technologysocial-media2.515 min read
"Elon Musk's X Restores Free Blue Checks for 'Influential' Users, Sparking Controversy"
1 year ago•Source: Variety
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1.52 min•1 year ago
"Facebook Revives Poking Feature, Sparks Gen Z Frenzy"
Facebook has brought back its "Poke" feature, which was popular in the early 2010s, making it more visible and easier to access. The redesign has led to a 13-fold increase in Pokes, with over 50% of new Pokes coming from users aged 18 to 29. Gen Z is embracing the feature, finding it nostalgic and likening it to "sliding into someone's DMs."
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"Debunked: False Taylor Swift Endorsement of Trump Circulates Online"
NBC News•1 year ago
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"Bluesky: From Exclusive Invite-Only to Public Access - What's Next?"
John Scalzi's Whatever•1 year ago
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"Elon Musk's Warning to Taylor Swift: The Dangers of Jet Tracking"
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Business Insider
Elon Musk criticized college student Jack Sweeney for tracking private jets, prompting Taylor Swift's attorney to send a cease-and-desist letter due to "stalking and harassing behavior." Sweeney, who believes in transparency, had accounts tracking the private plane locations of ultrawealthy individuals, including Musk and Swift, using public data sources like ADS-B Exchange. Despite privacy programs, Sweeney argues that jet tracking is public information and not meant to cause harm.
"Rising Concerns Over Apple Vision Pro's Impact on Road Safety"
Originally Published 1 year ago — by The Verge
The new Apple Vision Pro has sparked a trend of social media videos featuring people wearing the headset in unusual situations, often incorporating Tesla, Autopilot, and Cybertruck hype. Some videos have attracted attention for potentially unsafe behavior, prompting a response from the US Secretary of Transportation. The trend raises questions about the clout-chasing economy and the need for responsible use of technology.
"Unanswered Questions: The Gruesome Beheading Video That Stayed Online for Hours"
Originally Published 1 year ago — by NBC News
A graphic video of a man accused of killing his father circulated on YouTube for hours, raising questions about social media companies' ability to prevent horrific postings from spreading. The incident highlights gaps in moderation practices, as major platforms struggle to catch and remove violent and extremist content. Experts emphasize the need for more vigilant regulation of violent content on social media, as the internet has lowered the barrier to entry for people to explore extremist ideologies and find communities that reinforce violent ideas.
"Social Media Platform Lifts Ban on Taylor Swift Searches Amid Spread of Fake Explicit Images"
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Business Today
Social media platform X has lifted the ban on searches for Taylor Swift after fake sexually explicit images of the singer circulated on the platform, with the company vowing to remain vigilant against such content. The decision to reinstate searches follows swift action to temporarily ban searches for Swift and suspend associated accounts. This move comes amid heightened scrutiny of social media platforms and their handling of harmful content, particularly since Elon Musk assumed control of Twitter in 2022.
"Taylor Swift Searches Blocked After Viral Explicit AI Images"
Originally Published 1 year ago — by BBC.com
Social media platform X has temporarily blocked searches for Taylor Swift after explicit AI-generated images of the singer went viral, prompting alarm from US officials and fans. The platform is actively removing the fake images and taking action against the accounts responsible. The White House has called the spread of AI-generated photos "alarming" and urged legislation to tackle the misuse of AI technology on social media. US politicians have also called for new laws to criminalize the creation of deepfake images, as there are currently no federal laws against sharing or creating deepfakes.
Taylor Swift's Searchability Affected by AI Deepfake Scandal
Originally Published 1 year ago — by CNN
Searches for Taylor Swift on X, formerly known as Twitter, resulted in an error message after explicit AI-generated images of the singer circulated on social media. The fake images, depicting sexually suggestive and explicit content, were viewed millions of times before being removed. Concerns about the use of AI to create misleading images and videos have been heightened, with fears of potential disinformation efforts, and laws against nonconsensual deepfake photography exist in nine US states.
Taylor Swift's Name Blocked from Searches After Viral Deepfake Scandal
Originally Published 1 year ago — by NBC News
Taylor Swift's name became unsearchable on a social media platform days after sexually explicit deepfakes of the pop star went viral, prompting speculation that the platform took action to address the issue. The deepfakes, which were viewed millions of times, were created using AI tools and circulated on the platform before the account that posted them was suspended. Swift's fans flooded hashtags with positive messages about her, while some users celebrated the removal of her name from the platform's search function.
Taylor Swift Fans Outraged by AI-Generated Explicit Images
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Business Insider
Taylor Swift fans, known as Swifties, are outraged after explicit AI-generated images of the pop star circulated on Elon Musk's social media platform, X. One image, which garnered 45 million views, remained up for 17 hours before being taken down. Despite X's claims of actively removing such content, concerns have been raised about the platform's content moderation since Musk took over in 2022, with fears that it lacks the capacity to handle rapidly spreading disinformation or explicit material. The incident has sparked renewed concerns about the rising availability of AI image generators and their potential for misuse.
"Outrage Over Graphic AI-Generated Taylor Swift Images Floods the Internet"
Originally Published 1 year ago — by The Verge
AI-generated sexually explicit images of Taylor Swift have been circulating on X, with one post garnering millions of views before being taken down. Despite X's policies against such content, many of the images remain live, prompting Swift's fans to flood the platform with real clips of her performances. This incident highlights the challenge of stopping the spread of deepfake porn and AI-generated images of real people, with social platforms facing difficulties in moderation. X, currently under investigation by the EU for disseminating illegal content and disinformation, is being questioned about its crisis protocols.
"Meta Implements Teen Content Restrictions on Facebook and Instagram"
Originally Published 2 years ago — by NBC News
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced that it will start blocking sensitive and "age-inappropriate" content from teenagers' feeds, including topics such as self-harm, eating disorders, and mental illnesses. The company will also restrict these topics from appearing in young users' feeds and Stories, even if the content was posted by people they follow. This move comes amid ongoing scrutiny over how Meta's products affect young people, with critics calling for legislation to reduce harm on children who are exposed to inappropriate content. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has responded to the backlash, stating that the company is committed to building safe experiences for kids online.