Tag: media industry

The Israel-Hamas war reveals how social media sells you the illusion of reality
Technology

The Israel-Hamas war reveals how social media sells you the illusion of reality

New York CNN  —  As the Israel-Hamas war reaches the end of its first week, millions have turned to platforms including TikTok and Instagram in hopes of comprehending the brutal conflict in real time. Trending search terms on TikTok in recent days illustrate the hunger for frontline perspectives: From “graphic Israel footage” to “live stream in Israel right now,” internet users are seeking out raw, unfiltered accounts of a crisis they are desperate to understand. For the most part, they are succeeding, discovering videos of tearful Israeli children wrestling with the permanence of death alongside images of dazed Gazans sitting in the rubble of their former homes. But that same demand for an intimate view of the ...
EU warns Elon Musk of ‘penalties’ for disinformation circulating on X amid Israel-Hamas war
Technology

EU warns Elon Musk of ‘penalties’ for disinformation circulating on X amid Israel-Hamas war

CNN  —  European officials warned X on Tuesday that the company formerly known as Twitter appears to have been hosting misinformation and illegal content about the war between Hamas and Israel, in potential violation of the European Union’s signature content moderation law. In a letter addressed to X owner Elon Musk, Thierry Breton, a top European commissioner, said X faces “very precise obligations regarding content moderation” and that the company’s handling of the unfolding conflict so far has raised doubts about its compliance. As a platform subject to Europe’s Digital Services Act (DSA), X could face billions in fines if regulators conclude that violations have occurred. X didn’t immediately re...
Netflix is ending its subscriber-based DVD rental service
Technology

Netflix is ending its subscriber-based DVD rental service

CNN  —  Netflix will send out its last red envelope on Friday, marking an end to 25 years of mailing DVDs to members. The company announced earlier this year it is shutting down its DVD-by-mail service, 16 years after it gradually shifted its focus to streaming content online. Netflix will continue to accept returns of customers’ remaining DVDs until October 27. Introduced in 1998 when Netflix first launched, the DVD service promised an easier rental experience than having to drive to the nearest Blockbuster or Hollywood Video. The red envelopes, which have long been synonymous with Netflix itself, littered homes and dorm rooms across the country. Although the idea of receiving a DVD in...
Britain set to approve amended Microsoft-Activision deal
Technology

Britain set to approve amended Microsoft-Activision deal

CNN  —  Microsoft’s proposed multibillion-dollar purchase of Activision Blizzard took a step closer to fruition on Friday as UK regulators said an amended version of the deal is likely to resolve their concerns over the acquisition. In a statement, the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said that changes Microsoft (MSFT) put forward — involving the sale of Activision’s cloud gaming rights to Ubisoft, a competitor — could help ensure that the nascent cloud gaming industry remains competitive. Microsoft (MSFT) announced the deal in early 2022, but it was blocked in April by the UK competition regulator. Regulators had worried that Microsoft’s control over popular Activision (ATVI)...
Justin Trudeau blasts Facebook for blocking news as Canada’s wildfires rage
Technology

Justin Trudeau blasts Facebook for blocking news as Canada’s wildfires rage

CNN  —  Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau blasted Facebook for “putting corporate profits ahead of people’s safety” as the social media platform continues to block news content while wildfires rage in Canada’s Northwest Territories and British Columbia. “It is so inconceivable that a company like Facebook is choosing to put corporate profits ahead of ensuring that local news organizations can get up-to-date information to Canadians, and reach them where Canadians spend a lot of their time; online, on social media, on Facebook,” Trudeau said during a news conference Monday. Some 60,000 people across the Northwest Territories and British Columbia have been placed under evacuation orders since thi...
X appears to slow load times for links to several news outlets and rival platforms
Technology

X appears to slow load times for links to several news outlets and rival platforms

New York CNN  —  Link loading times to some Twitter competitors and news media sites posted to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, appeared to be delayed or throttled for much of Tuesday. Links posted to X that directed to sites including the New York Times, Reuters, Facebook, Substack and X competitors Bluesky and Threads took around 5 seconds to load — a notable slowdown from the typically nearly instantaneous loading times, according to observations by CNN reporters. Many other sites, such as NBA.com, CNN, retailer Target and other sites did not appear to be affected by the issue. The delays were first reported by users of the technology forum Hacker News. The re...