1. Google is now considering “mobile-friendliness” as a ranking factor
As of the 21st April, Google is now favouring websites that are mobile friendly and ranking them higher in its search results, so sites that are not optimised for mobile could see their rankings drop.
Many website owners may have received the scary warning emails the have been sent out from Google Webmaster Tools, alerting them to “fix mobile usability issues found” on their website as some “pages will not be seen as mobile-friendly by Google Search, and will therefore be displayed and ranked appropriately for smartphone users.”
So what difference has it made post 21st April? Have you noticed any changes?
For more information visit and FAQs visit: http://googlewebmastercentral.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/faqs-april-21st-mobile-friendly.html
2. Passenger banned from flight following ‘joke tweet’
A security researcher was banned from a United Airlines flight this week after posting a ‘joke tweet’:
He was removed from the aircraft by FBI. They confiscated his laptop and questioned him for hours, when he was supposed to be flying from Colorado to San Francisco to talk at a major security conference.
Find myself on a 737/800, lets see Box-IFE-ICE-SATCOM, ? Shall we start playing with EICAS messages? “PASS OXYGEN ON” Anyone ? :)
— Chris Roberts (@Sidragon1) April 15, 2015
I don’t think he’ll be doing that again anytime soon.
3. #KylieJennerChallenge
Have you heard about the latest phenomenon amongst teen girls this week?
They have been going to extreme lengths in order to try and get lips like Kylie Jenner, known as the #KylieJennerChallenge.
Just check these images and videos out. Ouchy!!
4. Twitter now allows users to receive direct messages from anyone
Twitter now allows users to send and receive direct messages from anyone without need for following.
If Twitter users now want to allow anyone, so people they do not necessarily follow/follow them, to send them direct messages, they can now change their settings to allow this to happen.
For instructions for how to change your settings, to allow anyone to direct message you, see: https://support.twitter.com/articles/14606-about-direct-messages
They are also adding a new Direct Message button to profile pages on mobile devices. It will be visible on the profiles of people you can send Direct Messages to.
5. Plus sized wars
Something else that has been discussed a lot this week and was covered in a TV programme on Channel 4 is the Plus Sized debate.
The programme on Channel 4 saw highly followed, size 24 model and blogger, Tess Munster, be admired by fans for being ‘fat and fabulous’.
Many celebs have been getting involved in the controversy, with comments being thrown around like
“I don’t believe stores should stock clothes below or above a certain weight. They should be made to feel uncomfortable when they go in and can’t find a size.”
– Jamelia, singer and Loose Woman
There are obviously two sides to every argument. Does it tell women that it’s OK to be obese, which is ultimately bad for their health, or should we be celebrating these natural, curvy women who don’t conform to what society currently believes is beautiful – being skinny. Where do you stand?
