eicker.media ❖ social media

Social media has transformed real estate marketing, letting sellers reach buyers through algorithms without traditional platforms or agents. While it cuts costs and expands reach, it also brings risks including property scams that cost Australians 43.2M AUD in 2024. https://theconversation.com/social-media-has-supercharged-real-estate-marketing-and-made-it-cheaper-but-it-also-brings-risks-276155 #Media #SocialMedia #SocialCommerce

Meta is expanding its content protection tools to help creators report impersonators more easily. The new unified dashboard allows creators to flag when their reels are detected across Facebook after being published by impersonators. The company removed 20M accounts last year and saw a 33% drop in impersonation reports targeting large creators. https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/13/facebook-makes-it-easier-for-creators-to-report-impersonators/ #Media #SocialMedia #CreatorEconomy #Meta

LinkedIn has updated its feed algorithm with advanced AI systems that better understand post context and user interests. The new LLM-based ranking can identify semantic connections between topics, like linking electrical engineering to small modular reactors, improving content recommendations. The system adapts to evolving user interests rather than relying on historical engagement patterns. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/linkedin-updates-its-feed-algorithm/814638/ #Media #SocialMedia #AI #LinkedIn

#Digg is #downsizing its team due to challenges in finding product-market fit, including a significant #botproblem and the strong pull of existing social platforms. Despite these setbacks, Digg is not shutting down and is reimagining its approach with the return of founder Kevin Rose. The company remains committed to building a trustworthy online community. https://digg.com/?eicker.media #media #socialmedia

A woman who spent up to 16 hours daily on Instagram is suing Meta in a landmark case that could affect 2,000+ similar lawsuits. She claims the platform's design caused her addiction and mental health harm. The case is being watched closely by parents who blame social media for their children's deaths. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0mg3zd7xwpo #Media #SocialNews #Meta

Americans view data centers negatively: only 4% say they're good for the environment, 6% for jobs and 6% for quality of life nearby. A new Pew survey finds most believe data centers harm the environment, increase home energy costs and reduce quality of life in surrounding communities. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/03/12/how-americans-view-data-centers-impact-in-key-areas-from-the-environment-to-jobs/ #Media #SocialMedia #AI #Pew

Khaby Lame, the world's most followed TikToker with over 160M followers, sold his company for 975M USD to Rich Sparkle. The deal transfers rights to his image, voice and behavioral models to create an AI-powered digital twin for multilingual content and livestream e-commerce, potentially generating over 4B USD in annual sales. https://theconversation.com/khaby-lame-is-the-worlds-most-followed-tiktoker-the-story-of-a-senegalese-born-star-who-sold-his-identity-276910 #Media #SocialMedia #CreatorEconomy #TikTok

Snapchat users are twice as likely to sign up with a telecom provider after seeing content from creators, a new report shows. The survey of 800+ US consumers found that Snapchatters are more aware of their telco options and often switch plans after major life milestones. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/snapchat-influences-telecommunications-purchases/814634/ #Media #SocialMedia #SocialCommerce #Snapchat

LinkedIn is testing an AI-powered interview screening feature that lets hiring professionals use AI interviewers to manage initial candidate assessments. The platform is in early stages of implementing this candidate assessment tool. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/linkedin-tests-out-ai-powered-interview-screening/814636/ #Media #SocialMedia #AI #LinkedIn

Meta is adding AI tools to Facebook Marketplace that let users upload a photo and get an AI-generated listing with recommended pricing based on similar items. The update also includes prepaid shipping labels and AI-powered auto-replies to buyer questions. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/facebook-adds-ai-powered-updates-to-marketplace/814639/ #Media #SocialMedia #AI #Meta

Kenyan data labelers who train AI chatbots for major tech companies earn just a few dollars a day while suffering PTSD, insomnia, and other trauma from viewing harmful content. The Data Labelers Association is now fighting for better pay and mental health support. https://www.404media.co/ai-is-african-intelligence-the-workers-who-train-ai-are-fighting-back/ #Media #SocialMedia #AI

Half of US adults say increased AI use makes them feel more concerned than excited, up from 37% in 2021. Only 10% are more excited than concerned. Americans are more optimistic about AI in medical care (44% positive) than education (24%) or jobs (23%). The public remains cautious about AI's impact on creativity and relationships. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/03/12/key-findings-about-how-americans-view-artificial-intelligence/ #Media #SocialMedia #AI #Pew

UK regulators have told Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube, Roblox and X to strengthen age verification for under-13s, saying the platforms are failing to put children's safety at the heart of their products. Ofcom said companies have not gone far enough to protect younger children. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn48n18pg1eo #Media #SocialMedia #UK #Ofcom

Meta has added new features to its Edits video editing app, including freeze frame to pause on specific frames, personalized sound effects that match video content, and a voiceover teleprompter. The updates aim to help creators produce better Reels and short-form video content. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/meta-adds-new-tools-including-freeze-frame-to-edits/814508/ #Media #SocialMedia #ShortFormVideo #Meta

TikTok now lets Apple Music users play full songs directly in the app, overcoming the typical 30-second preview limit imposed by music licensing. Users can save tracks to Your Music and add them to Apple Music playlists, creating a seamless discovery-to-listening experience. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/tiktok-adds-full-song-apple-music-streams-to-app/814503/ #Media #SocialMedia #ShortFormVideo #TikTok

AltStore PAL, the alternative iOS app store, has joined the fediverse using its own Mastodon server. This allows iOS developers to share app updates and alerts across platforms like Mastodon and Threads, advancing the open social web. https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/11/alternative-app-store-altstore-pal-joins-the-fediverse/ #Media #SocialMedia #CommunityPlatforms #AltStore

#Oracle disclosed a $2 billion stake in #TikTok’s US operations, following a national security law requiring #ByteDance to sell its US operations. Oracle, Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi’s MGX control the majority of the new entity, with Oracle housing all US user data and acting as the security provider. https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/11/oracle-tiktok-us-stake-outages.html?eicker.media #media #socialmedia

Cognitive scientists warn that offloading thinking to AI risks eroding critical thinking skills and overall cognitive ability. Research shows high AI use linked to increased laziness, anxiety, and dependence. The key is remaining in control of what we choose to offload - not letting AI replace our thinking entirely. https://theconversation.com/its-tempting-to-offload-your-thinking-to-ai-cognitive-science-shows-why-thats-a-bad-idea-276766 #AIagent #AI #GenAI #AIEthics

Digital platforms deliberately amplify negative content to capture attention: Research shows users are nearly twice as likely to share news that evokes strong emotions, creating incentives for outrage-based engagement. The result is a feedback loop that spreads misinformation and conflict. https://theconversation.com/digital-media-is-using-negativity-to-steal-our-attention-heres-how-to-reclaim-it-274101 #Media #SocialMedia #AI

Northern Ireland's Education Minister Paul Givan says he is sympathetic to calls for a social media ban for under-16s, following Australia's lead. The DUP minister has been observing Australia's ban on platforms including Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Regulation of social media is not devolved to Stormont. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgk20ngdx8no #Media #SocialMedia #UK

Indonesia has announced it will ban TikTok, YouTube, Roblox and other popular online platforms for children under 16, becoming the latest country to restrict young people's access to digital spaces in an effort to protect them from abuse. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg50168ddgo #Media #SocialMedia #Indonesia #TikTok

X (formerly Twitter) has removed the night mode setting from its app: Users now need to change their device settings to activate dark mode, rather than controlling it within X. The change aligns with TikTok and YouTube's approach. Some users are frustrated at losing in-app control. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/x-formerly-twitter-removes-dark-mode-night-mode-option/814011/ #Media #SocialMedia #DataPrivacy

Retail and grocery brands dominate ChatGPT ads: Since OpenAI began running ads four weeks ago, more than 100 individual brand promotions have appeared on the platform, with retail and grocery leading the way. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/retail-and-grocery-brands-dominate-chatgpt-ads/814008/ #Media #SocialMedia #AI

South Yorkshire Police has increased patrols due to a 'school wars' social media trend: Posts dividing schools into teams and telling students to fight for 'points' have spread across the UK. Police say they have received no reports of criminal offences or injuries. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czx4rnvnd10o #Media #SocialMedia

X is testing a new ad format that connects posts with products: An ad test on X promotes Musk's Starlink beneath original content, integrating e-commerce directly into the feed. https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/06/x-is-testing-a-new-ad-format-that-connects-posts-with-products/ #Media #SocialMedia #X

TikTok ads drive movie ticket purchases: New data shows TikTok ads for films drove a median +172% lift in ticket purchase rate compared to non-exposed users, across 38 theatrical campaigns from 2023-2025. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/tiktok-ad-campaigns-drive-movie-ticket-purchases/814005/ #Media #SocialMedia #TikTok

Indonesia bans social media for under 16s: The country says it will ban TikTok, YouTube, Roblox and other popular online platforms for children under 16, becoming the latest nation to curb young people's access to digital spaces to protect them from abuse. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg50168ddgo #Media #SocialMedia

German publisher Axel #Springer acquired the #DailyTelegraph for $770 million, surpassing a rival offer from the Daily Mail and General Trust. https://www.wsj.com/business/media/axel-springer-strikes-770-million-deal-for-u-k-s-daily-telegraph-f6ac9073?eicker.media #media #socialmedia

Instagram addiction lawsuit goes to trial: For the first time, an American jury will decide whether platform design itself can give rise to product liability - not because of what users post, but because of how platforms were built. The case involves 1,600 plaintiffs. https://theconversation.com/how-instagram-addictiveness-lawsuit-could-reshape-social-media-platform-design-meets-product-liability-277066 #Media #SocialMedia #AI

Proton Mail helped FBI unmask anonymous Stop Cop City protester: Privacy-focused email provider Proton Mail handed over payment data to Swiss authorities, which gave it to the FBI to identify an anonymous account tied to the Atlanta protest movement. https://www.404media.co/proton-mail-helped-fbi-unmask-anonymous-stop-cop-city-protestor/ #Media #SocialMedia #DataPrivacy

Meta will let rival AI chatbots on WhatsApp in EU: The company was pressured by the EU Commission to allow competitors access in an effort to prevent regulatory proceedings. This marks a significant concession for the tech giant. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/meta-to-let-rival-ai-chatbots-on-whatsapp-in-eu/814007/ #Media #SocialMedia #AI

Meta is facing UK and US investigations over its AI smart glasses: Contractors in Kenya have been reviewing private intimate content captured by the glasses, including bathroom visits and sex, for AI training data. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/meta-faces-uk-and-us-investigations-over-ai-smart-glasses/814009/ #Media #SocialMedia #DataPrivacy

X is revamping its Creator Subscriptions with new features: The platform now offers exclusive threads that let creators monetize posts directly, shareable subscription cards for promotion, and a new dashboard for tracking earnings. https://techcrunch.com/2026/03/05/x-revamps-creator-subscriptions-with-new-features-like-exclusive-threads-and-shareable-cards/ #Media #SocialMedia #CreatorEconomy

X usage declined by nearly 15% in the EU in the second half of 2025: The platform dropped from just over 76 million active EU users to 64.8 million, despite X claiming record-high usage figures. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/x-formerly-twitter-sees-decline-eu-users-h2-2025/813715/ #Media #SocialMedia #X

TikTok says it won't use end-to-end encryption for Direct Messages: The company told the BBC the security measure would impede police investigations, setting it apart from WhatsApp and Messenger. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/tiktok-rules-out-using-end-to-end-message-encryption/813854/ #Media #SocialMedia #DataPrivacy

Google's Preferred Sources feature lets users in Australia and New Zealand select preferred news outlets: The feature gives users more control but raises concerns about filter bubbles and data privacy. https://theconversation.com/are-googles-preferred-sources-a-good-thing-for-online-news-277372 #Media #SocialMedia #AI

In 2026 online privacy is a luxury, not a right: A UK analyst warns that despite more privacy controls, people have less privacy than ever, with data used as currency for free services. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gj39zk1k0o #Media #SocialMedia #DataPrivacy

TikTok says it will not add end-to-end encryption to direct messages, citing user safety concerns. The platform differs from WhatsApp and Messenger which already use this privacy feature. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly2m5e5ke4o #Media #SocialMedia #Privacy

#Mastodon has introduced a new official #Share tool for website owners to integrate, making it easier for users to share content to their Mastodon accounts. The tool works entirely in the #browser, is #opensource, and allows users to share to multiple accounts. https://blog.joinmastodon.org/2026/03/a-new-share-button/?eicker.media #media #socialmedia

Snapchat launches creator subscriptions in the US, letting creators set their monthly subscription price. The move marks Snapchat's entry into the creator economy space, joining platforms like YouTube and Patreon that allow fans to support creators directly. https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/17/snapchat-launches-creator-subscription-in-the-u-s/ #Media #SocialMedia #CreatorEconomy

Instagram head pressed on lengthy delay to launch teen safety features: A court filing reveals the platform faced internal debates over safety tools like a nudity filter for years before launching them. https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/24/instagram-head-pressed-on-lengthy-delay-to-launch-teen-safety-features-like-a-nudity-filter-court-filing-reveals/ #Media #SocialMedia #AI

A new app warns users if someone nearby is wearing smart glasses like Meta's Ray-Bans: The app scans for distinctive Bluetooth signatures and sends push alerts when it detects potential smart glasses in the area. https://www.404media.co/this-app-warns-you-if-someone-is-wearing-smart-glasses-nearby/ #Media #SocialMedia #Privacy

Reddit has been fined £14m by the UK data watchdog over age check failings, highlighting ongoing concerns about platform data privacy practices. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyx0xggepjo #Media #SocialMedia #Privacy

Instagram is emphasizing Reels in a new design update: Customizable feed options and a new Your Feeds center give users another way to access Reels content. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/instagram-emphasizes-reels-in-new-design-update/812912/ #Media #SocialMedia #Video

Mastodon, the decentralized social network seen as an alternative to X, is rolling out new features aimed at creators. The platform plans to add tools for content monetization and improved discovery mechanisms. https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/18/mastodon-a-decentralized-alternative-to-x-plans-to-target-creators-with-new-features/ #Media #SocialMedia #Community #Creator

X is testing a new AI labeling system to combat the rise of AI-generated content on the platform. The app is working on a process that would require users to label posts created using artificial intelligence tools. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/x-formerly-twitter-tests-ai-content-labels/812913/ #Media #SocialMedia #AI

Meta's director of AI safety at the company's Superintelligence Lab accidentally let an AI agent delete her inbox while experimenting with OpenClaw. She called it a 'rookie mistake' after being unable to stop the agent from her phone and having to run to her Mac to defuse the situation. https://www.404media.co/meta-director-of-ai-safety-allows-ai-agent-to-accidentally-delete-her-inbox/ #Media #SocialMedia #AI

Meta has been granted a patent for simulating deceased users' social media activity using AI. Researchers warn this could create 'spectral labor' where the dead 'work' posthumously through their data, raising urgent ethical questions about consent and identity. https://www.404media.co/metas-ai-patent-to-simulate-dead-people-shows-the-dangers-of-spectral-labor/ #Media #SocialMedia #AI

X is rewriting its search code to handle AI agents that are overwhelming the platform. The new version aims to improve reliability as users have complained about poor search results. X's engineering team of just 30 people is also working on improved bot detection to combat AI spam. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/x-formerly-twitter-rewrites-search-discovery-ai-bots/812792/ #Media #SocialMedia #AI

X's algorithm can make users more right-wing, a new Nature study finds. Users of X's 'For You' feed were 4.7 percentage points more likely to support Republican issues and held more pro-Russian views on Ukraine. Effects persisted after stopping use of the algorithm. https://theconversation.com/a-few-weeks-of-xs-algorithm-can-make-you-more-right-wing-and-it-doesnt-wear-off-quickly-276153 #Media #SocialMedia #AI