Social Media
Mobile
TikTok owner ByteDance reportedly building its own smartphone
ByteDance, the owner of popular short video app TikTok, is reportedly building its own smartphone. Given that regular phones could download the same apps that this phone would have preloaded, the selling point of such a device remains…
Social Media
Personal information from Grindr was accessible by Chinese engineers
When the Chinese Kunlun Group bought gay dating app Grindr last year, there were concerns about users' privacy which prompted U.S. officials to get involved. Now an investigation reveals how the issue became a national security concern.
Social Media
Snap reportedly wants more music in Snapchat to compete against TikTok
Snap is in discussions with major record labels for broader licensing deals, according to the Wall Street Journal. The plan is to add more musical features to Snapchat, to better compete against the offerings of rival apps such as TikTok.
Social Media
Vertical video haters win the war — Instagram’s IGTV has a horizontal view
Not yet sold on the idea of vertical video? The traditional horizontal aspect ratio is headed to Instagram's IGTV, thanks to today's update. The change allows horizontal images to fill the screen with the device rotated.
Mobile
Looking for love or just some fun? Cozy up with the best dating apps of 2019
Everyone knows online dating can be stressful, time-consuming, and downright awful. Check out our top picks for the best dating apps, so you can streamline the process and find the right date, whatever you're looking for.
Web
What is Reddit? A beginner’s guide to the front page of the internet
If you spend much time online, you've probably heard of Reddit. Here, we break down the terminology, perks, and inner workings of everyone's favorite social platform. Understanding the "front page of the internet" has never been so easy.
Social Media
Facebook gets a bad rap, former exec says, but we should break it up anyway
The rise of hate speech, the trolling, the comment on Facebook? Not Facebook's fault, says Alex Stamos, the social network's former chief security officer. But the site should still be broken up, he says.
Social Media
Twitter co-founder Ev Williams still wants to save the world
Social media is evil, leading to a mental health crisis in Gen Z and a rise in hate speech. But there’s light at the end of the tunnel, says Ev Williams, the co-founder of Twitter. But weaning ourselves off today's social media won't be…
Social Media
Millions of Instagram influencers reportedly had private data exposed online
As many as 49 million Instagram influencers have reportedly had their private data exposed in an online database that had no password protection. The database was apparently created by a marketing firm and has been taken offline.
Social Media
Help wanted: British royal family seeks social media wiz to run its accounts
The British royal family is looking for a social media expert to help it communicate its role and activities to the masses. So if you like the idea of having the Queen as your boss, why not throw your hat in the ring?
Mobile
New York could dish out fines for texting while crossing the street
Do you text on your phone while crossing the street? The dangers of stepping out in front of a car or bus are obvious, but in New York, offenders could soon face a fine of as much as $250, too.
Web
Creators of WhatsApp attack software face lawsuit from Amnesty International
This week a spyware attack was launched on WhatsApp. Now the Israeli firm linked to that attack is facing a lawsuit from human rights NGO Amnesty International, alleging their software has been used to surveil human rights defenders.
Social Media
A fond farewell to Grumpy Cat, the internet’s most famous feline
We say farewell and fondly remember Grumpy Cat, the internet's famous frowning feline and a genuine sweetheart, who died at the age of seven. Even tempered and tolerant, Grumpy Cat was in real life the opposite of her online persona.
Social Media
Be the master of your own Insta-verse with multiple Instagram accounts
Whether you own a small business or have separate Instagram accounts for your five cats, we'll walk you through the process of switching between your multiple accounts on your Apple or Android devices.
Social Media
Instagram’s new Explore grid tempts you to open your wallet
Instagram has made some changes to its Explore tab that might tempt you into the occasional shopping spree. It's also planning to add Stories to the grid, mixing them up with the existing photos and videos.
Social Media
6 easy ways to archive all of your favorite Instagram videos
Saving Instagram videos should be just as easy as taking a screenshot. So, we've put together a list of the best apps and tools that save your favorite Instagram videos onto your phone or computer.
Social Media
Instagram ditches plans for stand-alone Direct messaging app
Instagram is shuttering it's stand-alone messaging app, Direct, after testing it since 2017. While the messaging features remain intact inside Instagram, the separate app will be discontinued in the next few weeks.
Photography
Photographer sues Ariana Grande after she posts his images of her on Instagram
A professional photographer is suing Ariana Grande after she posted photos on Instagram that he'd taken of her. Grande used the post to promote one of her albums, but the photographer says she used the photos without permission.