Tag: social media

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Mobile Syrup

Twitter starts removing legacy verified checkmarks

Elon Musk and Twitter have been adamant about removing legacy verified checkmarks from users’ profiles. The social media platform’s CEO first intended to initiate the removal of legacy checkmarks on April 1st, but that never happened.

This time around, however, Twitter’s official account shared that starting 4/20, only those who sign up for Twitter Blue would retain their Blue checkmark, and the social media company wasn’t kidding.

We can confirm that legacy verified checkmarks have been removed from user profiles. For reference, MobileSyrup‘s legacy checkmark has been pulled.

The company’s former leadership had assigned verified blue check marks to accounts as a means of distinguishing accounts of noteworthy individuals and public organizations. Now, however, anyone can get a Blue checkmark on their Twitter profile by paying $10/month or $105/year.

During the checkmark removal process today, certain users, including MobileSyrup staff, experienced perplexing glitches where their blue check marks vanished, reappeared, and disappeared again.

This comes soon after Twitter Blue expanded worldwide.

Image credit: Shutterstock

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Mobile Syrup

Reddit set to capitalize on years of data valuable to AI companies

Social media platform Reddit, popular for its user-generated forums and content, has announced that it will begin charging companies for access to its application program interface (API).

Reddit launched in 2005 and has since collected a vast amount of human interactions and conversations. Eighteen years’ worth of conversations, to be precise, make it a valuable data bank for companies looking to train their AI models.

Reddit doesn’t want other companies to be able to train their LLMs with its data for free, and wants a slice of the pie. Big names like Google and OpenAI have been using Reddit to provide initial guidance to their AI services. In response, Reddit is now introducing a new premium access point for third parties to access Reddit’s APIs, with pricing expected to be split into tiers based on company size.

“Our Reddit Data API will still be open for reasonable and appropriate use cases and accessible via our Developer Platform, which is designed to help developers improve the core Reddit experience,” wrote Reddit in a blog post.

As AI continues to grow, more and more companies will be looking for access to valuable data sources like Reddit to train their models. The move to charge companies for API access is not unexpected, given the increasing demand for data to train these models. Further, rumours point to Reddit going public sometime this year, so introducing a new revenue stream makes sense for the company.

Source: Reddit Via: Engadget

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Mobile Syrup

Twitter to start labelling hateful tweets when they’re restricted

Twitter is expected to roll out new labels for tweets that break the company’s rules and are restricted.

The platform says it restricts tweets that violate its policies by making them harder to find, and this new change will make it more clear to users when that happens.

The original process of making tweets harder to find is known as visibility filtering, a system the company has admitted that “like other social platforms, we have not historically been transparent when we’ve taken this action.”

According to a blog post from Twitter Saftey, the new labels are set to appear on tweets that violate Twitter’s Hateful Conduct policy. The labels are set to only be implemented at the tweet level, and will not affect the user’s account.

The social media giant says it’s open to feedback both on the new changes, as well as giving power to users by allowing them to appeal decisions made to label inappropriate content. Twitter will also not run ads beside labelled tweets.

Twitter also plans to expand the labels to other “applicable policy areas” later this year. It will be interesting to see how the platform labels tweets that have been struck for reasons other than guideline violations, much like Substack‘s were recently.

Source: Twitter Via: The Verge

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Mobile Syrup

Twitter rebrands its monetized content program

Elon Musk has rebranded ‘Super Follows’ to ‘Subscriptions.’

Twitter’s previous leadership introduced Super Follows in 2021, allowing users to monetize their tweets and give subscribers access to special Spaces. According to Musk, users can share content through long-form videos or text.

The Verge also points out newsletters could be a potential additional feature available through Subscriptions. The move comes after Twitter restricted link sharing on Substack after the company announced Notes, a Twitter-like feature that allows users to publish short posts.

Musk claims Twitter won’t keep any of the money it makes from the program for the first year, but will when iOS and Android fees drop.

“You will receive whatever money we receive, so that’s 70 percent for subscriptions on iOS & Android (they charge 30 percent) and ~92 percent on web (could be better, depending on payment processor),” Musk tweeted.

According to Engadget, the rebrand hasn’t changed many of the program’s details. However, it’s important to note Canadians can’t currently monitize their content.

Subscriptions is only available to those in the U.S., according to Musk, who said he’s “working on” expanding availability.

Via: The Verge, Engadget

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Mobile Syrup

Android users might have to pay Snap’s subscription fee to access dark mode

Snapchat’s Android users may have to pay to access dark mode, a feature that’s free for iOS users.

According to Alessandro Paluzzi, a leaker following Snap’s rollout of the function for Android since 2021, it might only be available for Snpachat+ subscribers.

A screenshot shares three options under the “App Appearance” segment, “Always Light,” “Always Dark,” and “Match System.”

The subscription service costs $4.99 in Canada and gives users access to a number of exclusive features. However, dark mode is not something Snpachat+ users with iPhones currently pay for.

At this time, it’s unclear if Snap will run with the paid feature for Android users. It’s also not known when exactly these Snapchat users will be able to access dark mode.

Image credit: Snap

Source: @alex193a Via: 9to5Google

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Mobile Syrup

Substack founders respond to Twitter’s restrictions on tweets with links to competing platform

Late this week, Twitter users began noticing a sudden restriction in promoting Substack and linking to the service. It appears as though Twitter unauthorizes users to like, reply, and retweet tweets featuring links of the competing platform. Substack founders Chris Best, Hamish McKenzie, and Jairaj Sethi have issued a statement.

In response to Twitter’s sudden restrictions, the founders state, “We’re disappointed that Twitter has chosen to restrict writers’ ability to share their work.” 

Shared with The Verge, the statement continues to read, “Writers deserve the freedom to share links to Substack or anywhere else. This abrupt change is a reminder of why writers deserve a model that puts them in charge, that rewards great work with money, and that protects the free press and free speech. Their livelihoods should not be tied to platforms where they don’t own their relationship with their audience, and where the rules can change on a whim.”

This ordeal began when Substack announced “Notes” a Twitter-like feature to be used on the platform. Notes enables users to write and publish small posts and include “quotes, comments, images, and links.” Truth be told, the new Substack feature looks very reminiscent of Twitter’s UI. There are similar icons representing likes, replies, and reshares (Substack’s equivalent of a retweet). Plus, the main page offers users a ‘Home’ and ‘Subscribed’ feeds to switch between.

Twitter—and to a likely further extent CEO Elon Musk—did not take kindly to this, apparently. It wasn’t long until Substack embeds and further authorization was restricted.

This isn’t the first time Twitter has attempted to crackdown on competing services. In December, the social media platform attempted to ban links to Mastodon, Instagram, Linktree, etc. Third-party developers are also attempting to keep up with the changes to Twitter’s new API tiers. Launched last month, Twitter is now charging developers big and small to use its API.

Substack has been growing in popularity, especially as an alternative to Twitter. For many journalists, the tools Substack provides may be more tantalizing than the current landscape of Twitter. Musk has often claimed to be a proprietor of free speech yet subsequent actions and policies beg to differ. 

Image credit: Substack

Source: The Verge

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Mobile Syrup

Elon Musk is on a secret VIP Twitter list boosting certain accounts

Twitter has a secret VIP list, and it’s the reason why tweets from certain accounts are recommended so often.

“For months, the platform has maintained a list of around 35 VIP users whose accounts it monitors and offers increased visibility,” according to Platformer.

Besides Elon Musk, LeBron James, Ben Shapiro, and President Joe Biden are some of the people to make the VIPs. The list was “created to monitor the engagement received by Twitter power users,” Platformer reports.

The news comes alongside Musk’s latest money-making move, which will see For You recommendations limited to accounts subscribed to Twitter Blue.

According to Musk, the move “is the only realistic way to address advanced AI bot swarms.” Of course, this doesn’t apply to verified bots that are paying for a subscription.

Image credit: Shutterstock 

Source: Platformer Via: Engadget

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Mobile Syrup

U.S. wants TikTok’s owners to sell their stake in the company, or face a possible ban

Russia, Kazan May 28 2019: Tik Tok application icon on Apple iPhone X screen close-up. Tik Tok icon. tik tok application. Tiktok Social media network

The U.S. government has given TikTok an ultimatum, either the app’s Chinese owners sell their shares, or the government might ban the app in the United States.

According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., known as Cfius, made the demand to address ongoing security concerns regarding user data.

Similar privacy concerns have also been ongoing north of the border. Privacy officials in Canada are examining how TikTok uses personal information, particularly of its younger users.

The federal government has also banned the app on government devices. All provinces and territories in Canada have followed the federal government’s steps, and several municipalities have also taken action.

ByteDance, a company based in Beijing, owns TikTok. WSJ reports global investors own 60 percent of the company’s shares, employees own 20 percent, and founders, including Zhang Yiming and Liang Rubo, own the remaining 20 percent. “The founders’ shares carry outsize voting rights, as is common with tech companies,” the publication notes.

The company argues the forced sale wouldn’t address the U.S. government’s concerns.

“The best way to address concerns about national security is with the transparent, U.S.-based protection of U.S. user data and systems, with robust third-party monitoring, vetting, and verification, which we are already implementing,” a TikTok spokesperson told the publication.

Image credit: Shutterstock 

Source: Wall Street Journal 

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Mobile Syrup

WhatsApp is working on auto-disappearing group chats

WhatsApp is already lauded for its privacy-focused features, including end-to-end encryption, disappearing messages, the ability to limit your information to only those in your contacts, biometric protection, two-step verification and more.

Now, the company is reportedly testing out a new feature that will allow group chats to disappear after a set period of time automatically.

WhatsApp currently features disappearing messages, view-once media and 24-hour status updates. According to WABetaInfo, WhatsApp has just submitted a new update through the TestFlight Beta Program that brings expiring groups to the chat app.

It’s worth noting that the feature is still under development, so it is not ready to be released to beta testers. Hence, a public release for the feature isn’t coming any time soon.

The new feature, called “Expiring Groups,” will allow users to set a specific expiration date for their WhatsApp groups. “Once the expiration date is reached, users will be prompted to clean up the group,” wrote WABetaInfo.Screenshots of the feature indicate that users will be able to set the expiration date for the group as “One Day,” “One Week” and  a “Custom Date.” There’s also an option to remove the expiration date from the group.

The description for the feature reads, “When enabled, you will be prompted to clean up groups on the expiration date.” The description is vague and does leave much to interpretation. It’s likely that WhatsApp will just prompt you to delete the group chat on the expiration date, or it might delete the group for you automatically.

According to WABetaInfo, the feature is in the works for iOS but will eventually make its way to Android as well. As mentioned earlier, we’re uncertain if and when the feature will be launched widely.

Image credit: WABetaInfo

Source: WABetaInfo

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Mobile Syrup

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

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