“I can’t explain it. It’s weird,” Alphonzo “Phonz” Terrell said. After losing his job at Twitter when Elon Musk took over, the former global head of Social & Editorial didn’t want to rest — he wanted to build. “Coming straight out of it, I was just like, ‘Oh, it’s time. It’s time to build, whether … Continue reading Three months ago, he was laid off from Twitter. Now, his competing app Spill is funded.
Social media
Tumblr said 420 Blaze it (but literally)
Yesterday, Tumblr rolled out Tumblr Blaze to all users over 18 in the United States. The feature lets users promote their content in the same way you might boost a tweet or a Facebook post on those respective platforms — you pay a set fee between $10 and $150, and you’ll get an estimated 2,500 … Continue reading Tumblr said 420 Blaze it (but literally)
MrBeast’s management company, Night Media, has a new venture fund that’s backed by creators
MrBeast’s management company is getting into the venture business. Night Media, the six-year-old, Dallas-based multimedia talent management company, is closing a debut fund with $20 million in capital commitments from the powerful family-friendly online influencers it manages, along with other social media stars. The idea, says Night Media CEO Reed Duchscher, is to write initial … Continue reading MrBeast’s management company, Night Media, has a new venture fund that’s backed by creators
Pex buys Dubset to build YouTube ContentID for TikTok & more
Social networks are in for a rude copyright awakening. A new European Union law called Article 17 essentially eradicates safe harbor and requires that they’ve made their “best effort” to get licenses from rights holders for all content on their platform. If a user uploads a video with a popular song in the background, tech … Continue reading Pex buys Dubset to build YouTube ContentID for TikTok & more
Twitter CEO’s weak argument why investors shouldn’t fire him
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey might not spend six months a year in Africa, claims the real product development is under the hood and gives an excuse for deleting Vine before it could become TikTok. Today he tweeted, via Twitter’s investor relations account, a multi-pronged defense of his leadership and the company’s progress. The proclamations come … Continue reading Twitter CEO’s weak argument why investors shouldn’t fire him
An inside look at the startup behind Ashton Kutcher’s weird tweets
In 2017, Matthew Peltier walked barefoot into a pitch meeting with venture capitalists. Young, male, man bun intact, he certainly resembled the stereotypical successful entrepreneur, but it was his startup, an app designed to bring social media stars and their fans into conversation, that drew skepticism. Shimmur, as it was called, ultimately succeeded in raising … Continue reading An inside look at the startup behind Ashton Kutcher’s weird tweets
Facebook moves to shrink its legal liabilities under GDPR
Facebook has another change in the works to respond to the European Union’s beefed up data protection framework — and this one looks intended to shrink its legal liabilities under GDPR, and at scale. Late yesterday Reuters reported on a change incoming to Facebook’s T&Cs that it said will be pushed out next month — meaning … Continue reading Facebook moves to shrink its legal liabilities under GDPR
Limiting social media use reduced loneliness and depression in new experiment
The idea that social media can be harmful to our mental and emotional well-being is not a new one, but little has been done by researchers to directly measure the effect; surveys and correlative studies are at best suggestive. A new experimental study out of Penn State, however, directly links more social media use to … Continue reading Limiting social media use reduced loneliness and depression in new experiment
Snapchat’s PR firm sues influencer for not promoting Spectacles on Instagram
Influencer marketing could get a lot more accountable if Snapchat’s PR firm wins this lawsuit. Snapchat hoped that social media stars promoting v2 of its Spectacles camera sunglasses on its biggest competitor could boost interest after it only sold 220,000 of v1 and had to take a $40 million write-off. Instead, Snap comes off looking … Continue reading Snapchat’s PR firm sues influencer for not promoting Spectacles on Instagram
9 highlights from Snapchat CEO’s 6000-word leaked memo on survival
Adults, not teens. Messaging, not Stories. Developing markets, not the US. These are how Snapchat will make a comeback, according to CEO Evan Spiegel . In a 6,000-word internal memo from late September leaked to Cheddar’s Alex Heath, Spiegel attempts to revive employee morale with philosophy, tactics, and contrition as Snap’s share price sinks to … Continue reading 9 highlights from Snapchat CEO’s 6000-word leaked memo on survival
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