Brand Management: EU Regulates X, Multiple Platforms Lift Trump Ban
Social Networking Service: In a decision made by CEO Elon Musk, X (formerly Twitter) added pro-Trump icons to Trump-related hashtags. Icons next to hashtags are not uncommon to see on X. However, these icons are typically used promotionally for events like the Academy Awards or, in the case of #AppleEvent, the launch of a new iPhone. A representative told Mashable that the icons are paid promotions. One of the icons includes a small photo of Trump raising his fist after his assassination, which automatically appears after #MAGA. The icon related to #Trump2024 is even more grandiose, with American flags raining down on the homepage after the hashtag is typed out. These pro-Trump hashtag icons are the first time X has added an icon to promote a political candidate. In contrast, the hashtags #Biden2024 and #Harris2024 do not appear with any custom icons. The Trump icons appeared on X a week after Musk publicly endorsed him in the United States 2024 presidential election.
X may soon introduce a new feature that will allow users to disable links in replies to their posts. Though no official announcement has been made, the feature was confirmed by X’s senior director for security engineering, Christopher Stanley. The feature is likely an attempt to combat the overabundance of spam bots on the platform.
The European Commission accused X of violating the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA). The DSA is a set of regulations that requires social media platforms to hold certain responsibilities and protections for European users, including cleaning up harmful or illegal content and products online. If social media platforms don’t follow these regulations, they could face hefty fines. The EU noted that the blue checkmark feature on X is deceptive. Since Musk monetized the blue checkmark feature, the former status symbol has been rampantly used for the impersonation of celebrities, political figures, and conglomerates. The EU definitively claimed that X falls behind on the DSA’s transparency and accountability requirements. The commission also charged the company with failing to comply with ad transparency rules. X has a chance to respond to these accusations and make changes to fix their shortcomings. The commission is still looking into X’s other potential pitfalls including hate speech and incitement of terrorism.
LinkedIn is pushing for higher user engagement with new AI and gaming features. Unlike entertainment-based social media platforms like YouTube and Instagram, LinkedIn traditionally appeals to career-minded individuals. This approach has not led to steady revenue growth and site traffic. Attempting to drive these statistics higher, LinkedIn has implemented several new games for users to play and share scores with connections. Modeled off the New York Times’ games, like Wordle, LinkedIn’s games are an attempt to make the site “stickier.” If users stay on the site for longer periods, they have a higher chance of seeing more ads, applying for more positions, and increasing LinkedIn’s revenue. Additionally, LinkedIn’s AI features, which were inducted onto the site in the last year, give users a chance to generate advice questions for specialists and write articles.
Whatsapp launched a new “favorites” tab on their app. The feature gives users the freedom to create their own contacts list. Contacts can be rearranged and ranked by users for easy access.
Instagram Reels can now feature multiple tracks in one video. In addition to a jump from one to 20 tracks, Instagram threw in goodies such as syncing text, stickers, and clips with a user’s audio. These latter features have long been available on TikTok, the platform Instagram Reels directly competes against.
Facebook is letting former President Donald Trump back onto their site. Trump was previously banned from Facebook in 2021 after the events of January 6th. Meta lifted the official ban on Trump last year but laid out clear regulations and punishments if any posts from his accounts violated its standards. This current announcement removes those restrictions from Trump’s Facebook page.
Threads officially launched their Application Programming Interface (API) to developers. An API allows external developers (not associated with parent company Meta) to build their apps; they’ll be able to publish custom posts, analyze performance metrics and follower demographics, and build other integrations into the app. This recent development will benefit third-party businesses. APIs are commonplace among many apps and social media platforms such as Google Maps, where you can list your small business, and X, where you can view your small business demographics.
YouTube
Online Video Platform: YouTube is experimenting with post-upload thumbnail customization for YouTube Shorts. Though users have long been able to swap out thumbnails for traditional long-form content on the platform, thumbnails for YouTube Shorts are a one-and-done deal. Unlike long-form content, Shorts shows a preview of their video automatically rather than sitting stagnant on the YouTube homepage. Because of this, thumbnails for Shorts are only accessible when viewing a channel’s collection of Shorts. Until now, YouTube has not put much effort into video optimization for Shorts via thumbnails.
Streaming platform Kick suspended one of their top streamers. Steven Kenneth Bonnell II, better known as Destiny, was banned from the platform for hate speech. Originally streaming on its competitor’s platform, Twitch, Bonnell moved to Kick after an indefinite ban in early 2023. Following the July 13th assassination attempt on former President Trump, Bonnell made controversial statements about the rally where the attempt occurred. Some of the statements mocked the death of one of the rally’s attendees. Bonnell’s suspension is surprising considering Kick’s free speech absolutist policy. Unlike many other online video platforms, Kick’s terms of service have a significant amount of leeway. Many streamers on the platform have performed illegal acts, including streaming copyrighted material and pornography, without facing suspensions.
YouTube launched a handful of new features, including expanded access to YouTube Playables and experimental features for YouTube Premium members. Previously only available to YouTube Premium members, YouTube Playables is a collection of over 75 games accessible on desktop, iOS, and Android. Games and high scores can be shared with friends, though the feature is not yet available to all users. For YouTube Premium members, YouTube Shorts are now available to watch while in other apps (Android only). Additionally, there is a new conversational AI, a redesigned watch page, and smart downloads for YouTube Shorts. The latter automatically downloads new Shorts to a mobile device.
Twitch unbanned Donald Trump from the platform. As was the case with Trump’s Facebook account, his Twitch profile was banned after the events of January 6th. The Amazon-owned platform was concerned that Trump would use their platform to incite further violence. A Twitch spokesperson revealed the company’s stance on Trump’s reinstatement to PC Gamer, saying “We believe there is value in hearing from Presidential nominees directly, when possible.” The spokesperson went on to reiterate that Twitch does not have a “public figure policy,” meaning that Trump’s account (and any public figure’s account) is subject to the same Twitch guidelines regardless of social status.
TikTok updated its data safety measures for European users. “Project Clover” is a data separation project that hopes to protect European user data (private videos, phone numbers) from being accessed by TikTok’s China-based employees and officials. TikTok confirmed that the security gateways they previously implemented for employees only are launched and functioning. These regulations have been made to follow EU data regulations.
Instagram users can now leave “Notes” on posts. Notes are similar to a Facebook or Myspace status update. This update allows users to share Notes on Reels and feed posts. This feature is different from commenting as it is only shown to followers or “Close Friends,” and it only lasts for three days.
Meta
Industry: The EU and Brazil suspended Meta’s AI development due to data usage concerns. Both governments are concerned about how Meta is using user data to develop this new AI. Meta announced that it would not presently disclose its multimodal models — a key aspect of development for their AR glasses and other tech — due to “the unpredictable nature of the European regulatory environment.” The EU is apprehensive that Meta is violating its rules around data usage. These concerns were raised after an advocacy group tipped EU regulators off about Meta’s recent policy changes that use user data to train its AI models. Brazil’s concerns are similar and led to Meta removing its generative AI tools after questioning by Brazilian authorities began. Responses by these governments have prompted U.K. regulators to investigate these policy changes as well.
Google created a new AI guidance group called the Coalition for Secure AI (CoSAI). CoSAI’s goal is to “advance comprehensive security measures for addressing the unique risks that come with AI.” Google shared a framework for AI protections last year called the Secure AI Framework (SAIF). CoSAI is an attempt to bring SAIF to fruition. Other tech corporations have signed up for COSAI, including Amazon, IBM, Microsoft, NVIDIA, and OpenAI. Though no definitive measures have been established by CoSAI or SAIF, the goals created by the initiative and the framework strive to create collaborative, open-source solutions that will solidify security in AI development. CoSAI is not the first AI protective industry group, and it seems as though it won’t be the last.
WIRED found that Silicon Valley tech giants like Anthropic, NVIDIA, Salesforce, and Apple trained AI models using YouTube videos. These corporations used these videos without the permission of YouTube or the creators who made the content. Uploads of clips from late-night TV (The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Last Week Tonight With John Oliver) and educational videos from online learning channels (Khan Academy, MIT, Harvard) were not the only victims; videos from YouTube stars like MrBeast, Jacksepticeye, and PewDiePie were also used without permission. This raises significant questions about what these videos trained AIs on, what the purposes of these AI models are, and whether victims in this situation can sue for copyright. Proof News created a tool to analyze if a YouTube video was used to train an AI model. This may widen the pool of affected creators significantly.
Meta will allow a small group of researchers to access Instagram usage data to analyze how Instagram affects teens. Described as “a small pilot program,” a handful of researchers will analyze data such as length of app usage, following and follower counts, and times of day when the app is accessed. Not all user data will be revealed to these researchers including some user-demographic and post-specific information.
