollars.
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-15 | by ( Sydney Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

New social-networking and dating startups are coming onto the scene. Here are the pitch decks six startups used while raising Series A and seed rounds. Founders of these startups are tackling problems like loneliness, dating app fatigue, and general dissatisfaction with the current social-media incumbents. Meet 7 VC investors eyeing new social startupsBI spoke with several social-media and dating app founders about how they are raising capital — including the pitch decks they used to raise millions of dollars. Read the pitch decks that helped 6 social-networking and dating startups fundraise millions of dollars:Note: Pitch decks are sorted by investment stage and size of round.

Persons: —, Isabella Epstein's, Tiffany, Daybreak Ventures Rex Woodbury, Catalyst, Mervana Parekh, It's, Marlon Nichols Organizations: Service, IRL, Big Tech, Daybreak Ventures, Business, Tinder, Acrew, Mac Venture

☆ A social-calendar app that helps friends sync their schedules and make plans raised $8 million. Read its pitch deck.
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-11 | by ( Sydney Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Howbout is a social-calendar app that wants to help friends make plans. The UK-based startup raised an $8 million Series A led by Goodwater Capital. "That person — and it's usually she — is so powerful in her friendship group," Howbout CEO Neil Tanna told Business Insider. Howbout is approaching 5 million users, Tanna said, and is currently ranked No. Read the 12-page pitch deck that Howbout used to raise its $8 million Series A:Note: Some slides have been edited and details have been redacted to share the document publicly.

Persons: —, Neil Tanna, Goodwater Capital's, Chien, Tanna, it's, Howbout Organizations: Goodwater Capital, Service, Friendship, Apple, Tinder, Sony Music

☆ Costco's members are getting younger as millennial and Gen Z shoppers flock to wholesale clubs
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-28 | by ( Dominick Reuter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Costco is the latest warehouse club to tout its growing popularity with millennial and Gen Z shoppers. Sam's Club has reported similar trends as younger shoppers look to stretch their budgets. AdvertisementOne of the hottest clubs for millennials and Gen Z continues to be the wholesale club. AdvertisementThe news echoes results from Sam's Club, the Walmart-owned club store, where Gen Z membership has grown by 68% in the past two years. Related stories"That generation believes it's cool to save money, and we agree with them," Sam's Club CEO Chris Nicholas told CNBC in June.

Persons: —, Gen Z, Gary Millerchip, Millerchip, GoBankingRates, Dominic Wright, Placer.ai, That's, Hottovy, Chris Nicholas, Nicholas, Corey Tarlowe, Jordan, Ford Pinto, TJ, Tarlowe, you'll, Mercedes, Costco's Kirkland, Club's, Mark Organizations: Costco, Sam's, Service, millennials, Analytical Research, Business, Sam's Club, Walmart, CNBC, Jefferies, Price Club, TJ Maxx

☆ Making friends with 'Pie': CEO Andy Dunn on the new social app
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-23 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailMaking friends with 'Pie': CEO Andy Dunn on the new social appAndy Dunn, Pie founder and CEO, Bonobos c-founder and former CEO and ‘Burn Rate’ author, joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss the new social app Pie, making friends using the app, what the business model is, and more.

Persons: Andy Dunn Organizations: Pie

☆ Elon Musk called the Australian government 'fascists.' It's the latest country he's picking a fight with.
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-13 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Elon Musk's war of words with Australia is escalating after he called the government "fascists." The billionaire criticized Australia's new social media bill, which would see sites like X face fines over misinformation. Musk is at war on many fronts, with X being suspended in Brazil and criticized for fuelling riots in the UK. Go to newsletter preferences Thanks for signing up! AdvertisementElon Musk called the Australian government "fascists" in a one-word response to a post on X detailing the country's planned new social media regulation.

Persons: Elon, Australia's, —, Elon Musk Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Australia, Brazil

☆ Ex-Google staffers are building a social-mapping platform for online and IRL communities
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-21 | by ( Sydney Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

"We essentially see ourselves as a Google Maps for communities," PamPam cofounder Helena Jaramillo told Business Insider. The platform draws its data from Mapbox and Google Places. "We used all these apps obviously to do that, Google Maps or getting lists or recommendations from friends, but it just never really felt right." The team behind Zenly, which Snapchat acquired and morphed into its Snap Map feature, is building another new social map app called "Bump." AdvertisementPamPam sees its creators as "community creators," Jaramillo explained.

Persons: —, PamPam, Helena Jaramillo, Jaramillo, Carlo Jörges, Jörges, We've, What's, Snapchat, Raya, monetization Organizations: Service, Google, Business, Big Tech, Facebook, YouTube Locations: New York City, Philadelphia, Mapbox, doesn't

Updating your name with the credit bureaus can prevent delays in credit applications and other credit reporting errors. Hinterhaus Productions/Getty ImagesTransgender and nonbinary people can report their legal name change to credit bureaus. One of the many steps in your legal transition is to report your legal name change to all three credit bureaus — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion — so it'll appear on your credit report. How to report a name change with the credit bureausBefore you update your name with the credit bureaus, you first need to update your name on your driver's license, Social Security card, and utility bills first since credit bureaus ask for copies of those documents to verify your name change request. Box 4500Allen, TX 75013TransUnionUnlike the other two credit reporting bureaus, TransUnion requires you to change your legal name with every individual financial institution listed on their credit report first.

Persons: Hinterhaus, there's, —, TransUnion, Ryan Klippel, Here's, Klippel, folx, you'll, Experian Experian, Allen, it's Organizations: Social Security, Optas, Social, TransUnion, National Center for Transgender Equality, UC Berkeley, Google, Security Locations: myEquifax, Allen , TX, Chester , PA, California

☆ Queer community platform Lex lays off staff as it charts an uncertain path forward
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-17 | by ( Sydney Bradley | Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewLex, a social network that helps people find and build queer communities in their cities, has laid off most of its staff. "We're committed to building Lex to be a thriving social app for LGBTQ+ community," Lewis said in a written statement. AdvertisementLike many other newer social-media platforms, Lex has been experimenting with ways to monetize its product. In June, Lex announced its "Team Gay Agenda" campaign to raise funds from its users via recurring monthly pledges and told users that the "Lex community is at risk." "With the well documented demise of queer spaces, our number one priority will always be making sure our community has space to thrive on Lex," Lewis added.

Persons: —, Kel Rakowski, Jennifer Rhiannon Lewis, Lewis, Rakowski, We're, Lex, Gen Z Organizations: Service, Business, Gen

☆ Insider Today: New status symbols
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-13 | by ( Joi-Marie Mckenzie | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Business Insider's docuseries, "Quiet on Set," just won the Television Critics Association Award for Outstanding Achievement in News and Information. AdvertisementAt least that's what Denver meteorologist Chris Bianchi told Business Insider's senior science reporter Morgan McFall-Johnsen. Markus Thoenen/Getty ImagesTen better getawaysIt's the busiest time in the travel season, and international travel is especially hot. AdvertisementMore of this week's top reads:The Insider Today team: Joi-Marie McKenzie, editor in chief of life, in New York.

Persons: —, Dan Schneider's, it's, SEAN GLADWELL, Chris Bianchi, Morgan McFall, Johnsen, Bianchi, Morgan, Jenny Chang, Rodriguez, Markus Thoenen, Bianca Bagnarelli, Tyler Le, Abanti Chowdhury, Rashida Jones, Nicholas Cage's, Rebecca Zisser, Nordstrom cardholders, Joi, Marie McKenzie, Jordan Parker Erb, Dan DeFrancesco, Lisa Ryan, Amanda Yen Organizations: Service, Television, Nickelodeon, Business, Denver, Getty, Apple, Max, Nordstrom, Amazon Locations: New, United States, Ticino, Switzerland, Italy, AirPods, Whitestrips, New York, New York City

☆ New social-media apps are surging as people look for alternatives to Instagram and TikTok. But can they last?
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-10 | by ( Sydney Bradley | Amanda Perelli | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Many new social-media apps struggle to sustain user growth after going viral. Sensor Tower data shows major incumbents like Instagram and TikTok are still dominating. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementA new app hits the top of the app store, everyone is talking about it, and millions download it. According to recent data from marketing intelligence firm Sensor Tower, it is much tougher for new social-media platforms to grow and retain users compared to major incumbents like Instagram or TikTok.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Business

☆ 6 Years, 4 Raw Human Stories From the New China
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-05 | by ( Michelle T. King | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

PRIVATE REVOLUTIONS: Four Women Face China’s New Social Order, by Yuan YangThere’s an unforgettable moment in Yuan Yang’s new book, when an idealistic university student is tasked with conducting a survey by going door-to-door to random addresses in Shenzhen, China’s manufacturing megalopolis. In one poor neighborhood, the female student asks a young man, living in a tiny apartment with four other adults and a baby, to rate his current job satisfaction. His immediate reaction is to ask whether she has been sent by the Communist Party.

Persons: Yuan Yang There’s, Yuan Yang’s Organizations: Communist Party Locations: Shenzhen

☆ When my ex-husband married someone with a similar first name to mine, I finally decided to change my married name
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-04 | by ( Melissa Drake | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

I easily recall the lawyer saying he could change my name as part of the divorce proceedings. While my husband and I didn't choose to remain married, my son and I were still a family. I kept my married name for years until my ex-husband started dating a woman with a very similar name as me. Except to me, going back to that name felt like I was going backward in terms of my life's evolution. But the name change was much bigger than updating my records and getting a new Social Security card.

Persons: nonchalantly, would've, Cher, Prince, Drake Organizations: Service, Business, Social Security

☆ Noplace is the hottest new app on the charts. Its founder spills on how it went viral and plans to skirt becoming a 'fad.'
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-04 | by ( Sydney Bradley | Alexandra Bacon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The social media app is the brainchild of 27-year-old serial founder and investor Tiffany "TZ" Zhong, whose tech career took off in her late-teens. Instead of stressing over carefully curated posts, the app encourages users to share their stream-of-consciousness thoughts directly to the feed. According to its App Store description, it aims to harken back to the social media era before "algos and ads" took over. She particularly follows the behavior of Noplace's "power users," some of whom even spend between eight and 10 hours on the app, Zhong said. And at a time when social media platforms are prioritizing entertainment over social interactions, Noplace feels timely.

Persons: —, Tiffany, Zhong, you've, It's, Noplace, Nospace, …, Alexis Ohanian, it's, There's Organizations: Service, Twitter, Apple, Business, Noplace's, Big Locations: Noplace, Reddit

☆ NY Gov. Hochul on new social media laws: All stats point to a very dire outcome for our children
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-21 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailNY Gov. Hochul on new social media laws: All stats point to a very dire outcome for our childrenNew York Governor Kathy Hochul joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss the signing of two bills aimed at protecting children and teens online, fate of congestion pricing in New York City, and more.

Persons: Kathy Hochul Organizations: New Locations: New York City

☆ Some Gen Z and baby boomers are facing a strange predicament: feeling happy and lonely at the same time
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-01 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

"It's great, but it takes an effort," Samtur told Business Insider. That means that right now, Gen Z and baby boomers, in particular, might be experiencing a strange juxtaposition: They're happy and lonely at the same time. "So people feel maybe a little less happy with their lives in midlife, but it doesn't mean you're also feeling lonely." "Overall, people tended to be more lonely, just persistently lonely, if they had less education, had lower income, and poor health," Graham said. Some Gen Zers pay for social connections through activities like fitness memberships.

Persons: Harry Samtur, Samtur, doesn't, Gen, Eileen Graham, Graham, Donna Basztura, Basztura, —, she's, we've, Batszura, Zers, didn't, Preeti Malani, Joan Hendrix, couldn't, I've, Hendrix Organizations: Service, Business, Northwestern University, Gallup, Harvard Graduate School of Education, University of Michigan Locations: Minnesota, Germany, Australia, midlife, Florida

☆ 2 former Instagram staffers left their jobs to create a new social-media app that's grabbed the tech world's attention
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-31 | by ( Sydney Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Advertisement"We always have loved this idea of a super simple product that's really just for you and your friends," Sharp told BI. "There's not any real public discovery surface inside of Retro," Sharp said. Advertisement"What's most important to us is that we build a sustainable business, whether that's venture scale or not," Sharp said. "You can complete your feed in Retro," Olson said. Courtesy of Retro"There are a few places where we've chosen comfort over — or perhaps to the detriment of — the growth of the product or the business," Olson said.

Persons: —, Nathan Sharp, Sharp, Ryan Olson, Olson, that's, Mike Krieger, Kevin Systrom, Sam Lessin, A16z's Andrew Chen, Adam Mosseri, Retro's, It's, Olson didn't, you'd, Marissa Mayer's Organizations: Service, Retro, Business, Lone Palm Labs, Retro's, Facebook, Meta, Instagram Labs Locations: Silicon

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