Snapchat on Monday launched a new in-app feature called Spotlight to highlight videos on the messaging app. Spotlight positions Snapchat to compete with other social video apps and features like TikTok and Instagram Reels (which was also created to compete with TikTok). “We built Spotlight to be a place where anyone’s content can take center stage …
Read More »
TikTok is boosting its parental controls, the company announced Tuesday, adding new ways for parents to monitor their kids on the popular app and social media platform. The Chinese company, which has been under constant pressure from the Trump administration and US government officials over the past year, is boosting its Family Pairing controls. It will allow parents greater control …
Read More »
Facebook-owned photo service Instagram is doubling down on short-form videos and online shopping. On Thursday, the social network said it’s adding two new tabs to Instagram’s home page to make it easier for users to find short-form videos known as Reels and products they might be interested in buying on the platform. The tabs will appear at the bottom of the …
Read More »
This story is part of Elections 2020, CNET’s coverage of the voting in November and its aftermath. TikTok will be ramping up its fact-checking efforts in the coming days with the goal of limiting false or manipulated content as the Nov. 3 US election draws near. Although the video-sharing social network notes its app isn’t designed to report “real-time news,” the company …
Read More »
The Trump administration said Friday it has the authority to ban Americans’ use of the TikTok, saying in a court filing that the popular Chinese-owned video-sharing app poses a national security threat because of its relationship with the Chinese government. Lawyers for the Trump administration said in a filing Friday with the US District Court in Washington DC that the …
Read More »
TikTok is pushing back harder against hate content. The video app specifically is specifically targeting white nationalism and white genocide theory, which it called “neighboring ideologies” to the neo-Nazism and white supremacy it’s already been working to remove. “As part of our efforts to prevent hateful ideologies from taking root, we will stem the spread of coded language and symbols …
Read More »
Snap, the parent of ephemeral messaging app Snapchat, added to its number of daily users and raked in more revenue than expected in the third quarter, a performance fueled by people using the platform to stay in touch with family and friends during the coronavirus pandemic. In the third quarter, the number of people logging in to Snapchat daily totaled …
Read More »
TikTok has been banned in Pakistan after the Chinese video sharing app clocked up complaints about “immoral/indecent content.” The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) said Friday it gave TikTok the opportunity to comply, but did not. “Directions were issued for blocking of TikTok application in the country,” PTA said. It’s open to reviewing its decision if TikTok comes up with a …
Read More »
The potential ban on TikTok, along with messaging app WeChat, is on hold after the Trump administration approved a deal last month for Oracle and Walmart to acquire stakes in the US operations of the short-form video app. TikTok came under fire due to the administration’s national security concerns regarding the Chinese-owned company. TikTok and WeChat are massive global apps: TikTok has amassed over 100 million users in …
Read More »
Facebook Messenger users will be able to chat with people who are on Instagram without having to download a new app and vice versa, a move that links both services more closely together. Instagram and Facebook Messenger will still remain as standalone apps and a user’s inboxes will stay separate, the companies said. The new messaging option could change the …
Read More »
