Category: Social Media

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Social Media

WhatsApp set to introduce new Channel Alerts feature

The ‘channel alerts’ function aims to improve the channel managers’ overall experience…reports Asian Lite News

Meta-owned WhatsApp is all set to introduce new features for Android users that allow users to search messages by date, access hidden navigation labels, and receive channel alerts.

WhatsApp has introduced the new Channel Alerts feature with the WhatsApp Beta for Android 2.23.26.6 update and will be rolling it out to all users in the coming days, according to the Mashable website.

According to a report from WABetaInfo, WhatsApp is rolling out a feature to search messages by date, channel alerts, and hidden navigation labels, and they are available to some beta testers.

The new features are currently accessible to a select group of beta testers, with plans to gradually expand availability to additional users in the near future, as per the WABetaInfo report.

The ‘channel alerts’ function aims to improve the channel managers’ overall experience. Provided that administrators are provided with up-to-date information about channel suspensions, any problems can be resolved quickly.

Administrators can also use this feature to send a direct WhatsApp request for the restoration of their channels. According to the report, channel owners are advised to access the “channel alerts” option in the channel info screen to ensure compliance and identify any potential violations, as quoted by Mashable website.

The addition of channel alerts gives the platform an additional level of transparency.

Moreover, the communication platform is introducing two new capabilities following the installation of the most recent app update. These enhancements include an automatic hiding of navigation labels and the top app bar while scrolling down the screen, as well as the ability to search messages by date. The latter feature will provide users with an efficient and convenient method to navigate their chat history. This functionality will assist in retrieving specific messages from a particular date, ultimately saving users valuable time, as stated in the report.

An additional feature added to WhatsApp is the ability to transmit voice messages that can only be heard once before disappearing. Similar to the ‘View Once’ option for images and videos, this feature further protects the privacy of your messages and was added in 2021. (ANI)

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Social Media Tech Lite USA

Google agrees to pay $700 mn in Play Store dispute settlement

In September, a class action lawsuit was filed against Google by US states and consumers. The lawsuit alleged that Google has a monopoly over app distribution on Android through its Play Store…reports Asian Lite News

Google has agreed to pay $700 million to the US consumers and states in a settlement over Play Store reached in September.

The company will pay $630 million to consumers and $70 to a fund used by states.

“Google will pay $630 million into a settlement fund to be distributed for the benefit of consumers according to a Court-approved plan and $70 million into a fund that will be used by the states,” the tech giant said in a blogpost on Monday.

In September, a class action lawsuit was filed against Google by US states and consumers. The lawsuit alleged that Google has a monopoly over app distribution on Android through its Play Store.

“This settlement builds on Android’s choice and flexibility, maintains strong security protections, and retains Google’s ability to compete with other OS makers, and invest in the Android ecosystem for users and developers. We’re pleased to resolve our case with the states and move forward on a settlement,” Google said.

This comes after Fortnite maker Epic Games won its antitrust battle with Google in a landmark case that went on for three years.

The unanimous verdict by a US jury wraps up the legal battle between the tech companies. The jury found that Google turned its Play Store and Google Play Billing service into an illegal monopoly, reports The Verge.

Epic filed its lawsuit against Google in 2020, alleging that Google Play Store practices violated US antitrust laws.

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Social Media Tech Lite

Zuckerberg building $100 mn top-secret property with a bunker

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. (File Photo: IANS)

The mansion on the Hawaiian island of Kauai includes a sprawling, 5,000-square-foot bunker that has its own source of power, the report mentioned…reports Asian Lite News

Meta Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg is reportedly building a top-secret $100 million mansion in Hawaii that has a huge underground bunker.

The scale of the roughly 1,400-acre compound is staggering and according to public documents obtained by Wired, the compound will consist of more than a dozen buildings, featuring 30 bedrooms and 30 bathrooms.

The mansion on the Hawaiian island of Kauai includes a sprawling, 5,000-square-foot bunker that has its own source of power, the report mentioned.

A wooded area will be decked out with 11 treehouses, connected by rope bridges. The work on the compound is shrouded in secrecy and if someone reveals the plan to the media at the site, he or she stands to get fired immediately.

“It’s a fight club. We don’t talk about fight clubs,” a former contractor was quoted as saying. “Nobody working on this project is allowed to talk about what they’re building… Different construction crews within the site are assigned to separate projects and workers are forbidden from speaking with other crews about their work,” the report mentioned.

Known as Koolau Ranch, Zuckerberg’s property includes a 5,000-square-foot underground shelter and has its own energy and food supplies. “Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan continue to build one of the most expensive properties in the world,” the report said.

According to plans, the compound is centred around two mansions with a total floor area comparable to a professional football field (57,000 square feet), which contain multiple elevators, offices, conference rooms, and an industrial-sized kitchen.

“The scale of the project suggests that it will be more than a personal vacation home — Zuckerberg has already hosted two corporate events at the compound,” according to the report.

According to sources, the compound will be self-sufficient, with its own water tank, 55 feet in diameter and 18 feet tall — along with a pump system. “A variety of food is already produced across its 1,400 acres through ranching and agriculture,” the report claimed.

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Social Media Tech Lite

WhatsApp to roll out automatic album feature for channels

Some beta testers can experiment with an automatic album feature when sharing media in channels…reports Asian Lite News

WhatsApp channels feature has received automatic album creation in the latest Android beta. The introduction of an automatic album feature in WhatsApp channels will bring a significant advantage to channel owners when it becomes available for the public.

This new functionality enhances the user experience by enhancing the organisation of media shared in channels and grouping them in an album, reports WABetaInfo.

“Since users can conveniently tap on the automatic album to access and browse through the entire collection, we believe it simplifies the navigation of shared media content in channels and reduces the need for individual message bubbles, offering a more organised and visually pleasing conversation view,” the report mentioned.

Some beta testers can experiment with an automatic album feature when sharing media in channels.

When channel admins share multiple consecutive images or videos in a channel, WhatsApp now automatically organises them into a unified album, and channel followers can conveniently tap on the automatic album to access the entire collection.

“It’s worth noting that this feature is already present in chats and groups since years but it was not available in channels,” said the report.

A feature to automatically group consecutive photos and videos in channels is available to some beta testers who install the latest updates of WhatsApp beta for Android from the Google Play Store.

It will roll out to more people over the coming days, according to the report.

ALSO READ-WhatsApp testing new feature that lets you search by username

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Business Social Media

Impact of Social Media and E-commerce

Taking leverage of the digital age, the industry can invariably build trust among consumers by showcasing their commitment to sustainable and ethical practices…writes Swati Saraf

Riding the digital bandwagon, social media and e-commerce have become an inevitable outcome of robust internet penetration. Where their impact is being felt across industries; even the fashion industry is undergoing a paradigm shift under their influence. Social media and e-commerce together are starkly transforming the way the fashion industry functions. By opening up new avenues for making shopping accessible and convenient for customers, they play a crucial role in exhibiting the wide gamut of choices available to them.

Bringing about discernible modifications in the shopping patterns of consumers, e-commerce and social media can immensely contribute to the growth of the fashion industry. Gauging the wide gamut of benefits they have to offer, let’s understand how together they are redefining the industry.

Embracing sustainability Taking leverage of the digital age, the industry can invariably build trust among consumers by showcasing their commitment to sustainable and ethical practices. Considering that the audience these days is highly woke of the deteriorating state of the environment, they are very conscious of their purchasing choices. In the pursuit to support the cause, they incessantly opt for sustainable fashion and resonate with brands promoting the same. Hence, riding the popularity of social media, the industry can keep the audience well informed about their eco-friendly practices and win their loyalty over time. 

Vouching for connected commerce

 The confluence of social and digital platforms has revolutionized the Indian fashion industry. Social networking sites like Instagram and Facebook have emerged as powerful tools for fashion brands and designers to showcase their creations, engage with customers, and drive sales. This integration has enabled brands to reach a wider audience base, both domestically and internationally. In the process, it is enabling direct-to-consumer sales through seamless social media shopping experiences. This transformation has democratized the fashion industry, empowering emerging designers and local brands to gain visibility and compete on a global scale. 

Omnichannel Retailing for endless choice 

The evolution of omnichannel retailing is increasing the availability of choice among consumers. Traditionally, limited physical store space constrained retailers’ ability to showcase their entire inventory. However, with the advent of the omnichannel model, Indian retailers can now seamlessly bridge the gap between online and offline shopping experiences.This innovative approach grants customers access to an extensive array of products, even if they are not physically available in the store. This expanded product range empowers consumers with more choices, reducing the likelihood of out-of-stock situations. Additionally, it is spurring retailers to optimize their supply chains and inventory management systems, to ease shopping for customers.

Elevating shopping experience

Ever since the integration of technology into the industry, there has been a phenomenal change in consumer behavior. Gauging the rising preference for online shopping from the convenience of their home instead of scouting the stores physically, the industry is taking this as an opportunity to provide them with a seamless shopping experience. They are going the extra mile with the help of e-commerce and social media platforms to provide innovative shopping solutions to customers. Harnessing the benefits of advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality (VR), etc. it is opening the gateway to virtual trail rooms, previously unimaginable by the audience. Moreover, the ability to provide personalized recommendations by taking into account past purchases and individual preferences, it is relentlessly working towards meeting customer satisfaction. Therefore, looking at the omnipresence of technology in recent years, digital platforms can immensely contribute to the fashion industry in staying abreast of the changing trends. By providing the means to amplify the visibility, it is also easing the entire shopping process for the customers while keeping them well-informed at every stage of development. Hence, by infusing loyalty among the customers, it allows the industry to come up with ingenious offerings to enhance the overall experience of the customers.

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India News Social Media

Deepfakes: India Urges Full Compliance from Social Media

India is mulling regulation to tame the spread of deepfakes and other user harm that Artificial Intelligence (AI) can bring along…reports Asian Lite News

The IT Ministry will issue advisories to social media intermediaries in the next two days on ensuring 100 per cent compliance on tackling deepfakes and spread of misinformation on their respective platforms, Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar said on Tuesday.

During the second ‘Digital India Dialogues’ meeting on misinformation and deepfakes with social media intermediaries, the minister reviewed the progress made since the meeting on November 24, when the Centre had given a seven-day deadline to platforms to tweak their policies as per Indian regulations in order to address the spread of deepfakes.

“Many platforms are responding to the decisions taken last month and advisories on ensuring 100 per cent compliance will be issued in the next two days,” said the minister.

“A new amended #ITRules to further ensure compliance of platforms, and safety and trust of #DigitalNagriks is actively under consideration,” Chandrasekhar added.

Deepfakes could be subject to action under the current IT Rules, particularly Rule 3(1)(b), which mandates the removal of 12 types of content within 24 hours of receiving user complaints.

The government will also take action of 100 per cent of such violations under the IT Rules in the future.

“The intermediaries are further mandated to remove such content within 24 hours upon receiving a report from either a user or government authority. Failure to comply with this requirement invokes Rule 7, which empowers aggrieved individuals to take platforms to court under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC),” the minister said.

“For those who find themselves impacted by deepfakes, I strongly encourage you to file First Information Reports (FIRs) at your nearest police station,” said Chandrasekhar, adding that the IT Ministry will help aggrieved users in filing FIRs in relation to deepfakes.

India is mulling regulation to tame the spread of deepfakes and other user harm that Artificial Intelligence (AI) can bring along.

The Delhi High Court on Monday sought Central government’s response in a PIL regarding the absence of regulations for AI and deepfake technologies in the country.

As the Indian government takes a tough stand on AI-generated fake content, especially deepfakes, Google said late last month the company’s collaboration with the Indian government for a multi-stakeholder discussion aligns with its commitment to addressing this challenge together and ensures a responsible approach to AI.

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-Top News Social Media Tech Lite

IBM, Meta launch AI Alliance to build open, responsible AI

It aims to foster a vibrant AI hardware accelerator ecosystem by boosting contributions and adoption of essential enabling software technology…reports Asian Lite News

IBM and Meta on Tuesday launched the AI Alliance in collaboration with over 50 tech companies, founding members and collaborators globally.

The AI Alliance is focused on fostering an open community and enabling developers and researchers to accelerate responsible innovation in AI while ensuring scientific rigour, trust, safety, security, diversity and economic competitiveness.

“This is a pivotal moment in defining the future of AI. IBM is proud to partner with like-minded organizations through the AI Alliance to ensure this open ecosystem drives an innovative AI agenda underpinned by safety, accountability and scientific rigour,” said Arvind Krishna, IBM Chairman and CEO.

The AI Alliance plans to develop and deploy benchmarks and evaluation standards, tools, and other resources that enable the responsible development and use of AI systems at global scale, including the creation of a catalog of vetted safety, security and trust tools.

It aims to foster a vibrant AI hardware accelerator ecosystem by boosting contributions and adoption of essential enabling software technology.

The AI Alliance will launch initiatives that encourage open development of AI in safe and beneficial ways, and host events to explore AI use cases and showcase how Alliance members are using open technology in AI responsibly and for good.

The other participants in the AI Alliance are AMD, CERN, Cornell University, Dell Technologies, EPFL, ETH, Imperial College London, Intel, Linux Foundation, NASA, NSF, Oracle, Partnership on AI, Red Hat, Sony Group and Stability AI, among others.

Nick Clegg, President, Global Affairs of Meta, added that the AI Alliance brings together researchers, developers and companies to share tools and knowledge that can help us all make progress whether models are shared openly or not.

According to Lisa Su, AMD CEO and Chair, by embracing open standards and transparency across all aspects of the rapidly developing AI ecosystem, “we can help ensure the transformational benefits of responsible AI are broadly available”.

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-Top News Social Media

Zuckerberg sells nearly $190 mn in Meta’s shares

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. (File Photo: IANS)

According to Form 4 filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), he placed orders to sell another 28,009 shares on November 29…reports Asian Lite News

Meta Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg sold around $190 million in the company’s stock last month, the media reported.

Zuckerberg sold Meta shares every day in November, for a total of 560,180 shares last month, reports Market Watch.

According to Form 4 filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), he placed orders to sell another 28,009 shares on November 29.

With the stock closing of $327.15, the value of the shares sold would be $192.9 million, the report noted. The bulk of the shares sold were acquired in 2004 as part of a “founder stock purchase.”

Nearly 150,000 of the shares sold were acquired for $0 on the days they were sold through the exercising of options acquired in 2013, according to the report.

Meta registered $34 billion in revenue in its third quarter, up 23 per cent from the same quarter last year. Total costs and expenses were $20.40 billion, a decrease of 7 per cent (year-over-year) in the September quarter. Net income rose 164 per cent from a year earlier to $11.58 billion in the quarter.

However, the company is still burning cash with its Reality Labs division and Meta expects its operating losses there to increase “meaningfully” year-over-year. Meta’s AR-VR division has lost close to $25 billion since the start of last year.

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India News Social Media Tech Lite

India’s Gen Z to lead key trends on Instagram in 2024

About 43 per cent in India hoped that 2024 will be their self-improvement era! The year when they will invest in their personal growth and development…reports Asian Lite News

Gen Z in India will lead the key trends on Instagram next year, from prioritising careers to being super on point with meme preferences, and exploring a variety of food flavours, the Meta-owned company said on Monday.

In various realms, including food, beauty, and fashion trends, Indian Gen Z have shown a heightened inclination to embrace and explore emerging trends, according to the ‘2024 Instagram Trend Talk’ insights.

“Indian Gen Z’s upbeat and entrepreneurial spirit stands out as they eagerly explore new interests and trends across different domains. Their dedication to chosen fandoms and commitment to self-improvement shine through distinctly in these insights,” said Paras Sharma, Director of Content and Community Partnerships, Meta India.

“While in many aspects, Indian Gen Z’s are similar to their global peers, these trends also show specific areas where they are different and unique,” Sharma added.

From ayurvedic ingredients to vegan products, plant-based meats and adaptogens, GenZ in India are most excited to try diverse food and ingredients.

In 2024, Gen Z in India have ranked staying healthy, exploring career paths, and traveling as their top priorities. However, in contrast to other nations, Gen Z in India exhibit a stronger focus on their career pursuits, the Instagram report mentioned.

About 43 per cent in India hoped that 2024 will be their self-improvement era! The year when they will invest in their personal growth and development.

“As compared to other countries, Gen Z in India also believe starting your own business is the best way to achieve wealth,” the findings showed.

About 44 per cent of Gen Z in India are interested in DIY (do-it-yourself) and wearing clothes in unexpected ways.

“A fourth of GenZ said their favourite beauty trend is getting a new hairstyle,” the report said.

Virtually every Gen Z in India aligns with a specific fandom, ranging from music aficionados like the BTS army, Swifties, AR Rahman, Shreya Ghoshal, and Anirudh, to gaming enthusiasts invested in Minecraft, Fortnite, Call of Duty, and Roblox. Sports-wise, their affiliations span the Indian Cricket Team, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Chennai Super Kings.

“Nine out of 10 GenZ in India consider themselves part of a fandom. India has the highest percentage of sports superfans, as compared to Gen Z from other countries,” said the report.

ALSO READ-Insights into Young Minds

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-Top News Social Media

X may go bankrupt under if advertisers keep fleeing

A new report by The Financial Times has claimed X will now turn to SMBs to shore up revenue after Musk angered big brands by supporting antisemitic content…Asian Lite News

The loans Elon Musk took out to buy Twitter (now called X) was about $13 billion and the social media company has to pay about $1.2 billion in interest payments every year.

As big advertisers quit the platform and X cannot pay the interest on its loans or pay employees, then it could actually go bankrupt, the BBC reported on Sunday. “But that would be an extreme scenario that Musk would surely want to avoid,” the report mentioned.

However, for a company he bought for $44 billion, bankruptcy might sound unthinkable but “it is possible”. Disney and Apple are no longer advertising on X and Musk told companies last week to “Go f*** yourself.”

Retail giant Walmart has confirmed that it is not advertising on X. “We aren’t advertising on X as we’ve found other platforms to better reach our customers,” a Walmart spokesperson was quoted as saying in reports.

The departure of Walmart adds to the growing list of firms leaving X after Musk endorsed an antisemitic post last month (for which, he apologised last week). Apple, Disney, IBM, Comcast and Warner Bros. Discovery are among the companies no longer buying ads on X.

Last year, around 90 per cent of X’s revenue came from advertising. Not any more. Musk has warned that the loss of big advertisers would spell the end of X. “If the company fails, it will fail because of an advertiser boycott. And that will be what bankrupts the company.” he said.

“What this advertising boycott is going to do is kill the company. And the whole world will know that those advertisers killed the company, and we will document it in great detail,” Musk had told the audience at The New York Times’ DealBook Summit.

In 2022, Twitter’s advertising revenue was around $4 billion. Insider Intelligence estimates that this year, it will drop to $1.9 billion. After Musk’s outburst against big advertisers, X is reportedly aiming to tap small and medium businesses (SMBs) to offset the advertising loss from big companies.

A new report by The Financial Times has claimed X will now turn to SMBs to shore up revenue after Musk angered big brands by supporting antisemitic content.

“Small and medium businesses are a very significant engine that we have definitely underplayed for a long time,” a company spokesperson was quoted as saying. “It was always part of the plan, now we will go even further with it,” the company added.

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