Connect with us

Social Media

Meta’s Twitter Rival “Threads” Postpones EU Launch Amid Regulatory Uncertainty

Sources within Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, revealed that clashes with EU regulations prompted the decision to delay the EU launch.

Published

on

Threads

Mark Zuckerberg’s social media conglomerate, Meta, has decided to postpone the launch of its Twitter competitor, Threads, in the European Union (EU) due to regulatory uncertainties surrounding the platform’s use of personal data.

Sources within Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, revealed that clashes with EU regulations prompted the decision to delay the EU launch.

The primary concern for Threads lies in complying with the EU’s Digital Markets Act, which includes provisions on sharing user data across different platforms. Meta is awaiting further clarification from the European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, regarding the implementation of the legislation before proceeding with its next steps.

However, Threads is still expected to launch as planned in the United Kingdom and the United States on Thursday. The service, featuring a Twitter-like interface, is already being advertised on Apple’s app store.

A countdown timer can be found on Instagram by searching for “Threads,” indicating a morning launch in the US at 10 am ET (3 pm BST).

Elon Musk, the owner of Twitter, was quick to highlight the potential data collection by Threads, pointing to the app store’s listing of the types of information that “may be collected,” including “location” and “search history.”

Musk sarcastically commented on Twitter, saying, “Thank goodness they’re so sanely run,” referring to a Meta executive’s statement last month about creating a “sanely run” Twitter-like platform that attracted creators and public figures.

However, Twitter itself acknowledges on its website that it collects user data, such as location, device information, and interactions with other users’ content. Jack Dorsey, Twitter’s co-founder and supporter of another rival service called Bluesky, humorously shared Threads’ app store listing, quipping, “All your Threads are belong to us.”

Meta has faced recent setbacks in the EU with two rulings going against the company. The European Court of Justice upheld the rights of EU watchdogs to investigate privacy breaches, emphasizing the need for user consent before utilizing personal data for targeted advertisements.

In May, an EU ruling ordered Facebook to halt the transfer of user data to the US, potentially leading to the closure of its European services.

Threads is launching amidst further turmoil at Twitter under Elon Musk’s ownership. Musk recently introduced viewing limits for tweets over the weekend, resulting in increased demand for alternative platforms. Bluesky, a rival to Twitter, temporarily paused sign-ups due to the surge, while another alternative, Mastodon, experienced a significant increase in users.

Continue Reading
Comments

Social Media

Meta Announces Upcoming Business Verification and Innovative Features for WhatsApp

Published

on

Meta

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, on Tuesday announced plans to commence verification of businesses on WhatsApp.

Nikila Srinivasan, Meta’s Vice President of Business Messaging, shared the exciting news.

Meta’s aim is to bolster user trust through platform-granted verifications, signify the legitimacy of businesses and assure users of their authenticity.

To attain this coveted Meta verification, businesses must substantiate their credibility to Meta, reaping rewards such as a verified badge, enhanced account support, and safeguarding against impersonation.

Srinivasan further elaborated on the forthcoming features, stating, “For businesses interested in signing up, Meta Verified will offer additional premium features. These include the ability to create a customized WhatsApp page that can be easily discovered through web searches, as well as multi-device support, enabling multiple employees to efficiently respond to customer inquiries. We plan to initiate testing of Meta Verified with small businesses using the WhatsApp Business app before extending it to businesses on the WhatsApp Business Platform in the near future.”

In addition to the verification system, Meta also unveiled another exciting feature called “Flows.” This innovation will empower businesses to provide a comprehensive range of services without requiring users to leave the chat.

Srinivasan explained, “With Flows, businesses will have the capability to offer rich menus and customizable forms to cater to diverse user needs. We aim to make Flows available to businesses worldwide through the WhatsApp Business Platform in the coming weeks.”

This strategic move by Meta not only bolsters the credibility of businesses on WhatsApp but also introduces user-friendly features that are expected to enhance the overall user experience.

As Meta continues to invest in evolving its platforms, business owners and users alike can look forward to an increasingly innovative and secure WhatsApp environment.

Continue Reading

Social Media

Reddit Unveils Mod Helper Program to Mend Frayed Moderator Relations

Published

on

Reddit

In response to escalating tensions between Reddit and its moderators, the social media giant is launching the “Mod Helper Program” as part of its efforts to mend relations with its community of moderators.

The program aims to reward moderators who provide valuable assistance to their peers, coupled with an enhanced moderator help center.

The root of this issue lies in the fallout from Reddit’s API pricing changes, which led to the shutdown of several third-party apps that many moderators relied on for managing their subreddits.

Reddit’s native moderation tools were seen as lacking compared to these now-defunct third-party apps, sparking discontent among moderators. To protest the API pricing changes, some moderators even made their subreddits private, leading to the removal of entire mod teams by Reddit’s administrators.

The Mod Helper Program is structured as a tiered system that bestows trophies and flairs upon moderators who receive upvotes for their comments in the r/ModSupport subreddit.

The various ranks, ranging from “Helper” to “Expert Helper,” serve to acknowledge and highlight moderators who consistently offer valuable insights to their fellow moderators.

Reddit’s commitment to fostering a more supportive atmosphere among moderators is also reflected in the recent launch of the Modmail Answer Bot.

This automated tool responds with relevant links from the site’s Help Center and, if necessary, creates a ticket for human admin intervention, streamlining moderator requests and allowing the admin team to focus on more complex issues.

Also, Reddit is consolidating its moderator-specific Help Center with the sitewide Help Center to improve resource accessibility.

Continue Reading

Social Media

X (Formerly Twitter) Announces Enhanced Ad Revenue Sharing for Content Creators

Published

on

Elon Musk X

X, formerly known as Twitter, has unveiled significant updates to its advertising revenue-sharing program, benefiting content creators by lowering eligibility thresholds and offering greater incentives.

Within a three-month span, the platform has reduced the required impressions for ad revenue sharing from 15 million to 5 million, allowing more individuals to participate in the program.

In addition to this, X has lowered the payout threshold for ads revenue sharing from $50 to just $10. This change has an intriguing implication: eligible users may now potentially enjoy X Premium, previously known as “Twitter Blue,” for free.

Elon Musk, a prominent figure known for his influence on social media, emphasized the implications of these changes in a tweet.

He stated, “This essentially means that X Premium (fka Twitter Blue) is free for accounts that generate above 5M views.”

Musk also highlighted the importance of verified accounts in this context, as views from unverified accounts can be easily manipulated by malicious actors using bots.

X Premium is Twitter’s premium subscription service designed to elevate the quality of conversations on the platform. This opt-in, paid subscription offers features such as a blue checkmark on the account and early access to select features, providing users with an enhanced experience.

For those interested in signing up for X Premium, the process is straightforward. Users can follow these steps:

  1. Open the Profile menu on the app or the side navigation on x.com.
  2. Select “Premium.”
  3. Click the “Subscribe” button.
  4. If necessary, verify your phone number.
  5. Follow the in-app purchase instructions for iOS or Android and confirm the subscription payment on the web.

Also read: Meta Owned WhatsApp Introduces Instant Video Messages

Regarding the calculation of Twitter’s ads revenue, eligible users must generate enough verified replies to begin receiving payments.

The monetized portion of tweets will come from replies within tweet threads, provided the replies are impressions made by verified users.

These monetized Ad Revenue earnings will be shared directly with the user’s Stripe Express account. Once the minimum threshold of $10 is reached, users will receive the funds.

This significant update from X not only expands the pool of eligible content creators but also creates a more accessible and attractive platform for those seeking to engage with premium features while generating ad revenue.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Advertisement




Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending