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Meta partnering with luxury fashion brands for new Avatars Store

Meta is launching an online Avatars Store. This marketplace enables users to purchase digital clothing and show off across Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Eva Chen, director of fashion at Instagram, sat down together to make the official announcement. The CEO believes the Avatars Store can become an outlet for users to express themselves. “Digital goods will be an important way to express yourself in the metaverse and a big driver of the creative economy,” Zuckerberg says.

At first, Prada, Balenciaga, and Thom Browne are amongst the first luxury brands Meta is bringing to the Avatars Store. More are likely to come in the future. The conversation between Zuckerberg and Chen shows Meta is offering a range of outfits. These include suits, motocross outfits, logo hoodies, skirts, and more.

As part of the video, Chen debuted a full fit for Zuckerberg’s avatar featuring a cropped shirt, low-rise jeans, and a white belt. This same outfit was also shown on Chen’s avatar, demonstrating the gender-less focus of some if not all items.

If you’re getting flashbacks to the Xbox 360, I wouldn’t blame you. Much of what’s been shown of the Avatars Store harkens back to what Microsoft began offering users during the Xbox 360 era. Avatar support continues on current Xbox consoles. Microsoft partnered with many brands and studios to develop similar digital goods. I suppose what they say is true. History always repeats itself in the fashion world.

The Meta Avatars Store currently does not have a launch date. The company claims that it will be available “soon.” Pricing details on luxury pieces of clothing are still unknown as well.

Image credit: @MetaNewsRoom

Source: @evachen212

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Mobile Syrup

Facebook making changes to algorithm to challenge TikTok

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

It looks like Meta is looking to compete with TikTok after internal memos have leaked revealing the social media giant’s plans for a new take on the classic Facebook feed.

The Verge obtained an internal memo from the Meta executive in charge of Facebook, Tim Alison, back in April 2022 that indicated the social media platform discussed a method of luring users back to the platform’s main feed as TikTok continued to grow in popularity.

The memo emphasized three key changes to Facebook’s feed, including ‘Reels,’ a recommendations system, and the return of an all-in-one messaging system with message-based sharing.

This is part of Meta’s efforts to introduce Facebook as a “discovery engine,” as mentioned in the memo from Alison.

In the memo, Meta says that it has experienced growth thanks to new features like ‘Reels,’ ‘Watch’ and ‘In-Feed Recommendations’ (IFR).

Image Credit: Shutterstock

Source: The Verge

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Mobile Syrup

Instagram will ‘nudge’ teens to view different topics on the app

Facebook-owned Instagram will roll out a new feature that “nudges” teens away from content if they look at it for too long in Canada and other regions.

Instagram first introduced the nudge feature last year, but in a new announcement, Instagram said it would expand the capability to Canada, the U.S., the U.K., Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.

When teens spend too long looking at posts with a particular theme on Instagram’s ‘Explore’ page, the app will display a prompt to encourage teens to look at different stuff. In an example shared by the company (below), the prompt shows a grid of photos representing other topics. Users can select an item from the grid to view related posts.

Instagram cited an external study that said 58.2 percent of respondents felt “nudges made their social media experience better by helping them become more mindful of their time on-platform.” Moreover, Instagram says its own test of the feature showed a similar trend — in a one-week period, one in five users switched topics after receiving a nudge.

Instagram’s ‘nudge’ feature | Source: Meta

The Verge notes that nudges appear regardless if the topic people scroll through is harmful or not. However, an Instagram spokesperson told the publication that recommended topics exclude “content that may be associated with appearance comparison.”

While the feature sounds like it may be beneficial, it won’t do much to help people reduce their time using Instagram. Instead, the company offers a ‘Take a Break‘ feature that encourages users to close the app if they’ve been using it for a while. Instagram detailed a new change to this that would remind users to turn on Take a Break and will make it work better with the company’s TikTok-clone, Reels.

However, Instagram says “reminders will feature Reels developed by young creators like @foodwithsoy, @abraxaxs and @mayasideas who share their own tips for taking a break and why it’s a good idea to get off social media for a bit.” So, it sounds like Instagram plans to use Reels to tell teens to stop using Reels so much. Cool.

Finally, Instagram will adjust its parental controls feature and allow parents to invite teens to initiate supervision tools. Previously, only teens could send these invitations. Parental supervision features now include the ability to set specific times during the day or week to limit teens’ use of Instagram. Additionally, parents can see more information when teens report an account or post, such as who was reported and the type of report.

You can learn more about these changes here.

Source: Meta (Facebook) Via: The Verge

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Mobile Syrup

Meta has reportedly halted the development of its dual-camera smartwatch

A new Bloomberg report suggests that Meta has been developing an “Apple Watch Rival” for the past two years, though the Menlo Park, California-based company has recently halted the watch’s development.

The watch, reportedly codenamed “Milan,” was initially supposed to be released in 2023, but cost-cutting at Meta has led to its development being halted. “Meta executives said on an earnings call in April that the company’s annual expenses would decrease by $3 billion this year given a broader business slowdown,” reads the Bloomberg report.

According to prototypes of the watch seen by Bloomberg, the wearable features dual cameras, including one below the display and one on the rear. The rear camera would allow users to unstrap the watch and take a high-definition photo, and the one on the front likely would have served as a selfie shooter.

The rear camera reportedly made it difficult to find a workaround for electromyography (EMG), a feature that would have allowed the watch to decipher the wearer’s nerve signals, and double the wearable as a controller. “The signals through the wrist are so clear that EMG [electromyography] can understand finger motion of just a millimeter. That means input can be effortless. Ultimately, it may even be possible to sense just the intention to move a finger,” said the company in a blog post from last year.

The Bloomberg report suggests that although ‘Milan’ is no longer in development, some of the features designed for the watch will emerge in future devices. The dual-camera watch was expected to cost $349 (roughly $441 CAD).

Image credit: Bloomberg

Source: Bloomberg

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Mobile Syrup

B.C. supreme court validates class action against Sony and Huawei

British Columbia’s Supreme Court has certified a class-action lawsuit against Sony and Huawei.

The suit is on behalf of all Facebook users in Canada between January 1st, 2007 and December 31st, 2018. It’s alleged Facebook gave device manufacturers access to users’ personal information without their knowledge or consent.

A settlement with Huawei is based on cooperation and no funds will be distributed. While Sony’s settlement agreement includes the payment of $100,000, the money will be used to fight the remaining defendants and pay for costs counsel took on.

Neither Huawei nor Sony admits liability. Allegations against Facebook haven’t been proven in court. The social media giant denies all allegations.

All Facebook users in Canada between the stated timeframe are included in the class action. Those interested in opting out can find more information on Klein Lawyers LLP’s website, the firm representing the class action.

Image credit: Shutterstock

Source: Klein Lawyers

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Mobile Syrup

NFTs arrive on Instagram this week, Facebook to follow soon

After multiple reports about Instagram integrating NFTs from earlier this year, the feature is finally rolling out, as confirmed by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

“We’re starting to test digital collectibles on Instagram so that creators and collectors can display their NFTs,” said Zuckerberg. “We’re going to bring similar functionality to Facebook soon, too, and then maybe to other apps in our family.”

While the experiment is starting on Instagram, it like won’t be long before Facebook, its Messenger and WhatsApp incorporate digital collectibles as well. Zuckerberg also commented that Meta is working on Augmented Reality (AR) NFTs that would render as 3D digital art which users would be able to display on Instagram Stories through its Spark AR software.

Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri confirmed that the feature will be available to a “handful of U.S. creators and collectors” this week, and that there will be no additional fees associated with posting or sharing NFTs. Chains that Instagram will support initially include Ethereum and Polygon, with support for Solana and Flow to come at a later date.

The new feature will allow Instagram users to show off the NFTs they’ve created or purchased on their feed, stories and messaging. “We do think one of the unique opportunities we have is to make Web3 technologies accessible to a much broader range of people,” said Mosseri. “And NFTs specifically we think will be interesting not only to creators who create NFT art, but also people who want to collect it.”

While Zuckerberg has said in the past that users would be able to mint, buy and sell NFTs on Instagram, it doesn’t seem like that functionality is coming yet.

Image credit: @MetaNewsroom

Source: @MetaNewsroom

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Mobile Syrup

Facebook to get rid of podcasts on June 3rd

Almost a year after introducing podcasts on Facebook, the social network’s parent company Meta has announced that it is withdrawing from the podcast business, as reported by Bloomberg.

According to the report, creators won’t be able to add new podcasts to the platform starting this week, and subsequently, on June 3rd, all podcasts will be removed from the social media website.

The platform’s audio hub and Soundbites will also be shut down in the coming week, Live Audio Rooms would be integrated with Facebook Live.

“We’re constantly evaluating the features we offer so we can focus on the most meaningful experiences,” said a Meta spokesperson in a statement given to Bloomberg. Facebook’s decision to go audio heavy came during the Clubhouse mania, which has since died down.

It’s evident that Facebook and its parent company Meta want to focus more of their attention on the Metaverse and the products surrounding it.

In a provided note, Meta said that it will not inform users about the removal of podcasts, and will leave it up to the creators to alert their following.

Source: Bloomberg

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Mobile Syrup

Meta exec accused of pressuring paper to kill reporting about Activision CEO

Meta COO Sheryl Sandberg used her power to bury two stories about then-boyfriend Bobby Kotick, Activision Blizzard CEO, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Sandberg, who dated Kotick from 2016 to 2019, is accused of pressuring the digital edition of U.K. tabloid The Daily Mail in both 2016 and 2019 to stop reporting on a restraining order filed against him by an ex-girlfriend. The WSJ reports that Kotick had said behind the scenes that Sandberg threatened The Daily Mail, stating that publishing this report could damage the outlet’s relationship with Facebook.

Speaking to The WSJ, Kotick denied that he said this, while Meta told the publication that Sandberg “never threatened the MailOnline’s business relationship with Facebook in order to influence an editorial decision.”

In any event, The Daily Mail story did not run either in 2016 or 2019, and Facebook now says it’s investigating whether Sandberg’s actions violated company policy. In 2012, Sandberg was the first woman to join Facebook’s board, and she’s since become renowned for her advocacy for women’s rights in the workplace. It’s for this reason — so as to not tarnish this reputation — that Sandberg and Kotick reportedly wanted to kill the Daily Mail piece.

It should also be noted that Sandberg’s leadership role at Facebook has put her at the front of major controversies surrounding the platform’s handling of privacy and fake news, especially following the 2016 U.S. Presidental Election.

Kotick, meanwhile, has had the opposite reputation of Sandberg when it comes to women. Last summer, the state of California filed a lawsuit against Activision Blizzard, alleging that the company fostered a “frat boy” culture in which employees, particularly women, faced sexual harassment and discrimination.

Months later, The WSJ reported that Kotick not only knew about these incidents but actively worked to cover some of them up. He is even said to have sent a voicemail to an assistant threatening to kill her if she didn’t stay quiet. Many in the gaming industry, including current and former Activision Blizzard employees, have since called for Kotick to step down.

Kotick has denied the specific allegations made against him but claimed he’s committed to staying at the company to improve its work culture. While he’s expected to leave once Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard is finalized, a recent report indicates that Microsoft hasn’t actually discussed his future.

It remains to be seen what, if anything, will happen with both Sandberg and Kotick at their respective companies.

Image credit: Flickr — Dan Farber

Source: The Wall Street Journal

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Mobile Syrup

Meta reportedly working on a virtual currency for its range of products

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

A new Financial Timesreport suggests that Meta might be looking into adding virtual tokens and cryptocurrencies to its range of apps and products in a bid to attract more users and reward creators.

The move, which is still in its early ‘planning phase’ comes as a result of Meta’s broader goal of popularizing the metaverse, with Meta employees nicknaming the virtual currency “Zuck Bucks” (Zuckerberg Bucks).

Early details of the move suggest that Meta-owned apps and platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram and the Meta Quest virtual reality platform would use the virtual token integration for in-app payments, sending money to friends and family, tipping your favourite creators like on Twitter and as an in-app or in-game currency in Quest titles.

According to the Financial Times, the token/currency won’t be based on the blockchain, and instead, will be owned by Meta.  “We have no updates to share today,” Said a Meta spokesperson in a statement given to the Financial Times. “We continuously consider new product innovations for people, businesses, and creators. As a company, we are focused on building for the metaverse and that includes what payments and financial services might look like.”

It’s worth noting that ‘Zuck Bucks’ are still in their early life where they’re nothing more than an idea. At least that’s what the report suggests. Meta might scrap plans for the virtual currency, but considering how adamant ‘Zuck’ is about pushing the metaverse down everyone’s throat, I would expect the virtual currency to be a reality sooner than later.

This comes soon after Zuckerberg announced that NFTs will arrive on Instagram ‘in the near term.’

Source: The Financial Times

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Mobile Syrup

Lobbying group backed by Apple, Google pushes for weaker U.S. privacy laws

A lobbying group backed by tech companies including Apple, Google, Meta (Facebook), and Amazon has reportedly backed weaker privacy legislation in the U.S.

According to Axios (via 9to5Mac), tech lobbying group State Privacy and Security Coalition (SPSC) promoted an upcoming state privacy law in Utah as the model that other U.S. states should adopt. However, critics have called Utah’s legislation too weak.

Specifically, Axios reported that consumer groups said the Utah bill wasn’t clear about how much control consumers would have over whether their information was used for targeted advertising. Moreover, the groups said the bill’s enforcement mechanism is weak.

Utah lawmakers considered and passed a state privacy bill in under two weeks. The bill is currently awaiting the governor’s signature. Utah is set to become the fourth state with a privacy law, joining Colorado, Virginia, and California. 9to5 notes that California’s law is more along the lines of Europe’s GDPR.

States have begun stepping up to introduce privacy laws and regulations while the federal government’s attempts to do the same languish in Congress. However, there’s an incentive for a single, federal law over multiple state laws since it’s easier for tech companies to comply with one law instead of 50 individual laws. Moreover, one effective law is easier for people to understand.

Axios says that Iowa is considering a similar bill to Utah, and other states are also weighing their own privacy bills. Although the SPSC told Axios it’s trying to help align state privacy laws in the absence of federal law, it’s concerning that the lobbying group has chosen to promote alignment around weaker regulations.

Also concerning is Apple’s involvement, given the company’s strong messaging about its privacy commitments — commitments that may not actually help consumers that much.

Although U.S. state and federal regulation won’t apply to Canadians, it’s important to follow how the U.S. approaches privacy legislation as it could become a blueprint for other countries. On that note, Canada is in the process of updating some of its own tech legislation, including Bill C-10 and C-11. However, critics say C-11 doesn’t go far enough in curtailing tech companies’ ability to gather data on Canadians.

Source: Axios Via: 9to5Mac