Meta
Meta fires senior exec after he appeared in underage sex sting video
Meta confirmed to TechCrunch that Jeren A Miles is no longer employed by the company after a video went viral on YouTube, Reddit and other sites, featuring him in a sting operation conducted by amateurs with the motive of catching paedophiles. The video shows two people questioning Miles, who admitted to having graphic and inappropriate communications with a 13-year-old boy.
Over 1 in 3 consumers never heard of metaverse: Report
A survey found that 58% of respondents have either heard of the metaverse but do not know what it means. Only 6% of people identify as being comfortable enough in their understanding of the metaverse to explain it to others. "This is a helpful signal to temper short term expectations of the metaverse, and its potential impact on consumer's daily life," said Kyle Rees
Over 7 in 10 consumers against FB owning Metaverse data
According to the US-based Advocate Group, more than 77 percent of those interested in joining a metaverse are worried about Facebook owning the data. An overwhelming 87 percent would prefer a metaverse on the decentralized blockchain. "This sentiment was even more pronounced among Gen Z respondents, who were 10 percent more likely to prefer a blockchain metaverse than their millennial counterparts," the findings showed.
Facebook renames its News Feed to Just 'Feed'
The 'news' label has led some to believe that there are only news stories in the mainstream. "Starting today, our News Feed will now be known as 'Feed'," announced the company on Twitter. "Happy scrolling!" The 'News Feed' name had been in place since the feature was first introduced more than 15 years ago.
WhatsApp starts rolling out new calling interface for select Android users
Meta-owned WhatsApp has started rolling out a new interface for voice calls for select beta testers on Android. According to WhatsApp beta tracker WABetaInfo, WhatsApp for Android beta 2.22.5.4 has brought the updated voice calling interface to some users. A few users are also able to see the change on WhatsApp for Android beta version 2.22.5.3.
Meta to crack down on hate and terror speech in Pakistan, UK
Meta's Redirect Initiative, already available in Australia, the US, Germany and Indonesia, is now entering Pakistan and the UK to "disrupt the connection between followers and the violent, extreme content they seek". Now, when someone in Pakistan or the UK searches on Facebook using words associated with organised hate or violent extremism, the top search result will be a link to resources and support for how to leave violence and extremism behind.
Meta not 'threatening' to pull FB, Insta from Europe over data transfer
The clarification came after Meta comments made headlines across the globe, with German Economy Minister Robert Habeck and French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire reportedly clapping back at Meta's "threat" by saying they would be okay with Facebook not having a presence in Europe.
UK watchdog fines Meta $2 mn over Giphy acquisition
According to the CMA, Meta failed to notify the regulator about the resignation of three key employees and the reallocation of their roles. In November, the UK anti-trust watchdog had ordered Meta to sell Giphy, as the acquisition could harm social media users and UK advertisers. Facebook had moved to buy the online GIF platform in May 2020.
Meta adds personal boundary to VR avatars to stop sexual harassment
Meta has announced a 'Personal Boundary' feature for Horizon Worlds and Horizon Venues virtual reality (VR) systems. The feature will, by default, make it feel like there is an almost four-foot distance between your avatar and others. "Over time, we'll continue to make improvements as we learn how this affects people's experiences," said Vivek Sharma, Vice President, Horizon.
Instagram launches 'Take a Break' feature globally, including India
'Take a Break' is a feature that will show up for people, as they have been scrolling for a certain amount of time. "The wellbeing of young people is important to us, and we are focused on ensuring that the time spent on Instagram is intentional and people feel good about it," Natasha Jog, Public Policy Manager, Instagram, Facebook India, said in a statement.
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