Monday 28 February 2022

10 Things in Tech: Social networks take action

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10 THINGS IN TECH

Welcome to the start of another week. Today, we're continuing our coverage of social media companies' responses to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 

Let's get started. 


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Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies before the U.S. House Financial Services Committee during An Examination of Facebook and Its Impact on the Financial Services and Housing Sectors hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., the United States, on Oct. 23, 2019.

1. Tech giants face increasing pressure over Ukraine. Social media companies have long held their ground as neutral parties, espousing freedom of expression. But as the conflict in Ukraine escalates, many are feeling pressure to take a firmer stance against Russia. Here's the latest:

  • Scoop: OnlyFans is back up and running in Russia and Belarus after creators were temporarily cut off from payments. A spokesperson told Insider the firm is now working with processors including Paxum and Cosmo so Russian creators can continue to earn and access their money.
  • Meta created a task force that will remove hate speech or content that incites violence, and label posts from state-controlled media and those that fact checkers have deemed false. It also said it would prohibit Russian state media from running ads or monetizing on its platform.
  • Russia quickly hit back, saying it would partially limit Facebook access, accusing it of censorship and human rights violations. 
  • Following Meta's lead, YouTube said it would ban state-funded media channels from generating revenue. Hours later, Google announced it would also pause monetization of Russian state-funded media across its platforms.
  • Ukraine's digital minister, Mikhail Fedorov, wrote to Apple CEO Tim Cook Friday asking him to pull all Apple services from Russia, including the App Store. Cook's only public statement on Ukraine so far has been to say he was "deeply concerned" by the situation.

Read more here.


In other news:

SpaceX founder Elon Musk addresses members of the media during a press conference announcing new developments of the Crew Dragon reusable spacecraft, at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California on October 10, 2019.

2. Elon Musk suggests SpaceX could protect the ISS from crashing into Earth. In a tweet, Russia's space chief said US sanctions could have severe consequences for the ISS, asking who would save it from crashing into the US or Europe — to which Musk responded with a photo of SpaceX's logo.

3. Amazon plans to sell digital advertising space inside its physical stores. Internal documents show that with its physical stores under pressure to become more financially self-sufficient, Amazon is considering targeted ad placements on Dash Carts and other in-store screens. Read more in our exclusive report.

4. A man is suing Amazon for $100 million. The man alleges that a crash with a delivery driver led to the amputation of his leg — and is arguing that Amazon is at fault for putting too much pressure on delivery drivers. Here's what we know about the suit.

5. Things are looking bleak for Robinhood. The investing app struck it rich by turning stock trades into a game. But within a year, its own stock has plunged 80% — and it'll have to start copying its old-school rivals if it wants to make it. What's next for Robinhood.

6. Elon Musk's recent attempt to haul the SEC to court has failed. The CEO filed a letter last week accusing the agency of "endless, unfounded investigations" into Tesla, but a federal judge dismissed his request to call the agency into court. Here's what went down.

7. Don't quit your day job — make TikToks about it. Videos of people's professional lives have become wildly popular across social media, from TikTok posts to YouTube videos. We spoke with influencers who are building careers by filming at work about how they turned it into a lucrative business.

8. A Japanese game studio is giving employees two days off to play Elden Ring. Employees had Friday and today off work to play the highly anticipated video game by "Game of Thrones" author George R. R. Martin. Why the game merits its own "Elden holiday."


Odds and ends:

2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E.

9. EV owners still pay more per mile of range than gas-powered car owners do. A new analysis finds EVs still lag behind gas cars in terms of retail cost per mile of range, and it could be years before that changes. Read the full comparison.

10. Apple may be working on a gadget with a 20-inch foldable display. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman described the device — which is still years away — as an "iPad/MacBook hybrid" in his newsletter. Get the rundown here.


What we're watching today:


Curated by Jordan Parker Erb in New York. (Feedback or tips? Email jerb@insider.com or tweet @jordanparkererb.) Edited by Shona Ghosh in London.

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Friday 25 February 2022

10 Things in Tech: Social giants' urge Ukrainians to secure their accounts

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Hi everyone. Facebook and Twitter suggest users in Ukraine should close or lock their accounts, and tech firms have triggered contingency plans to help staff in the country.

Let's get started. 


If this was forwarded to you, sign up here. Download Insider's app – click here for iOS and here for Android.


russia ukraine

1. Social media companies encouraged Ukrainian users to secure their accounts. Twitter and Facebook recommended that users worried about their accounts being hacked or manipulated as part of Russia's invasion should lock or close their accounts.

  • Russia's military has previously used social media to manipulate political events, often spreading misinformation.
  • Twitter said it mistakenly blocked some users that were sharing footage from Ukraine, including open-source-intelligence accounts, which share footage posted to social media from conflict zones. 
  • On Thursday, Google's ad tools were still monetizing media outlets run by or associated with the Kremlin. Sites tied to the Kremlin displayed Google-served ads from brands like Paramount+, Best Buy, Eddie Bauer, and others.
  • Tech startups and corporates relying on Ukraine's base of technical talent have rushed to provide assistance to their staff in the country.

Here's what else social media companies have recommended for their Ukrainian users.


In other news:

Kimbal Musk (left) brother of Elon Musk (right).

2. The SEC is probing Elon Musk and his brother. The Wall Street Journal reported that the agency is looking into whether the Tesla CEO and his brother's stock sales violated insider trading rules. Get the full rundown here.

3. This person wanted to be a bitcoin millionaire. Instead, they lost everything. A patient at a rehab facility in Scotland being treated for a crypto addiction described how they became obsessed with the cryptocurrency, and eventually went bankrupt. Inside the life of a bitcoin addict.

4. Three Amazon unionizers were arrested after bringing food to warehouse workers. An Amazon spokesperson told Reuters and Bloomberg that Amazon called the police because one of the unionizers has "repeatedly trespassed" on the property. More on that here.

5. We outlined nine NFT companies poised to help drive the future of entertainment. Hollywood studios  and stars like Reese Witherspoon and Snoop Dogg are beginning to explore how the blockchain-based tech can help generate content and build audiences, and NFT companies like Argo and YellowHeart are stepping up to help. Meet the companies transforming entertainment.

6. A new list ranks the 100 most overpaid CEOs. An investor advocacy group detailed the most overpaid bosses of S&P 500 companies — including those of General Electric, T-Mobile, and Nike. See the others here. 

7. Gorillas scrapped its 10-minute grocery delivery promise. The rapid-delivery startup has quietly tweaked its business model by switching its language to delivery "within minutes," and offering free, in-store pickup from its 18 New York stores. What this means for customers.

8. Amazon's $25 smart plug can turn your place into a smart home. The outlet can start a pot of coffee or power on the TV with just the sound of your voice or the Amazon Alexa app. How to smarten up your home.


Odds and ends:

Ford Bronco Raptor

9. These are the top cars seen at the Chicago Auto Show. At this year's expo, car companies debuted, and many outlined — to no surprise — the electric future of their lineups. From the Ford Bronco Raptor to the Toyota bz4X EV, these are the show's coolest cars and the best electric options.

10. A company is building fast-food kitchens that don't require any human staff. Equipped with fully autonomous ovens, freezers, and cleaning systems, Hyper Robotics' kitchens could eventually produce chicken wings, cheese fingers, salads, and other side dishes — all without human assistance. Take a look inside the autonomous kitchen.


The latest people moves in tech:


Curated by Jordan Parker Erb in New York. (Feedback or tips? Email jerb@insider.com or tweet @jordanparkererb.) Edited by Michael Cogley in London.

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Thursday 24 February 2022

10 Things in Tech: LinkedIn's podcast push

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Fancy seeing you here. LinkedIn just launched its own podcast network, and a new Whole Foods is implementing "Just Walk Out" technology.

Shall we?


If this was forwarded to you, sign up here. Download Insider's app – click here for iOS and here for Android.


Woman looking at LinkedIn on her phone

1. LinkedIn launched its own podcast network. The LinkedIn Podcast Network, which went live yesterday, has 12 shows covering topics like Big Tech, company diversity, and mental health in the workplace.

  • The network's launch comes as the company works to boost user engagement and expand as a creator platform — though it doesn't have any immediate ambitions of becoming a major podcast hub like Spotify or Apple Podcasts. 
  • "Big Technology," "The Start-Up of You," and "Brown Table Talk'' are among the new shows, and have hosts ranging from long-time tech reporters to CEOs. See the full list of shows here. 
  • The podcasts will be stored on the podcast-hosting platform Megaphone and playable on LinkedIn, as well as on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. 

LinkedIn's head of content gave us an inside look at its podcast push.


In other news:

Whole Foods Just Walk Out Glover Park

2. Whole Foods opened its first store with "Just Walk Out" technology. The Whole Foods in Washington, D.C. is the first to implement Amazon's cashierless tech, allowing shoppers to skip the register altogether. Here's how it'll work.

3. After its IPO, Bumble employees got nothing while its CEO became a billionaire. Whitney Wolfe Herd's "Faustian bargain" with a Russian mogul helped her rake in big money after the company went public in 2021 — but for dozens of early Bumble employees who weren't given any equity, the dating app's stock market debut left them feeling short-changed. 

4. Donald Trump's social-media app is having a rocky start. The launch of Truth Social, which debuted Sunday, was beset by technical errors that made it difficult for some users to create accounts, and appears to have censored an account that poked fun at the app's CEO.

5. Australia forced Facebook and Google to pay for news. Now other countries are copying its playbook. Last year, Australia succeeded in forcing tech giants to pay the media for news. As more countries follow suit, Insider spoke to local sources about the impact of its news media bargaining code. Here's what they told us.

6. Some of your favorite television shows could be coming to an end in 2022. "Ozark," "This Is Us," and "Peaky Blinders" are among the shows that won't be returning for another season after this year. See the full list here.

7. Three moms working in tech break down their daily routines and productivity tips. Having climbed the corporate ladder at Obsidian Security, Dell, and Meta while working from home and raising children, these working moms offer tips like planning the week ahead and waking up early to have some alone time. This is their other advice.

8. Google is loosening some of its COVID-19 restrictions. As it prepares to welcome workers back to the office, Google announced it would be reviving some of its iconic perks like fitness centers and massages, and nixing vaccinations as a requirement for employment. What we know so far.


Odds and ends:

The 2022 Polestar 2.

9. We broke down the pros and cons of the Polestar 2. Our transportation reporter test drove the $45,900 rival to the Tesla Model 3, and found three reasons to buy the sleek new electric vehicle — and two ways it falls short. Here's what to consider before buying.

10. Inside Honda's $5 million private jet. Private airline Volato is a charter company that uses the best-selling HondaJet as its workhorse aircraft, charging $4,000 per hour on the four-seat plane. We got a look inside during a demo flight — check out Honda's private jet here.


What we're watching today:


You're invited: Join us on Thursday, March 10, at 1 p.m. ET for a live discussion on how ghost kitchens are transforming the way restaurants do business. Sign up here. 


Curated by Jordan Parker Erb in New York. (Feedback or tips? Email jerb@insider.com or tweet @jordanparkererb.) Edited by Michael Cogley in London.

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Wednesday 23 February 2022

10 Things in Tech: Slack's time off

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Hi there. Today we're covering the Slack outage that was all over Twitter, and Spotify's first gadget: the "Car Thing."

Let's get to it.


If this was forwarded to you, sign up here. Download Insider's app – click here for iOS and here for Android.


The Slack app logo.

1. Slack went down yesterday. In a turn of events that brought havoc (or joy, perhaps?) for employees nationwide, workplace messaging system Slack went down for some on Tuesday morning. For a few hours, users had trouble sending and receiving messages, getting notifications, and accessing the desktop app altogether. 

  • The Salesforce-owned company serves ​more than 156,000 corporate customers, including major organizations like Netflix, Uber, and — you guessed it — Insider. 
  • AWS, Peloton, and Github were also having issues, according to user reports on Down Detector. But the cause of the issues, and if they were connected to Slack's snafu, was not immediately clear. 
  • Workers immediately took to Twitter to discuss the outage (because what else are we supposed to do in times of crisis?). "If slack is down, you're legally allowed to go back to bed," wrote one user. 
  • Slack resolved the issue some hours later and attributed the outage to a "configuration change" that had led to a sudden increase in activity on its database infrastructure.

What we know about the outage.


In other news:

Bitcoin

2. Crypto scammers are turning to dating apps and social media to con victims. Some dating-app users are feigning months-long relationships to dupe unsuspecting victims out of their life savings, while others are impersonating people on Instagram and conning their closest friends.

3. How much is Netflix paying its employees? After analyzing US work-visa data to see how much the streaming company pays, Insider found the company offers base salaries between $40 an hour and $800,000 a year for certain roles. See how much you could be making in different roles at Netflix.

4. ID.me locked hundreds of veterans and their families out of VA services. According to a document obtained by Insider, issues with ID.me, a verification service used by Veterans Affairs since 2019, disproportionately affected older veterans, their families and caregivers, and veterans abroad. Veterans describe the issues with ID.me.

5. VCs outlined the 20 European fintech startups set to blow up in 2022. Among their picks for stand-out fintechs are recent unicorns, buy-now, pay-later solutions, Web3 platforms, and socially conscious investment platforms. See their top picks here.

6. Meta says a manager has left the company after allegedly appearing in a video of an underage sex sting. In the video, Jeren Miles, a manager of community development, appears to be questioned by members of Predator Catchers Indianapolis over his communications with a supposed 13-year-old boy. What we know so far.

7. A senior associate at Harlem Capital explains how she landed a job with no experience. Nicole DeTommaso scored an internship with the VC firm after researching the firm and reading all its blog posts — then turned it into a full-time job. How she turned an internship into a venture-capital career.

8. New bae alert: Elon Musk may have a new girlfriend. Months after his breakup with musician Grimes, the Tesla CEO is reportedly in a relationship with Australian actress Natasha Bassett. The latest news about their relationship.


Odds and ends:

Car Thing Spotify

9. Spotify's "Car Thing" is officially on sale. Car Thing, Spotify's aptly named hardware product, is a touchscreen, voice-controlled gadget that connects the streaming service to a user's car speakers (basically a Spotify remote). Check out the $90 Car Thing.

10. Sony unveiled its new VR headset for Playstation. The PlayStation VR2, which will compete with Meta's Quest headset, comes with a handful of upgrades like a lens adjustment dial, a new vent design, and a lower weight. More on the PlayStation VR2.


What we're watching today:


Curated by Jordan Parker Erb in New York. (Feedback or tips? Email jerb@insider.com or tweet @jordanparkererb.) Edited by Michael Cogley in London.

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