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After Over Two Years, Meta Promises to Lift Suspension on Donald Trump’s Facebook, Instagram Accounts

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As the political atmosphere gathers momentum in the United States of America ahead of its Presidential election next year, stakeholders have started paving way for possible contenders to marshal their manifestos and seek the electorate’s support.

A former President of the United States, Donald Trump, while addressing a crowd of supporters in Texas, late last year, had hinted of his desire to contest the presidency in 2024.

Meanwhile, of these key stakeholders are owners of Information, Communication, Technology including the social media platforms. Meta Platforms Inc (META.O) belongs to this category.

Meta, an American multinational technology conglomerate, promised to will restore Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts soon.

Trump’s accounts, with about 57 million followers, had been suspended after a riot broke out in Capitol Hill on January 6, 2021.

The social media handles, after the suspension would have been lifted on them, would afford the former president of opportunities of interacting with his political supporters online in line with his aspiration to oust the incumbent President Joe Biden.

While his Facebook account has 34 million followers, his Instagram has 23 million.

Investors King had reported that Trump’s Twitter account had been suspended following alleged misinformation and incitement of violence.

But, after Elon Musk took over Twitter in November, 2022, he reinstated Trump’s account.

Ahead of the poll, advocates of free speech have said it would be good if political candidates are allowed to reach out to the public on social media.

Meanwhile, critics have accused Meta of relaxing its policies to accommodate posting of contents that are inappropriate to standard. But, the technology conglomerate said it has made some barriers that would prevent misinformation.

Explaining how it would tackle Trump posts henceforth, Meta’s President of Global Affairs, Nick Clegg, had said that any violating content of the politician would be removed and that Trump risks between one month and two years suspension depending on how serious the offence is.

Nonetheless, the decision to reinstate Trump’s accounts has been generating condemnation as civil rights groups accused Meta of parading weak policies that allow disparaging content on their platforms.

Some of these advocates described the former president as danger that should be tamed.

Some of the groups,l including Free Press, Anti-Defamation League and NAACP, among others said they are worried that Facebook may not be able to checkmate possible future attacks by Trump on democratic process.

But, Jameel Jaffer, executive director at the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University and a former ACLU official, said the restoration of Trump’s accounts is justified.

Jaffer said the reinstatement would allow members of the public, the opportunity of hearing directly from candidates gunning for political offices in the forthcoming presidential election.

 

 

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TikTok Faces Existential Threat as US House Votes Overwhelmingly to Ban Unless Sold

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The US House of Representatives has voted overwhelmingly to ban TikTok unless its Chinese owner, ByteDance Ltd., sells the video-sharing app.

The measure, passed by a vote of 352 to 65, marks a significant escalation in the ongoing scrutiny of TikTok, which has come under fire over concerns about national security and data privacy.

The bill, if enacted into law, would require TikTok to divest its US operations within 180 days or face a ban from US app stores, including those run by Apple and Google.

This move represents the most serious challenge yet to TikTok, which boasts a massive user base of 170 million Americans but has been criticized by some lawmakers as a potential national-security threat due to its Chinese ownership.

President Joe Biden has signaled his support for the legislation, stating that he would sign it into law if it passes the Senate.

However, the bill’s fate in the Senate remains uncertain, with Majority Leader Chuck Schumer yet to endorse it and some members, including Republican Rand Paul, expressing opposition.

TikTok has vehemently opposed the proposed ban, arguing that it would violate the First Amendment and have a detrimental impact on the economy, small businesses, and the millions of Americans who use the platform.

The company has also faced accusations of being a tool for Chinese propaganda, although it has consistently denied sharing user data with the Chinese government.

The House passage of the bill comes just days after its introduction, reflecting growing bipartisan concern over TikTok’s influence and potential risks to national security.

The swift action underscores the urgency with which lawmakers are seeking to address these concerns and highlights the mounting pressure on TikTok to address them or face significant consequences.

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Reddit Eyes $748 Million in Landmark Initial Public Offering

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Reddit Inc. is setting its sights on a colossal initial public offering (IPO) aiming to raise $748 million.

This ambitious move represents one of the most significant IPOs of the year as Reddit looks to capitalize on its vast user base and unique market position.

The social media giant, beloved for its diverse forums and vibrant community discussions, plans to offer 22 million shares at a price range of $31 to $34 each, according to sources familiar with the matter.

If successful, this would catapult Reddit’s valuation to as high as $6.5 billion, solidifying its status as a major player in the digital landscape.

What sets Reddit’s IPO apart is its innovative approach to shareholder inclusion. The company intends to reserve approximately 1.76 million shares exclusively for its dedicated users and moderators who created accounts before January 1st.

This groundbreaking move not only fosters a sense of community ownership but also underscores Reddit’s commitment to its grassroots origins.

Despite its meteoric rise, Reddit has faced its fair share of challenges.

From navigating volatile market conditions to addressing user concerns over content moderation and profitability, the company has weathered storms while staying true to its core values.

With heavyweight investment banks like Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, and Bank of America spearheading the IPO, anticipation surrounding Reddit’s market debut is palpable.

As the company prepares to trade under the symbol RDDT on the New York Stock Exchange, all eyes are on Reddit, poised to witness history in the making.

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Elon Musk Envisions X as the Future of Your Financial Life

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Tech visionary Elon Musk unveiled his vision for X, aiming to transform it into the epicenter of people’s financial worlds by the end of 2024.

Musk’s plan transcends mere payment solutions, targeting nothing short of the complete financial ecosystem, including money and securities. “You won’t need a bank account,” he affirmed.

X, led by CEO Linda Yaccarino, sees this as an ambitious opportunity that could reshape the financial landscape as we know it.

Musk expressed his unwavering commitment to the cause, stating, “It would blow my mind if we don’t have that rolled out by the end of next year.”

This ambition traces back to Musk’s dot-com-era online bank, X.com, which later evolved into PayPal. Musk aims to take a page from his earlier playbook, hoping to outshine PayPal with a more comprehensive approach.

The platform’s offerings are set to include high-yield money market accounts, debit cards, checks, and loan services. Musk’s endgame? An ecosystem that empowers users to send money worldwide instantly and in real-time.

However, this transformation is not without its challenges. Elon Musk must convince users of the necessity of such an all-encompassing platform while gaining their trust with their financial lives.

The vision of X as an “everything app” resonates with the rise of super apps like WeChat in China, which provide users with access to a myriad of services, from shopping to transportation.

As X positions itself to revolutionize the financial industry, Musk’s audacious endeavor promises to change the way we handle money, potentially eliminating the need for traditional banking as we know it.

The world watches with bated breath to see if Musk’s bold vision will become a reality.

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