Facebook - page 9

A few months back, we started hearing a lot of creepy stories about folks having real-life, in-person conversations with friends, and then getting Facebook ads on the same subject soon after. Was Facebook using their iPhone/iPad’s microphone to eavesdrop on them, then serving ads based on what it heard? Technically, it’s not much different to Google scanning your email and serving ads based on their content. In reality, it’s a whole ‘nother level of creepy.

Your iPhone probably knows more about you than your husband or wife. It knows what websites you visit, and who’s in your VIP contact list. It knows your credit card numbers, and it knows what apps you like to read with your morning coffee. And it also knows where you are, at all times, and even what direction you’re moving in.

Apps like Facebook love to drain as much of this information as they can, but thanks to Apple’s privacy-first policy of giving control to you, the user, it’s easy to deny any app access to this sensitive data. Today we’ll see how to stop Facebook, or any other app, from tracking your location.

Facebook is having a bad time right now. Despite being the world’s most popular social media network, a growing number of people are calling on users to delete their Facebook profiles. This follows the recent Cambridge Analytica scandal, involving the acquisition of data associated with 50 million Facebook profiles.

The latest person who thinks you should cut the Zuckerberg cord? Brian Acton, the co-founder of WhatsApp, which was bought by Facebook for a massive $16 billion back in 2014.

Facebook Watch, the social network’s video on demand service, is reportedly readying a news section, which will include partnerships with around 10 publishers.

The news comes one day after Apple’s acquisition of $10 a month magazine subscription service Texture. It represents another example of a tech company trying to strengthen relationships with traditional media outlets at a time when topics like “fake news” have strained these interactions.

The HomePod may have just dropped, but Apple’s not the only tech giant to be getting into the smart speaker business in 2018. According to a new report, Facebook will be launching two smart speakers this year — with July being given as “the latest” that they could make their debut.

Facebook has resolved a dispute with Apple that will allow it to launch a subscription tool for publishers in its iOS app.

The service has previously been available on Android devices. It will launch on iPhone in March.

You may finally get a way to disapprove of inappropriate content on Facebook. The social network is testing a new “downvote” button that lets users flag public comments that are offensive, misleading, or off-topic. Just don’t call it a dislike button.

Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, is set to make another big investment in media.

The Emerson Collective, founded by Laurene Powell Jobs in 2004, is reportedly considering making an investment in the Buzzfeed media’s news division.

Instagram Stories is getting another interesting new feature — and this time it wasn’t stolen from Snapchat. Users in a number of markets are noticing they now have the ability to post GIFs, which they can source from the built-in Giphy search engine.

Facebook has confirmed it is investigating a frustrating Messenger bug that’s plaguing some users on iPhone. There is no workaround for the issue at this time, which means users have no choice but to live with it until it’s finally fixed.

Today, digital marketing is one of the largest and most lucrative industries. In 2018, platforms like Google and Facebook have become fundamental to marketing. So if you’re going to be successful at marketing, you’ve got to understand how to master social media.

Instagram is testing a feature that allows users to share their stories directly to WhatsApp.

They appear as WhatsApp status updates, and just like on Instagram, they’re visible for 24 hours. It seems only a small number of users have access to the feature for now.

Facebook has confirmed plans to demote posts that beg for comments, likes, and shares.

It will use machine learning to fight the “engagement bait.” The move, which will happen this week, will impact pages as well as people, so you’ll see fewer spam posts in your news feed.

Facebook has added a new snooze button that lets you mute annoying friends, groups, and pages.

The feature lets you temporarily avoid content you don’t want to see — without having to unfriend or unfollow. No more baby pictures, Black Friday deals, or royal engagement stories.

Facebook is rolling out a brand new Messenger app designed for kids. It is aptly named Messenger Kids, and it packs the parental controls you need to ensure your little ones are safe while they stay connected with friends.

Apple CEO Tim Cook along with Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg met with Chinese President Xi Jinping today as Apple prepares to launch the iPhone X in the country this week.

The two tech CEOs were on hand at the annual gathering of advisers to Beijing’s Tsinghua University business school, where Xi spoke to business leaders and other officials.

Apple’s 30% tax on in-app purchases could cause iPhone and iPad users to miss out on the next big news feature from Facebook.

In an effort to help make publishers more money, Facebook plans to launch a tool that helps websites sell subscriptions. All of the sales transactions will be done on the publishers’ websites, but Apple won’t approve the app unless it gets a cut.

The fire-relief efforts in Northern California are getting a boost from some of the biggest tech companies in Silicon Valley.

Smoke from the wildfires ravaging wine country are currently choking out residents in San Francisco’s bay area, so Apple, Google and Facebook are stepping up by donating local efforts.

iPhone 8 is now on sale and iPhone X is right around the corner, so every Apple fan wants to upgrade. Scammers are taking advantage of this by promising free handsets on social media sites like Facebook and Instagram, but believing what you read could prove dangerous.

Instagram has started giving users the ability to cross-post their Stories to Facebook Stories.

After testing the feature in Portugal last month, the company is now migrating it to U.S. users. Facebook says it should be available to everyone soon, if not already.

Apple’s boss of retail is finally getting some recognition for her large role at the world’s most powerful tech company.

In its latest rankings of the most powerful women in business, Fortune has placed Angela Ahrendts in the top 20 of influencers, raising her up one spot from last year and putting her ahead of executives at companies like Google, JP Morgan Chase, Microsoft, and Boeing.

Facebook is expanding its focus on video by introducing a new service called Watch, which will see the company enter the world of original content for the first time.

Available for desktop, mobile and TV apps, the new Watch tab will appear on users’ newsfeeds. It will include links to a variety of shows — including comedy, reality TV and live sport — some of which will be created by Facebook. The move puts Facebook into more direct competition with services like YouTube, as well as Netflix, Amazon, and Apple.

Facebook has shut down Lifestage, a Snapchat clone designed to entice teens into using it for casual photo sharing.

The Lifestage app for iOS disappeared from the App Store earlier this week, less than a year after making its debut, and the social network has confirmed it is no more.

Facebook is planning to make its first foray into hardware next year and according to a new report it may start competing directly against Apple.

The social network is reportedly building a stand-alone video chat device with a built in touch screen that is focused on helping bring Facebook users closer together.

Over 1 billion people around the world are using WhatsApp every single day.

The insanely popular messaging service, which was acquired by Facebook in 2014, is now processing over 55 billion messages, 4.5 billion photos, and 1 billion videos per day.