Parler servers shut down in wake of US Capitol riot
Originally peddled as a social media network for unbridled free speech, Parler has been taken offline by hosts Amazon following the Capitol riots in the US. Parler, the Twitter clone known for peddling unbridled free speech with dangerously loose content moderation tools – depending on which side of the fence...
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Too Good To Go is leading the tech revolution against surplus food waste
Too Good To Go is the rapidly growing social impact start-up leading a revolution against surplus food waste across Europe and the US. Whether or not you’re partaking in Veganuary, there’s no question that diving into 2021 people are more conscious than ever before in terms of what we’re eating,...
Illicit apps promoting Covid-19 parties are finally being pulled
Brought to light by a reporter on Twitter, a controversial phone app that connected cooped up socialites at nearby ‘pandemic parties’ has finally been pulled. An app that promoted and claimed to host illegal parties during lockdown has this week been ousted from iOS, and efforts have been elevated to...
Invite-only social app Clubhouse to become a hit with Gen Z?
Clubhouse, a ‘spontaneous’ chatroom app, is trading its influencer exclusivity for a full-scale public rollout this year, and it’s set to be a real hit with Gen Z. Social tech fanatics who keep up to date with the newest apps will know all about Clubhouse, the ambitious social network focused...
New app Honk targets Gen Z with real-time texting
Honk is attempting to corner those weary of Facebook’s monopoly on mobile communication, offering real-time texting more akin to Snapchat than Messenger. Ever sent a friend or potential love interest a risky message and regretted it? Perhaps a meme on the group chat that went down like a lead...
Instagram ups its creative tools for Reels and Stories
Following on from September’s convenient updates, Instagram is swiftly rolling out the next batch of creative features for Reels and Stories. It’s no secret that Instagram is dead set on challenging TikTok to become numero uno in the vertical video space, and this week’s tweaks to Reels and Stories, minor...
Google’s integrity is brought into question over research bias
Google, the ubiquitous search engine we all use for reliable and impartial research, could soon start to oust information on ‘sensitive topics.’ Is this a censorship storm waiting to happen? Alphabet’s flagship platform Google is under serious fire this week regarding censorship measures, and concern is growing that bias could soon discredit the platform as a reliable search engine. Sparked by the forced resignation of Dr Timnit Gebru, an AI...
Will Facebook’s Reels update pose a threat to TikTok?
Facebook continues to make a play for TikTok’s crown by gearing up to introduce Instagram Reels to users’ feeds. With Instagram testing out a new option that could soon see ‘recommended’ Reels end up on parent company Facebook’s news feed and video feature Watch, it’s safe to say that Facebook isn’t keen on playing second fiddle to TikTok in the vertical video space for much longer. Just last week, we...
Nine year-old Ryan Kaji leads YouTube’s top earners for 2020
Ryan Kaji, nine, has once again topped the charts of YouTube’s biggest earners, with toy unboxing and games review videos raking in close to $30 million for the child influencer. It’s time for our annual reminder that children are earning way more than us, and having more fun doing it too. Once you’re all done grinding your teeth and/or pondering your career choices, reconvene with us below and let’s get...
Why new ‘Hype Simulator’ app could be harmful to Gen Z
Hype Simulator is the new app giving everyday folk a taste of social media virality akin to that of super influencers like Kylie Jenner and Dixie D’Amelio. Should we be concerned? Everyone has wondered at some stage what it would be like to become an internet sensation overnight while trawling through Instagram or TikTok. Earning millions of devoted followers is a modern fascination, particularly as far as Gen Zers are...
