Doodles become augmented reality art with Snapchat’s new 3D Paint tool
Snapchat is putting the AR in art. A new tool called 3D Paint allows users to create augmented reality doodles directly from the Snapchat app. Snapchat 3D Paint allows users to create their own face filters with the selfie camera, or add doodles to the world using the rear-facing camera.
Texas patient livestreamed her brain surgery on Facebook to help others
Texas resident Jenna Schardt this week had her brain operation livestreamed on Facebook. When she learned she had to undergo surgery, she thought providing a live feed would provide hope for others facing the same situation. It’s thought to be the first time that brain surgery has been streamed live online.
Instagram expands ban on content related to self-harm and suicide
Earlier this year Instagram banned photos related to self-harm and suicide. Acting on calls for greater action, this week it expanded the ban to cover fictional depictions of such subject matter, including memes and drawings. Instagram’s boss said it was determined to do what it can to keep vulnerable people safe.
Samsung selfie stunt goes wrong as space contraption crashes to Earth
A Michigan couple got the surprise of its life on Saturday when a high-altitude balloon carrying Samsung kit crash-landed on their property. The contraption was part of a marketing stunt by the tech firm involving selfies in space and was carried skyward by a high-altitude balloon last week.
Facebook reminds users to get flu shots, limits reach of anti-vax posts
Flu season is coming -- and Facebook wants to keep users on top of flu vaccines and preventative tests for cancer and heart disease. Facebook's Preventive Health tool allows users to set reminders when it's time to get a test and find nearby federally funded locations.
Digital Trends Live: Facebook’s news tab, TikTok investigated, and more
On this episode of Digital Trends Live, hosts Greg Nibler and Drew Prindle dig into the biggest trending tech stories of the day, including Facebook’s new “news” tab, senators investigate TikTok, lasers shoot down drones, HBO subscribers may get HBO MAX free next year, and more.
Facebook wants to ‘strengthen democracy’ with a news tab. What could go wrong?
Facebook is launching a dedicated news tab amid growing criticism for the social network. Facebook News uses articles from a list of publishers meeting a set of standards and includes a section curated by journalists. But is that enough for a platform criticized for fake news?
Twitter’s #CashAppFriday hashtag is filled with scammers
What was meant to be a trending Twitter hashtag is turning out to be a scammers paradise. The #CashAppFriday hashtag asks users to tweet to their official account their “cashtag” or username, to choose a random person to deposit money to through the app. As it turns out, it’s proven to be easy for scammers to copy.
Senators call for investigation into TikTok for ‘counterintelligence threat’
Does giving your data to an app-based in China create a national security risk? Two U.S. senators are calling for an investigation into TikTok over data sharing, freedom of speech, and foreign interference. The request comes from Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer and Republican Sen. Tom Cotton.
Twitter removes more than half of abusive tweets automatically
Twitter now removes half of tweets containing abusive content automatically without relying on content moderators or users reporting them. The social media platform’s 2019 third quarter report revealed that tweets that were removed due to abusive content were done so through improvements in machine learning.
Facebook is getting interested in news again with News Tab launch
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is expected to unveil the site's latest feature at an event in New York City on Friday. The News Tab, which will host the latest international and local news stories, marks a return to the genre for Facebook after it altered its algorithms two years ago to prioritize more personal posts.
Congress shows Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg no mercy during Libra hearing
Lawmakers on the House Financial Services Committee grilled Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg over the platform’s proposed Libra cryptocurrency and the social media giant's practices as a whole during a wide-ranging hearing on Wednesday morning.
We watched Zuckerberg’s testimony so you don’t have to. Here are 5 key takeaways
We watched the 4+ hours of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's testimony to the Congress House Financial Services Committee on the Libra cryptocurrency so you didn't have to. From burglary to sex trafficking, here's why U.S. politicians are worried, and what Facebook is doing about it.
Watch Live: Mark Zuckerberg testifies before Congress about Facebook Libra
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg will testify before the House Financial Services Committee about Facebook's cryptocurrency, Libra. Here's how to watch live throughout his entire testimony, which begins at 7 a.m. PT on Wednesday, October 23.
Elon Musk sends first tweet via SpaceX’s Starlink internet satellites
SpaceX offered some tidbits about plans for its recently deployed Starlink internet satellites this week. Meanwhile, Elon Musk decided to take the system for a test run by using it to post a couple of tweets. Judging by his reaction, he seemed pretty surprised that it worked!
Don’t be like Pierre Delecto. Here’s how to keep your Twitter account a secret
Not everyone is social media savvy, but that shouldn't bar them from the delights of having a secret Twitter account. Unfortunately for Mitt Romney, the Utah Senator's secret Twitter account, under the name Pierre Delecto, was discovered. Here are some tips for keeping your social media accounts secret.
Here’s how Mark Zuckerberg plans to defend Facebook Libra in front of Congress
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg will argue before Congress on Wednesday that the social network's cryptocurrency, known as Libra, is essential to expanding banking access around the globe, according to a written version of his testimony released Tuesday.
Digital Trends Live: Facebook and elections, Netflix raises $2 billion, and more
On this episode of Digital Trends Live, we dive into the biggest trending tech topics of the day, including Facebook’s plans to combat election interference, Netflix raises $2 billion for new shows, the new Star Wars trailer, a subscription-only electric car, invisibility cloaks, and more.
Almost every state joins in on antitrust investigation into Facebook
Almost every state has joined New York in an antitrust investigation into Facebook. In total, 47 attorneys general are looking into whether the social media giant stifled competition in a way that impacted user data and ad prices. Attorneys general from both parties are part of the effort.
New bill would make it easier for you to get off Facebook once and for all
A new bipartisan bill aims to make it easier for you to transfer your social media data to other social media platforms, so you might finally be able to get off of Facebook. Called the Access Act, the bill applies to online platforms with products or services that have over 100 million monthly active users.
Facebook details plans to combat election interference on the platform
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg held a conference call on Monday to discuss abuse and election interference on the platform. He detailed a number of different initiatives the social network has implemented and is launching to help prevent interference in the 2020 presidential election.
Reports of Kik Messenger’s demise have been greatly exaggerated
Fans of Kik Messenger will be pleased to learn that the messaging app is going nowhere. Last month the creator of Kik Messenger announced its imminent closure, but another company has now stepped in to save it. L.A.-based MediaLab has promised to work on improving the app, but added that it will soon include ads.
Instagram is looking for a way to help you improve your feed
If your Instagram feed could do with some attention, a new feature currently undergoing testing offers a quick way to filter the accounts you follow into various categories, making them easier to manage. There’s no word yet on whether Instagram will roll it out, but it could be a handy way to better curate your feed.
Digital Trends Live: NASA’s all-female space walk, Apple AirPods Pro, and more
On this episode of Digital Trends Live, hosts Greg Nibler and Adrien Warner break down the biggest trending tech topics of the day, including NASA’s first all-female space walk, Facebook won’t ban political ads, Apple AirPods Pro are coming, get paid to watch Disney+, and more.
Is Gradient the next FaceApp? What you need to know about the new look-alike app
Gradient is a viral new photo app that takes a picture of your face and tells you what celebrity you look like. After being out for barely a week, the app has been downloaded more than 1 million times. Here's what you need to know about the app -- including whether it's safe to share your face with it.
Zuckerberg says it’s not Facebook’s job to worry about misleading political ads
Mark Zuckerberg said that Facebook won't be banning political ads, even if they contain false information, during a speech at Georgetown University on Thursday. The Facebook CEO argued that political advertising is more transparent on Facebook, and that they are an essential form of free speech.
Let the GIF games begin — Giphy Arcade lets you build micro games with stickers
Turn your favorite GIF into a video game character with Giphy's latest tool. Giphy Arcade allows anyone to create and share a video game in just a few clicks by customizing the game with animated stickers as the characters. Giphy Arcade also includes pre-built games to play and share.
Instagram now lets you better manage third-party app access
If you've forgotten about all of the apps and websites you've allowed to access your Instagram account, a new feature lets you quickly review and change your permissions. It is also introducing a new authorization screen so that you'll know precisely what kind of data third parties are requesting from you.
You’re probably seeing more social media propaganda, but don’t blame the bots
As the amount of social media propaganda climbs, so does the number of different tactics to avoid detection. A recent study from the University of Oxford suggests that more countries use social media accounts run by actual people — including communication firms and hired students — than bots.
Do Threads’ sparse downloads mean Facebook’s best days are in the past?
Instagram Threads only saw a small percentage of downloads in the first week -- so is the new app destined for failure? Data shows a small number of downloads as Threads joins Lasso in the list of Facebook's attempts to captivate Gen Z, both with slower growth than competing apps.
Google’s changes to its Nest Aware subscription aim to enhance simplicity, value
Nest Aware has gone through a revamp and now has more features, and a simplified pricing plan with two different pricing tiers. The new version of the service will start early next year in all 19 countries Nest Aware is now available, but some of the new features will initially only be available in the U.S.
New custom feed tools will help streamline your Pinterest brainstorms
Tired of seeing irrelevant pins and old searches in the Pinterest home feed? Pinterest is rolling out new tools that allow users to control what topics the algorithm uses to generate personalized content. The update also introduces more pin-level control to send feedback on hidden posts.
Congress is investigating whether bots misled people about vaping health risks
The attorney general of Massachusetts long with a congressional committee is looking into whether bots are responsible for a number of social media posts about e-cigarettes that may have misled customers about the health and safety risks of using those vaping devices.
Snapchat is finally back online after an outage Monday morning
Snapchat went down yet again on Monday morning, the latest in a string of outages to affect the popular app. The latest Snapchat outage lasted from 8 a.m. PT to 9:30 a.m. PT on Monday, with users reporting that they were unable to send snaps, receive snaps, or even refresh their feeds.