Facebook under fire for “ethnic affinity” ad targeting option
Facebook is once again drawing controversy over its ad targeting tool that includes the option to exclude specific users based on “ethnic affinity.”
Weekly Rewind: New MacBooks, Twitter layoffs, and Airbnb’s NYC struggle
In the tech world, a lot happens in a week. So much news goes on that it's almost impossible for mere mortals with real lives to keep track of everything.
EU advocacy group expresses concern over WhatsApp’s data-sharing policy
WhatsApp's data collection policy, which permits the messaging service to share user info with parent company Facebook, drew sharp rebuke from regulators.
Facebook swipes from Snapchat for spooky Live video selfie filters
Facebook is finally starting to integrate the selfie filters offered by the MSQRD app (which it acquired in March) with Live video, in time for Halloween.
LinkedIn posts solid third quarter growth as Microsoft merger approaches
LinkedIn released its third quarter results today, posting impressive revenue growth and a solid increase in registered users ahead of its Microsoft merger.
Twitter cuts the cord on Vine video platform, discontinues support of app
Twitter has killed off its Vine short-form video platform. While no reason was given, it is presumed to be part of Twitter's downsizing.
Amid losses, Twitter confirms that 9 percent of its workforce will be let go
Following its highly anticipated third-quarter earnings release, Twitter announced extensive job cuts this week.
The truth behind the shiny-legs photo that had the internet guessing
An unintentional optical illusion has the internet guessing whether legs in a photo are oiled up, covered with gloss, or something else.
NBA ups Snapchat presence with weekly Discover channel, Bitmoji integration
The NBA is expanding its content partnership with Snapchat to bring even more behind-the-scenes and in-game footage to the app.
Facebook now lets verified users make money with sponsored posts
Facebook is extending its branded content policy to allow users with verified profiles to rake in ad revenue from sponsored posts.
Flashpoint: Friday’s DDoS attacks were likely conducted by amateur hackers
A recent report provided by security firm Flashpoint suggests that amateur hackers unleashed the waves of DDoS attacks on Friday for fun, not by the "pros."
Skype is finally getting a fresh, modern new look on Android and iOS
Microsoft is launching an update to the Skype app that should not only make the app look more modern, but make it a little easier to use too.
Brain transplant: Watson AI to make Slack’s chatbot smarter
IBM's Watson platform will soon make Slack's chatbot smarter and more useful than ever, by implementing the virtual agent API.
Political chatter on social media is stressful and frustrating, new study finds
More than one-third of social media users are “worn out” by the amount of political content they encounter, claims a new study by the Pew Research Center.
Fraud alert! Researchers discover new method to spot phony posts online
By sifting through reviews, comment threads, and tweets, researchers have developed a method to detect astroturfing -- phony posts on websites.
Twitter gives NBA fans a reason to celebrate with new team emojis
Twitter and the NBA have teamed up to give each team its very own hashtag emoji just in time for the beginning of the new season.
Donald Trump goes all in on Facebook Live with nightly news show
Donald Trump is launching a nightly Facebook Live show dedicated to news from the Trump camp. Does this mean Facebook will one day be home to Trump TV?
Stay a little safer online with the Facebook Safety Center, now in 50 languages
On Monday, the social media giant relaunched the Facebook Safety Center in an effort to make the social network a safer place.
Facebook has re-approved a breast cancer awareness ad after initially blocking it for its content
A few days after Swedish cancer charity Cancerfonden posted an informational ad titled “Get to know your breasts," the social network removed the post.
Facebook lets you make voice and video calls with Windows 10 app update
Facebook Live has gone beyond mobile with the latest version of the Facebook app for Windows 10, allowing users to broadcast from desktops and tablets.
Make America tweet again! Trump twitterbot is running for president
Donald Trump’s newest presidential challenger is a twitterbot that sounds a lot like the man himself.
Facebook’s first Live Video ad campaign encourages you to stream everyday life
Facebook is launching a large-scale ad campaign on the streets of the U.S. and U.K. in a bid to get more people on to its Live Video service.
Facebook caves on censorship, will allow more NSFW news content
Facebook will start allowing more “newsworthy” content on to its service even if those items break its rules regarding nudity and graphic violence.
Facebook employees wrangled with execs to remove Trump’s posts as hate speech
Facebook has been engaged in an intense debate over the past year to remove certain posts by Donald Trump on the grounds of hate speech.
Photographers’ Instagram hashtag tool Dehaze rebrands itself as Focalmark
Instagram hashtag curation tool Dehaze has officially rebranded itself as Focalmark. In addition to a new name, it also has a new mobile app.
LinkedIn makes endorsements smarter to help you get noticed
LinkedIn is making its skills and endorsements features smarter, with new targeting and relevancy updates that it claims will get you more profile views.
Facebook adds 360 video and photo support to Instant Articles
Facebook is giving publishers the power to make Instant Articles more visually immersive with 360-degree video and photo support.
Did we witness the dawn of Trump TV on Facebook Live?
Donald Trump aired a Facebook Live-stream during the presidential debate that looked a lot like a news show. Was this our first glimpse of Trump TV?
Twitter fires VR chief who called homeless people ‘degenerates’ in Facebook post
Twitter’s new virtual reality project manager Gregory Gopman lasted around 48 hours at the company before being shown the door over a Facebook post.
Facebook lets you order food, seek recommendations from friends
Facebook is launching a set of new ecommerce features that could transform it into your primary destination for everyday services, such as ordering food.