Top News:
Bloomberg:
Netflix hires ex-Facebook and EA exec Mike Verdu as VP of game development; source: Netflix plans to offer games as a new programming genre within the next year — Netflix Inc., marking its first big move beyond TV shows and films, is planning an expansion into video games and has hired …
Discussion:
Financial Times, MediaPost, Reuters, The Wrap, Insider, Hollywood Reporter, NME, The A.V. Club, /Film, @tomwarren, @s_m_i, @gavinpurcell, @doomassistme, @davidwildgoose, @chrismlacy, @lucas_shaw, @thomastkalinske, @faris, @imranzomg, @benjisales, @stephentotilo, @paultassi, @ballmatthew, @chrismlacy, IGN, Polygon, PC Gamer, Protocol, 9to5Mac, ScreenRant, AppleInsider, CNBC, Front Office Sports and The Verge, more at Techmeme »
Discussion:
Tim Bradshaw / Financial Times: Netflix moves into gaming with executive hire
Karlene Lukovitz / MediaPost: Netflix Plans Push Into Video Games
Tim Baysinger / The Wrap: Netflix Hires Former EA and Facebook Exec Mike Verdu to Lead Gaming Expansion
Isobel Asher Hamilton / Insider: Netflix reportedly wants to let you play video games on its platform within a year, and hired a Facebook VR exec to spearhead the effort
William Hughes / The A.V. Club: Netflix is making video games, so let's baselessly speculate about what they'll be
Tom Warren / @tomwarren: Bloomberg reports that Netflix is going to add video games to its streaming service next year. I guess that means Apple will have to ban Netflix on iOS ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ https://www.bloomberg.com/...
Stacy-Marie Ishmael / @s_m_i: Just gonna repeat myself that the people who spend money on video games aren't the people most folks think. Will Netflix be the one to crack that? Will be watching who they hire for this. https://twitter.com/...
Gavin Purcell / @gavinpurcell: so curious to see what this is. will either have to be a second app or a massively re-tooled main app right? also, how soon until we get xcloud apps for smart TVs? https://www.bloomberg.com/...
Victor Von Doom, PhD / @doomassistme: This was inevitable and Microsoft about to start looking like one of the smartest kids in the class for getting ahead of this so early. https://twitter.com/...
David Wildgoose / @davidwildgoose: Mike Verdu worked on a whole bunch of text and graphic adventures during the '90s (Gateway! Mission Critical! Callahan's Crosstime Saloon!) so hopefully this heralds a Netflix-driven point & click FMV revival. https://twitter.com/...
Chris Lacy / @chrismlacy: Two current day fights that will age extremely poorly: 1. App stores defining software as “games” or “apps”. The lines between the two will crumble as the Metaverse expands. 2. Apps requiring 1st party payments for digital goods. This is entirely untenable with on-chain payments.
Lucas Shaw / @lucas_shaw: Full story: Netflix will start testing games on its service in the next 12 months. If it works, they'll add more in the years to come. Exact details of styles of games, and how much they do in house is TBD. https://www.bloomberg.com/...
Thomas Kalinske / @thomastkalinske: Smart move,Video Game industry is now $152 Billion, larger than movie & music industries combined. https://twitter.com/...
@faris: Much interesting Now Amazon/Google has shown has money isn't enough - games is hard, really hard - but maybe Netflix has tech + creator friendly? https://twitter.com/...
Imran Khan / @imranzomg: A lot of companies come into video games assuming it will be another pillar, but they end up folding up their video game initiative within two years. Some commit, most leave. I wonder which one Netfilx will be. https://twitter.com/...
Benji-Sales / @benjisales: I was never really bullish on Google or Amazon breaking out in a big way in the video game industry That said Netflix is a lot different. Already a MASSIVE subscriber base focused on entertainment. If they get big 3rd party support it could be interesting https://www.bloomberg.com/...
Stephen Totilo / @stephentotilo: Netflix has hired Oculus/EA/Zynga vet Mike Verdu to run their gaming operation, as first reported by Bloomberg https://www.bloomberg.com/... Netflix wants to offer games as an incentive for subscribers. Last I heard, think downloadable games, not game-streaming https://www.axios.com/...
Paul Tassi / @paultassi: That show with the white haired guy with the swords would make a pretty good game https://twitter.com/...
Matthew Ball / @ballmatthew: Netflix 41 days later: “We compete with (and lose to) Fortnite more than HBO” Netflix 951 days later: Hires first gaming lead, previously VP of AR/VR @ Facebook, SVP of Mobile @ EA, Studio President & CCO @ Kabam, CCO and Co-President of Games @ Zynga https://twitter.com/...
Chris Lacy / @chrismlacy: I shudder to think how much time lawyers/executives has spent parsing the recent testimony of Apple Executives and ensuring their plans can be defined as “experiences” and not “games”. https://twitter.com/...
Matt T.M. Kim / IGN: Netflix Eyes Video Games After Hiring Ex-EA and Facebook Executive to Lead Game Development
Nicole Carpenter / Polygon: Report: Netflix wants to add games ‘within the next year’
Tyler Wilde / PC Gamer: Netflix is reportedly getting into game development
Janko Roettgers / Protocol: Netflix is getting into gaming, and a Facebook exec will run it
Filipe Espósito / 9to5Mac: Netflix working on its own gaming platform — which may never be available on the App Store
Mikey Campbell / AppleInsider: Netflix plans push into gaming, hires former EA and Facebook executive
Jordan Novet / CNBC: Netflix hires Facebook gaming executive Mike Verdu as part of a deeper push into entertainment
Ernest Baker / Front Office Sports: Netflix Jumps Into Video Game Business
Richard Lawler / The Verge: Netflix snags former EA, Oculus exec to lead its video game efforts
Taylor Lorenz / New York Times:
Mark Zuckerberg says Facebook will pay $1B to creators by the end of 2022; creators can earn money using Instagram or Facebook tools or by hitting milestones — Facebook is setting up a program to pay $1 billion to creators through the end of 2022, Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook's chief executive …
Discussion:
Mark Zuckerberg, About Facebook, @mosseri, Vox, Variety, Protocol, the mesha tribe, musically.com, @jetscott, @melissajpeltier, @facebook, @mattbelloni, @nbashaw, @msyoungprofess, @jarroddicker, Understanding TikTok, @dennishegstad, @coopercooperco, @gatamchun, @admaniexplains, @emmalbriant, @taylorlorenz, @kantrowitz, @kerrymflynn, @taylorlorenz, @matt_pc, @taylorlorenz, @taylorlorenz, @taylorlorenz, @kashhill, @taylorlorenz, @kerrymflynn, Input, The Verge, Wall Street Journal, Adweek, Ad Age, The Hollywood Reporter, CNBC, The Wrap and After School, more at Techmeme »
Discussion:
@mosseri: Some news: by the end of 2022, we'll invest over $1B in programs that give creators new ways to earn money - including bonuses that pay them for their content. Look out for a new Bonuses section in-app this summer and stay tuned for more info. https://about.fb.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Todd Spangler / Variety: Facebook, Instagram to Pay Out $1 Billion to ‘Reward’ Creators Through 2022, Mark Zuckerberg Says
Scott Stein / @jetscott: This makes me think of VR and AR...future platforms that aren't anything without creators and content https://twitter.com/...
Melissa Jo Peltier / @melissajpeltier: Zuckerberg trying to buy power & public goodwill. https://twitter.com/...
@facebook: From artists to style experts and budding entertainers, we want to help creators succeed. That's why we're investing over $1 billion in new ways to earn money for creating great content on Facebook and Instagram. Learn more about our bonus programs 👇https://about.fb.com/ ...
Matthew Belloni / @mattbelloni: $1 billion sounds big but it's peanuts for FB and a fraction of what YouTube and others pay creators. https://www.nytimes.com/...
Nathan Baschez / @nbashaw: A year ago, I did a bit of rough napkin math and I said if I were running Facebook I'd spend $1b to recruit creators. Today, Mark Zuckerberg announced they'll be spending $1b to recruit creators 🤯 Pretty wild!! https://www.nytimes.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Ms. Young Professional / @msyoungprofess: Tell me one more time my IG post is worth a $0.99 bag of potato chips. I DARE YOU https://twitter.com/...
Marcus Bösch / Understanding TikTok: TikTok Newsletter 50 — Hello. — This is Understanding TikTok your weekly dive …
@dennishegstad: @TaylorLorenz @MikeIsaac they @facebook take a 20-25% fee too, my $1 badge (cost to the consumer) net me a $.77c payout @twitch takes 50% of these earnings
@coopercooperco: I wonder what facebook's numbers look like these days. I haven't used it in so long but still have it on my phone so it's constantly sending me friend suggestions on what feels like an attempt to make me open it. Hasn't worked. https://twitter.com/...
@gatamchun: Welcome to the new studio system, last seen in full swing about a century ago https://twitter.com/...
Zaid Admani / @admaniexplains: Youtube paid $30 Billion to creators over the last 3 years Good start for FB but Zuck needs to bring a bigger bag https://twitter.com/...
@emmalbriant: Already a huge industry, influencers are the future of propaganda, as new measures try to make state-funded media and campaigns more transparent it's much easier for opaque interests to stay hidden behind individual influencers. https://twitter.com/...
Taylor Lorenz / @taylorlorenz: @MikeIsaac Facebook's $1bn bonus program has begun rolling out today, here's what it looks like to some IG users 👇🏻 (it's still invite only but the company said they're inviting creators of all sizes to participate, not just the biggest ppl) https://twitter.com/...
Alex Kantrowitz / @kantrowitz: TikTok is (rightfully) scaring the shit out of Facebook https://twitter.com/...
@kerrymflynn: And right on cue: Here's an email from Facebook PR detailing what the $1 billion investment to “reward creators” is being put toward “Our new bonus programs will reward creators for sharing great content that people enjoy.” https://twitter.com/...
Taylor Lorenz / @taylorlorenz: In November, Snapchat began giving away $1 million a day to creators who posted to the app's “Spotlight” feature, which functions similarly to TikTok. But in the past months payments from Snap have dried up, making FB's bonus program potentially enticing https://www.nytimes.com/...
Matt Collette / @matt_pc: yes fine for $1 billion i will sign back up and use facebook https://twitter.com/...
Taylor Lorenz / @taylorlorenz: The $1 billion will be allocated among creators of all types, giving influencers an incentive for creating and posting original content to Facebook https://www.nytimes.com/...
Taylor Lorenz / @taylorlorenz: Creators can earn money by using specific Facebook and Instagram features or by hitting certain milestones/metrics. If a creator live streams on a regular basis, for instance, they can earn cash. https://www.nytimes.com/...
Taylor Lorenz / @taylorlorenz: In the past year, an arms race has emerged among tech companies seeking to court online content creators who can generate enormous engagement and bring their young fans and cultural relevance to a platform. https://www.nytimes.com/...
Kashmir Hill / @kashhill: it seems like all the new technology just keeps curving back toward creating new forms of television https://www.nytimes.com/...
Taylor Lorenz / @taylorlorenz: EXCLUSIVE: Facebook plans to pay creators $1 billion to use its products. The payouts are part of a broader effort to woo influencers onto its platforms https://www.nytimes.com/...
@kerrymflynn: 👀 Zuck says Facebook will invest more than $1 billion in “new programs” that will “reward creators” Nice big number but really curious what that actually means https://twitter.com/...
Tom Maxwell / Input: Facebook will pay creators $1 billion to stay off TikTok
Jacob Kastrenakes / The Verge: Facebook will pay $1 billion to creators through 2022
Sarah E. Needleman / Wall Street Journal: Facebook to Pay Content Creators More Than $1 Billion Through 2022
Ilyse Liffreing / Ad Age: Facebook commits $1 billion to pay creators
J. Clara Chan / The Hollywood Reporter: Facebook, Instagram Plan to Pay $1 Billion In Creator Incentives
Salvador Rodriguez / CNBC: Facebook to pay creators $1 billion through 2022
Casey Lewis / After School: Murder Mystery and Hard Seltzer
Kevin Roose / New York Times:
Facebook staff detail the fight over CrowdTangle, which notes top-engaging posts, often showing right-wing sources dominating; in April, its team was reassigned — Executives at the social network have clashed over CrowdTangle, a Facebook-owned data tool that revealed users' high engagement levels with right-wing media sources.
Discussion:
@kevinroose, @felixsalmon, @brandyzadrozny, Columbia Journalism Review, Poynter, Nieman Lab, @reckless, @elipariser, @moira, @moira, @moira, @dellcam, @jaredlholt, @baybarsorsek, @mollymckew, @osome_iu, @donie, @brooklynmarie, @nickstatt, @jessethorn, @moira, @gizmodo, @saramorrison, @dellcam, @clarajeffery, @brizzyc, @digiphile, @billr, @bostonjoan, @janelytv, @dseetharaman, @sarahfrier, @oliverdarcy, @caseynewton, @nytimesbusiness, @oliviasolon, @jeffjarvis, @alkapdc, @brianstelter, @sarafischer, @mccanner, Gizmodo and Insider, more at Techmeme »
Discussion:
Kevin Roose / @kevinroose: I wrote about the behind-the-scenes fights at Facebook over CrowdTangle, data access, and what happened when a Twitter account showed a side of the platform execs didn't like. https://www.nytimes.com/...
Felix Salmon / @felixsalmon: “several executives, including the head of Facebook's news feed, were dispatched to argue with me on Twitter” https://www.nytimes.com/...
Brandy Zadrozny / @brandyzadrozny: You may not understand why this @kevinroose piece is a big deal. Think of every big story about disinfo you've read in the last few years. Most all relied on CrowdTangle in some way. Now it seems like Facebook wants to cut off that transparency. https://www.nytimes.com/...
Mathew Ingram / Columbia Journalism Review: New details on the friction Trump caused inside Facebook
Laura Hazard Owen / Nieman Lab: “At first, Facebook was happy that I and other journalists were finding its tool useful...but the mood shifted”
Nilay Patel / @reckless: All of this is even funnier when you consider Facebook *bought* CrowdTangle and spent tons of effort trying to get media people to use it so we'd make more stuff that would trend on Facebook https://www.nytimes.com/...
Eli Pariser / @elipariser: Lots in this @kevinroose writeup on Crowdtangle. But boy, the part where Facebook's CMO writes that more data transparency will mean more negative stories — and instead FB should basically curate data in its favor — sure doesn't sound great. https://www.nytimes.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Moira Whelan / @moira: .@kevinroose's piece is one take. But I can say categorically that a reduction of effort on Crowdtangle would hurt democracy around the world. I hope @Facebook hears that message.
Moira Whelan / @moira: .@NDItech uses Crowdtangle as one of our tools to look at disinformation around the world. This is just a snapshot. https://www.ndi.org/...
Moira Whelan / @moira: Starving it of resources is the absolute opposite of what should happen if we have any hope of addressing disinformation. The tool has helped civil society identify patterns, find out who's leading attacks, and empower them to identify changes @Facebook needs to make.
Dell Cameron / @dellcam: For years, Facebook's been able to hand a certain class of reporter a press release saying stuff like “Facebook bans Nazis,” and it's next day's front page. Routinely, about six months later, we find out that enforcement effort is going very poorly. And the cycle repeats.
Jared Holt / @jaredlholt: This story, unfortunately, reflects a growing pattern at Facebook. When researchers/journalists use the transparency tools and find bad trends or tidbits, the company restricts the transparency rather than grapple with the core issues https://www.nytimes.com/...
@baybarsorsek: All verified signatories to @factchecknet has been provided with access to @crowdtangle and the service is essential to their work in detecting mis/disinformation in 60+ countries. I wholeheartedly hope that the service will remain up and running. https://twitter.com/...
Molly McKew / @mollymckew: FB has used control of their data to control what research can be done. That has come with more and more limitations and requirements, even as it dries up. It's pretty clear they believe that can effectively manage/sculpt the entire spectrum of “independent” research on FB https://twitter.com/...
OsoMe / @osome_iu: Like other disinformation researchers, we at the Observatory on Social Media use CrowdTangle data to study online abuse and manipulation. This report is troubling. https://twitter.com/...
Donie O'Sullivan / @donie: “One of the main reasons that I left Facebook is that the most senior leadership in the company does not want to invest in understanding the impact of its core products” —an important story from @kevinroose https://www.nytimes.com/...
Brooke Binkowski / @brooklynmarie: What's awesome here is that because we don't take @Facebook's money over at @erumors, we are free to point out that they have done this all along and should never have been considered to be acting in good faith for any reason. https://twitter.com/...
Nick Statt / @nickstatt: This excellent @kevinroose feature on Crowdtangle is among the most damning Indictments of FB leadership I've ever read. Just repeated, nonstop refusal from execs to acknowledge that the worst stuff on the site rises to the top no matter the metric. https://www.nytimes.com/...
Jesse Thorn / @jessethorn: This is really important: instead of moving toward transparency and fighting disinformation, Facebook is trying to hide the ways its platform distorts the truth. Read this. https://www.nytimes.com/...
Moira Whelan / @moira: Crowdtangle in the US political context is one thing. But what is disturbing is how much this drives decision-making in what is a global company.
@gizmodo: Facebook Knifes Its Own Analytics Tool to Hide Its Ben Shapiro Problem https://gizmodo.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Sara Morrison / @saramorrison: Facebook's transparency ends when the bad press begins. This is what self-regulation gets you. https://twitter.com/...
Dell Cameron / @dellcam: Civil rights groups I've been speaking w/ for years - who've had direct access to Mark, Sheryl & other top officials - consistently say Facebook is impeding transparency around enforcement of new policies, which nevertheless earn it big PR-positive headlines at major publications https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Clara Jeffery / @clarajeffery: Par for the course. Bunch of total sociopaths run that company https://www.nytimes.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Carrie Brown / @brizzyc: “CrowdTangle's data made this echo chamber easier for outsiders to see and quantify. But it didn't create it, or give it the tools it needed to grow — Facebook did — and blaming a data tool for these revelations makes no more sense than blaming a thermometer for bad weather.” https://twitter.com/...
Alex Howard / @digiphile: If internal data shows far-right content is the most engaging (Cf @FacebooksTop10) & false news & misinfo is most popular, @Facebook has more than a comms or image problem: its growth & huge profits are correlated with rage & lies that erode democracies. https://www.nytimes.com/...
Bill Russo / @billr: Been laughing all morning about the fact that the Integrity Team is where transparency projects go to die. https://twitter.com/...
Joan Donovan / @bostonjoan: Great new story from @kevinroose about the tribulations of Crowdtangle and the receding tide of transparency. “blaming a data tool for these revelations makes no more sense than blaming a thermometer for bad weather.” (I love this analogy.) https://www.nytimes.com/...
Jane Lytvynenko / @janelytv: “the tool fell out of favor with influential Facebook executives around the time of last year's presidential election, when journalists and researchers used it to show that pro-Trump commentators were spreading misinformation and hyperpartisan commentary with stunning success.” https://twitter.com/...
Deepa Seetharaman / @dseetharaman: “Facebook would love full transparency if there was a guarantee of positive stories and outcomes,” Mr. Boland said. “But when transparency creates uncomfortable moments, their reaction is often to shut down the transparency.” Excellent story here. https://twitter.com/...
Sarah Frier / @sarahfrier: “Facebook's executives were more worried about fixing the perception that Facebook was amplifying harmful content than figuring out whether it actually was amplifying harmful content.” this is such a theme within FB. Looking in the mirror and blaming the mirror for what they see. https://twitter.com/...
Oliver Darcy / @oliverdarcy: Must-read from @kevinroose. Bottom line, per his sources, “Facebook's executives were more worried about fixing the perception that Facebook was amplifying harmful content than figuring out whether it actually was amplifying harmful content...” https://www.nytimes.com/...
Casey Newton / @caseynewton: Incredible @kevinroose story about how Facebook sidelined and gutted CrowdTangle after he consistently used it to show how conservative outrage-bait got more engagement than other pages https://www.nytimes.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@nytimesbusiness: CrowdTangle, a Facebook-owned data tool that reveals user engagement levels with right-wing media, was the cause of a yearlong battle among Facebook executives over data transparency, and how much the social network should reveal about its inner workings. https://www.nytimes.com/...
Olivia Solon / @oliviasolon: It's not surprising that there are Facebook execs who don't like CrowdTangle, one of the only tools that brings a modicum of transparency to engagement metrics on an otherwise opaque platform, but it's fascinating to read about it @kevinroose https://www.nytimes.com/...
Jeff Jarvis / @jeffjarvis: This is not good. I do have problems with the methodology of the top 10 lists (we have no idea how many people see them) but more transparency with better analysis is necessary. Inside Facebook's Data Wars https://www.nytimes.com/...
Alex Kaplan / @alkapdc: “Several executives proposed making [Facebook] reach data public on CrowdTangle, in hopes that reporters would cite that data instead of the engagement data ... One issue was that false and misleading news stories also rose to the top of those lists.” https://www.nytimes.com/...
Brian Stelter / @brianstelter: Brian Boland, a former VP in charge of partnerships strategy at FB, says “one of the main reasons that I left Facebook is that the most senior leadership in the company does not want to invest in understanding the impact of its core products.” https://www.nytimes.com/...
Sara Fischer / @sarafischer: Most chaotic thing I've read about FB in long time. Journalists have been told over & over that Crowdtangle data is misleading because doesn't show reach. To read that reach metrics may have showed same patterns internally feels problematic, via @NYTimes https://www.nytimes.com/...
Erin Mccann / @mccanner: “... Facebook's executives were more worried about fixing the perception that Facebook was amplifying harmful content than figuring out whether it actually was amplifying harmful content.” https://www.nytimes.com/...
Erik Wemple / Washington Post:
NYT has posted its second recent editor's note about a conflict of interest: Karen Crouse wrote a story about Michael Phelps, with whom she is writing a book — In the run-up to the Tokyo Olympics, New York Times sports reporter Karen Crouse last month wrote a story on the enduring influence …
Discussion:
Erik Wemple / @erikwemple: New York Times discloses a stunning, book-related conflict of interest involving sports reporter Karen Crouse and legendary swimmer Michael Phelps: https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Erik Wemple / @erikwemple: This is a hefty editor's note sitting atop the June 15 story by NYT's Karen Crouse on Michael Phelps continuing impact on U.S. swimming: https://www.nytimes.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Sean Keeley / Awful Announcing: New York Times adds editor's note to article over reporter's upcoming book with Michael Phelps
Andrew Marchand / @andrewmarchand: Yeah, this seems like a conflict. https://twitter.com/...
Alex Heath / The Verge:
Twitter says it will retire Fleets, its stories-like service, on August 3 after low adoption — A fleeting moment for Fleets — Say goodbye to Fleets, the row of fullscreen tweets at the top of the Twitter timeline that expire after 24 hours. The ephemeral tweet format is shutting …
Discussion:
@twitter, Twitter, @alexeheath, Ad Age, The Indian Express, @backlon, @jeff_gluck, @baekdal, @thean1meman, @tanayj, @scottlincicome, The Drum, @film_girl, @delia_cai, @gabrtv, @kevinakwok, @twittersupport, @caseynewton, @ow, @pkafka, @howardlindzon, @robbiebarstool, Mumbrella, @alexhern, @shortformernie, @reckless, @harrymccracken, @tomwarren, @kurtwagner8, @ow, @taylorlorenz, TechCrunch, Tubefilter, The A.V. Club, Mediaite, One Man & His Blog, The Week, ScreenRant, Input, Bloomberg, The Wrap and Variety, more at Techmeme »
Discussion:
@twitter: we're removing Fleets on August 3, working on some new stuff we're sorry or you're welcome
Ilya Brown / Twitter: Goodbye, Fleets — We built Fleets as a lower-pressure, ephemeral way for people to share their fleeting thoughts.
Alex Heath / @alexeheath: Twitter is shutting down Fleets, its Stories clone that was released just last November. Why? Because people weren't using it enough. https://www.theverge.com/...
Dieter Bohn / @backlon: I mean they said the whole time that Fleets were ephemeral https://twitter.com/...
Jeff Gluck / @jeff_gluck: Good job everyone on not using this feature. I refused to click on it but it was annoying and now it's going away. Proud of you all. https://twitter.com/...
Thomas Baekdal / @baekdal: I'm pretty sure Twitter would see 200% growth if it implemented an edit button ... ;) https://twitter.com/...
Tanay Jaipuria / @tanayj: Impressed by the decisiveness here. Twitter is better off focusing on Spaces. https://twitter.com/...
Scott Lincicome / @scottlincicome: The market works: “Twitter is shutting down Fleets, its expiring tweets feature” https://www.theverge.com/...
Christina Warren / @film_girl: Love the transparency from @twitter here. I didn't use Fleets after the first day or so, so this decision matches my experience, but I love how willing the company was to both experiment and pivot when it didn't work out as expected. https://blog.twitter.com/...
Delia Cai / @delia_cai: brb making “we're sorry or you're welcome” my new email sign off https://twitter.com/...
Gabe Monroy / @gabrtv: Kudos to the Twitter product team for taking a big risk and then making a big pivot when the hypothesis doesn't pan out. https://twitter.com/...
Kevin Kwok / @kevinakwok: This makes me super bullish. Hard to kill products internally—but knowing which ones aren't working and being willing to cull them is great. And fleets definitely was not net additive https://twitter.com/...
@twittersupport: Taking big chances helps us make the best product possible for you, but it doesn't always work out like we planned. It's not always easy to say goodbye to a feature like Fleets, but we're excited to get back to work on what we've got planned next: https://blog.twitter.com/... (4/4)
Casey Newton / @caseynewton: I'll be writing more about this today, but the main thing about Fleets is: you should just be able to set your tweets to expire after a certain point. Or even by default https://blog.twitter.com/...
Owen Williams / @ow: It's admirable twitter is actually killing fleets off so quickly and publicly to be honest. Rare for a product team to try something so bold and admit it didn't work vs letting it rot. https://twitter.com/...
Peter Kafka / @pkafka: Easy to dunk on Twitter for not succeeding at the story format when everyone else has made it work. But! Top of the Twitter timeline is very very valuable real estate. Good call to bail on something that used that space and didn't work. https://twitter.com/...
Robbie Fox / @robbiebarstool: I've never posted or clicked on a single Fleet and I never will https://twitter.com/...
Anna Macdonald / Mumbrella: Twitter to shut down Fleets function
Ernie Smith / @shortformernie: That was F L E E T I N G https://twitter.com/...
Nilay Patel / @reckless: sometimes it's right there https://www.theverge.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Harry McCracken / @harrymccracken: The next hot trend in tech will be NOT having a stories feature. https://twitter.com/...
Tom Warren / @tomwarren: well that didn't last long... Twitter is shutting down Fleets, its Instagram-like stories feature https://www.theverge.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Kurt Wagner / @kurtwagner8: NEW: Twitter is killing fleets, its Stories clone, after just 8 months because the only people using it were Twitter power users. Twitter had hoped the ephemeral tweets would encourage more people to post, but that didn't happen https://blog.twitter.com/...
@ow: rip, fleets was a good idea but didn't feel like twitter cared about it much https://twitter.com/...
Taylor Lorenz / @taylorlorenz: Once again, they should just allow regular tweets to expire! https://twitter.com/...
Alex Wilhelm / TechCrunch: Daily Crunch: Citing data storage violations, India blocks Mastercard from onboarding new customers
Tatiana Tenreyro / The A.V. Club: Twitter Fleets is dead—but you probably don't use it anyway
Josh Feldman / Mediaite: 'Twas Only Fleeting: Twitter Ends ‘Fleets’ Feature After Launching Just Last Year
Adam Tinworth / One Man & His Blog: Fleets were fleeting, and there's a lesson in that
Brendan Morrow / The Week: Twitter's disappearing tweets feature is disappearing
Joseph Maring / ScreenRant: Twitter Axes Fleets - Why It Was Doomed From The Start
Tom Maxwell / Input: Twitter flushes Fleets
Antoinette Siu / The Wrap: Twitter Shuts Fleets, Its Expiring Tweets Feature: 'We're Sorry Or You're Welcome'
Michael Kranish / Washington Post:
Profile of Tucker Carlson, including his elite upbringing, his years-long focus on racial grievance, and his top spot at Fox and the GOP information universe — Tucker Carlson huddled in a low-ceilinged dungeon that had served as a holding pen for Africans bound for enslavement in the United States.
Discussion:
@brandyzadrozny, Talking Points Memo, Poynter, @sulliview, Cup of Coffee, Vanity Fair, @nandoodles, @fpwellman, @yottapoint, @mikejason73, @mmcintire, @amy_siskind, @billkristol, @samstein, @nickkristof, @dandrezner, @jrubinblogger, @karaswisher, @sykescharlie, @tvietor08, Educational Endeavors, @davidfolkenflik, Raw Story, @brianstelter and Insider
Discussion:
Brandy Zadrozny / @brandyzadrozny: Tucker needed an origin story so he attacked his first grade teacher—the one who was hired by his wealthy dad to give him extra tutoring when he struggled to read—as a hysterical woman in “Indian skirts"who shirked her duty to teach. WaPo talked to her. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ... https://twitter.com/...
Cristina Cabrera / Talking Points Memo: Milley Feared Trump Could Potentially Launch Coup
@sulliview: Here's a deep, disturbing dive by @PostKranish into Tucker Carlson, the ‘very talented demagogue’ who stokes outrage every night on Fox. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Craig Calcaterra / Cup of Coffee: Cup of Coffee: July 15, 2021
Bess Levin / Vanity Fair: White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki Stuffs Fox News' Peter Doocy in Another Locker
Nandini Jammi / @nandoodles: What's an “Indian skirt” and did he maybe mean “Native American” https://twitter.com/...
Fred Wellman / @fpwellman: Blaming your 1st Grade teacher for your problems. I don't remember my teachers name because I'm not a pyschopath. https://twitter.com/...
@yottapoint: Every story written about Tucker Carlson could start with “Tucker Carlson is a fraud, here's another story” and that would make for good journalism. https://twitter.com/...
Mike Jason / @mikejason73: Imagine being born super wealthy, using that wealth to become even more wealthy, with a fan base of millions, and yet being this cruel to your first grade teacher. https://twitter.com/...
Mike McIntire / @mmcintire: Carslon's 1st-grade teacher, now 77 yrs old: “Oh my God,” she said, when informed of Carlson's attack against her. “That is the most embellished, crazy thing I ever heard.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
@amy_siskind: A long, but necessary read about Tucker Carlson, a dangerous demagogue, whose white supremacist ideology who reaches millions and is a driving force behind the narratives of today's GQP. The backstory about his first grade is priceless. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Bill Kristol / @billkristol: Carlson has used his fame to fan the “flames of resentment and hatred. It's inciting hatred of other Americans at this point. This is why he is so dangerous, in my opinion. He's a very talented television personality, and he's a very talented demagogue.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Sam Stein / @samstein: The post tracks down Tucker Carlson's first grade teacher who says he's lying about his origin story involving her. https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Nicholas Kristof / @nickkristof: Interesting WashPost story on “How Tucker Carlson became the voice of White grievance.” His denunciation of his first grade teacher, who taught him to read, is a particularly telling glimpse of a demagogue's disregard for truth: https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Daniel W. Drezner / @dandrezner: How many commentators does this describe: “What emerges is a portrait of an ambitious television personality who came of age in privilege — having grown up in an upper-class enclave and attended private schools — but who, by his own telling, is a victim.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Jennifer ‘pro-voting’ Rubin / @jrubinblogger: frightful account of a personality one can only describe as evil https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Kara Swisher / @karaswisher: When even your 1st grade teacher thinks you're a putz, talking about a bogus story you made up at 7 years old: “That is the most embellished, crazy thing I ever heard.” How Tucker Carlson became the voice of White grievance https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Charlie Sykes / @sykescharlie: “What emerges is a portrait of an ambitious television personality who came of age in privilege — having grown up in an upper-class enclave and attended private schools — but who, by his own telling, is a victim.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
Tommy Vietor / @tvietor08: Tucker says his conservative origin story starts at age 7 when a hippy teacher failed to teach him to read and his family had to hire a tutor, but it turns out the tutor was that same teacher. @TuckerCarlson: full of shit and lying since first grade! https://www.washingtonpost.com/ ...
John Warner / Educational Endeavors: Unlike Tucker Carlson, I Learned a lot from my First-Grade Teacher
David Folkenflik / @davidfolkenflik: A really thorough piece on Carlson's race baiting by @postkranish - building on what @josephazam foreshadowed in our 2019 interview about his resignation from Murdoch's News Corp over Carlson and others inside the Murdoch media https://twitter.com/...
Travis Gettys / Raw Story: Tucker Carlson's first grade teacher busts him for lying about her: 'That's the most embellished thing I ever heard'
Associated Press:
Renowned Dutch crime reporter Peter R De Vries, who was shot last week in Amsterdam, has died — THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Peter R. de Vries, the renowned Dutch crime reporter shot last week in a brazen attack in Amsterdam, has died, Dutch media reported Thursday citing a statement from his family.
Manish Singh / TechCrunch:
India-based Inshorts, an aggregator app that summarizes news articles in 60 words, raises $60M, sources say at a $550M valuation — Indian startup Inshorts, which operates an eponymous news aggregator service, has raised $60 million in a new financing round as its two-year-old bet …
Joyce Karam / The National:
DOJ charges 4 Iranian intelligence officials with conspiracy to kidnap a US journalist, citizen, and activist of Iranian origin and forcibly take her to Tehran — Accused men monitored and planned to kidnap US citizen of Iranian origin and take her to Iran, officials say
Discussion:
Justice News, Reuters, @alinejadmasih, CNN, Committee to Protect …, New York Times, BBC, @arash_tehran, @rashaalaqeedi, @joel_schectman, @jrezaian, @middleeasteye, @mikepompeo, @negarmortazavi, @abc, @alinejadmasih, @dojnatsec, @carlosvecchio, @zainaerhaim, @lunasafwan, @alaneyre1, @samanarbabi, @julietmosesnz, Al Jazeera, @benweisernyt, @baldingsworld, @bariweiss, @nickkristof, @mehdirhasan, @danieldimartino, @ezraacohen, @mollyjongfast, @omid_m, @jason_kint, @ksadjadpour, @rayhanasat, @yasmohammedxx, @elliecohanim, @kambizf, @dy1anonymous, @reptenney, @smohyeddin, The Guardian, Politico, The Hill and The Daily Beast
Discussion:
Justice News: Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Kidnapping Conspiracy Charges Against An Iranian Intelligence Officer And Members Of An Iranian Intelligence Network
Joel Schectman / Reuters: U.S. charges four with plot to kidnap New York journalist critical of Iran
@alinejadmasih: I am grateful to FBI for foiling the Islamic Republic of Iran's Intelligence Ministry's plot to kidnap me. This plot was orchestrated under Rouhani. This is the regime that kidnapped & executed Ruhollah Zam. They've also kidnapped and jailed Jamshid Sharmahd and many others https://twitter.com/...
Committee to Protect Journalists: US indicts 5 Iranian nationals over attempted kidnapping of US-based journalist Masih Alinejad
Benjamin Weiser / New York Times: Iranian Operatives Planned to Kidnap a Brooklyn Author, Prosecutors Say
Arash Azizi / @arash_tehran: Standing with my friend @AlinejadMasih whose tireless advocacy against the Iranian regime and championing of rights for millions of Iranian women has led the cowards of the regime to target her. Stay strong, Masih! You are not alone! https://twitter.com/...
Rasha Al Aqeedi / @rashaalaqeedi: Hardly surprising from the IRI. Let's not forget that @AlinejadMasih has been subjected to vicious slandering campaigns accusing her of being a State Department employee to discredit her as a journalist and activist. Same people have gone silent today.Others locked their accounts https://twitter.com/...
Joel Schectman / @joel_schectman: “I can't believe I'm not even safe in America,” Masih Alinejad said to me of Iran's plot to kidnap her in Brooklyn. https://www.reuters.com/...
Jason Rezaian / @jrezaian: The plot to abduct @AlinejadMasih is further evidence that when it comes to dissent, the Islamic Republic has zero regard for international law. Their increasingly audacious plans, whether realized or not, are intended to terrorize. https://twitter.com/...
Middle East Eye / @middleeasteye: Masih Alinejad, the target of an alleged kidnapping plot by Iranian intelligence agents, said she is “disappointed” by the lack of an official response from the Biden administration https://ow.ly/...
Mike Pompeo / @mikepompeo: .@AlinejadMasih is a freedom loving Iranian American. Iranian thugs plotted to abduct her in America to send her to the Iranian regime, the world's leading state sponsor of terror. Any deal with Iran must stop their spread of terrorism. https://www.justice.gov/... https://twitter.com/...
Negar Mortazavi / @negarmortazavi: Very disturbing and appalling. https://twitter.com/...
@abc: “It was like shocking because I left my beloved homeland to be safe here,” Masih Alinejad says following an announcement by federal prosecutors that she was a target of a kidnapping plot by Iran's intelligence network. https://abcnews.go.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@alinejadmasih: Thank you for the outpouring of support from friends and followers. By attempting to kidnap me, the Islamic Republic of Iran wanted to silence me. But I'm not scared. As long as I'm alive, I'll keep being a voice for Iran's mourning mothers, women, minorities and dissidents.
@dojnatsec: Iranian Intelligence Officials Indicted on Kidnapping Conspiracy Charges Iranian Intelligence Services Allegedly Plotted to Kidnap a U.S. Journalist and Human Rights Activist from New York City for Rendition to Iran https://www.justice.gov/...
Carlos Vecchio / @carlosvecchio: We stand in solidarity w/ @AlinejadMasih, a brave journalist & freedom activist who was to be abducted in NY & taken to #Venezuela by Iran's regime w/ the help & complicity of Maduro's dictatorship. No one is safe as long as these evil regimes continue to oppress their people. https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Zaina Erhaim / @zainaerhaim: It's not enough for the criminal regimes to kidnap millions living under their rule! They invest their resources to abduct the dissidents speaking out against their crimes! So grateful that #Iran|ian regime failed to kidnap @AlinejadMasih .Sending you love sister ✊🏽 https://twitter.com/...
Luna Safwan / @lunasafwan: I can't express how happy and relieved I feel to see your face @AlinejadMasih. Trying to get to you physically, to pressure you, where does that audacity come from? https://twitter.com/...
Alan Eyre / @alaneyre1: Awful. If they are found guilty, lock 'me up @AlinejadMasih is a patriot and a hero. https://twitter.com/...
Saman Arbabi / @samanarbabi: FYI: Hassan Rohani (moderate president of Iran) is the head of supreme national security council. He knew and approved of what the Islamic regime was cooking up inside US for more than a year. https://twitter.com/...
Juliet Moses / @julietmosesnz: This is terrifying. Imagine escaping an authoritarian regime for a liberal democracy like the US, or for that matter NZ, speaking out against that regime, and realising that you haven't really escaped it because its minions are there doing its bidding. https://twitter.com/...
Benjamin Weiser / @benweisernyt: NEW: Iranian government operatives planned to kidnap Brooklyn author and activist Masih Alinejad, federal authorities say. https://www.nytimes.com/...
@baldingsworld: I've met @AlinejadMasih at a Human Rights Foundation event and she is a true inspiration. It is appalling that anyone would continue to push for appeasement of terrorists that plan to kidnap people off the streets of America https://www.nytimes.com/...
Nicholas Kristof / @nickkristof: Iranian officials allegedly plotted to kidnap @AlinejadMasih, an Iranian-American human rights advocate living in New York. Astonishing and outrageous. https://www.nytimes.com/...
Mehdi Hasan / @mehdirhasan: Truly disturbing if true https://www.nytimes.com/...
Daniel Di Martino / @danieldimartino: Disturbing. Still believe that Venezuela isn't a problem? https://twitter.com/...
Ezra A. Cohen / @ezraacohen: Should not come as a surprise - CCP and Russian thugs have engaged in kidnapping of dissidents off US streets for years. FBI must refocus on foreign CI mission. https://www.justice.gov/...
Molly Jong-Fast / @mollyjongfast: So scary https://www.nytimes.com/...
Omid Memarian / @omid_m: Iran has a long history of silencing its critics outside of its borders. This one, in particular, is outrageous. For years, they used their propaganda machine to defame her. They failed. Because she had a loader voice, then they planned to kidnap her. https://www.nytimes.com/...
Jason Kint / @jason_kint: Insanity. Journalists should be safer in America. A lot safer. Period. https://twitter.com/...
Karim Sadjadpour / @ksadjadpour: The details of this story are most disturbing: Iranian agents allegedly spent over $445k plotting to kidnap @AlinejadMasih in Brooklyn, transport her via military-style speedboat from NYC to Venezuela, and rendition her to Iran, where she'd likely be executed (like Rouhallah Zam) https://twitter.com/...
Rayhan E. Asat / @rayhanasat: I'm glad that @AlinejadMasih is safe. It's shocking and appalling that human rights activists are still at risk even in a free world. We must fight against translational repression. Looking away will only embolden autocrats in other parts of the world. https://www.thenationalnews.com/ ...
@yasmohammedxx: Thank goodness @AlinejadMasih is safe. How terrifying. And they arrested her brother too. All this because she supports women's bodily autonomy. That's how much they fear a woman raising her head and standing on her own two legs. #WhiteWednesdays #FreeFromHijab https://twitter.com/...
Ellie Cohanim / @elliecohanim: What an absolute embarrassment for the Biden Administration. They are well overdue to walk away from #ViennaTalks #Iran https://twitter.com/...
Kambiz Foroohar / @kambizf: A plot by #Iran Intelligence Ministry to kidnap @AlinejadMasih means @HassanRouhani knew and approved. https://twitter.com/...
dyIan / @dy1anonymous: The United States should not be conducting privileged nuclear diplomacy with a regime that tries to kidnap American citizens. https://twitter.com/...
Congresswoman Tenney / @reptenney: Journalist @AlinejadMasih is a strong & powerful voice for the Iranian people. The brutal regime in Iran must answer for this heinous plot. The Biden Admin needs to make it clear: ZERO sanctions relief for a regime that continues to engage in terrorism at home & abroad. https://twitter.com/...
@smohyeddin: Important to note @AlinejadMasih 's brother Ali was also kidnapped & has been detained for over a year. The Islamic Republic of Iran has also tried to use Ali to lure his sister to Turkey & kidnap her from there. Iran has repeatedly kidnapped & murdered journalists & activists. https://twitter.com/...
Julian Borger / The Guardian: Four alleged Iranian spies charged in plot to kidnap US-based journalist and critic
Kelly Hooper / Politico: Iranian intelligence officials indicted in attempted kidnapping of U.S.-based journalist
Celine Castronuovo / The Hill: Feds say Iran backed plot to kidnap US-based journalist
Sarah Hartley / Google News Initiative:
Google News Initiative announces $2.1M in funding for 22 recipients working on projects in 14 countries, including Turkey, Kenya, Syria, and Morocco — During a 14-year career as a journalist, Dina Aboughazala reported on issues impacting people's lives across the Middle East.
Reuters:
Twitter says governments made 361 demands to remove content from 199 verified accounts of journalists and news outlets in H2 2020, up 26% from H1 — Twitter Inc (TWTR.N) saw a surge in demands over the course of last year from governments around the world to take down content posted …
Discussion:
MediaNama, Twitter, @rohini_sgh, @rasmus_kleis, @aveeksen, @dnvolz, Adweek and Bloomberg, more at Techmeme »
Discussion:
Sarvesh Mathi / MediaNama: India is largest source of government information requests, but how many did Twitter comply with?
Rohini Singh / @rohini_sgh: India is now the largest source of all information requests from the government to Twitter. These requests include information on accounts tweeting and govts asking for content by journalists to be taken down. Vishwaguru indeed. Congratulations to all! https://www.reuters.com/...
Rasmus Kleis Nielsen / @rasmus_kleis: Increasing government scrutiny of digital platforms is often welcome. But sometimes used for self-interested, even troubling purposes, including to silence journalists. Hence importance of platforms+publishers pushing back together against restrictions https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
Aveek Sen / @aveeksen: Twitter said India single largest source of all information requests from governments during 2nd half of 2020 Such requests can include governments or other entities asking for the identities of people tweeting under pseudonyms. https://www.reuters.com/...
Dustin Volz / @dnvolz: “Twitter said verified accounts of 199 journalists and news outlets on its platform globally were subject to 361 legal demands from governments to remove content in the second half of 2020, an increase of 26% from the first half of the year.” https://www.reuters.com/...
Alex Weprin / Hollywood Reporter:
In an internal memo, ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro addresses the controversy involving Maria Taylor and Rachel Nichols, calling it a “complicated personnel” matter — Jimmy Pitaro also addressed a controversy involving reporters Maria Taylor and Rachel Nichols and noted that he's planning …
Discussion:
Front Office Sports, Awful Announcing, @seungminkim, Fox News, @alexweprin and Variety
Discussion:
Michael McCarthy / Front Office Sports: ESPN's Maria Taylor At ‘Half-Yard Line’ of Deal with Rival NBC
Andrew Bucholtz / Awful Announcing: Maria Taylor is reportedly close to leaving ESPN and signing a deal with NBC: “The deal's at the half-yard line.”
Seung Min Kim / @seungminkim: “Please know our commitment is that assignments and opportunities at ESPN are based on merit and any concerns, remarks, or inferences that suggest otherwise have been and will continue to be addressed.” https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/ ...
Bobby Burack / Fox News: ESPN to host town hall to address accusations that it mistreats black employees
Alex Weprin / @alexweprin: ESPN is planning to host an employee town hall addressing diversity and inclusion efforts later this month, and has “begun a deep dive into the past year of exit interviews to understand any patterns and issues,” per a memo from Jimmy Pitaro: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/ ...
Brian Steinberg / Variety: ESPN Chief Weighs in on Maria Taylor-Rachel Nichols Dispute
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