Tag Archives: Facebook

Facebook opens data trove for academics to study its influence on elections

How does Facebook affect elections? Sixty academics are getting the chance to find out.  The social media giant is opening up its privacy-protected data to researchers from 30 academic institutions across 11 countries, according to a Facebook post on Monday. The data spans from January 2017 to February 2019. The researchers were chosen by Facebook’s partners at Social …

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Free money: Spend at least $20 at Best Buy, get $20 cash back

Today’s deal is a rerun, but last time out it was for Walmart. Now you have the chance to save $20 at Best Buy. First, an explainer: If you don’t use a cash-back service every time you shop online, you’re leaving perfectly good money on the table. I’m a convert and an evangelist, because these services have produced real savings …

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Facebook F8: Messenger, VR, privacy and everything else we expect

Facebook CEO and co-founder Mark Zuckerberg uses the F8 developer conference to talk about the future of his social network. This time around, he’ll likely address its current problems. Zuckerberg shares big, hopeful messages. Facebook’s mission, he says, is “to give people the power to build community and bring the world closer together.” Devices, like its Oculus line of virtual …

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Facebook’s privacy woes have a price tag: $3 billion or more

Facebook’s long list of scandals has only grown longer this year. Those troubles finally hit the social network where it matters: earnings. The social network said Wednesday it’s set aside $3 billion to cover possible expenses for a possible fine related to an ongoing investigation by the US Federal Trade Commission. The yet-unannounced FTC fine, which Facebook said could be …

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The 5 best Easter weekend deals

This weekend, the Easter Bunny takes care of one basket; allow me to take care of another. I mean your shopping basket, of course, because there are a few good deals to be had. For starters, Best Buy has a pair of TVs worth considering. If you already own a media-streaming device like an Amazon Fire TV or a Roku, …

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Facebook bans 12 ‘dangerous’ British far

Facebook banned a handful of prominent British far-right groups on Thursday, as part of the implementation of its “dangerous organizations and individuals” policy. In total 12 people and groups were outlawed by the social network, including the British National Party (BNP) and its president Nick Griffin, Britain First, the English Defence League, Knights Templar International and the National Front. Co-founder …

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How to turn on Dark Mode in Facebook Messenger

Facebook had been testing a dark mode for its Messenger app, limiting the scope of the test by requiring you to unlock it as a hidden feature by sending a crescent moon emoji. The added step made it fun to unlock, and also encouraged others to unlock the all-black look as friends posted random moons in chats. Facebook recently announced …

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Apple Find My Friends, Find My iPhone apps reportedly moving in together

Apple is reportedly planning to combine its Find My iPhone and Find My Friends apps into a single app while also adding personal item tracking.  The app, code-named GreenTorch, will have all the features of the individual apps as well as improvements allowing users to find an iPhone even if it’s not on a Wi-Fi, said Apple news site 9to5Mac, …

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How to slow Google Sensorvault from tracking your location on iOS, Android

Not only is Google Maps tracking you, but a program called Google Sensorvault is potentially turning over your location data to law enforcement, according to a report from The New York Times. We’ll show you how you make it more difficult for Google or at least not hand over the most granular data. Keep in mind that a 2018 Associated …

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Facebook test merges news feed and Stories, so you swipe not scroll

It took awhile for Facebook users to warm up to Stories, but the social network seems to be ready to take them to a new level, testing a combination of its news feed and Stories features.  Researcher Jane Manchun Wong, who is well known for reverse-engineering social media apps, spotted the test and tweeted about it Monday. Aside from the …

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