Mediaboss Marketing

While many people probably take to Google to search for the latest news, social media has been playing a bigger role in bringing news, both real and fake, to even more people. Of course, this has also brought them under more scrutiny because of the consequences for the news industry in general, particularly when page views, ads, and profits are concerned. Facebook seems to suggest that it is offering the better option for all parties involved as it rolls out Facebook News outside the US for the first time.

In a nutshell, Facebook News is a relatively new section in its app that is, well, all about news. Instead of a simple list of search results, it offers a serving of daily Top Stories curated by humans and News Sections that invite users to dig deeper into topics. Of course, theres also the promise of complete control as well as personalization options on what users want or do not want to follow.

The features of Facebook News almost comes second to what the social networking giant is really proud of, striking business deals with news outlets and publishers in the UK. In addition to its existing partners like The Guardian, The Economist, and The Independent, among others, Facebook has also added Channel 4 News, Daily Mail Group, and Financial Times to its roster, among others.

Facebook wants to remind everyone that it has been partnering with news organizations for many years and has been trying to work out a sustainable business model in the age of the Internet. In fact, this infusion from Facebook is expected to boost the local news industry, especially during these trying times. Facebook even says it is continuing not only to invest more in news but also to pay publishers for more content in more countries.

This almost sounds like a subtle jab at Googles current situation regarding its own news offering in other countries, particularly in the European Union, which the UK is no longer part of, and Australia. Google has recently agreed to pay news publishers in France but has threatened to makes Google News unavailable in Australia should the government regulatory body push its demands.

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Facebook News expands to the UK - SlashGear

INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Many of today's big social media platforms have evolved into industry giants, with big-tech backing that is made to sell you, your data, and your privacy for a profit. These platforms have rapidly changed over recent years, influenced by special-interest groups and company shareholders, limiting free speech, and becoming less transparent about their motives.

Yauped decided enough was enough and set out to create a new social media experience built on a foundation of respect for privacy and personal data, free speech, free markets, and ethical, transparent corporate policy.

Welcome to the new way of social media. Welcome to Yauped.

Yauped is a fun new social media app that sets you free from all other significant tech platforms' dangers. Your experience on Yauped includes all the features you have come to know with your everyday experience on social media, including Profiles, Groups, Events, Marketplace, Chat feature, and so much more.

Speak freely and express yourself openly, without fear of being "de-platformed" for your views. Connect with friends, family, co-workers, and people who share the same interests as you. Yauped allows you to communicate privately, watch your favorite content, buy, and sell items, or spend time sharing your life journey.

Yauped protects our community members' rights and privacy. Yauped helps people with varying life experiences and communicates on a platform that treats them as equals. Yauped believes that people are entitled to security, privacy, free speech, and freedom of expression. All personal data is kept confidential and never sold to third parties. Our concise Community Guidelines are based on fair and just legal precedent and are strictly enforced by our community.

Share any feedback you must help make Yauped better. No more hidden contact forms or wondering how to contact someone to request assistance or provide valuable feedback to improve the user experience.

Yauped Social Networking Highlights:

Download the Yauped App Today!

iTunes: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/yauped/id1542168882

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.yauped.android

Media contact: Larry Jones 567-201-1725 [emailprotected]www.Yauped.com

SOURCE Yauped Media, LLC

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'Free Speech' Social Networking Platform Yauped Released Today on the App Stores as More Users Are Looking for Unbiased Options - PRNewswire

David Marcus, now head of Facebook Financial or F2, testifying about Facebook's proposed digital currency previously known as Libra, during a Senate Banking, House and Urban Affairs Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, July 16, 2019. The cryptocurrency was renamed Diem in December 2020.

Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty Images

Facebook should be given the "benefit of the doubt" by regulators in its ambitions to launch the cryptocurrency it backs and its digital wallet, the head of the company's financial services arm said on Monday.

David Marcus, the head of Facebook Financial, also known as F2, said he hopes both the cryptocurrency called Diem and the social networking firm's wallet Novi will launch next year.

"I hope that we get to participate with Novi and Diem and the big changes of 2021, pending regulatory approvals where we need to obtain them," Marcus said at the Singapore FinTech Festival, addressing a question on the biggest changes for financial services in the year ahead.

Facebook's cryptocurrency project has been a rollercoaster since it was announced last year, facing huge criticism from regulators, a scaling down of ambitions and a rebrand.

The cryptocurrency was initially called Libra and was designed to be managed by a non-profit consortium consisting of several companies called the Libra Association. Facebook had planned to launch a wallet called Calibra that would allow users to send this cryptocurrency to each other.

One Libra coin was initially supposed to be backed by a basket of currencies. But regulators raised a number of concerns from the impact Libra could have on financial stability to issues over data privacy and money laundering.

In April, the Libra Association scaled back plans and said it wouldoffer stable coins backed by just one nation's currency, rather than a single coin backed by several currencies.

And last week, the Libra Association changed its name to the Diem Association. Earlier this year, Facebook changed the name of its digital wallet Calibra to Novi.

Last month, the Financial Times reported that the cryptocurrency Diem is preparing to launch as early as January, citing three people familiar with the matter.

The Diem Association is currently waiting for approval from the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority as the organization is based in Switzerland, the FT reported.

Marcus was not asked about this report specifically during the course of the panel.

Though Diem is described as a cryptocurrency, it is not like bitcoin which is perhaps the most well-known digital coin. It has a central organization behind it, something that bitcoin doesn't. It is also backed by fiat currency, again a point of difference with bitcoin.

The Facebook executive implored regulators, which have heavily criticized the company's cryptocurrency efforts, to give Diem and Novi a chance.

"I don't think what we are asking for is just immediate trust. I think what we're asking for is at least to have the benefit of the doubt," Marcus said.

He argued that Facebook could have built the cryptocurrency in a "closed way" only making it available to users of WhatsApp and Messenger, two apps that the company owns. But instead, the social network has entered a consortium with other companies.

"I think you'd be hard-pressed to find any company that has done this in recent history of actually building something, investing considerable amount of resources into it, and then saying ok, we are going to relinquish our power here and we are going to try to make it as open ecosystem as it can be and basically tie one or both hands in our backs when it comes to enabling competition on the very thing that we've created," Marcus said.

"I think all of those things that we've done which has created all kinds of complications in the execution of this vision is I think a good reason to give us the benefit of the doubt in terms of our intentions and what we plan to do here."

The push to launch Diem and Novi comes at a time when central banks are also exploring their own digital currencies. China has already begun some real-world trials of a digital yuan.

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Facebook hopes the cryptocurrency it backs will launch in 2021, top exec says - CNBC

In space no one can hear you scream. But on Earth?

On Thursday, FX chairman John Landgraf announced during Disneys regularly scheduled investor call that the network is developing a new Alien series for FX on Hulu. Noah Hawley, the writer and producer known for his work on Fargo and Legion, will helm the untitled Alien series. Ridley Scott, who directed the first Alien film and sequels Prometheus and Alien: Covenant, is said to be in talks to executive produce.

Landgraf said the series will blend both the timeless horror of the first Alien film with the non-stop action of the second, which was directed by James Cameron.

The show will be the first Alien story set on Earth, FX says apparently the Alien vs. Predator films dont count, which is understandable and the network promises a scary thrill ride set in the not-too-far-future.

There have been six Alien feature films to date (Alien, Aliens, Alien 3, Alien: Resurrection, Prometheus, Alien: Covenant) and two Alien vs. Predator spinoffs.

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Alien series coming to FX and Hulu from Fargo creator Noah Hawley - Polygon

A new report from App Annie today highlights some of the mobile app trends of 2020. TikTok has booted Facebook from its reign as the most-downloaded app while iOS and Android downloads are expected to hit 130 billion with global spending forecasted to hit $112 billion this year.

TikToks momentum has grown significantly over the last few years and 2020 it continued that trend to overtake Facebook as the most-downloaded app The App Annie report seen by Fast Company, highlights that TikTok jumped up 3 places in the rankings to become the most-popular mobile app.

Notably, the Trump administration also dropped its effort to make TikTok sell off its US operations this week. TikTok also leaped 15 spots to become the second highest revenue generating app for consumer spend behind Tinder.

However, Facebooks apps still make up the top four apps when its comes to monthly active users.

Looking at other big trends in the mobile space for 2020, global revenue for iOS and Android was up 25% for the year to $112 billion. No surprise here, but games made up 71% of the $112B and iOS took 65% of that total (as is typical) even though Android accounts for a greater volume of downloads.

The 130 billion downloads during 2020 represent a 10% increase compared to 2019 and again no surprise but business, streaming, finance, and shopping apps along with games saw the most growth during the pandemic.

Unsurprisingly, the time people spent in apps also grew in 2020, with the time spent in business apps growing 200% YOY, video streaming apps growing 40%, games 35%, finance and shopping apps 25%, and social and communication apps 20%.

Zoom had a monster year and its growth rocketed the app up 219 spots on the most-downloaded list to #4.

You can get access to the full App Annie report here.

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TikTok overtakes Facebook as most-downloaded app in 2020, global app spending hits $112B - 9to5Mac