The company, which will begin operating in May, plans to have around 550 journalists covering entertainment, politics and sports within a year.
Tag Archives: Online Advertising
The Chatbots Are Here, and the Internet Industry Is in a Tizzy
The new technology could upend many online businesses. But for companies that figure out how to work with it, A.I. could be a boon.
Report: More Twitter drama after Slack shutdown; employees play hooky
On Wednesday and Thursday, Twitter’s internal Slack channels were suddenly shut down. Platformer reported that the company manually shut services off. Before that was confirmed, a Twitter employee posting on the anonymous workplace chat app Blind had speculated that it was also possible that Twitter had shut down employee access because it had stopped paying its Slack bills.
Whatever the reason driving Twitter’s decision to remove Slack access, it resulted in a very unproductive work day for some Twitter employees who were suddenly unable to communicate, Platformer reported. At the same time that employees lost Slack access, they also couldn’t access Jira, a tracking software that Platformer said engineers use to ship code and monitor progress on new features. Rather than being equipped to go “hardcore,” some decided to just take the day off. Other employees took two days off.
Apparently, Twitter told employees that the Slack channel was down for “routine maintenance,” but a Slack employee told Platformer that was “bullshit.”
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Bing’s Chatbot Declares its Love and Elon Musk Rewrites the Twitter Algorithm
Then, online ads have gotten bad — and that might be OK.
Doobie-us: Pot ads come to Twitter amid cannabis industry collapse
Enlarge / Then-future Technoking Elon Musk enjoying some cannabis on Joe Rogan’s podcast. (credit: Joe Rogan)
Elon Musk’s fondness for 420 jokes is well-documented on Twitter, where the CEO loves responding to tweets with comments like “420 haha.” So it makes sense that Musk is well aware of opportunities for cannabis advertisers to reach Twitter users who like tweeting about marijuana as much as he does. It comes as no surprise, then, that Twitter announced yesterday that it would become the weed-friendliest social platform and start allowing some previously restricted cannabis ads to appear in Twitter feeds of users in states that have legalized weed.
“As of today, in certain US states, we have taken measures to relax our cannabis ads policy to create more opportunities for responsible cannabis marketing—the largest step forward by any social media platform,” Alexa Alianiello, Twitter’s lead of ad sales and partnerships, wrote in a blog post.
This policy change sets Twitter apart from other advertising giants like Meta, which bans both CBD and THC ads, and Google, which allows some CBD ads but bans marijuana ads, including instructional content.
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Americans Flunked This Test on Online Privacy
Many consumers want control over their personal details. But few understand how online tracking works, says a new report from the University of Pennsylvania.
Meta Soars by Most in Decade, Adding $100 Billion in Value
Mark Zuckerberg’s company recorded its biggest daily market gain in nearly a decade, as the mood brightens among tech investors.
Report: Truth Social ads dominated by fake merchandise, misleading users
Enlarge (credit: Sean Rayford / Stringer | Getty Images North America)
Like any social media platform, Truth Social relies on advertising to drive revenue, but as Twitter’s highly publicized struggle to retain advertisers has shown, it’s hard to attract major brands when a company’s content moderation capabilities appear undependable. That’s likely why Truth Social—which prides itself on sparking an “open, free, and honest global conversation” by largely avoiding content moderation altogether—has seemingly attracted no major advertisers.
A New York Times analysis of hundreds of Truth Social ads showed that the social media platform’s strategy for scraping by is taking ads from just about anyone. Currently, the platform, which was founded by former president Donald Trump, is attracting ad dollars from “hucksters and fringe marketers” who are peddling products like Trump tchotchkes, gun accessories, and diet pills, the Times reported.
In addition to Truth Social’s apparently struggling ad business, SFGate reported in November that Truth Social’s user base also seems to be dwindling. According to The Righting, a group monitoring conservative media, Truth Social traffic peaked last August at 4 million unique visitors but dropped to 2.8 million by October.
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U.S. Accuses Google of Abusing Monopoly in Ad Technology
The Justice Department’s antitrust lawsuit, which a group of states joined, was the fifth against the company since 2020.
Facebook approves ads calling for children’s deaths in Brazil, test finds
Enlarge / Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva kisses a child onstage at the end of a speech to supporters. (credit: Horacio Villalobos / Contributor | Corbis News)
“Unearth all the rats that have seized power and shoot them,” read an ad approved by Facebook just days after a mob violently stormed government buildings in Brazil’s capital.
That violence was fueled by false election interference claims, mirroring attacks in the United States on January 6, 2021. Previously, Facebook-owner Meta said it was dedicated to blocking content designed to incite more post-election violence in Brazil. Yet today, the human rights organization Global Witness published results of a test that shows Meta is seemingly still accepting ads that do exactly that.
Global Witness submitted 16 ads to Facebook, with some calling on people to storm government buildings, others describing the election as stolen, and some even calling for the deaths of children whose parents voted for Brazil’s new president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Facebook approved all but two ads, which Global Witness digital threats campaigner Rosie Sharpe said proved that Facebook is not doing enough to enforce its own ad policies restricting such violent content.
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Google Employees Brace for a Cost-Cutting Drive as Anxiety Mounts
The tech giant has so far taken steps to streamline without mass layoffs, but employees are girding for deeper cuts.
YouTube Reaches Deal for N.F.L Sunday Ticket
Tech giants including Apple, Amazon and YouTube’s owner, Google, pursued the rights to stream the N.F.L. games.
YouTube Stars Rhett and Link Think This Is Their Moment
The creator economy has become fertile ground for investment. Rhett McLaughlin and Charles Lincoln Neal III want to take advantage of that for their business, Mythical.
Twitter Keeps Missing Its Advertising Targets as Woes Mount
Under Elon Musk, the company has cut its financial expectations as some advertisers request discounts and are offered incentives.
Inside Elon Musk’s Takeover of Twitter
Mr. Musk ordered immediate layoffs, fired executives by email, laid down product deadlines and has transformed the company.
Twitter’s Advertisers Pull Back as Layoffs Sweep Through Company
Elon Musk, Twitter’s new owner, acknowledged that ad spending on the platform had slumped. He blamed the drop on pressure from activists.
When Twitter Is ‘Free,’ We Pay With Our Privacy
Elon Musk is not the worst thing about Twitter.
Elon Musk Takes a Page Out of Mark Zuckerberg’s Social Media Playbook
As Mr. Musk takes over Twitter, he is emulating some of the actions of Mr. Zuckerberg, who leads Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.
Elon Musk’s Biggest Problem on Twitter May Be Its Advertisers
His provocative behavior online could spell trouble for Twitter’s biggest revenue source.
Elon Musk’s Twitter Faces Exodus of Advertisers and Executives
At least three Twitter executives have left in recent days, as one of the world’s largest ad companies said clients should pause spending on the social media platform.
Elon Musk, Plus a Circle of Confidants, Tightens Control Over Twitter
The billionaire and a group of his friends and advisers are working on layoff plans and how to swiftly change Twitter’s product, said people with knowledge of the matter.
Tech’s Biggest Companies Are Sending Worrying Signals About the Economy
A series of quarterly earnings reports is showing that even Silicon Valley’s most powerful companies are feeling the impact of inflation and rising interest rates.
Meta Quarterly Earnings: Profit Declines With Losses in Reality Labs
The social networking company, which is trying to shift into the so-called metaverse, posted falling sales and said it was “making significant changes” to operate more efficiently.
Political Campaigns Flood Streaming Video With Custom Voter Ads
The targeted political ads could spread some of the same voter-influence techniques that proliferated on Facebook to an even less regulated medium.
Washington Post’s Business Struggles as Frustrations Mount
With digital subscriptions and digital advertising revenue stagnating, the company is on pace to lose money this year.
Google Looks to Vaccination to Combat Misinformation In Searches
British researchers and a team from Google found that teaching people how to spot misinformation made people more skeptical of it.
How Americans Woke Up to the Reality of Digital Life in 2022
Americans have given up their privacy. What comes next?
How Mark Zuckerberg Is Leading Meta Into Its Next Phase
Facebook’s founder is setting a relentless pace as he pushes his company through a tech transformation during a global economic slowdown.
Twitter’s Earnings Falter as It Fights with Elon Musk
The social media company swung to a loss in the second quarter and cited “uncertainty” over its pending takeover by the billionaire Tesla chief executive as a factor.
How Wish Built (and Fumbled) a Dollar Store for the Internet
The number of users has plummeted, and its stock price has dropped. Former employees point to an emphasis on short-term growth over customer service.
Gun Sellers Stoke Fears to Boost Weapon Sales
The number of firearms in the U.S. is outpacing the country’s population, as an emboldened gun industry and its allies target buyers with rhetoric of fear, machismo and defiance.
The Sunday Read: ‘The “E-Pimps” of OnlyFans’
Clever marketers have figured out how easy it is to simulate online intimacy at scale, ventriloquizing alluring models with cheap, offshore labor.
Sheryl Sandberg’s Legacy
Sandberg transformed digital advertising and was a voice on big issues, but she also denied problems and deflected blame.
How Influencers Hype Crypto, Without Disclosing Their Financial Ties
Logan Paul, Paul Pierce and other celebrities have promoted risky and obscure digital currencies, sometimes failing to mention their conflicts of interest.
N.Y. Governor Candidates Flood the Airwaves With $20 Million in Ads
With the June 28 primary fast approaching, candidates for governor are spending big to get their message out to voters.
What We Learned About TV During Its Biggest Week
This week’s upfronts, when the media industry sells its programming to advertisers, showed how much has changed in the past few years.
All Those Celebrities Pushing Crypto Are Not So Vocal Now
Crypto boosters such as Matt Damon, Reese Witherspoon and Gwyneth Paltrow have been criticized for hyping virtual currency without highlighting the risks.
Startups Prescribing A.D.H.D Drugs on TikTok Raise Diagnosis Concerns
Buzzy start-ups promising easy access to mental health medication found an eager market on social media. Should anyone be looking for treatment on TikTok, though?
Google’s I/O Conference Offers Modest Vision of the Future
Artificial intelligence is being woven into an array of the company’s products. But the change — for now — is subtle.
Our In-Person Shopping Hurts Big Tech
We’re now buying less online than many had predicted, and it’s throwing tech companies and the economy for a loop.
Inside Elon Musk’s Big Plans for Twitter
Here’s what Mr. Musk is projecting for Twitter’s finances over the next few years, according to a pitch deck he presented to investors.
Elon Musk Hates Ads. Twitter Needs Them. That May Be a Problem.
Many marketers were already lukewarm on the service. Now, some may move their money elsewhere if the content moderation policies are relaxed.
Netflix’s Stumble Could Be a Warning Sign for Streaming Industry
The company faces a number of challenges, but its problems may be an indication that its competitors are racing toward an unstable future.
How You’re Still Being Tracked on the Internet
Apple and Google are pushing privacy changes, but a shift in digital tracking is giving some platforms a bigger advertising advantage.
In Brazil, Firms Sought Black Workers. Then LinkedIn Got Involved.
After Brazilian activists fought LinkedIn for removing job ads that sought Black and Indigenous candidates, the company changed its global policy.
E.U. Takes Aim at Big Tech’s Power With Landmark Digital Act
The European Union is expected to finalize the Digital Markets Act, the most sweeping legislation to regulate tech since a European privacy law was passed in 2018.
Advertising Acts as Another Vehicle of Protest to Ukraine War
Criticism of Russia has become a common feature of advertisements and the marketing industry.
Ukraine War Tests the Power of Tech Giants
Google, Meta, Twitter, Telegram and others are levers in the conflict, caught between demands from Ukraine, Russia, the European Union and the U.S.
The Rise of Big Tech May Just Be Starting
Amazon, Apple, Google and Microsoft are expanding their reach over the rest of the economy.
Google Plans Privacy Changes, but Promises to Not Be Disruptive
It says it will give other companies plenty of time to adapt to changes to its Android software. Similar changes made by Apple affected big internet companies.