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TikTok's new anti-bullying tool lets users mass-delete comments
After it recently added comment filtering, TikTok is introducing more features to reduce bullying and harassment.
Yelp will tell you which restaurants aren’t following COVID-19 guidelines
Yelp recently introduced a COVID-19 section on its app, allowing businesses to detail the sanitary measures they’ve taken to protect clients. Now, the review site is allowing customers to provide feedback on those practices.
Google News Showcase will offer some paywalled articles for free
As a Google News Showcase user, you’ll soon have the chance to read some paywalled articles for free.
Google will pay publishers to curate a reliable news feed
Google is investing $1 billion in Google News Showcase, a new product that will pay publishers to curate content.
Google makes it easier to find local news through Podcasts and Assistant
Google Nest speakers will read you local news, even if it only appeared in print.
Facebook will prioritize original reporting in its News Feed
In an effort to prioritize original reporting, Facebook is updating the way it ranks news stories in News Feed.
Uber helps you report problematic drivers during your ride
Uber is introducing a new On-Trip Reporting feature that will let users report non-emergency safety issues in real time, instead of waiting until after the trip has ended. Uber hopes this will be more convenient, as users are often distracted after the trip, and many don't want to spend time filing a report when they are, say, meeting friends or heading to an event.
Amazon may get law enforcement involved in more counterfeit cases
Amazon has been waging a war against counterfeits for years. The company has tried everything from charging high fees in order to sell big names to letting brands issue takedowns. Now, Amazon is planning to give more data on counterfeits to law enforcement, in hopes that will lead to more crackdowns, a source familiar with the program told Reuters.
Podcasts can now win Pulitzer Prizes
Podcasts like S-Town, Serial and Believed aren't just enthralling, they're also great examples of hard-hitting, in-depth reporting. With that in mind, the Pulitzer Prize Board is adding a new journalism prize category for audio reporting.
Google shutters Bulletin, its hyperlocal news experiment
Google is ending its hyperlocal news experiment Bulletin. Similar to Nextdoor, Bulletin was a blog-like service that allowed users to post stories with video and photo content to the app. People nearby could see those posts, and they could appear in Google Search. The service launched as a pilot in 2018, and now, Google is shutting it down.
Twitter is cracking down on financial scams
Twitter has updated its policy on financial scams. As of today, users are not permitted to deceive others into sending money or personal financial information. If you're thinking, it's about time, you're not alone. Previously, Twitter handled cases of fraud via its spam reporting tool. But today's changes detail exactly what is prohibited and should make it easier for users to report fraud.
Google's search results will highlight original reporting
Google has updated its search algorithm to give more prominence to original reporting. The company's vice president of news, Richard Gingras, wrote in a blog post that it should be easier for people to find the origins of a news story.
Facebook introduces a scam ad reporting tool in the UK
Facebook has launched a new reporting tool designed to tackle scam ads. The feature lets UK Facebook users flag online ads that link to dubious get-rich-quick schemes or questionable cryptocurrency sales, which will then be reviewed by a dedicated anti-scam team. Facebook has also earmarked £3 million for anti-scam initiatives run by financial charity, Citizens Advice.
Twitter expands its reporting options for spam tweets and accounts
Until now, Twitter's reporting process has offered limited options for you to let the company's staff know exactly why you're flagging iffy tweets. That changed somewhat on Wednesday, as you can specify the type of spam you're drawing attention to when you report a tweet.
Facebook accused of lying about video stats error for over a year
Facebook is guilty of lying to advertisers, according to a new lawsuit. Back in 2016, online marketing agency Crowd Siren sued the social network for inflating its metrics -- now it claims Facebook knew as early as 2015 that it was over-reporting figures. The marketing agency has also thrown in fraud claims and a request for punitive damages in an amended complaint, filed this week.
Google wants to help developers make better websites
Developers already have access to a number of tools that let them see how real-world users experience their websites, but until now they weren't able to see how their website user experience compared to others. Enter the Chrome User Experience Report, a public dataset of key user experience metrics gleaned from Chrome users who have opted in to usage statistic reporting.
Facebook purges thousands of fake profiles ahead of UK election
Facebook has doubled its efforts to tackle fake news in the UK. As the nation heads towards a snap general election, the company has removed "tens of thousands" of accounts which it believes were involved in the spread of misinformation. The crack-down is attributed to new detection tools, first announced in April, which can spot suspicious patterns of activity, including repeat posting and sudden spikes in post volume. Tackling these bogus accounts will, as a byproduct, curb the spread of spam, fake news and other "deceptive content," Facebook claims.
Facebook reviews reporting process following livestream confession
On Sunday a man posted a video to Facebook detailing his intent to kill another man. Two minutes later he posted another video of the murder. That video was available on the social media site for over two hours before the suspect's account was disabled and the video was no longer visible. Today Facebook says it is reviewing its reporting flows in order to help people inform the site about content like this.
The Engadget Podcast, Ep 4: All Eyez On Me
Editors Cherlynn Low and Devindra Hardawar join host Terrence O'Brien to talk about Intel's latest CPUs, Dead or Alive's controversial VR feature and Lenovo's "innovative" take on the keyboard. Then the panel takes a look at Chris Brown's standoff and how Instagram videos and Facebook Live fit into our modern media landscape.
Twitter lets you flag multiple abusive tweets in one report
Twitter has been continually improving the process for reporting abuse on the social channel, including simplifying the process a while back. The company is rolling out an update to the web, iOS and Android apps that will allow you to attach multiple tweets to the same abuse report. In other words, if there's a string of harassment, you can give a lot more detail without having to file multiple complaints. Twitter says this will not only give it more info on a report, but will also help resolve issues faster.
