Society
Meta Is Not A Good Steward Of Their Acquired Apps
From Instagram to WhatsApp, the fact that Meta has anything to do with these apps tarnishes them a bit.
Photo by Solen Feyissa / Unsplash
WhatsApp usernames are already raising impersonation red flags | TechCrunch
Meta says usernames improve privacy, but critics question whether its safeguards can prevent impersonation.
This article from TechCrunch highlights a major issue facing Meta's WhatsApp messaging service.
The social media giant is planning on rolling out the ability for users to have usernames instead of having to rely on their phone numbers to connect with people on their WhatsApps program.
I really hate how the Meta owns WhatsApp, which is the predominant messaging app everywhere outside the United States. So many people I know rely on this app, but it's not lost on me that it's owned by Meta, which in my opinion is one of the most evil tech companies out there.
So did I reserve my username? Yep, of course. But I don't see how this rollout isn't going to be fraught with issues of impersonation issues.
From a marketer and business standpoint, its more important than ever to reserve your brand name now before it's squatted on.
This is going to be a interesting cluster-f to watch unravel.
So What About Instagram? Yes, what about Instagram. The app has gotten so far from its roots that it's almost unrecognizable. Meta bought a photo sharing app and junked it up so much that now it's more a TikTok clone than a place to share anything worthwhile.
So as I said above, Meta is not a good steward of their acquired apps.
I standby this statement. What say you?
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Web Jawn Secret Claude tracker shocks users after Anthropic’s anti-surveillance stance
Anthropic accused of spying on users; engineer says “experiment” is over.
This doesn't make it right, but was it all users or just the free ones. Because when something's free YOU'RE THE PRODUCT!
OpenAI considers giving US government 5% stake
The move comes as the question of how to redistribute AI windfalls is being debated on either side of the political aisle.
Nothing to see here. No corruption here. Naw! 🤪🙄
Redeploying Claude Fable 5
Anthropic is redeploying Claude Fable 5 starting July 1 following the lifting of export controls, with updated cybersecurity safeguards and a new industry jailbreak framework.
Claude's Fable 5 is back! I think the main reason why it was blocked in the first part was a personality conflict between Anthropic's leadership (looking at Dario Amodei) and the US government.
Microsoft launches its own AI deployment company with $2.5 billion commitment | TechCrunch
Microsoft follows Amazon, OpenAI, and Anthropic with its new AI deployment group.
Yet another AI deployment company! Hi Microsoft!
Apple ‘Hide My Email’ Vulnerability Reveals Peoples’ Real Email Addresses
”Hide My Email users deserve to know that it may be possible for attackers to discover their hidden email addresses,” the person who reported the issue said.
Oops! 🤪🙄🤯
BitTorrent’s disastrous, legendary, and controversial story
The file-sharing app launched 25 years ago and unleashed a wave of piracy that would shake Hollywood to its core.
A great piece on BitTorrent.
Can Cursor Remain a Platform for OpenAI and Anthropic’s Models Inside SpaceX?
Cursor hopes to continue offering third-party AI models after it’s acquired by SpaceX, testing the relationships between frontier AI labs.
Probably not. Pour a little out for a great service.
Anthropic rolls back China tracking code
A cybersecurity newsletter reported that the Claude Code feature covertly tracked and transmitted information based on a user’s timezone and potential connection to certain Chinese tech companies.
This is pure ick!
Companies Are Throttling Employees’ AI Use Because It’s Too Expensive
Sources and leaks from Amazon, Adobe, Atlassian, Citi, and more show what is really happening with AI right now: companies are trying to rein in AI use as costs spiral out of control.
This was bound to happen. I don't think these AI employee leader boards helped the situation.
Kim Dotcom Loses Court of Appeal Bid to Block Extradition to the U.S. * TorrentFreak
After more than fourteen years of legal battles, Kim Dotcom has lost his latest attempt to avoid extradition to the United States.
A blast from the past. I haven't seen the name Kim Dotcom in a while.
When Your Audience Isn’t Who You Think They Are - SparkToro
Picture the audience for commercial backup power, and you probably see an electrician on a ladder, hard hat and all. And if you were to describe that
Amanda Natividad is the GOAT when it comes to this topic.
VIDEO The writing is on the wall. A good listen.
The Podcast Atlas: A Map of the Creator Ecosystem - Sounds Profitable
The Podcast Atlas maps the five interconnected territories, audio, video, clips, social, and newsletters, that now make up podcasting, revealing how audiences actually move through a creator’s full footprint.
A great study!
NumberEight | Who Really Listens to Podcasts? Why Audience Assumptions Can Mislead Advertisers
Podcasting carries a few stubborn stereotypes. It’s seen as something for younger listeners. It’s assumed to be overwhelmingly male. The “typical podcast audience” is expected to look the same everywhere. And if a show feels older, niche, or broad? It’s often dismissed as the wrong place for advertisers to focus.
Assuming is never good.
Shadow AI: The Risk Quietly Undermining Your Competitive Edge • Jonathan Eggers
Employees are already using AI with or without your approval. Learn why blocking Shadow AI fails and how to build a practical governance strategy that works.
Shadow AI is when employees are using AI that the employer didn't approve. Just like Dark Social and Shadow IT, Shadow AI can be a problem.
Why social media bans are gaining steam
How a recent talk by researcher Candice Odgers explains why ban critics are losing
These bans are based in fiction, but they're going to happen. Though probably not as successful as the proponents hope they will be.
Amazon Is Spewing a Record Breaking Amount of Pollution to Power Its AI Data Centers
Amazon’s AI efforts have supercharged the company’s carbon emissions to record-breaking heights, a new report found.
Gross!
Who Actually Owns Your ATProto Identity? Hint: It’s Probably Not You
ATProto gives your PDS operator full control of your signing and rotation keys, letting them impersonate you across every app in the ecosystem or kill
FYI! Not good!
AI Search Is Nothing Without SEO & It Knows It
The rise of GEO and AEO does not replace SEO. It reinforces the need for stronger technical foundations, entity signals, and information architecture.
YES! YES! YES!
Web Find And Funnies Curated by Brian Griffiths
"Batman" By Scott Johnson. One of Seth's favorite cartoonists. Coywolf SEO
An SEO plugin that has exactly what you need, and nothing more.
A new SEO plugin. It looks promising!
Source Source That's It For This Week! Keep Rocking It!
-Seth + Brian
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