Tag: Facebook

Meta is done making original content for Facebook Watch

Post author By Mobile Syrup
Post date 27 April 2023

Facebook owner Meta is closing its Facebook Watch originals division. The service is known for its original programming including Red Table Talk, Sorry for Your Loss, Sacred Lies, and Strangers.

The decision comes amid a new layoff of 10,000 employees, including head of development and programming Mina Lefevre.

Meta is among the many tech companies scaling back its employee base. In recent months, we’ve seen layoffs from big players like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon.

The shuttering of original content creation is something we’ve also seen before. Notably, YouTube ended its Originals program early last year.

Facebook Watch was first launched in Canada in August 2018. While the service itself will continue to operate, it looks like the rollout of new original content will be a thing of the past.

Image credit: Shutterstock

Source: Deadline Via: The Hollywood Reporter

Tags Facebook, Facebook Watch, méta

Mobile Syrup

Facebook Messenger introduces multiplayer games during video calls

Post author By Mobile Syrup
Post date 5 April 2023

Facebook is taking another crack at Messenger-enabled games after announcing a new feature that allows users to play multiplayer games within Messenger video calls.

Because let’s be honest, what’s better than a little friendly smack talk in real-time?

The new gaming feature is available on iOS, Android and the web and does not require any specialized installations. It features 14 titles at launch, including Words With Friends, Mini Golf FRVR and Exploding Kittens. All you need to play is one other person, but some games allow for more players to join in on the fun.

The company is taking all the necessary steps to ensure that these games run as smoothly as possible on Messenger. This includes a custom user interface and leaderboards making classic titles feel unique and exciting.

But how do you play? Simply start a video call on Messenger, tap group mode, tap the “play” button and pick the game of your choice.

Users will be happy to know that Facebook Gaming says more free games are slated to release later this year, although dropping 14 titles at launch isn’t too shabby.

After parent company Meta dismantled the standalone Facebook Gaming App in October 2022, it looks like the company is taking another shot at implementing gaming into some of its more popular apps.

Interested developers can contact Facebook’s Partner Manager for more details on how to add games to the platform.

Image credit: Facebook

Source: Facebook Gaming Via: Engadget

Tags Facebook, Facebook Gaming, messenger

Mobile Syrup

Meta cutting 10,000 jobs, reducing hiring, under company restructuring

Post author By Mobile Syrup
Post date 14 March 2023

Meta, the company responsible for Facebook and Instagram, is sharply reducing its employee count, slowing hiring, and cancelling projects.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg shared the details in a Facebook post on Tuesday, blaming the changes on its financial performance and a move to make Meta a “better technology company.”

“Higher interest rates lead to the economy running leaner, more geopolitical instability leads to more volatility, and increased regulation leads to slower growth and increased costs of innovation,” Zuckerberg explained.

“I think we should prepare ourselves for the possibility that this new economic reality will continue for many years.”

Group leaders will share restructuring plans in the coming months, including cancelling low-priority projects and reducing hiring. The first of the laid-off employees involve the recruiting team.

Details on restructurings and layoffs on the tech side will be shared in April, and changes on the business side will be shared in May, Zuckerberg wrote.

“It’s important for all groups to get leaner and more efficient to enable our technology groups to get as lean and efficient as possible.”

This is the second round of layoffs Meta has partaken in, having dismissed thousands of employees in November 2022.

Image credit: Shutterstock

Source: Facebook

Tags Facebook, Instagram, Mark Zuckerberg, Meta job cuts, Meta lay offs

Mobile Syrup

Canadians won’t have access to news on Facebook, Instagram, if Bill C-18 approved: Meta

Post author By Mobile Syrup
Post date 13 March 2023

Meta says Canadians won’t be able to access news on its platforms if Bill C-18 becomes law.

According to The Globe and Mail, the move will impact written and broadcast news.

Under the bill, known as the Online News Act, platforms like Meta will have to pay news organizations for posting their content.

“If the Online News Act passes in its current form, we will end the availability of news content on Facebook and Instagram for people in Canada,” Meta spokesperson, Lisa Laventure, told the publication. “A legislative framework that compels us to pay for links or content that we do not post, and which are not the reason the vast majority of people use our platform, is neither sustainable nor workable.”

The Globe reports unknown financial consequences of the bill played a role in the decision. Laventure told the publication three percent of the posts Canadians see on Facebook have links to news content which “is not a significant source of revenue.”

Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez said he was disappointed in Meta’s decision. “All we’re asking Facebook to do is negotiate fair deals with news outlets when they profit from their work.”

The news follows Google’s test to block some Canadians from accessing news.

Image credit: Shutterstock

Source: The Globe and Mail

Tags Bill C-18, Facebook, Instagram, méta

Mobile Syrup

Messenger is finally coming back to the Facebook app

Post author By Mobile Syrup
Post date 7 March 2023

METAVERSE META FACEBOOK. Silhouette of smartphone with Facebook, Messenger, whatsApp, Instagram, Oculus apps and blurred META logo on background. Rebrand of Facebook. Stafford, UK, October 28, 2021

Meta has confirmed that Messenger will be re-added to the Facebook app after several years away.

In 2016, the company made the controversial decision to remove in-app messaging functionality to drive people to its dedicated Messenger app. The return of the feature is being tested among some users now and will be expanded “soon,” Facebook chief Tom Alison wrote in a blog post.

“Over the coming year, we’ll build more ways to integrate messaging features in Facebook,” said Alison. “Ultimately, we want it to be easy and convenient for people to connect and share, whether in the Messenger app or directly within Facebook.”

The move comes as Meta is looking for new ways to compete with TikTok. As part of these efforts, the company has been trying to position itself as a platform for entertainment and discovery, rather than simply social networking. For example, TikTok allows users to share videos directly through in-app messaging, so Meta undoubtedly wants to do something similar with Facebook.

Interestingly, this news was tucked away in a larger blog post about Facebook’s future, which coincides with new reports that the company is planning thousands of layoffs. This also follows Meta’s announcement in November that it plans to cut around 11,000 employees. During all of this, Meta also reportedly lost nearly $14 billion USD (about 19.2 billion CAD) on its plans for the metaverse.

“Contrary to reports otherwise, Facebook is not dead nor dying, but in fact alive and thriving with 2 billion daily active users,” claims Alison. “People are using Facebook for more than connecting with friends and family, but also to discover and engage around what is most important to them.”

Interestingly, Alison didn’t even mention the metaverse in the blog post and instead looked toward AI. “Our investments in AI are unlocking new ways for people to discover great new content on Facebook and share it with the people they care about,” said Alison.

“As our world-class Meta AI research teams continue to make advancements in AI, particularly generative AI, Facebook — and Meta more broadly — will look to bring this transformative technology to billions of people and allow them to create and share in new ways.”

Image credit: Shutterstock

Source: Meta

Tags apps, Facebook, messenger, méta

Mobile Syrup

Meta begins rolling out paid verification, following in the steps of Twitter

Post author By Mobile Syrup
Post date 20 February 2023

Meta is introducing its own paid verification system, similar to Twitter. Across Facebook and Instagram, users will soon be able to purchase their own blue verification checkmark.

Following months of Twitter’s paid verification debacle, Meta is now following suit. CEO Mark Zuckerberg reveals its Meta Verified service. Meta will begin rolling out its service in Australia and New Zealand this week, with other countries to soon follow.

Much like Twitter, Meta will be launching a platform-specific monthly subscription. On the web, users will be able to purchase a monthly subscription for $11.99 USD (roughly $16.13 CAD). However, to combat Apple and Google’s in-app purchase tax, Meta Verified will be available for $14.99 USD (around $20.17) each month on iOS and Android. In order to purchase a blue verification checkmark, users must be 18 years of age, provide government ID and “meet minimum activity requirements.”

The company claims that with its Meta Verified subscription, users will receive more protection from impersonation. The blue verification checkmark has historically been used to protect the identity of government officials, celebrities, journalists, and content creators. In addition, Meta states subscribers will have “access to a real person for common account issues.” Other perks include increased visibility as well as “exclusive features.”

In December of last year, Twitter launched its revamped Twitter Blue subscription, which includes paid verification. The service is available for $10 CAD/month on the web and $15/month CAD on iOS and Android.

Following Musk’s ownership of Twitter, which cost $44 billion, he began looking at new avenues of monetization. Musk is bullish in believing that the paid checkmark is “the great leveler” the platform needs. It appears as though he’s opened Pandora’s Box as other platforms are following in Twitter’s footsteps.

Musk claims those with a legacy blue checkmark will lose verification status in the near future unless they subscribe to Twitter Blue. Unlike Twitter, Meta states, “As we test and learn, there will be no changes to accounts on Instagram and Facebook that are already verified based on prior requirements, including authenticity and notability.”

Source: Meta

Tags apps, Facebook, Instagram, méta, social media, Twitter

Mobile Syrup

Meta apps can purposefully drain phone batteries claims ex-employee

Post author By Mobile Syrup
Post date 1 February 2023

A data scientist who previously worked for Facebook parent company Meta claimed in a lawsuit that the company’s apps could deliberately drain the batteries of smartphones for testing purposes.

Speaking to the New York Post, George Hayward detailed Meta’s ‘negative testing’ practice, which involves running down the battery in someone’s smartphone to test how apps and features might run in low-battery scenarios. Hayward says he raised concerns about the practice with his manager, saying it could harm someone. The manager, according to Hayward, said that by harming a few, the company could help the masses.

Hayward claims he was fired for refusing to do negative testing over the potential risk of draining someone’s battery when they might need it, such as for a 911 call or Crash Detection.

Moreover, Hayward said he believed Meta engaged in the practice because of internal documents he viewed that included examples of negative testing experiments being carried out.

But before you go deleting your Facebook app, it’s worth pointing out these are significant claims and, at this point, I think we need to know more first. I’d say wait to see how the lawsuit plays out, but Hayward’s lawyer withdrew the suit because Hayward is required to go to arbitration. Hayward told the Post that he stands by the allegations.

While I wouldn’t be surprised that Meta (and most tech companies, for that matter) have testing for measuring app performance under low battery conditions, I would be surprised if that testing was being used on people’s apps without their knowledge. This is the type of thing that would be available on internal versions of apps used for, you know, testing things, not the production apps released to users.

Of course, Meta has done shady things before — and likely will again. For now, we just don’t know.

Image credit: Shutterstock

Source: New York Post Via: 9to5Mac

Tags apps, battery drain, Facebook, méta

Mobile Syrup

Meta reported to begin layoffs this week, ‘thousands of employees’ to be affected

Post author By Mobile Syrup
Post date 7 November 2022

Sources close to Meta are indicating that the company intends to begin large-scale layoffs this week, in what could be the “largest round” of job cuts in the tech sector, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.

The publication’s report states that an announcement regarding the layoffs could come as soon as Wednesday, and that “many thousands of employees” would be affected.

As of September, the company reported employing a total of 87,000 people across Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. Officials at Meta have already asked employees to cancel all nonessential travel beginning this week, according to unnamed sources.

Amid its crashing stock, and Meta burning its cash reserve to chase the metaverse dream, CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently stated in Meta’s third-quarter earnings that the company would “focus our investments on a small number of high-priority growth areas.”

“So that means some teams will grow meaningfully, but most other teams will stay flat or shrink over the next year,” said Zuckerberg. “In aggregate, we expect to end 2023 as either roughly the same size, or even a slightly smaller organization than we are today.”

Meta expanded in an unsustainable manner during the pandemic. It hired over 27,000 employees in 2020 and 2021, and 15,344 in 2022. That’s more than 42,000 new employees over the course of three years, many of whom would now be laid off to bring the company’s spending back to a sustainable level.

This comes soon after Twitter announced it will cut half of its workforce under its new leader Elon Musk.

Read the full Wall Street Journal report here.

Image credit: Shutterstock

Source: Wall Street Journal

Tags Facebook, méta, Meta large scale layoffs, Meta layoffs