How ‘virtual escape rooms’ are helping students enrol during Covid-19
Thanks to Covid-19, enrolling at new schools has become a challenging process on all fronts. With campus tours and face-to-face interviews off the table, admissions officers are now evaluating prospective students through virtual escape rooms. It turns out ‘escape room’ experiences have uses beyond bringing workmates together for novel team...
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Twitter jumps on the audio chat bandwagon with ‘Spaces’
Ephemeral audio chat platforms are seriously striking a chord with Gen Z in early 2021. Twitter is now looking to get in on the act with ‘Spaces.’ There may be some truth in the notion that lockdown has made us all a tad lazier, because big social networking platforms are...
Plots of Amazon rainforest illegally sold through Facebook ads
As deforestation becomes an increasingly pertinent issue for the Amazon rainforest and its indigenous peoples, a new exposé reveals plots of land are being illegally sold through Facebook ads. Recently, it seems every passing week throws out a new troubling story about threats to the Amazon’s biodiversity and its indigenous...
David Dobrik’s photo app Dispo raises $20m in funding
Dispo lets users take pictures through disposable camera filters and locks them for viewing until 9am the next day, imitating the vintage experiences of 90s photographers. You may know David Dobrik for his YouTube vlogs and Madison Beer antics, but he’s also a savvy venture capitalist and tech innovator. His...
Instagram’s support initative for National Eating Disorders Awareness Week
The ubiquitous photo app, which has previously come under fire for promoting unrealistic body standards, is providing resources to support users throughout National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. When it comes to those afflicted with eating disorders or body dysmorphia, social media is often a triggering factor – especially when talking...
Is big tech aiding a tyranny against India’s climate activists?
As an international conspiracy falls apart against India’s adored climate activist Disha Ravi, big tech is being forced to answer for its role in aiding a national tyranny. In India, one of the nation’s most affected by climate change, it appears eco-activists are no longer safe to protest. Last month, Disha...
Instagram announces permanent suspensions for hate speech in DMs
At long last, Instagram is cracking down on racist and derogatory content within its direct messenger function. Hate speech will now lead to permanent account suspensions. Instances of racism on Instagram are once again receiving mainstream attention, and parent company Facebook is determined to finally nip the issue in the bud once and for all. Policing content within people’s private messages is a tetchy task and brings to head a bunch...
TikTok to tackle misinformation with fact checkers and content warnings
Falling in line with the big social networking sites, TikTok is now attempting to tackle its spread of misinformation with in-app warnings and fact checkers. While TikTok is all about fun and games, its insatiable rise to the top of mainstream culture now demands a more thorough look into the types of content spreading on its platform. Safety first people, safety first. Chief on the list of concerns admist a global...
Wattpad’s takeover spells big opportunities for aspiring writers
Wattpad - the user-generated publishing app providing big-time opportunities to aspiring writers - is set for a huge year, with a purported $600 million buyout almost doubling its community in size. It’s safe to say seniors at Wattpad aren’t exactly lacking in ambition. In 2020, the self-publishing company outlined its desire to become the ultimate content feeder for streaming services like Hulu and Netflix, and a steady supplier of blockbuster material...
TikTok to support its Black creators with new incubator program
In lieu of broader efforts to ensure greater diversity and representation on the platform, TikTok has launched its Black Creators program for 2021. With the Black Lives Matter movement reaching a fever pitch of momentum in 2020, the biggest social media platforms are finally understanding the importance of providing all creators with equal opportunities online. It’s with this goal in mind that TikTok is ramping up efforts to further invest in...
