Social Networks

WhatsApp is building a feature that will make it easier for users to multitask while listening to voice messages. Leaker site WABetaInfo reported that the feature, Global Voice Message Player, will enable voice messages to keep playing even if the user leaves the chat. In a screenshot, it explains that the message will be pinned to the top of the screen, with a play button to continue listening and a close button to dismiss it. To remind users who they’re listening to, the pinned message will also display the name of the chat it came from. At the moment, exiting a chat pauses the voice message users are listening to. “This feature is very useful when you receive a voice message having a long duration. In this case, you can continue sending messages to other contacts when you are listening to the voice message,” said WABetaInfo, in a post. The feature was spotted during the development stage for WhatsApp beta for iOS, thus it is not yet available for use. This means the interface and design is also subject to change.

The Bucs escaped Foxborough, Mass., with a 19-17 win over the Patriots Sunday in what undoubtedly was an emotional game for quarterback Tom Brady.Brady, who spent 20 years in New England, led his new team to victory while also making history. He eclipsed Drew Brees’ NFL career passing-yardage record and, with the win, now has a win over all 32 teams in the NFL.Here’s what Twitter had to say after the Bucs’ victory:Not sure when we’ll realize it, but we just witnessed history. Watching Tom Brady, the greatest football player ever, go back home and face his former coach, the greatest football coach ever, will be talked about for years to come. #Patriots #SNF— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) October 4, 2021 Ok you can breathe now.— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) October 4, 2021 i can’t believe people actually try to say that tom brady ISN’T the best— alexis (@FloridasGoddess) October 4, 2021 Tom Brady and Mac Jones today pic.twitter.com/90fwBFgwM5— 𝙅𝙤𝙚 ~ (@macprimes) October 4, 2021 Tom Brady beats the Patriots in his return to New England 🔥 @brgridiron pic.twitter.com/GiWyXpsR56— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 4, 2021 Bill Belichick watching film after the game tonight: pic.twitter.com/2u51JJf39H— Pickswise (@Pickswise) October 4, 2021 I timed…

What exactly does the government want to do? “It is actually an amendment to a European directive that deals with the preservation of metadata. This relates to who called or contacted you, where you are or what websites you consult. The European Court has overturned this directive. The fact that everyone always keeps track of everything about everyone has been taken into account. Very comprehensive. Now they are trying to change this law. For example, they only want to keep this data in areas with high crime rates. At first glance you might say a development in the right direction. But a somewhat surprising piece of legislation has been added. For example, messaging services such as WhatsApp, Signal or Facebook must, at the request of the police and judicial authorities, release the content of suspicious persons’ communications, making it possible to listen to or read those conversations.” Why is this a bad idea? “Encryption protects everyday activities, such as managing online bank accounts or communicating with your friends and family. End-to-end encryption also protects vulnerable communities and professions where private communication is essential, such as journalists, lawyers or medical professionals. It is dangerous to allow loopholes as now suggested This…

On today's episode, we discuss what to make of all of Twitter's new features, which ones will propel the social giant forward, and how Twitter might jumpstart its US user growth. We then talk about Facebook suspending plans for an Instagram app for children, how much Apple's privacy changes have affected its business, and whether the social media titan is serious about getting into hardware. Tune in to the discussion with eMarketer senior analyst at Insider Intelligence Jasmine Enberg.Don’t miss Brave New Worlds 2021, the virtual marketing and analytics event of the year! Brave New Worlds will be held virtually and free of charge on November 9 and 10. You’ll hear from today’s top minds in marketing, data, and analytics, including executives from Facebook, General Motors, Capgemini, Publicis, and more. Register Now! 

The Voice coach Blake Shelton celebrated his wife, Gwen Stefani's, birthday with a sweet Instagram post from their summer wedding. The Voice coach Blake Shelton wished his wife Gwen Stefani a happy birthday in a heartfelt Instagram post. Gwen recently gushed about how proud she was of her and Blake's country duets. Blake released two songs featuring Gwen, "Nobody But You" and "Happy Anywhere," which are both in his wheelhouse of country music. Gwen, who previously focused on more rock and pop-sounding songs, thanked Blake for welcoming her into country music. Blake even joked about adding Gwen to every song he makes from now on. The couple, who were coaches on The Voice together, also made headlines about their summer 2021 wedding. In an interview on SiriusXM's The Highway, Blake spoke about how some of his friends felt snubbed that they weren't invited to his wedding. Blake and Gwen had a small ceremony, so not that many people could be invited. Blake talked about all the awkward conversations he's had to have with his friends, telling them that his wedding isn't about them and they should move on from it. The newlyweds also opted not to go on a honeymoon, but to stay home and relax…

Snap Inc, the company behind social media giant Snapchat, has announced a world first collaboration with WPP to launch an augmented reality (AR) partnership, set to change e-commerce. On 30 September, Snap and WPP announced that they would be teaming up to launch The AR Lab. The partnership will build brands and deliver immersive experiences using AR technology.  Snap will be sharing its advances in technology, with a particular focus on e-commerce. These advances will allow WPP clients to connect with their customers on an interactive level. In turn, this partnership is set to drive meaningful results through advancements in AR. As the first agency to partner with Snap, WPP will be able to collaborate with the social media platform on new products, including the recently launched Snapchat Trends tool. The new feature, which is predominantly for marketers, allows a public overview of the most popular keywords being used on the app. The AR Lab Strategy Guide will be accessed by WPP. The guide includes how to use Snap’s AR technology to inform creative development. Authentic branded experiences will now be brought to market faster and easier. Why AR? Snap saw the necessity of AR after a recent study commissioned by…

The former Facebook Inc. employee who gathered documents that formed the foundation of the Wall Street Journal’s Facebook Files series said she acted to help prompt change at the social-media giant, not to stir anger toward it. Frances Haugen, a former product manager hired to help protect against election interference on Facebook FB, +1.07%, said she had grown frustrated by what she saw as the company’s lack of openness about its platforms’ potential for harm and unwillingness to address its flaws. She is scheduled to testify before Congress on Tuesday. She has also sought federal whistleblower protection with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In a series of interviews, Haugen, who left the company in May after nearly two years, said that she had come into the job with high hopes of helping Facebook fix its weaknesses. She soon grew skeptical that her team could make an impact, she said. Her team had few resources, she said, and she felt the company put growth and user engagement ahead of what it knew through its own research about its platforms’ ill effects.  » Read More

A Facebook whistleblower who brought internal documents detailing the company's research to The Wall Street Journal and the U.S. Congress unmasked herself ahead of an interview she gave to "60 Minutes," which aired Sunday night.Frances Haugen, a former product manager on Facebook's civic misinformation team, according to her website, revealed herself as the source behind a trove of leaked documents. On her personal website, she shared that during her time at the company, she "became increasingly alarmed by the choices the company makes prioritizing their own profits over public safety — putting people's lives at risk. As a last resort and at great personal risk, Frances made the courageous act to blow the whistle on Facebook."Haugen previously worked as a product manager at Pinterest, Yelp and Google, according to her LinkedIn profile. She also lists herself as the technical co-founder behind the dating app Hinge, saying she took its precursor, Secret Agent Cupid, to market."I've seen a bunch of social networks and it was substantially worse at Facebook than anything I'd seen before," Haugen told "60 Minutes."Haugen told "60 Minutes" she left Facebook in May.  » Read More

Invalid EmailSomething went wrong, please try again later.We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time.More infoOne in three Brits want every trace of their social media presence deleted when they die as they fear posts could come back to haunt them, a new survey has found. An estimated 4.5billion people (around 57 per cent of the global population) use platforms such as Twitter and Facebook, but few make plans for how they want their online profiles to be dealt with once they pass away. The study, carried out by Affordable Funerals also found that one in nine want them to be turned into posthumous memorials. Chief executive Howard Hodgson said: "Many of us avoid talking about death because it makes us uncomfortable, but it’s actually one of the most important conversations we can have. "It’s vital to be open and honest with your family about what you want to happen after you die so they know exactly how to deal with everything from the funeral to social media accounts. "Some…

A Belfast man has been remanded in custody after appearing before a special court sitting accused of raping two girls he allegedly picked up in his car.Dean Ashqar (32) from Sunningdale Gardens, Belfast is charged with four counts of rape relating to two girls on September 30, as well as possessing a quantity of cannabis.A detective constable told Belfast Magistrates Court that Ashqar allegedly picked up two girls, described in court as “highly vulnerable” and drove them to his home where the sexual assaults occurred.Both girls later made disclosures and police were alerted.During interview Ashqar refused to provide his phone which police have been unable to locate. However it has been established the girls were added to his Snapchat account, which police believe gives him a means to contact them.A defence solicitor said his client gave “a lengthy and full account of his movements” and stressed both females indicated they were aged 18 and 19 respectively.Ashqar claimed to have gone to the Dublin Road area of Belfast around 1am to collect a friend who didn't appear. It was conceded he provided only his friend's first name as he, “does not wish to bring him into the equation”.While there, the two…