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Social media and online
The latest social media news and insight on the changing internet. Verdict covers the developing technology of social media and the online world, from regulations to innovations and the business beyond. Social media has seen dramatic maturation in recent years, but has faced an increasingly challenging time as its true impact is felt. So what does the future hold?
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29 May
The Twitter President is trying to destroy his maker, but while Trump needs Twitter, Twitter doesn’t need him
If you were to sum up the reason for Donald Trump’s successful 2016 presidential campaign in one word, it would be Twitter.
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29 May
Twitter down: Users experience problems posting and viewing tweets
Users in many parts of the world are experiencing problems with social media site Twitter, and while the site isn’t fully down, large numbers are unable to view or post tweets.
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28 May
Trump vs tech: The dilemma of social media censorship, aired
Angered by the addition of fact-checking links to two of his own recent Tweets, President Trump is threatening to make social media companies legally liable for the content posted on their platforms – but the real debate is about censorship and bias.
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28 May
Coronavirus case studies: Lockdown life drawing
Artists and hobby sketchers have grasped the opportunity lockdown offers to dedicate more time to drawing and painting.
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26 May
VPN downloads in Hong Kong surge ahead of new national security law
VPN downloads in Hong Kong have surged following proposals for a new national security law.
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22 May
Hinge app launches video dating feature for remote romances
Due to current lockdown measures and the prospect of continued social distancing in the coming months, socialising has made its way online.
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21 May
With the contact tracing app delayed, could mobility tracing come to the rescue?
The release of a Covid-19 contact tracing app in the UK has faced another setback, with the news that it will not be ready until June, later than the original launch date of mid-May.
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20 May
Facebook Shops won’t rival Amazon – it has a more important purpose
The pandemic has upended the plans of many technology giants, but for Facebook, it has accelerated a long-anticipated product release: Facebook Shops.
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19 May
Dark web shops feel pandemic pinch and pivot to fake vaccines
Underground shops located on the dark web are feeling the pinch of the coronavirus pandemic, with sellers of illegal goods facing supply chain disruptions and restrictions on their employees.
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19 May
Festival ticketing startup Festicket launches Live streaming platform
Festival ticketing startup Festicket has launched a live streaming platform, Festicket Live, to help artists during Covid-19 pandemic.
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19 May
Covid-19 contact-tracing app risks excluding those without smartphone access
The digital divide may exclude vulnerable people from the Covid-19 tracing app, according to cybersecurity company Anomali.
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18 May
Thousands turn to virtual economy to make money amid economic uncertainty
Hundreds of thousands of people are now making money from games and online communities due to the growth of the virtual economy.
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15 May
Social media and streaming services face challenges post lockdown
Covid-19 lockdowns have yielded strong usership growth for social media and streaming platforms, but retention of users after lockdown will be an essential challenge.
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14 May
2Africa: New subsea cable will “greatly enhance connectivity” in Africa
International telecom giants are partnering to build one of the longest subsea cables in the world, connecting Europe and Africa.
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30 Apr
Facebook earnings show growth, despite “unprecedented uncertainty”
Facebook has published its earnings report for the first quarter of 2020, reporting revenue growth despite period of “unprecedented uncertainty”.
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22 Apr
YouTube CEO: We’ll ban any coronavirus content against WHO guidelines
YouTube will ban any content containing medical advice that contradicts World Health Organisation (WHO) coronavirus recommendations, according to CEO Susan Wojcicki.
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20 Apr
Coronavirus case studies: How TLC LIVE is handling a surge in online tuition demand
The lockdowns put in place to curb the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus have forced many parents to juggle homeschooling with remote working, so it’s perhaps no surprise that there has been growth in demand for online tuition, with providers such as TLC Live seeing a surge in business.
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16 Apr
Coronavirus case studies: Unit London goes beyond virtual art galleries
It seems every art gallery has responded to exhibition cancellations during the Covid-19 coronavirus lockdown by launching virtual galleries and online experiences for audiences missing an art fix.
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9 Apr
Airbnb Online Experiences: A bid for survival amid coronavirus devastation
The coronavirus pandemic has caused chaos for many companies, including Airbnb, which in just a few short months has gone from a beloved tech unicorn to being vilified by its own landlords.
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9 Apr
Social media data used to predict future UK spikes in coronavirus cases
Social media data has been used to predict where in the UK could be next to experience a spike in coronavirus cases.
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7 Apr
WhatsApp limits message forwarding to curb spread of Covid-19 rumours
From messages claiming that coronavirus can be killed by consuming hot drinks, bogus claims of insider knowledge of impending lockdowns, and texts appearing to show people being fined for leaving their house, the current Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic has seen a surge in false information circulating online.
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6 Apr
Coronavirus search trends revealed by Redscan
Around a third of the world’s population, or two billion people, is currently under total or partial lockdown, as the number of confirmed Covid-19 coronavirus cases reaches more than 1.2 million.
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31 Mar
No, Houseparty hasn’t been hacked – inside the $1m mystery
The pandemic has been kind to Houseparty.
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25 Mar
Social media is vital for brands during coronavirus self-isolation
For many brands, especially smaller and more independent ones, self-isolation due to COVID-19 has meant closing their doors at a huge financial risk.
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25 Mar
As usage soars, Facebook reports weakened ad revenue
As a growing number of people around the world practice social distancing and isolation in an attempt to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, many are turning to social media to keep in contact with the outside world.
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20 Mar
How should social media tackle “avalanche” of coronavirus misinformation?
As countries around the world work to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, social media platforms are faced with an rapidly spreading problem of their own: misinformation.
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11 Mar
Is Snapchat down? Users report problems with chat app
Social media app Snapchat appears to be down for some users in Europe and Australia, according to a number of reports.
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11 Mar
Snap VP backs social planning startup Zyng in £197,000 pre-seed round
Zyng, a startup taking on social planning, has announced that it has raised £197,000 in a pre-seed funding round, attracting support from major UK tech investors, including a VP at Snap.
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6 Mar
Jack Dorsey to “reconsider” Africa move amid coronavirus, ousting attempts
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has said that he plans to “reconsider” his planned six-month visit to Africa, citing the coronavirus as a key concern.
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5 Mar
Let’s Encrypt to revoke millions of digital certificates
Millions of websites could soon no longer have valid TLS certificates after provider Let’s Encrypt was hit by a bug, leaving its certificates at risk of being inaccessible or unsecure.