Speaking in a congressional testimony, Frances Haugen, 37, claimed the social media giant and its sister platform Instagram is damaging to both children and democracy yet makes decisions based on maximising interactions and revenues.

Haugen has come forward as the source of a series of stories in the Wall Street Journal last month, based on internal Facebook documents, which revealed the company knew Instagram was damaging teenagers鈥� mental health and that changes to its News Feed feature was making the platform more polarising and divisive.

鈥淚鈥檓 here today because I believe Facebook鈥檚 products harm children, stoke division and weaken our democracy,鈥� she said in an opening address.听

鈥淭he company鈥檚 leadership knows how to make Facebook and Instagram safer, but won鈥檛 make the necessary changes because they have put their astronomical profits before people.鈥�

Referring to a worldwide six-hour outage on Monday of Facebook, Instagram and messaging platform WhatsApp, also owned by Facebook, she said: 鈥淔or more than five hours Facebook wasn鈥檛 used to deepen divides, destabilise democracies and make young girls and women feel bad about their bodies.鈥�

Haugen claims an algorithm 鈥渓ed children from very innocuous topics like healthy recipes… all the way to anorexia-promoting content over a very short period of time鈥�.

She added: 鈥淚t鈥檚 just like cigarettes… teenagers don鈥檛 have good self-regulation.鈥�

/blog/2021/10/06/cruise-control-security-wont-halt-new-wave-cyber-attacks/

As well as targeting teens, Haugen told lawmakers the platform 鈥渄efinitely鈥� targets children as young as eight via its Messenger Kids app.

Facebook reported profits of more than $29 billion in 2020 and has 3.5bn monthly active users across its platforms.

鈥淭he core of the issue is that no one can understand Facebook鈥檚 destructive choices better than Facebook, because only Facebook gets to look under the hood,鈥� she said, calling for regulators to step in to 鈥渂uild sensible rules and standards to address consumer harms, illegal content, data protection, anticompetitive practices, algorithmic systems and more鈥�.

Referencing an apparent poisonous Facebook influence in unstable democracies such as Ethiopia – 鈥渋t is literally fanning ethnic violence鈥� – Haugen said the buck stops with CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg.

鈥淲e have a few choice documents that contain notes from briefings with Mark Zuckerberg where he chose metrics defined by Facebook like 鈥榤eaningful social interactions鈥� over changes that would have significantly decreased misinformation, hate speech and other inciting content.

鈥淭he buck stops with him.鈥�

IT must remain a boardroom priority

She said Facebook should share internal information and research with the authorities, and remove algorithms on its News Feed so posts are ranked chronologically.

In response, Zuckerberg wrote in a blog post: 鈥淎t the heart of these accusations is this idea that we prioritise profit over safety and wellbeing. That鈥檚 just not true.

“[The testimony] just doesn’t reflect the company we know鈥� we care deeply about issues like safety, wellbeing and mental health. It’s difficult to see coverage that misrepresents our work and our motives.

“We make money from ads, and advertisers consistently tell us they don’t want their ads next to harmful or angry content. And I don’t know any tech company that sets out to build products that make people angry or depressed.

“The moral, business and product incentives all point in the opposite direction.”

Senior Facebook employees played down Haugen鈥檚 role at the social media giant, questioning whether she had enough access to top-level decisions to whistleblow.听

Lena Pietsch, Facebook鈥檚 director of policy communications, said: 鈥淭oday, a Senate commerce subcommittee held a hearing with a former product manager at Facebook who worked for the company for less than two years, had no direct reports, never attended a decision-point meeting with C-level executives and testified more than six times to not working on the subject matter in question. We don鈥檛 agree with her characterization of the many issues she testified about.

鈥淒espite all this, we agree on one thing; it鈥檚 time to begin to create standard rules for the internet. It鈥檚 been 25 years since the rules for the internet have been updated, and instead of expecting the industry to make societal decisions that belong to legislators, it is time for Congress to act.鈥�

The post Whistleblower: Facebook knowingly damages both children and democracy appeared first on 老九品茶Cloud.

That鈥檚 the view of听Sacha听Lazimi,听CEO of a听rapidly-growing听social media platform with 45 million users which is planning to increase its workforce 10-times this year.听听

Lazimi听co-founded听Yubo听in France听in 2015听as a safe space for teenagers and young adults to make friends听鈥�away from the pressure of听followers or likes鈥�.听

“These don鈥檛 exist at all on Yubo,鈥� he tells听老九品茶Cloud. 鈥�Our users can be themselves, without the pressure of impressing others online.听We听want users to create genuine friendships online by placing interests and shared passions at the centre of everything we do.听

鈥淪ocial media plays an important role in our听lives, and听has been essential over the past year to keep us connected whilst social distancing. However, whilst playing a crucial role in our lives, traditional social media platforms have come under some criticism for the mental health impact of excessive use.听听

鈥淭raditional platforms have been the centre of this criticism, as they are often accompanied by ads and influencers which has now created a 鈥榗omparison culture鈥�, where users are constantly comparing themselves to others online.听

鈥淲e have fallen into a race for likes and the mass of content has become far too large, losing quality and relevance.鈥�听听

Users of Yubo can听browse interests, such as sports, video games or music, and create a livestream. Anyone on Yubo will then be able to see them and send them messages, with the host choosing whether to add viewers as new friends.听

Once users become friends on Yubo, they can chat with each other through instant messages or livestreams.听听

This pressure-free environment is striking a chord with Gen Z: in 2020, the app experienced a 550% increase in time spent on live streams.听Now, its UK users aged 21-24 are now spending over a full day a month on live streams, more听than听the average UK user spends on听TikTok听a month.听

鈥�Yubo鈥檚 top priority is to keep users safe online,听which is why we have integrated tech such as AI to monitor interactions between users and identify inappropriate photos, videos, and messages being shared amongst underage and vulnerable users,鈥澨�Lazimi (above) explains.听

鈥�We have a minimum age limit of 13, ground rules and innovative safety tools, such as age recognition and real time safety alerts, which work to reduce the risk to young people and improve their digital awareness.听听

鈥�We recommend other social media platforms follow suit and place safety as their number one priority.鈥�听

/cricket-legend-backs-revolutionary-video-platform-recast/

London-based 20-year-old Angelica and 21-year-old听Mjay听met in January听through听a Yubo livestream discussing听shared political views.听They听now听count听one听other as best friends, streaming together听everyday, despite never having met in person.听

Mjay听said:听鈥淚 always felt like there was a stigma attached to meeting people online…听I was very wary until I met听Angel, but听meeting her has opened my eyes to making friendships online and I felt safe communicating and streaming on Yubo.听听

鈥�I never thought I would make a friend during听lockdown听but Angel is one of my closest friends.鈥澨�听

Angelica added:听鈥淚t’s broken down the stigma for me too, 100%…听you can make genuine friendships online. This is probably one of the best friendships I have made for a very,听very听long time.听听

鈥�We have the same interests and just bonded and clicked straight away听鈥撎�it听just feels right.鈥澨�听

Since its launch in 2015, Yubo has grown significantly in key markets including the US, the UK, Australia, Canada and France. Last summer, Yubo added Latin America to the app鈥檚 roster.听

Last year it opened its first UK base听鈥� its second-largest market听鈥撎�in听London and raised听$47.5 million听in a听Series C round, while听revenues听were around听$20m,听a听doubling听of听turnover from 2019.听

鈥�We have grown exceptionally, climbing to 45M users in 40 countries worldwide…听5m听are based in the UK alone,鈥� says听Lazimi.听听

鈥�This huge growth aligned with lockdowns around the world, as younger generations turned to social media to remain connected to each other and make new friends.鈥�听

He adds: 鈥淲e operate using a听鈥榝reemium鈥� business model. Users have access to a free account, but they can buy premium features. Users can spend as little as 拢2 to buy premium features that let them do things like pushing their chat group to the top of Yubo鈥檚 home page for a couple of minutes.听听

鈥淲e have also just introduced听YuBucks, Yubo’s very own currency.听Yubucks听can be spent on our usual Powers (Boosts, Spotlights, Turbos & Fast-Adds) and can be purchased.听YuBucks听can be purchased directly through the app.听听

鈥淭raditional social media platforms often rely on advertisements to make money, which we believe has taken away from the purpose of social media, and we think that the 鈥榝reemium鈥� model is truly the听future of any social platform if you want to monetise today. This business model means that Yubo doesn鈥檛 have any ads on our platform at all.听听

鈥淎s a result, it means that we do not sell our users鈥� data to generate revenue and that users don’t come to our platform to make money.鈥�听

Yubo currently employs听around听50 people.听鈥淭his year we plan to multiply our workforce by 10…听in particular,听strengthening听our presence in the US and continuing to grow our UK team,鈥� says听Lazimi.听听

鈥�We also plan to continue to develop the app further and add more functionalities to the platform, including more interactive games, which users can play as听ice-breakers. We are working to continue to develop this side of the app,听in order to听facilitate interactions online.鈥�听

The post ‘Non-toxic’ social media platform targets UK鈥檚 Gen Z appeared first on 老九品茶Cloud.

French听firm Bodyguard has听developed a free app that uses听artificial intelligence听to protect听users against cyber-harassment, an听issue that has unfortunately worsened since the听dawn of the听COVID-19 crisis.听听

The app functions as a smart and autonomous text moderation solution for Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and Twitch,听and detects almost 100% of toxic content online, eliminating it before it reaches the user.听听

Examples of such content would include racist, homophobic or other generally offensive comments.听

/ai-lab-fetch-ai-nabs-3-6m-investment/

It is also available to businesses via an API, offering them a text moderation technology to protect their online communities and platforms from hateful content, cyber-harassment and hate speech.听

Bodyguard for 老九品茶es allows companies to focus on the positive engagement within their community, thus improving the experience for both the business and its community members.

听

Having launched in the UK and US markets at CES in Las Vegas, MD Matthieu Boutard (above)听plans to expand its reach around the world 鈥� despite not having a physical presence in the UK.听

鈥淥ur plan is to expand Bodyguard internationally, to help protect people, communities and platforms against toxic content,鈥� he tells听老九品茶Cloud.听

鈥淚n today’s globalised and听heavily-connected听world, we believe that no matter where our hubs are located, we can efficiently support and accompany businesses located anywhere – including in the UK.鈥�听听

Prior to the launch in English,听the firm鈥檚 tech has reached more than 50,000 European users and听analysed more than five million social media comments in real time.听

/plans-revealed-to-create-world-class-esports-cluster-in-london/

鈥淲e already have a British citizen in our team, which means that we have a first-hand understanding of the language and cultural aspects, allowing us to accurately respond to the needs of British businesses,鈥澨鼴outard听adds.听

Boutard听is听set to appear on Amazon Prime series听The Social Movement,听speaking about听the issues surrounding cyberbullying and the moderation of toxic online content.听

The post AI to defend businesses against social media vitriol appeared first on 老九品茶Cloud.

The Kin app provides an alternative to the predominant social听media and messaging platforms that cater to hyper-connectivity and marketing.听听

Families听are able to听keep in touch, share memories, images and record future messages in a safe and secure closed group, without having to navigate newsfeeds, influencers or unwanted听members.听

London-based Kin says the pre-launch funding听is听the highest private network听raise in Europe听and values the business at听around 拢18m.听听

Its founders听Michael Collett and Matt Blom听identified听a gap in the market and a need for a social app designed for families by families that protects the personal data and media of its users.听听

鈥淩esearch听shows that by the time a child turns听13 parents have already shared an average of 1,300 photos of their kids online,鈥� said Collett (below). 鈥�However, only now are we beginning to truly understand the impact that this can have.听

鈥�By听the year 2030,听鈥�sharenting鈥�听– sharing听a child鈥檚 photos and personal information online – is predicted to account for two thirds of identity fraud online.听听

鈥�It鈥檚 vital for parents to be aware of what information they are putting online in public and begin to alter their habits.听

鈥淭he public nature of traditional social platforms听comes with risks and downsides, including having your data owned and sold to third parties.听听

鈥�Consumers are now starting to wise up to this and take action –听WhatsApp鈥檚听loss of millions of users following听its privacy policy update in January perfectly encapsulates this change in consumer attitude.听

鈥淗owever, people still want and crave an online听space for family and friends to remain connected and create a space of intimacy, especially in the current times when many of us are unable to physically be with the ones we love, they just want their data to be protected and respected.听听

鈥�Kin is meeting this听new demand – we are entering a new age of private media space.鈥澨�听

With Kin, each family group has access to its own shared space听which is only accessible via invitation from the designated group leader or 鈥�KinPin鈥�. This ensures that all the personal information, data and media are kept completely private.听听

The post Private family social network app Kin launches in UK appeared first on 老九品茶Cloud.

Facebook Ireland Ltd, which operates Instagram in the UK, has committed to a package of changes to tackle hidden advertising on the photo and video sharing platform.听听

This will make it much harder for people to post an advert on Instagram without labelling it as such. Clear labelling of incentivised posts is required under consumer protection law so that people are not misled.听

The Competition and Markets Authority听has been investigating hidden advertising on Instagram over concerns that too many social media influencers are posting content about businesses without making clear where they have been paid or incentivised to do so, and that the platform was not doing enough to tackle the problem.听听

Instagram will now make it easier for all users – and the businesses they promote – to comply with consumer protection law when posting content.听

Instagram听will:听

• Prompt users to confirm if they have been incentivised in any way to promote a product or service and, if so, require them to disclose this fact clearly.
• Extend its ‘paid partnership’ tool to all users. This enables people easily to display a clear label at the top of a post.
• Use technology and algorithms designed to spot when users might not have disclosed clearly that their post is an advert and report those users to the businesses being promoted.

Under the commitments, Instagram is also required to involve businesses in the changes by creating a tool to help them monitor how their products are being promoted.听听

As a result, businesses should do their part to comply with consumer protection law and听take action听where appropriate, including asking the platform to remove posts if necessary.听

Instagram will report its progress against all commitments to the CMA regularly.听

It is part of a wider investigation into misleading online endorsements.听Last year,听16 celebrities pledged to clean up their act on social media following CMA action.听听听

“For too long, major platforms have shied away from taking responsibility for hidden advertising on their site,鈥� said CMA chief听Andrea听Coscelli.听听

鈥�So, this commitment to tackle hidden adverts and overhaul the way people post on Instagram – making it difficult for users to ignore the law – is a welcome step forward.听

“These changes mean there will be no excuse for businesses to overlook how their brands are being advertised either – making life a lot harder for those who are not upfront and honest with their followers.”听

The post Instagram to tackle hidden advertising after CMA action appeared first on 老九品茶Cloud.

The duo has been at the helm of the Manchester-headquartered social media marketing agency for six years听and achieved a reach of听more than听two听billion views per month.听

The company听has around 750 employees with locations in Manchester, Berlin, London, New York and Munich, and听works with world leading brands such as Amazon, Coca Cola and Apple.听

In October 2019, Social Chain merged with Lumaland AG to form The Social Chain AG and list on XETRA and the D眉sseldorf Stock Exchange.听听

The company recently announced the largest acquisition in its history as it prepares to take a 51 percent majority stake in A4D Inc and posted a forecast of听鈧�200m for 2020.听

Bartlett said: 鈥淪ocial Chain was conceived on a small desk in the backroom of the听uni听I had just dropped out of in Manchester. I was 20, full of wild dreams, and I believed we could take on the world.听

鈥�What started as a crazy and sometimes ridiculed idea in the mind of a few drop-out underdogs, at a time when people didn鈥檛 believe in the potential of this new thing called social media, turned into the most unforgettable ride of a lifetime.听

鈥�As I write this, at 27, we have more than 700 Social Chainers around the world, a world-beating team, we went public last year, we are the best at what we do, and we鈥檝e just posted record numbers.听听

鈥�The company is showing unbelievable momentum and I remain Social Chain’s biggest fan, supporter, and believer.听

鈥�I owe an unpayable debt of gratitude to my team, past and present. If it wasn鈥檛 for you (and mum and dad), I would be nothing.听听

鈥�As a听fairly public听CEO, I鈥檝e unavoidably taken an unfair amount of credit for what we achieved together.听

鈥�Thank you from the bottom of my听heart, and听thank you to all of you that have supported and believed in me.鈥�听

McGregor听added: 鈥淚鈥檓 incredibly proud of everything that we鈥檝e achieved, the relationships we鈥檝e听made听and the lessons learnt.听听

鈥�I鈥檓 so lucky to have shared this journey with the people I have 鈥� there鈥檚 no doubt in my mind that those lifelong friendships will withstand the test of time.听

鈥�Social Chain is a very special company, the growth we鈥檝e seen over the last听six听years has been quite frankly phenomenal, we recently posted record numbers, and based on some of the exciting things I鈥檝e seen over the last year, the future promises to be even brighter than the past.听

鈥�This business has been my rock, even when I faced difficult times in my personal life. The purpose it gave me, and the people I worked with got me through 鈥� they gave me something to fight for and without it, and without them, I wouldn鈥檛 be the person I am today.听

鈥�To all our team past and present, clients, investors and anyone who has ever supported us – a personal thank you for everything.鈥�听

Wanja S. Oberhof, currently Co-CEO of Social Chain AG will retain his position as CEO.听

The post Social Chain co-founders Steve Bartlett and听Dominic McGregor leave business appeared first on 老九品茶Cloud.