Helle Thorning-Schmidt, from Meta’s oversight board, told the BBC she welcomed aspects of the shake-up, which will see users decide about the accuracy of posts via X-style “community notes”.

However speaking on Today, on BBC Radio Four, she added there were “huge problems” with what had been announced, including the potential impact on the LGBTQ+ community, as well as gender and trans rights.

“We are seeing many instances where hate speech can lead to real-life harm, so we will be watching that space very carefully,” she said.

In a video posted alongside a blog post by the company on Tuesday, Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said the decision was motivated by “getting back to our roots around free expression”.

He said third-party fact checkers currently used by the firm were “too politically biased”, meaning too many users were being “censored”.

The decision has prompted questions about the survival of the board – which Meta funds – and was created by then president of global affairs, Sir Nick Clegg, who announced he was leaving the company less than a week ago.

Ms Thorning-Schmidt – a former Prime Minister of Denmark – insisted the changes to fact checking meant it was needed more than ever.

“That’s why it is good we have an oversight board that can discuss this in a transparent way with Meta”, she said.

She did welcome some of Meta’s announcement on moderation, including its aim to find a new way to fact-check after there had been instances of “over-enforcement”, with people ending up in “Facebook jail”. ‘Kiss up to Trump’

While Meta says the move – which is being introduced in the US initially – is about free speech, others have suggested it is an attempt to get closer to the incoming Trump administration, and catch up with the access and influence enjoyed by another tech titan, Elon Musk.

The tech journalist and author Kara Swisher told the BBC it was “the most cynical move” she had seen Mr Zuckerberg make in the “many years” she had been reporting on him.

“Facebook does whatever is in its self-interest”, she told Today.

“He wants to kiss up to Donald Trump, and catch up with Elon Musk in that act.”

However while campaigners against hate speech online reacted with dismay to the change some advocates of free speech have welcomed the news.

The US free speech group Fire said: “Meta’s announcement shows the marketplace of ideas in action. Its users want a social media platform that doesn’t suppress political content or use top-down fact-checkers.

“These changes will hopefully result in less arbitrary moderation decisions and freer speech on Meta’s platforms.”

Speaking after the changes were announced, Trump told a news conference he was impressed by Mr Zuckerberg’s decision and that Meta had “come a long way”.

Asked whether Mr Zuckerberg was “directly responding” to threats Trump had made to him in the past, the incoming US president responded: “Probably”.

Advertiser exodus

Mr Zuckerberg acknowledged on Tuesday there was some risk for the company in the change of strategy.

“It means we’re going to catch less bad stuff, but we’ll also reduce the number of innocent people’s posts and accounts that we accidentally take down,” he said in his video message.

X’s move to a more hands-off approach to moderating content has contributed to a major fall-out with advertisers.

Jasmine Enberg, analyst at Insider Intelligence, said that was a risk for Meta too.

“Meta’s massive size and powerhouse ad platform insulate it somewhat from an X-like user and advertiser exodus”, she told the BBC.

“But brand safety remains a key factor in determining where advertisers spend their budgets – any major drop in engagement could hurt Meta’s ad business, given the intense competition for users and ad dollars.”

By BBC News

The post Huge Problems with Axing Fact Checkers, Meta Oversight Board Says appeared first on KahawaTungu.

The ex-US president and convicted felon’s accounts were suspended in 2021 after he praised supporters who stormed the US Capitol on 6 January.

Trump’s accounts, which combined have over 60 million followers, were re-instated in 2023 but subject to additional monitoring, which has now been removed, the social media giant said in a blog post.

Meta said it had a responsibility to allow political expression and that Americans should be able to hear from presidential nominees on an equal basis.

It added that US presidential candidates “remain subject to the same Community Standards as all Facebook and Instagram users, including those policies designed to prevent hate speech and incitement to violence.”

Since returning to Meta’s platforms, Trump’s accounts have mostly posted campaign details and memes including attacks on his presidential race rival Joe Biden.

Prior to his 2021 ban, Trump’s Facebook posts were often some of the most popular in the US, according to data at the time from CrowdTangle.

Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a crime and was also banned from Twitter and YouTube.

Restrictions on these accounts were also lifted last year, but despite this Trump communicates now on Truth Social, a social media platform he owns, before reposting to other networks.

Trump returned to Twitter – now called X – after the company’s CEO Elon Musk held a poll that asked users to click “yes” or “no” on whether Trump’s account should be reinstated. “Yes” won, apparently with 51.8% of the vote.

The big tech companies acted after the Capitol Hill riots which killed five people and injured more than 100 police officers. Trump was accused of inciting violence and repeatedly spreading disinformation.

The post Restrictions on Trump’s Facebook and Instagram Lifted appeared first on KahawaTungu.

The suspect Jackson Kanoti alias Abdul Hakim had been arrested over the claims.

The prosecution through Kibiwott Kiprono and Nina Opiyo adduced testimonial and digital evidence that demonstrated that the accused person actively subscribed to social media platforms such as Telegram and Instagram, where he could receive live updates on terrorism attacks and terrorism-related activities around the world.

The evidence also revealed that the accused was a subscriber to terror links, namely ISIS Congo 1, Al-Shabaab, and other terror-affiliated networks.

The court also took judicial notice of incriminating materials recovered from the accused’s possession that were utilized for radicalization and recruitment of youth into outlawed terrorist outfits.

Upon careful evaluation Magistrate Tina Madowo deemed the prosecution’s evidence credible, substantial and consistent, thereby eliminating any reasonable doubt regarding the accused person’s culpability.

As the nation persists in its unwavering campaign to counter terrorist threats, this legal determination serves as an unequivocal notice that perpetrators of such egregious offenses shall be held criminally culpable, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution said.

The post Terror Suspect Jailed for 30 Years for Aiding Terror Activities via Telegram, Instagram appeared first on KahawaTungu.

The social media platform currently allows people to swipe or scroll past adverts that appear in its main feed of images and videos, as well as in its Stories and Reels feeds.

But it is now trialling a feature called “ad break”, which users say they can not flick past as usual.

Images shared online show a timer, which counts down to zero before normal functionality can resume.

“Sometimes you may need to view an ad before you can keep browsing,” the Meta-owned platform tells those who click for more information.

Instagram has confirmed to the BBC that a trial is under way.

“We’re always testing formats that can drive value for advertisers,” it said in a statement, adding that it would provide further updates if the test resulted in permanent format changes.

In a subsequent statement, Meta said it was “always experimenting with new products and ad solutions in line with the evolving consumer trends and business needs.”

‘Ad dollars‘

It remains to be seen if the trial pleases advertisers – but it certainly does not appear to have gone down well with users.

One person on Threads called the move “bonkers” – adding that it “seems like an aggressively pushy move to earn more ad dollars for Meta”.

Others have raised the prospect of boycotting the platform.

“We will simply not be scrolling,” said one X (formerly Twitter) user.

Meta is not the first big tech firm to force people to watch adverts.

YouTube is known for showing non-skippable ads to users watching videos on its platform or TV app who do not pay for its ad-free premium tier.

Advertisers can target YouTube viewers with 15 to 30 second-long, non-skippable promotional videos that appear before, during or after other videos if they want people to view their entire message.

They can also advertise using similarly non-skippable “bumper ads” – shorter videos of up to six seconds long – on YouTube videos.

Some users have responded by turning to ad blocking tools and browser extensions as a way around adverts that interrupt videos on the platform.

Google, YouTube’s parent company, is in turn trying to clamp down on ad blockers.

However it is not clear that forcing users to watch more ads actually helps companies’ bottom lines.

A study carried out by TikTok, published in January, suggested forcing viewers to watch adverts might actually lead to less engagement.

More than 70% of its participants said they were more likely to engage with the experience of an advert if there was an option to skip it.

By BBC News

The post Instagram Tests Forcing Users to Watch Adverts appeared first on KahawaTungu.

There are several ways to repost content on Instagram, including using third-party apps, built-in features, or manual methods. Evaluate the options and choose the one that best suits your preferences and needs.

1. Using Third-Party Reposting Apps
   • Explore reputable third-party apps designed specifically for reposting on Instagram, such as Repost for Instagram, InstaRepost, or Regrammer. These apps streamline the reposting process and offer additional features like captions customization and watermark removal.
   • Download your preferred reposting app from the App Store (for iOS) or Google Play Store (for Android) and follow the setup instructions to link your Instagram account.
2. Reposting with Built-in Instagram Features
   • Instagram recently introduced a built-in reposting feature called “Add Post to Your Story.” This feature allows you to share public posts from other users directly to your Instagram Story.
   • To repost using this feature, navigate to the post you want to share, tap the paper airplane icon beneath the post, select “Add post to your story,” and customize the appearance of the reposted content before sharing it to your Story.
3. Manual Reposting Method
   • If you prefer a manual approach, you can repost content by taking a screenshot of the original post, cropping it to remove unnecessary elements, and then posting it to your Instagram feed or Story with appropriate credit to the original creator.
   • When manually reposting, ensure to tag or mention the original creator in the caption to give them proper credit for their content.
4. Add Personalized Captions and Credits
   • Whether you’re using a third-party app, Instagram’s built-in feature, or reposting manually, it’s essential to add your own captions and give credit to the original creator.
   • Craft engaging captions that resonate with your audience and provide context for the reposted content. Additionally, tag or mention the original creator in the caption or on the reposted image to acknowledge their work.
5. Copyright
   • Before reposting any content on Instagram, always obtain permission from the original creator if possible, especially if the content is copyrighted or protected by intellectual property laws.
   • If you’re unable to obtain explicit permission, ensure to credit the original creator in your repost and refrain from altering or misrepresenting their work.

Also Read: How To Record WhatsApp Video Call

The post How To Repost On Instagram appeared first on KahawaTungu.

The social media juggernaut added that it will no longer remove manipulated images and audio that don’t otherwise break its rules, relying instead on labeling and contextualization, so as to not infringe on freedom of speech.

The changes come as a response to criticism from the tech giant’s oversight board, which independently reviews Meta’s content moderation decisions.

The board in February requested that Meta urgently overhaul its approach to manipulated media given the huge advances in AI and the ease of manipulating media into highly convincing deepfakes.

The board’s warning came amid fears of rampant misuse of artificial intelligence-powered applications for disinformation on platforms in a pivotal election year not only in the United States but worldwide.

Meta’s new “Made with AI” labels will identify content created or altered with AI, including video, audio, and images. Additionally, a more prominent label will be used for content deemed at high risk of misleading the public.

“We agree that providing transparency and additional context is now the better way to address this content,” Monika Bickert, Meta’s Vice President of Content Policy, said in a blog post.

“The labels will cover a broader range of content in addition to the manipulated content that the Oversight Board recommended labeling,” she added.

These new labeling techniques are linked to an agreement made in February among major tech giants and AI players to crack down on manipulated content intended to deceive voters.

Meta, Google and OpenAI had already agreed to use a common watermarking standard that would tag images generated by their AI applications.

Meta said its rollout will occur in two phases with AI-generated content labeling beginning in May 2024, while the removal of manipulated media solely based on the old policy will cease in July.

According to the new standard, content, even if manipulated with AI, will remain on the platform unless it violates other Community Standards, such as those prohibiting hate speech or voter interference.

Recent examples of convincing AI deepfakes have only heightened worries about the easily accessible technology.

The board’s list of requests was part of its review of Meta’s decision to leave a manipulated video of US President Joe Biden online last year.

The video showed Biden voting with his adult granddaughter, but was manipulated to falsely appear that he inappropriately touched her chest.

In a separate incident, a robocall impersonation of Biden pushed out to tens of thousands of voters urged people to not cast ballots in the New Hampshire primary.

In Pakistan, the party of former prime minister Imran Khan has used AI to generate speeches from their jailed leader.

By Agencies

The post Meta To Start Labeling AI-Generated Content In May appeared first on KahawaTungu.

The issues appeared around 10:20am ET and are impacting both social media sites’ apps and website.

What caused the glitch is not yet known.

This is a developing story… more updates to come.

The post Meta is DOWN! Facebook, Messenger and Instagram hit with Worldwide Outage appeared first on KahawaTungu.

According to a statement on the band’s official site, Meta Verified was introduced this month in Kenya, offering users the opportunity to gain verified status on their social media profiles.

Users looking to avail of the service must meet specific criteria, including being at least 18 years old, having prior posting activity, and having a public or private profile associated with their full government name.

Also Read: AI Companies Form Industry Body For Safe AI Development

However, children and business pages are ineligible for verification.

“At this time, Meta Verified subscriptions only support your real name on your profile. Once your profile has been verified, you can’t change the username, profile name, date of birth, or picture on your profile without going through the Meta Verified verification process again,” explains the help page for the service.

The verification process involves submitting a selfie video and a photo or scan of the user’s national ID to verify their identity. Notably, the number of followers does not play a role in determining eligibility.

Existing verified pages, including those of celebrities and public figures, are encouraged to apply for Meta Verified subscriptions, although it is unclear whether they will lose their badges.

Meta Verified subscribers enjoy several benefits, including increased account protection, online support, increased visibility and reach, and exclusive features such as stickers.

The new service allows users to pay the monthly subscription fee through Google PlayStore, with automatic renewals until cancellation.

Meta’s move to monetize verification follows Twitter’s Twitter Blue subscription, launched earlier this year at the cost of $8. Both platforms aim to enhance user experiences and offer added incentives for subscribers.

The post Facebook, Instagram Verification Subscription Now Available In Kenya appeared first on KahawaTungu.

As of 2023, her estimated net worth stands at an impressive $5 million.

Sharon Laday Early Life and Education

Born on June 1, 1974, in Houston, Texas, Sharon LaDay’s early life remains somewhat mysterious, with limited information about her upbringing available to the public.

She pursued her higher education at Texas A&M University, where she obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. Later, she attended Columbia Business School, where she earned her MBA.

Sharon Laday Entrepreneurial Journey

Sharon’s passion for business and finance led her to embark on a career as a financial analyst soon after completing her Bachelor’s degree.

Eventually, she took a leap and founded her own investment company, which rapidly gained recognition within the industry.

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Her company expanded to operate in multiple countries, forming partnerships with key players in the financial sector.

As Sharon continued her journey in the financial world, she sought out lucrative investment opportunities, leading to substantial profits.

She also achieved great success in the real estate market, amassing an impressive portfolio of properties across the United States.

Career

Presently, Sharon LaDay holds the position of Blockchain Ecosystem Leader at IBM, where she contributes to the growth strategies of various startup portfolios.

Prior to her role at IBM, she served as the Vice President of Business Development for Macmillan New Ventures.

Sharon Laday Net Worth

Sharon Laday net worth is $5 million.

Philanthropy and Advocacy

Beyond her impressive business achievements, Sharon LaDay has been actively involved in philanthropic endeavors.

Her donations have made a significant impact in various communities. Furthermore, she is a staunch advocate for women in business, striving for gender equality and equal opportunities.

Her vocal support for women’s equal pay rights has further solidified her position as a champion for equality.

Personal Life

While Sharon’s professional life is well-documented, she keeps her personal life private.

Not much information is available about her current relationship status, and she maintains a low profile on social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

It appears that she prioritizes her career over her private life and is assumed to be living a single life.

A Life of Achievement

With an estimated net worth of $5 million, Sharon LaDay’s remarkable journey from a financial analyst to a successful businesswoman and investor has been filled with accomplishments.

Her impact on philanthropy, advocacy for women’s rights, and impressive career trajectory make her a notable figure in the business world.

In addition to her professional pursuits, Sharon remains actively involved in various organizations, including her role as the President of the Sigma Nu Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and as a trustee for the Helen Fuld College of Nursing in New York City.

The post Sharon Laday: The Successful Businesswoman With A $5 Million Net Worth appeared first on KahawaTungu.

“I’m glad we took a risk — if we’re not failing every once in a while, we’re not thinking big enough or bold enough,” Instagram chief Adam Mosseri said in an interview.

“But we definitely need to take a big step back and regroup. [When] we’ve learned a lot, then we come back with some sort of new idea or iteration. So we’re going to work through that.”

Read: Instagram testing Full-Screen Mode to Compete with TikTok

Among the changes implemented was the surfacing of more video content on the app with full screen displays just like on TikTok. Instagram argued that more users were making videos and that the transition to videos was inevitable even before TikTok. However, a section of users argued that they wished to view images of their actual friends on the app like old times.

Mosseri said the full-screen displays would be phased out over the next two weeks and users would also note a reduction in the number of recommended posts as it works on its algorithm.

“When you discover something in your field that you didn’t follow before, there should be a high bar — it should just be great,” Mosseri said.

Read also: TikTok Sued After Seven Children Lose Lives While Attempting Blackout Challenge

“You should be delighted to see it. And I don’t think that’s happening enough right now. So I think we need to take a step back, in terms of the percentage of feed that are recommendations, get better at ranking and recommendations, and then — if and when we do — we can start to grow again.” (“I’m confident we will,” he added.)

Instagram had converted all videos to Reels and was showing the videos to a wider audience saying the new algorithm aimed to help people discover newer content that they did not know they could be interested in on the app. As a result, users were seeing less content from their friends and families and more content from video and Reels creators.

Read also: Instagram Rolls out New Messaging Features Including Ability to Share Music

Meta, Instagram’s parent company, said it wanted to “take the time” to get the changes right.

The recent changes on Instagram can be attributed to rival social media platform, TikTok’s popularity. The platform, which allows users to post and watch videos, has reportedly been downloaded more than three billion times, a feat never achieved before by a non-Meta app.

“I’m glad we took a risk – if we’re not failing every once in a while, we’re not thinking big enough or bold enough,” Mosseri said.

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The post Instagram Bows to Pressure, Discontinues TikTok-Like Changes appeared first on KahawaTungu.