Five things worth sharing from the last week or so, brought to you by a different member of the Browser Media team every Friday.
This week’s My Five is by Ashleigh.
1. Brands alter logos to raise awareness of the importance of giving blood
Brands such as Oreo, have been making some changes to their iconic logos this week to support an initiative started by American Red Cross to try and get more people to register to give blood for World Blood Donor Day.
Brands have been removing the ‘O’s from their logos to represent the different blood types and raise awareness of World Blood Donor Day, which was actually last week, 14th June.
Oreo posted this tweet in support:
Our O’s are missing! Help us fill them up for #WorldBloodDonorDay by clicking the link and signing up with the American Red Cross to donate your O’s, A’s, and B’s. #MissingTypes https://t.co/56DRujTVxf pic.twitter.com/s9LT3kZmzI
— OREO Cookie (@Oreo) June 14, 2019
And as people signed up throughout the day, they posted this:
Our O’s are back! Thanks for helping us by donating your O’s, A’s, and B’s to the American Red Cross for #WorldBloodDonorDay! #MissingTypes pic.twitter.com/pZa9Gd33rI
— OREO Cookie (@Oreo) June 14, 2019
Nice touch, eh?
2. Beware of the Google Calendar scam
Cyber criminals have come up with a new way of scamming Google Calendar users by sending unsolicited invitations which are actually just a way of conning them into clicking on the links within them.
Kaspersky Lab researchers have reported that victims might see invitations with titles like “You’ve received a cash reward,” or “There’s a money transfer in your name,” but they are just tricks to try and encourage them to go through to dodgy websites where the scammers will try and steal their data or money.
If you’re worried that this might happen to you, then there is a way to stop Google Calendar from allowing invitations from unknown people. Simply visit ‘event settings’ and under ‘Automatically add invitations’ select ‘No, only show invitations to which I’ve responded’.
3. Facebook announces plans for new digital currency
Facebook revealed that it is planning to launch a new digital currency, named Libra, for public use next year.
Users will be able to make payments using Libra via its own apps, Whatsapp, and also firms like Visa and Uber may accept it in the future.
Facebook says using the currency will be as quick and simple as sending a text but people are worried about how they will protect people’s money and data.
However, just hours after the announcement, a US lawmaker urged them to pause the plans until the US Congress has examined the project: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-48688359
4. Instagram couple try to raise $16,000 for holiday of a lifetime
Instagram influencers and real-life couple Catalin Onc and Elena Engelhardt have tried to crowdfund $16,000 so that they can cycle from Germany to Africa and share their experiences with everyone along the way – the good, the bad, and the ugly.
However, and completely understandably, they have faced some scrutiny, well have been ripped to shreds quite frankly, as people feel that they should get a job and fund the trip themselves, like most people would.
Nice try guys! Read the full story at www.ladbible.com.
5. Puppy dog eyes are part of evolution
I know this isn’t strictly digital news but we do love dogs here at Browser Media and this story really got me on the way to work one morning this week…
Researchers have somehow discovered that dogs’ face muscles have evolved in such a way that they can intentionally give their owners those infamous “puppy dog eyes” and pull expressions that are going to spark emotion in their owners and a “nurturing response”.
The study shows that there has been an anatomical change around dogs’ eyes and eyebrows to make it possible for them to pull these expressions. The study reveals that dogs have developed “expressive eyebrows” and “when dogs make the movement, it seems to elicit a strong desire in humans to look after them”.
Here’s my dog Oscar giving his best efforts:
… And a few more from the Browser Media team: