Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta launches Instagram’s Threads app, a rival to Twitter amidst Elon Musk backlash | CNN Business

July 6, 2023July 5, 2023 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Facebook has tried to compete with Twitter in numerous ways over the years, including copying signature Twitter features such as hashtags and trending topics. But now Facebook’s parent company is taking perhaps its biggest swipe at Twitter yet.

Meta on Wednesday officially launched a new app called Threads, which is intended to offer a space for real-time conversations online, a function that has long been Twitter’s core selling point.

The app appears to have many similarities to Twitter, from the layout to the product description. The listing, which first appeared earlier this week as a teaser, emphasizes its potential to build a following and connect with like-minded people.

Analysis: Silicon Valley’s greatest minds misread pandemic demand. Now their employees are paying for it. | CNN Business

November 11, 2022November 10, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

In the early months of the pandemic, Facebook only grew bigger and more central to our lives. With lockdowns spreading, countless people began shopping, socializing and working on Facebook and other online platforms. As CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in March 2020, usage was so high that the company was “just trying to keep the lights on.”

Against that backdrop, Zuckerberg’s company went on a remarkable hiring spree. Facebook, which later rebranded as Meta, went from 48,268 staffers in March 2020 to more than 87,000 as of September of this year. In other words, it hired another Facebook’s worth of staff. And it looked like the company would only keep hiring to support its ambitious plans to build a future version of the internet called the metaverse.

Facebook owner Meta expected to announce major job losses | BBC News

November 7, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Facebook’s parent company Meta is reportedly planning to begin large-scale lay-offs this week that will affect thousands of employees.

US media reported at the weekend that the job cuts could be announced as early as Wednesday.

During Meta’s disappointing third quarter results, chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said staffing might fall.

“In 2023, we’re going to focus our investments on a small number of high-priority growth areas,” he said.

Meta has about 87,000 employees worldwide across its different platforms, which include Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.

Facebook became Meta one year ago. Its metaverse dream feels as far away as ever | CNN Business

October 31, 2022October 30, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Even by Facebook’s standards, 2021 was a rough year.

A series of damning reports based on leaks from a whistleblower raised uncomfortable questions about Facebook’s impact on society; the company continued reeling from concerns about the use of its platform to organize the January 6 Capitol riot; and privacy changes from Apple threatened its core advertising business. Meanwhile, young users were flocking to TikTok.

At a virtual reality event on October 28, 2021, CEO Mark Zuckerberg tried to turn the page. Zuckerberg announced that Facebook would change its name to Meta and go all in on building a future version of the internet called the “metaverse,” proving to all in the process that the company he launched in 2004 was more than just a social media business.

One year and billions of dollars later, the so-called metaverse still feels years away, if it ever manifests at all. And the company formerly known as Facebook remains very much a social media business — one that is facing more financial pressure than when it announced the change.

Facebook is giving us a little bit more control over our feeds | Mashable

October 6, 2022October 5, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

As someone who spends an unfortunately significant amount of time on Facebook, there are so many things I would like to see less often. Facebook’s parent company Meta has now, decades after its platform was released to the public, given us that option.

What we see in our Facebook feed is often fueled by the much-criticized algorithm. For instance, if you like a bunch of hiking Groups and Pages, interact with a ton of photos of the outdoors, and post about your backpacking adventures, you might be met with more recommended posts from creators and communities related to hiking. As Facebook puts it, “what you see in your Feed is uniquely personalized to your interests through machine learning.”

Meta Imposes Strict New Policy for Restructuring Workers | Entrepreneur

September 27, 2022September 25, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

A new report by the Wall Street Journal claims that Meta Platforms, formerly Facebook, has told certain employees they must find another job within the company within a 30-day time limit or face termination during the company’s restructuring. Employees set to be terminated if they don’t find a new position internally have reporedtly been put on a “30-day list.”

The harsh push comes as the social media behemoth attempts to cut costs by 10%. A spokesperson for Meta confirmed to WSJ that reports of the attempt to move around employees are accurate.

“We’ve been public about the need for our teams to shift to meet … challenges,” Tracy Clayton, spokesperson for Meta platforms, told the outlet.

Meta hit with lawsuits claiming Facebook uses loophole to get around Apple privacy rules, still tracks iPhone users | Mashable

September 26, 2022September 25, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Facebook and Instagram are using a sneaky loophole to collect Apple iPhone users’ data, according to two new class action lawsuits filed against the social network’s parent company, Meta.

According to the lawsuits, Meta has been injecting javascript tracking code into websites that users visit via the in-app browsers in Facebook and Instagram for iOS, but without user permission.

DoorDash partners with Meta to test delivery of Facebook Marketplace items | TechCrunch

August 15, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

DoorDash has confirmed that it has teamed up with Facebook Marketplace to make that awkward exchange of items with a stranger a bit easier. The company said DoorDash Drive, its business-to-business service that provides drivers to merchants through their own website or app, is now in the early stages of testing a service that will allow DoorDash drivers to pick up and drop off Facebook Marketplace items to customers.

DoorDash and Facebook’s parent company Meta are currently offering the test in several cities in the United States, giving many drivers another opportunity to earn money. Items that are eligible for delivery are Marketplace items that can fit in the trunk of a car and must be located up to 15 miles away. DoorDash drivers are expected to make deliveries within 48 hours or less.

Texas attorney general files lawsuit against Meta over Facebook’s facial recognition technology | TechCrunch

February 15, 2022February 14, 2022 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against Meta over Facebook’s facial recognition practices, his office announced on Monday. The news was first reported by The Wall Street Journal, which notes that the lawsuit seeks civil penalties in the hundreds of billions of dollars. The lawsuit alleges that the company’s use of facial recognition technology, which it has now discontinued, violated the state’s privacy protections regarding biometric data.

A press release announcing the lawsuit alleges that Facebook has been storing millions of biometric identifiers contained in photos and videos uploaded by users. Attorney General Paxton says that Facebook exploited the personal information of users “to grow its empire and reap historic windfall profits.”