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. Is Trump going to ban TikTok?
It’s been a busy week for TikTok in the US with President Trump threatening to ban it due to his worry about the possible risk it poses to national security.
TikTok, a chinese owned app, could be banned if a US company is unable to take control and it’s because of the information it collects about its users. For example:
- Message content, whether you send the message or not
- Screen input
- Device details
- Contacts
- Other apps and functions
But what do TikTok users think of it all?
In response to Trump’s attitude toward the video-sharing app, TikTok issued a statement saying: ‘While we do not comment on rumours or speculation, we are confident in the long-term success of TikTok.’
2. WhatsApp’s fight against fake news
This week WhatsApp rolled out an update in the UK that allows users to quickly check the integrity of content from forwarded messages in a web search, to try and verify whether the information is accurate or fake news.
The feature sees a magnifying glass icon appear next to the content that the recipient can tap to launch a Google search, so they can get more information for themselves and find out if it’s true or not.
3. Amazon or Elon Musk: Who will win control over space?
Amazon is throwing some serious cash at trying to get control over space – and yes, I mean outer space – in order to ensure Elon Musk doesn’t call all the shots.
Similar to Musk’s SpaceX’s Starlink, Amazon is willing to spend 10 billion dollars to launch 3,000 satellites into orbit, that will link up in space and beam down a space-based Internet delivery service to Earth.
Amazon’s Senior Vice President said, “There are still too many places where broadband access is unreliable or where it doesn’t exist at all. Kuiper will change that. Our $10 billion investment will create jobs and infrastructure around the United States that will help us close this gap.”
So, watch this space!
4. Amazon’s racist listing
Amazon’s listing review system has been under scrutiny this week after David Lammy MP, was rather shocked by the language he came across whilst shopping for a pair of brogues:
Just buying brown brogues tonight leads to this racist micro aggression. Is it 2020 or 1720? Please ??@amazon? take it down. pic.twitter.com/kQGAxe1yMW
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) August 3, 2020
Apparently the listing has been there since March and it’s not the first time that sellers have been able to get away with using such language to describe their products.
Also whilst Amazon UK says, “All sellers must follow our selling guidelines and those who do not will be subject to action including potential removal of their account.” It does not have a ban on using the N-word, as it can still be found in descriptions for other products on the retail giant’s site.
5. Some hilarious dog pics!
We can’t go another Friday without laughing at some great dogs in action, so here you are. Enjoy!
OMG number 25 ? https://t.co/R9TBSJjMo3
— POPSUGAR Family (@POPSUGARMoms) July 23, 2020
Partners in crime ??
(funnybubbledogs / IG) pic.twitter.com/Ld1umL7VfS— The Puppies Club (@thepuppiesclub) August 4, 2020
This is like my dog:
Just work around me. ????? #lazypup #SleepyAnimals #doggo @humorandanimals @thepuppiesclub @9GAGCute @dogfather pic.twitter.com/meEpSxEq64
— Hudson Mason (@hudsonbegood) August 4, 2020
Happy Friday everyone!
