Meira Gebel
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Author/Co-Author of 135 articles
Meira Gebel is a freelance reporter based in Portland. She writes about tech, social media, and internet culture for Digital Trends. Her work has been featured in Business Insider, USA Today, Willamette Week, Detroit Free Press, San Francisco Business Times, and more. Got a tip? Or just want to chat about the Kardashians? Twitter DMs are always open.
Conspiracy theories already spreading ahead of Trump-Biden presidential debate
Right-wing conspiracy theory accounts connected to the group QAnon have been spreading misinformation on Facebook ahead of the first presidential debate.
How to talk to your friends and family about misinformation and conspiracy theories
When confronting a family member who shared a post about a conspiracy theory, exercising empathy is first and foremost, experts say.
TikTok vows to challenge Trump’s ‘unjust’ ban
TikTok said it is prepared to challenge President Donald Trump's ban of the app, calling the president's order to remove the app from app stores unjust.
TikTok users mourn, mobilize after Trump moves forward with ban
Creators and users took to TikTok to say their goodbyes — but also voice their dissent — after the Trump administration moved forward with a ban.
How Twitter cut activity on QAnon content by half
Twitter said in the two months since it banned thousands of QAnon-related accounts, activity on QAnon content has been cut in half.
Dozens of celebrities call for one-day boycott of Facebook, Instagram
Dozens of celebrities have joined in a one-day boycott of Facebook led by the Stop Hate for Profit campaign against hate speech on the social media platform.
Bill Gates doesn’t expect a coronavirus vaccine by the end of the year
Microsoft co-founder and philanthropic billionaire Bill Gates said he doesn't anticipate a coronavirus vaccine to be ready by next month.
Black Lives Matter and MAGA hats: Activism and politics are flooding dating apps
More and more singles are using their dating app bios to showcase their stance on politics and social justice. But is it performative activism?
Mark Zuckerberg: Facebook made ‘operational mistake’ before Kenosha shooting
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg addressed his company's response to the Kenosha, Wisconsin, shooting that left two dead.
Walmart joins Microsoft in TikTok acquisition bid, Oracle offers $20 billion
Walmart has reportedly joined forces with Microsoft in a bid to purchase the popular social media app TikTok. But they aren't the only parties interested.
Facebook calls Kenosha shooting mass murder after event promoted call to arms
In a statement on Wednesday, Facebook denounced the shooting in Kenosha, Wisconsin, as a "mass murder" after an event on its platform promoted the use of violence.
What is QAnon and where did it come from?
QAnon is a far-right conspiracy theory that has gained mainstream attention thanks to coordinated behavior on social media.
Facebook removes nearly 800 QAnon-related groups, pages, hashtags, and ads
The social media platform said it will continue to restrict and remove content and accounts that "support violent acts" in a statement on Wednesday.
Lyft also threatens to shut down California operations over worker law
Lyft executives said in an earnings call Wednesday night that it is likely it will suspend California operations over a new law for contractors.
Facebook, Google, Microsoft, and Twitter team up to fight election interference
Google, Facebook, Twitter, and Microsoft are teaming up to form a new coalition against election interference ahead of the 2020 presidential election.
TikTok creators say they’re not switching to Instagram Reels, survey finds
Don't expect TikTok creators to make the jump to Instagram Reels anytime soon. Many are sticking with TikTok because of its preferable algorithms.
Twitter will start labeling state-affiliated media accounts
Right now, the labels will only apply to the five countries in the United Nations Security Council: Russia, France, the U.S., China, and the U.K.
Does Instagram Reels stand a chance against TikTok?
Instagram launched its TikTok competitor 'Reels' Wednesday, as a way for creators to make bite-size content. But will creators make the jump?
Microsoft reportedly in talks to buy TikTok’s U.S. operations
Microsoft is in talks buy the popular, fast-growing social media app TikTok after President Trump ordered ByteDance to sell its U.S. stake in the app.
Zuckerberg defends Facebook’s misinformation and hate policies in earnings call
During Thursday's second-quarter earnings call, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said, "We do not profit from misinformation or hate."
What boycott? Facebook earnings unaffected by advertising revolt
In an earning report released Thursday, Facebook reported that it will see largely the same amount of revenue despite a public advertising boycott.
Leading Dem says Apple, Google, Facebook, and Amazon have ‘monopoly power’
Wednesday's hearing on antitrust issues within Big Tech was scattered, but Democrats focused in on how to end monopolizing within the industry.
Zuckerberg slammed over coronavirus hoaxes: ‘You can’t contain deadly content’
Rep. David Cicilline accused CEO Mark Zuckerberg of allowing coronavirus hoaxes and misinformation to spread on Facebook because it's "good for business."
Jayapal accuses Facebook of threatening to clone Instagram before buying it
In Wednesday's antitrust hearing, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg was grilled about his company's decision to acquire Instagram in 2012.
Snapchat releases its diversity report during Big Tech antitrust hearing
Snapchat released its highly anticipated diversity report Wednesday, detailing that Black and Hispanic people make up less than 5% of the company.
Zuckerberg to tell Congress that Instagram, WhatsApp needed Facebook to succeed
Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg plans to tell Congress that Instagram and WhatsApp would not have been able to succeed without his company's resources,
YouTube is trying to crack down on QAnon videos. It’s not working
Digital Trends found that YouTube's algorithm recommends QAnon-related content, despite the company's claim that it's trying to hide the videos.
Far-right conspiracy group QAnon is surging with TikTok teens
The social media platform, popular among teens and younger generations, has seen an increase in far-right conspiracy content.
