DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Why Slurs Are Back in Left-Leaning, Liberal Language
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-23 | by ( Julia Pugachevsky | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

A few weeks ago, I started asking left-leaning people their thoughts on slurs being peppered into everyday conversations. An inclusive eraKayla Cash, a 31-year-old PR manager, grew up using words she now considers offensive. Some of the language felt ubiquitous; she remembers the 2004 release of "Let's Get It Started," the Grammy-winning Black Eyed Peas hit that was originally released as "Let's Get Retarded." It was billed as discussions between two "bohemian layabouts" who called out performative aspects of progressive politics — while using language more often associated with the right, such as that offensive term for someone with intellectual disabilities. Looser language and new rulesEveryone I talked to for this story had rules for which words they would and wouldn't say.

Persons: It's, I've, Kayla Cash, Cash, Obama, Ari Lightman, Lightman, Seth MacFarlane, Kevin Hart, Robbie Goodwin, would've, Donald Trump, Goodwin, Reagan, who've, Zach Beauchamp, Ezra Klein, Beauchamp, Joe Rogan, Elon Musk Organizations: University of Idaho, Rosa's Law, Twitter, Carnegie Mellon University, New York Times, Yorker, Vox, Democratic Locations: Vietnam, Brooklyn

MyKayla Skinner posted a video to Instagram on Tuesday calling on Simone Biles to stop her 11.8 million followers from “cyberbullying” her after Biles appeared to clapback at comments by Skinner. “To Simone, I am asking you directly and publicly to please put a stop to this," Skinner said in Tuesday's video. A few days after her comments in June, Skinner posted an apology on social media. After Biles' Instagram post last week, Skinner reportedly blocked the 11-time Olympic medalist on social media, according to an Instagram story posted by Chiles and a post on X by Biles. The edited photo implied that Skinner should have made the 2016 U.S. Olympic team over Douglas, who became the first Black Olympic all-around champion in 2012.

Persons: MyKayla Skinner, Simone Biles, “ cyberbullying ”, Biles, Skinner, “, Simone, We’ve, Jordan Chiles, ” Skinner, ”, I’m, Suni Lee, Larry Nassar, Nassar, unfollowed Skinner, that’s, Chiles, Lee, McKayla Maroney, Laurie Hernandez, Nastia, Gabby Douglas, Douglas Organizations: U.S, Paris, USA, U.S ., Olympics, Paris Games, Olympic Locations: Paris, Tokyo, U.S, Rio

☆ Meta's new AI chatbots are already getting weird — and horny
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-01 | by ( Sydney Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewI've spent one day interacting with chatbots made with Meta's new AI Studio, and I already have six new boyfriends and four new girlfriends. Character AI also has its own share of AI boyfriends and girlfriends to talk to. When prompted to engage in NSFW content, the Meta AI bots I interacted with generally shut it down (often, politely). Meta's AI studio has a parody "MrBeast" chatbot and its popular characters include a "Gay Bestie" and "Relationship Coach." Unlike Meta's character AIs, creators can see the messages you send to their inbox, even if their automated AI responds.

Persons: —, I've, chatbots, I'm, Meta, Paris Hilton, Snoop Dogg, Mark Zuckerberg, Sydney Bradley, Ash, Andreessen Horowitz, it's, OpenAI's, Eric, George Organizations: Service, Meta, Business, AIs, Sydney, Olin Business School, GPTs Locations: MrBeast, Minnesota, DMs

☆ Simone Biles' husband, Jonathan Owens, is missing training camp to watch his wife at the Olympics. Here's a timeline of their 4-year relationship.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-29 | by ( Gabbi Shaw | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

AdvertisementA post shared by Simone Biles (@simonebiles)Two days later, Biles posted about watching Owens play with the Texans before the couple celebrated the new year together. March 2023: Biles and Owens reveal that they're building a house together"cheers to breaking ground," Biles wrote. AdvertisementNovember 2023: Biles attends a Packers game in Green BayBiles has attended multiple football games to support her husband. December 2023: Biles and Owens appear on 'The Pivot,' and Owens is later criticized for some of his commentsOwens and Biles attended a basketball game together. Biles posted an Instagram of the two captioned "mood," while Owens posted, "Unbothered.

Persons: —, Simone Biles, Jonathan Owens, Owens, Biles, Instagram, Craig Barritt, he'd, Jonathan Owens 🏈, Jo, ike, ," he, ove, abou, ove on I, alon, Bil, Owen, Simo, "I, ivo, thing was, my f, 'Wh, ari, Matt Eber f Organizations: Service, Raya, Business, SK, Texas, Wall Street, uts, ard, isl, SA Locations: Paris, City of, Instagram, Tokyo, Raya, Houston, Texas, Adria, ife

☆ SpaceX rivals are trying to capitalize on Elon Musk's move to Texas by poaching his employees
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-18 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewElon Musk says he plans to move SpaceX to Texas, and some of the company's competitors are trying to capitalize by poaching his employees. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Stanislas Maximin, the CEO of rocket startup and SpaceX rival Latitude, responded to Musk's post announcing SpaceX's move to Texas with an appeal for disaffected SpaceX employees to move to France, where the company is based. Related storiesAsteroid mining startup AstroForge, which used a SpaceX rocket to launch its first mission in 2023, also responded to Musk's post with an appeal to SpaceX employees. SpaceX, Latitude, and AstroForge did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider, sent outside normal working hours.

Persons: —, Elon Musk, Musk, Stanislas Maximin, Maximin, AstroForge Organizations: Service, SpaceX, Business Locations: Texas, California, France, Paris, Seal Beach , CA

☆ My best friend and I haven't hung out in years, and we haven't spoken on the phone. Our friendship is entirely through text.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-08 | by ( Ashley Archambault | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

My best friend and I haven't seen one another in person since we last saw each other about two years ago. I think talking on the phone would lead to us feeling less closeI've entertained the idea of making time for regular phone calls, but I think it would lead to us connecting less often. Phone calls that felt obligatory would detract from our ability to be present with our children and husbands. I never liked making phone callsI had a close friend a few years ago who preferred to talk on the phone. This type of friendship works for usMy best friend and I prefer to text each other instead of calling each other.

Persons: I've, we're, we've unspokenly, — Organizations: Service

☆ Confessions from 5 women who've dated men in finance
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-04 | by ( Maria Noyen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

Read previewLast week, I went looking for women dating men in finance. Here, five women with firsthand experience dating a man in finance share their experiences. Some women dating men with demanding jobs discussed the challenges, from getting stood up due to work running late and endless conversations about golf and money. AdvertisementShe said she understands why people trying to pursue relationships with men in finance might wonder: "Does this guy even like me? He's been 'saving' his entire life for meAniesia Williams — a 43-year-old entrepreneur and chief client officer for a tech firm Epigen — had little experience dating men in finance.

Persons: —, Megan Boni, Boni, David Guetta, Finance Bro, Boni's TikTok, They're, Cristina Vanko gravitates, Vanko, Goldman Sachs, Spencer Platt, bro, Weren't, they've, Bro, Bob Thomas, Getty, Summer, she's, hasn't, it's, TikTok, He's, Aniesia Williams, Epigen —, Williams, Dennis Morrow, Morrow, Aniesia Williams Williams Organizations: Service, Trust, Business, Finance, League, Labor Statistics, JPMorgan, Getty, Rolex, Washington DC, Hamptons, BI, Bank of America Locations: Patagonia, United States, NYC, Berlin, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Washington, Bumble, Raleigh , North Carolina, Charlotte, Raleigh

☆ Running clubs are all the rage. Millennials and Gen Z are using them to find love and friendship.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-01 | by ( Serafina Kenny | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewWhen Justin Shields started the Venice Run Club in August 2020, he wasn't looking for love. Justin and Erin Shields met at Venice Run Club. Related storiesIn an increasingly online world where young people are feeling lonelier than ever, running clubs offer regular, real-life interactions with people with shared interests. Each Venice Run Club session attracts hundreds of runners. Venice Run Club has created plenty of friendships.

Persons: —, Justin Shields, Shields, Erin, Justin, Erin Shields, Grace Wilson, Tinder, Eventbrite, it's, Hayden Boles, Aniko, Hayden Boles Boles, Emma Atwell, They've, Atwell, " Atwell, Daniel Belk, Coodown, Bailey Ness, Greyson Tarantino Organizations: Service, Venice Run Club, Business, Venice Run, BI, Cooldown Run, VRC Locations: Venice, Los Angeles, Denver, Colorado, Cooldown, Venice Beach

☆ Extended CDK outage brings chaos to car dealers
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-30 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —As the ongoing systems outage at software provider CDK Global stretches into its second week, car dealerships are racking up millions of dollars in losses, according to a new estimate. Piecemeal progressThe outage began last Wednesday after two cyber incidents halted the company’s systems, which provide software to nearly 15,000 car dealerships across North America, according to CDK. “I work at a major body shop, and it has really hurt us,” one worker wrote to CNN about the outage. “15,000 dealerships is an awful lot to have control over when you do the math,” Irvin said of CDK. And after more than a week at home, Phillips’ boss texted him to return to work on Friday.

Persons: “ It’s, ”, Bernard Irvin, “, ” ‘, Norm Phillips, hadn’t, ” Phillips, “ I’ve, CDK, Phillips, ” Phillips wasn’t, ” Irvin, Irvin, texted, “ I’m Organizations: CNN, CDK, Workers, Ford, Anderson Economic, Dealer, Benz, Honda, Ford Bronco Sport, Ford Bronco Locations: Greenville , South Carolina, North America, New Jersey

☆ Instagram really wants everyone to start using its shiny new AI tools. Will you?
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-28 | by ( Sydney Bradley | Amanda Perelli | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewHey, everyone: Instagram really wants you to start using its AI tools. Related storiesThe AI Studio product will let creators make their own AI-powered characters in the app. Meanwhile, on the ground in Anaheim, CA, Instagram is showcasing its AI features at the creator economy's biggest event. Many of Instagram's AI tools are accessible within the DM feature, such as stickers in chat and the creator chatbots. "If you look at Instagram, DMs is one of the fastest growing parts of the system," Zuckerberg said on the "Blueprint" podcast.

Persons: —, Instagram, Mark Zuckerberg's, Zuckerberg, YouTuber Kane Sutter, chatbots Organizations: Service, Business, Instagram, DMs Locations: Anaheim , CA

☆ CDK says it’s brought a small group of car dealerships back online after massive weeklong outage
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-26 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

New York CNN —CDK Global said Wednesday that it has been able to bring a “small initial test group” of car dealerships back online, a week after a crippling software outage left thousands of car sellers across North America at a standstill. “We have successfully brought a small initial test group of dealers live on the Dealer Management System (DMS), and once validation is complete, we will begin phasing in other dealers,” a statement said. The company said it’s also working to bring additional applications back online, such as its customer relationship management and service solutions, as well as its customer care channels. On Tuesday, CDK said it doesn’t believe its systems will be back online before June 30, a major blow for dealers in the middle of a busy car-buying season. A systems outage caused by a cybersecurity incident has paralyzed nearly 15,000 car dealerships across North America since last Wednesday.

Persons: CDK Global, it’s, CDK Organizations: New, New York CNN, North, Dealer, ” Auto Locations: New York, North America

☆ I booked a weeklong trip to a mystery destination. I had a lot of fun, but I'd do a few things differently next time.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-20 | by ( Andrea G. Preziotti | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The company then sent me a trip proposal, which provided a few clues about the city I'd be traveling to. Related storiesBecause the tour company didn't note the terminal information on the envelope, I had no choice but to open the card in the car, which was underwhelming. Andrea G. PreziottiI also enjoyed the other trips Journee booked for me, including a drive along the countryside to a small village southeast of the city. Andrea G. PreziottiAlthough I enjoyed the group excursions, I worried that I wouldn't have enough time to explore the city on my own. Next time, I would book with a friend and have a more direct conversation with the tour company about having more time for independent exploration.

Persons: —, Booking.com, Andrea G, Preziotti, Journee, hadn't Organizations: Service, Business, Newark Airport, UNESCO, Fado Museum Locations: Newark, Lisbon, Alcântara

☆ Instagram's notes feature is growing at a 'wild pace' and part of its plan to make messaging central to the app's future
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Shriya Bhattacharya | Sydney Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewInstagram really wants you to try out "notes" — its status feature that harkens back to the instant messaging days of the internet. Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, posted about the feature this month with the prompt: "What are notes about?" Meanwhile, creator Walé Oyerinde loves using the notes feature because it's one of the '"lowest effort high impact" ways to boost regular engagement on the app. AdvertisementInstagram launched the "notes" feature in 2022. She wants the notes feature to be visible to everyone who follows her so she can continue building her personal brand and cultivating a more engaged online community.

Persons: —, Adam Mosseri, Mosseri, Instagram, Ashley Yuki Alexander, Celine Mili, It's, Jyoti Chand, Walé Oyerinde, I've, Milli, Khamyra, Avalon Zborovsky, Fenter, she's Organizations: Service, AIM, Business, Facebook, Meta Locations: Instagram's

☆ I started dating while I was unemployed and felt insecure. I created a strategy to help myself feel more confident.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Kanishka Nangare | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

On May 2, 2024, I created a dating app profile that was equal parts funny, mysterious, and serious. Advertisement"I quit a month ago" didn't have the same impact as "I just quit my job!" Then, I wondered what would make me feel more confident if a date asked me about my next steps. The right person for me wouldn't put pressure on me to figure out my next job before I was ready. When I didn't feel interesting, I became interestedAs the job market tested my patience, I had nothing significant to share with my matches except anxiety.

Persons: —, snowballed, wouldn't, I'd, mindfully, He's Organizations: Service, Business

☆ Armie Hammer called the sexual abuse allegations against him 'career death.' Here's a timeline of the actor's controversial fall from grace.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-17 | by ( Jacob Sarkisian | Jason Guerrasio | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +16 min

Hammer denied certain allegations against him, such as the allegation of rape, and simply avoided or refused to address others. Leon Bennett/WireImageDuring the timing of the alleged messages, Hammer was married to Elizabeth Chambers. AdvertisementThat same year, the actor told Elle magazine that a former girlfriend tried to stab him while they were having sex. "I hit really dark low points," Hammer told Ramsey. Hammer denied rumors that he is a cannibal, calling them "bizarre," and said he's now sober after doing an extended stint in rehab.

Persons: —, Hammer, @houseofeffie, Armie Hammer, Richard Shotwell, Jennifer Lopez, Armie, Josh Duhamel, Hammer's, Elizabeth Chambers, Leon Bennett, Chambers, Julie Miller, Elizabeth, exes, Courtney Vucekovich, Paige Lorenze, Andrew Brettler, Mr, Jessica Ciencin Henriquez, Henriquez, Rebecca, Marquis de Sade, Elle, Angelova, Gloria Allred, Brettler, Allred, Effie, wasn't, Tyler Ramsey, Ramsey, he's, I'm, Moises Mendez II, Gabi Stevenson Organizations: Service, Air Mail, Business, Los Angeles Police Department, LAPD, Hollywood, Variety, Lionsgate, Hammers, Fox News, Daily Mail, Netflix, Playboy, Hollywood Reporter, Facebook Locations: Los Angeles, Dominican Republic, Netflix Brazil, LA, Cayman Islands

☆ Girlfriends pay me to conduct loyalty tests via Instagram DMs. It's a lucrative gig, and most boyfriends fail.
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-02 | by ( Alyshia Hull | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Trinity Howard, a 22-year-old loyalty tester in Tampa. Before I became a loyalty tester, I had my own run-in with cheating. I didn't know it then, but that was my first loyalty test, and it's now my full-time job. I told my new following to DM me if they were interested in a loyalty test and that I'd do it free of charge. I became a loyalty tester on LazoIn 2023, the founders of Lazo, a platform specializing in relationship loyalty tests, contacted me.

Persons: Trinity Howard, it's, who've, Lazo, I've Organizations: Service, Business, Lazo, Trinity Locations: Tampa

☆ OpenAI's former executive Jan Leike joins its rival Anthropic days after quitting over safety concerns
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-28 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Ex-OpenAI exec Jan Leike joined rival AI company Anthropic days after he quit over safety concerns. Leike, who co-led OpenAI's Superalignment team, left less than two weeks ago. AdvertisementOpenAI's former executive Jan Leike announced he's joining its competitor Anthropic. Leike co-led OpenAI's Superalignment team alongside cofounder Ilya Sutskever, who also resigned. The team was tasked with ensuring superintelligence doesn't go rogue and has since been dissolved, with remaining staffers joining the core research team.

Persons: Jan Leike, OpenAI's, OpenAI, —, he's, Leike, Ilya Sutskever, superintelligence, @AnthropicAI Organizations: Service, Amazon, Business

☆ Meet WiFi Money: Wealthy Finance Influencers Who Infuriated Investors
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Rob Price | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +26 min

The Texas couple were staring down more than $100,000 in debt, much of which they had poured into WiFi Money. Those who give their money to WiFi Money are often encouraged to sign up other people in return for a cut of their profits — and perhaps, one day, a chance to become part of the WiFi Money crew. As the money poured in, WiFi Money gained a patina of mainstream credibility. AdvertisementThrough WiFi Money, Moeller and Frederick had created a virtuous cycle of money and influence. The same month investors took WiFi Money to court over the stores, DBC announced it was closing down.

Persons: Alex Moeller, influencer, Jasmine Sadry, Joey Martin, Martin, Moeller, Chris Frederick, Casa Moeller Martinez, MentorCI, Kim Kardashians, Gary Vee, Uber, Etsy, Farnaz Ghaedipour, Frederick, Jay Gatsby, Scott Fitzgerald's, Brandon Celi, There's, Billy, Chris Casey, There's Todd Cahill, Liz Friesen, Tana Mongeau, Kardashian, —, James Ragano, BI Moeller, wouldn't, Kyle McDougal, Sadry, Kyncey, McDougal, hustlers, Kevin O'Leary, Jordan Belfort, Ronaldinho, Glenn Beck, I've, he'd, Daemon, I'm, they'd, It's, Chris Costello, Francis, Ashley, Costello, Gatsby, Casey, Avery Williamson, Victor Bermudez, DBC, They're, Instagram, Rolex Submariner Organizations: WiFi, Lamborghini, McLaren, Fox News, YouTube, Invest, Stanford University, PBS, BI, Social, Yahoo Finance, Business, Times, Piccadilly Circus, Fort, DMs, Kyncey Investments, Amazon, Kyncey, Investors, CNN, Fox Business, Big Tech, Florida Tropics Soccer Club, Royce, WiFi Money, Federal Trade Commission, WifiMoney, IRS, NFL, Dallas, Rolex Locations: Instagram, Mexico, Texas, Dallas, Quito, Ecuador, @amoeller, Florida, pecs, Maryland, Europe, Illinois, Mita, Burj, Fort Worth, dropshipping, Brazilian, New York City, ensconced, Minnesota, Los Angeles, Munich

☆ I make $58K a month on OnlyFans mostly from messaging people. Men come to me for a safe space to vent about their lives.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-01 | by ( Ashley Couto | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

On days I don't post Instagram stories, I get over a hundred DMs. I posted a few pictures that were sexier than my Instagram content and started with messaging to ease in. I got a membership at a coworking space, where I spend at least eight hours a day on OnlyFans. AdvertisementMy top fans message me every day, and we have genuine conversationsThere are three types of people who spend money with me on OnlyFans. If I'm not spending time with family or friends or working out, I'm messaging my fans.

Persons: —, Emma Kanngiesser, it's, They'll, they'd, I've, I'm Organizations: Service, Business Locations: OnlyFans

☆ I got offers from Microsoft, Meta, and Google. Here's why I chose Google.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Ana Altchek | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A recent tech grad received offers from Google, Meta, and Microsoft. Meta initially offered $210,700 in total compensation, but Google offered other appealing benefits. Right as I was about to accept my offer from Meta, Google let me know that they found a match for me. I would have chosen Google either wayIf Google didn't increase its total compensation offer, I would've had a really tough decision to make. Before college and working in tech, Google was a name that stood out to me.

Persons: —, FANG, Meta, would've Organizations: Google, Microsoft, Meta, Service, Facebook, Netflix

☆ 2 founders of a crypto mixer charged with laundering funds from the dark web
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Geoff Weiss | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The cofounders of crypto mixer Samourai Wallet were charged with money laundering. The service anonymized hundreds of millions of dollars for dark web criminals, prosecutors said. AdvertisementThe cofounders of a cryptocurrency mixing service called Samourai Wallet — which rendered crypto transactions anonymous — have been arrested and charged with money laundering, according to an indictment unsealed Wednesday. Rodriguez and Hill were charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business. Related storiesThe Samourai Wallet website has been seized.

Persons: Samourai's cofounders, —, — Keonne Rodriguez, William Lonergan Hill —, Rodriguez, Hill, James Smith, haven't Organizations: Service, Prosecutors, Southern, of, FBI Locations: of New York, Portugal, DMs

☆ Gen Z would rather take a chance on a new app than use 'embarrassing' Instagram if TikTok gets banned
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Lindsay Dodgson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

AdvertisementAs a potential US TikTok ban looms, Gen Zers are contemplating what app might take its place. A potential TikTok ban loomsThe US Senate passed a bill on Tuesday that could see TikTok removed from app stores. It's unclear if such AI tools would convince Gen Z to scroll on Instagram and use it more often. AdvertisementJaxson Whittle, an older Gen Z, told BI he holds a different opinion. "No hate to them, but I don't think it's the move for Gen Z at the moment."

Persons: Young, —, Zers, Joe Biden, They'd, Gabrielle Yap, Instagram, Josie doesn't, Gen, Hibaq Farah, TikTok, Farah, Tabitha Mae, I'm, I've, Yap, Kat, It's, Sophie Lund, Yates, Hargreaves Lansdown, Jaxson Whittle, TikToker Cassandra Marie, Gen Z, she's Organizations: Service, Senate, Business, Pew Research Center, Meta, Facebook, BBC, YouTube, Gen Locations: TikTok

☆ New data reveals the top ways influencers get brand deals, how long they last, and how many are needed to make a living
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Marta Biino | Sydney Bradley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewInfluencers secure brand deals in many ways — some go right to the DMs of brands or even use Slack, while others rely heavily on talent managers or agents. AdvertisementNearly 55% of respondents listed social-media marketplaces as one of the three primary sources they use to secure brand deals. The data, however, does not account for the types of brand deals creators would require. For instance, some brand deals could be multi-channel sponsorships, while others could be affiliate links — which can vary in pay. Most creators said their partnerships with brands last a monthAbout 31% of creators reported that their brand deals typically last one month.

Persons: —, Qianna Smith Bruneteau, We're, Smith Bruneteau, that's Organizations: Service, American Influencer Council, Business, AIC, influencer, LinkedIn

☆ How Scam Calls and Messages Took Over Our Everyday Lives
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Steven Kurutz | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

You check your inbox and discover dozens of spam emails that made it past the filter. Tapping over to Instagram, you find a request for a supposed brand collaboration in your DMs. Your WhatsApp notifications, meanwhile, consist solely of strangers asking you to invest in a cryptocurrency exchange. While scrolling social media on your lunch break, you see Tom Hanks promoting a dental plan and Taylor Swift peddling a cookware giveaway. (Or at least that’s what seems to be going on.)

Persons: Tom Hanks, Taylor Swift Organizations: LinkedIn, Fortune Locations: Instagram

☆ Instagram to crack down on teen sextortion
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The company announced on Thursday it is testing new features to curb an alarming trend called financial sextortion, which often targets kids and teenagers. Once the nude images are sent, the scammers claim they’ll post them online, either on public websites or on newsfeeds where their friends will see, unless the victims send money or gift cards. In the upcoming weeks and among a subset of users, Instagram said it will roll out various new features, such as blurring nude images sent in direct messages and informing users when they’ve interacted with someone who engaged in financial sextortion. But the FBI recently said it has seen an increase in financial sextortion cases from strangers, often started by scammers overseas. Meta said it is also working on ways to identify accounts that may be engaging in sextortion scams by detecting and monitoring likely sextortion behavior.

Persons: Instagram, they’ve, ” Antigone Davis, “ It’s, sextortion, Meta, Meta Meta, ” Davis, “, ” Organizations: CNN, FBI, National Center for, Meta, Tech Coalition

Search resuls for: "DMs"

25 mentions found