Senator Feinstein makes broad request for all ‘Russia-connected’ Twitter and Facebook user data
The nature and extent of Russia or Russian-linked actors interfering with the election is yet to be determined, but it’s not for want of inquiries. Half of D.C. is looking into it in one way or another, and Senator Diane Feinstein is no exception. Today she sent letters to several parties involved, including Facebook and Twitter, asking for a variety of documents relating to her… Read More Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/techcrunch/social/~3/4VhaRgsOrSg/
Facebook says its ad transparency features will go live next month
In response to concerns that Russia used Facebook ads in an attempt to influence last year’s presidential election, the social network has said it will increase transparency by allowing anyone to see any ad run by any organization. Now it’s releasing a few more details about its plans, like the fact that the new transparency features are expected to go live next month. Read More Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/techcrunch/social/~3/nikDRmXyk4A/
WhatsApp finally lets you recall messages you’ve sent by mistake
WhatsApp has finally got your back when you send a message to the wrong person or group. The Facebook-owned messaging app is rolling out a feature that will finally let its 1 billion-plus users delete a message for all people within a conversation. Right now, the app’s delete feature is fairly useless as it only removes a message for the person who sent it. Read More Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/techcrunch/social/~3/RDT9VV_dVhQ/
Facebook rolls out new tools for group admins, plus badges and profiles for members
Facebook today introduced a good handful of new features for groups on Facebook, with a focus on helping admins better manage and grow their online communities, and helping members better connect with one another. The additions, inspired by user feedback, include support for welcome posts, badges, member profiles and other admin-level controls. Read More Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/techcrunch/social/~3/sUMG-7Ykr9c/
Instagram Superzoom records dramatic close-up videos
Instagram’s newest feature lets you make your own “Dramatic Chipmunk”-style video by shooting a stuttered zoom-in, including cinematic sound effects, with a single tap. Superzoom is coming to Instagram Stories on iOS and Android today, alongside an array of spooky Halloween stickers and augmented reality masks. Read More Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/techcrunch/social/~3/bU-LnkSKQO4/
Twitter bans Russia Today and Sputnik from advertising on its service
Twitter has banned Russian media companies Russia Today (RT) and Sputnik from advertising on its service after it found that both had “attempted to interfere with the [2016 U.S.] election on behalf of the Russian government” using the social network. “This decision was based on the retrospective work we’ve been doing around the 2016 U.S. election and the U.S.… Read More Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/techcrunch/social/~3/SQTxu4mDwZ0/
Twitter gets a surprise beat in Q3 on sales of $590M and EPS of $0.10
Twitter reported its earnings this morning for Q3, and watchers of the company, used to seeing declines across the board, got an unexpected piece of news: the social media platform reported revenues of $590 million on adjusted earnings per share of $0.10. Total monthly active users for Q3 were 330 million, up 4 million from the prior quarter and an increase of 4% year-over-year. US MAUs grew… Read More Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/techcrunch/social/~3/83f8Ed9O5SE/
Facebook launches Marketplace for cars with dealers and Blue Book pricing
Buy a car through Facebook, and the social network could earn a special place in your heart. So Facebook is creating a dedicated section of Marketplace for vehicles.
You’ll now be able to use new search filters to find a ride with a specific type, make, model, mileage, transmission, and more from both people and car dealerships like Edmunds, Cars.com, Auction123, CDK Global, and… Read More Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/techcrunch/social/~3/Jd089X7gS94/
Facebook’s Workplace, now at 30,000 orgs, adds Chat desktop apps and group video chat
It’s been once year since Workplace, Facebook’s social network designed specifically for businesses and other organizations, came out of beta to take on the likes of Slack, Atlassian, Microsoft and others in the world of enterprise collaboration. Now, with 30,000 organizations using Workplace across some 1 million groups (more than double the figures Facebook published April)… Read More Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/techcrunch/social/~3/E7kzprckq4I/
Bot-hunting Twitter bot sniffs out bogus political tweets
If you’ve ever wondered if the hashtag heavy, politically far afield Twitter user you’re about to eviscerate in 140 characters is totally delusional or merely not quite sentient, well, wonder no more. On Wenesday, Quartz just launched a handy Twitter bot known as @probabot_ to sort so much automated chaff from Twitter’s proverbial fields of wheat. Probabot identifies… Read More Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/techcrunch/social/~3/YOGSXQxDkBs/
Tonight is a new dating app optimized for real dates
What if a dating app was focused on enabling real dates, rather than chatting? Whim founder Eve Peters said the idea appealed to users, but Whim also asked you to identify the days you’d be available. So Peters and her team have launched a new iOS app called Tonight. As soon as two people show interest in each other, the app tries to set them up on a date, no messaging required. Read More Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/techcrunch/social/~3/tsdyTcrRLig/
Zuckerberg’s CZI donates to struggling towns near Facebook
Facebook’s success has led to gentrification and hardship in some towns close to its Menlo Park headquarters. So while the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative has committed more than $45 billion to solving health and education problems worldwide, today it’s strengthening its hyper-local philanthropy. Read More Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/techcrunch/social/~3/oEJ2a27wEvM/
Patreon’s API unlocks rewards across the web for art funders
Patreon wants to colonize the internet with its perks for artist crowdfunding subscribers the same way Facebook login brought your social graph and profile to other sites. Pay a monthly subscription to a content creator on Patreon and now it will earn you exclusive access to their patron-only WordPress blog, Discourse forums, Discord chatrooms and, soon, other apps like Slack. Read More Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/techcrunch/social/~3/cVAb_7HVic4/
Twitter announces new ‘transparency center’ for ads
Twitter is responding to political scrutiny over the role it may have played in spreading Russian misinformation, and to a bipartisan Congressional bill proposing new regulations for online ads, with some new initiatives of its own. So it’s launching an Advertising Transparency Center where users should be able to see all the ads running on Twitter, the content/creative of those ads,… Read More Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/techcrunch/social/~3/4n0x2NSuifQ/
Facebook’s F8 conference returns to San Jose May 1-2, 2018
Facebook should have plenty to talk about, between augmented reality, new acquisitions, the Watch video tab and all its ongoing scandals with Russian election interference, fake news and News Feed reach. Today the company announced its annual F8 developer conference will return to San Jose’s McEnery Convention Center on May 1st and 2nd, 2018. Read More Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/techcrunch/social/~3/Uo8O1xtzFLo/
Facebook finally adapts to 4K video
If you’re sick of your beautiful videos looking crummy on Facebook, there’s good news for you. After some super HD videos started popping up on the social network, Facebook now confirms to TechCrunch it’s testing 4K video uploads and viewing using the 2160p UHD-1 Ultra-High-Definition Television standard. Read More Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/techcrunch/social/~3/4IGFwfdDrsQ/
Instagram now lets people add guests to live video streams
Make way for more talking heads. Instagram, competing hot on the heels of other live video broadcasting apps, is enhancing its video streaming service with a new feature that it hopes will bring out more videos both from those of its 800 million users who might be too shy to use the feature on their own, and from those who can’t resist an opportunity to be more social. Today,… Read More Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/techcrunch/social/~3/S6HcTm8h4w0/
James Comey confirms he is Reinhold Niebuhr on Twitter
James Comey, the former FBI director who was abruptly fired in May, has seemingly revealed himself as Twitter user Reinhold Niebuhr.
In March, the account tweeted out the famous Anchorman meme — “Actually, I’m not even mad. That’s amazing!” — alongside a link to the FBI’s jobs website.
But how did anyone know to look at such a random and seemingly… Read More Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/techcrunch/social/~3/pEKOTDRyPbg/
Omni storage now earns you money by renting out your stuff
“We want to change behavior around ownership on the planet,” says Omni co-founder Thomas McLeod. First, it built an on-demand storage business, where you can get things picked up from your place in as little as two hours, pay a monthly fee to store them depending on their size and get them temporarily returned to you for free whenever you need them. Now it wants to help you earn… Read More Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/techcrunch/social/~3/s07AwV9y1M0/
Facebook releases new guidelines to address publisher concerns in its fight against fake news
Facebook has released new guidelines that outline how publishers can adapt to the company’s efforts to fight back against fake/false news and other low-quality content.
Head of News Feed Adam Mosseri unveiled the guidelines at an event this morning at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism, where he said they don’t represent any changes to Facebook’s approach —… Read More Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/techcrunch/social/~3/K9OTulVIGoY/ Source: https://techcrunch.com/
@probabot_ to sort so much automated chaff from Twitter’s proverbial fields of wheat. Probabot identifies… Read More