TikTok And Facebook Approve Ads Filled With Political Misinformation, Claims New Study

The US midterm elections are fast approaching and that means the digital world is toughening up its act to combat issues linked to political misinformation.

And despite all the vows and promises made by leading tech giants to try and curb the situation, a new report is shedding light on how TikTok and Facebook actually allow ads to play that contain political misinformation.

The investigation was recently brought into the spotlight and conducted by one human rights group called Global Witness. In collaboration with the NYU team for Cybersecurity, the results provided some shocking findings.

Both Meta and TikTok are approving ads of this sort and it’s a massive violation of their own policies.

To help conduct the study, the researchers involved each submitted a total of 20 advertisements through fake profiles. These were directed toward the likes of Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.

This is when the report found that 10 ads were in English and 10 in Spanish. Moreover, five comprised fake election details, and around five were aimed at delegitimizing the whole electoral process involved. A total of five states were targeted that are forecasted to have very close results.

And that’s when the research team found so many ads entailing incorrect details that would stop others from casting their votes. Details like where to vote, when to vote, and more were all incorrect and it goes to show how it can mislead so many users on the web that rely on such platforms. There were even incorrect methods of voting mentioned here.

The results generated from the research showed how Facebook did approve two very misleading advertisements on the app in English, while the same was done for five ads in the Spanish language. Meanwhile, TikTok was seen approving all of them in both languages, except for two.

But it was great to see the video platform YouTube block all of the ads that were running in this regard. Similarly, YouTube was seen banning the main accounts that researchers used for the ad submission. Two of the three fake accounts continue to function across Facebook while TikTok is yet to remove any of the fake accounts on its platform. We’d just like to point out that none of the ads were launched as of yet.

These results are awfully concerning for several reasons. Firstly, we are just a few weeks away from the upcoming major elections in the US. And if experiments are proving to be deleterious, just imagine what other effects can come into play in this regard.

And just when you thought YouTube was playing a decent role to combat such ads, well, guess what. It actually performed the worst in terms of all others when a similar experiment was carried out in Brazil. So plenty of work is required in other regions of the world.

But as far as the other two leading social media platforms are concerned, Meta’s Facebook and TikTok really need to take out some time and devise a strategy before it’s too late. This is a major event in the world of US politics and it’s shocking to see this type of behavior at this stage.

If things do move forward in this same manner, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that the app has a strong political influence on the minds of its users. For TikTok, matters could be much worse as it’s been accused of having several ties with government officials in China by US lawmakers.

Just this past week, the app was accused of tracking down US citizens’ GPS details and potentially being used as a spying tool. Although it rejected the allegations, all eyes are certainly on the app.

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by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

WhatsApp is working on many features including automatically muting large groups and more

WhatsApp is loved all around the world and the popularity of the app only increased after the Covid-19 virus hit and left everyone locked in their homes. The app which is used all over the world has constantly been releasing new features left and right, so today we will be talking about 3 of those features, thanks to WBI.

First up, Privacy on the internet especially with chatting apps like these is important and everybody’s main priority. Just like that, whenever we post statuses on the app they are available for everybody on a person’s contact list and can lead to some very awkward conversations with the boss they just left after telling them that you are sick. Well, this new WhatsApp feature changes that completely because it gives users the ability to dictate who can see their status from the Settings. Then they are presented with these four options Everyone, My contacts, My contacts except, and Nobody, and they can choose from them. Thankfully, Windows beta users can now see these privacy settings in the account menu and hopefully will be able to edit them as well.

Moving on, we all are aware that WhatsApp has made huge groups that can accommodate up to 512 people at a time available for all users over both Android and iOS. Now, due to the sheer size of those groups, it was very unlikely that they would ever shut up and notifications would keep coming and coming so WhatsApp decided to automatically start working on a feature that would upon the creation of the group mute it so users would not have their phones ringing all day. But, there is something we are not clear about just yet. That is whether this change will take place when a user joins a big group or when the group will reach exactly 512 participants.

Lastly, we have seen Avatars first on Snapchat, then on Instagram, and now on WhatsApp as well. With the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.22.23.9 update, some lucky Beta testers were able to set up their avatar and show it off. For those who don’t know an avatar is a digital representation of you that you can use in stickers, gifs profile pictures, and more.

Now you might be wondering how to check if this feature is available on your phone as well, then fear not, checking for this feature is very easy. First, you need to go to settings and if you see an option labeled Avatar, then you can start building your avatar today.

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by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

A New Feature Has Been Added To Google Shopping Results Which Will Tell What Products Are Trending

During the Search On Event, Google revealed a new Trending tab on Google Shopping Results which will help a lot of searchers. This new Trending Box hasn't officially rolled out and people are still anticipating what it is going to do. It was first spotted by a Twitter user who shared a screenshot of a Google Shopping Page and how we could see a new addition of trending on top of it. This new feature is not only going to help buyers but sellers too. The trending results will show on searching for products in a specific categories.

For instance, you want to buy shoes and go searching for them on Google. The search results will have a trending tab on them. This will help you see which shoe style of which brand is trending nowadays. Another instance could be perfumed. When you search for perfumes, you will get to know which types of perfumes are trending on the online market nowadays. If we talk about buyers' advantages, this feature will help them sell out their products more quickly. This will not only increase their customers but also help to improve their market.

There's still no news about when this update is coming out. Probably it's still under its final touches and Google will officially roll it out soon. What we do know is that users in the USA will be able to use this feature just by the end of November. Now, all we have to do is wait for it to come out so people can start taking advantage of it. Google Search On Event also revealed several other updates and new features too which will bring a change to Google.

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by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

Hacked Accounts Can Be Bought for Just $6 According to This Report

Gaining illicit access to a user account can be quite profitable for malicious actors because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up allowing them to sell these log in credentials on the dark web. However, the price at which this stolen data is sold is shockingly low. A new report from Whizcase showed that some hacked accounts were being sold for as little as $6 with all things having been considered and taken into account.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that only Reddit accounts were being sold for such a low sum total. TikTok accounts were the second cheapest, with the going rate being around $8 on average. Following that we have Pinterest accounts with $9, Twitter accounts for $10, and Snapchat for $11. Facebook, Discord and Instagram accounts were also quite cheap, with Facebook going for $14 and Discord and Instagram accounts on sale for $12 apiece.

Interestingly, LinkedIn accounts are far more expensive, with an average sale price of around $45. That might be due to the high end clientele that uses LinkedIn which makes stolen accounts more valuable than might have been the case otherwise. All of this might make one wonder how a malicious actor can make a living if stolen log in details are so cheap, but it should be mentioned that they don’t usually sell individual accounts. Instead, they sell these accounts in bulk.

Other malicious actors are more than happy to avail these cheap prices so that they can create bot farms to generate artificial clicks on social media sites. One can purchase 1,000 retweets from accounts that appear to be legitimate for just $25, so this is an industry that has clearly managed to optimize its sale prices and bring them to rock bottom.

1,000 Facebook likes are even cheaper, going for an average of $8. Facebook is a much more popular platform, but its easier to create and maintain fake profiles on it which is why the cost is so low. These are some of the lower end ways in which stolen accounts can be used, and there are far more nefarious purposes that they can be utilized for such as breaking into the inner circles of companies and their upper management.

Hackers can also use these accounts to commit identity fraud, often by posing as the owner of the account and asking for money from someone who is close to where they live. Users should be cautious about engaging with money requests in case they come from hackers.

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by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

Gartner’s New Report Shows Strategic Tech Focusing on Optimization and Innovation

Tech has had a strong impact on business because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up streamlining various processes, but certain forms of tech might be more useful than others. Gartner has put out the latest iteration of its annual report in which it highlights the latest updates in strategic technology acquisition, and it has revealed some interesting facts about the direction in which this industry may be headed.

There are three main themes that can be seen in this report, namely optimizing current processes to improve their resilience, scaling solutions vertically when possible, and finally pioneering new and innovative engagement methods as well as metrics. Without further ado, here’s the list of tech trends that Gartner says will have the biggest impact:

1. AI TRiSM

41% of all organizations suffered from breaches in their cybersecurity. AI TRiSM, which stands for Trust, Risk and Security Management, can help prevent further lapses in security. There have been security and privacy issues with previous AI models which is why many of them never go into production, and that is something that might need to change before this trend can get fully underway.

2. Digital Immune System

A company’s Digital Immune System is key to its ability to grow, since viruses can become ever more prevalent when growth is being undertaken with all things having been considered and taken into account. This immune system is also meant to ensure that services can be provided in a reliable fashion, which can make scaling easier than might have been the case otherwise as can be seen in the example of American Airlines.

3. Applied Observability

Collecting real time data is useful, but in spite of the fact that this is the case organizations need to use applied observability to get the most value and benefits from it. A constant overview of raw data can allow organizations to make data driven decisions that are purely based on clarity. Making predictions can result in inaccuracy, but applying observability can help companies focus on actionable data.

4. Platform Engineering

Scaling deliveries can be a really useful thing for brands due to its ability to help them expand their operations and reach new customers. Their overly complex platform architecture and a mixing of various infrastructures to create hybrid models can make it challenging for developers to respond to business needs quickly. Lack of skills can also be an inhibiting factor, and that is why it is estimated that 80% of corporations will have dedicated platform engineering teams. Providing them with specific training for that company’s software architecture can help streamline the whole model.

5. Industry Cloud Platforms

According to Gartner’s report, around 50% of businesses will shift to industry cloud platforms by 27%. With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that this involves a change in how cloud storage is discussed, with new and fancy tech not necessarily tempting businesses as much as value. Industry cloud platforms offer a combination of both SaaS as well as PaaS, and they can help organizations customize their cloud solutions for their own niches and needs.

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by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

Microsoft Is on The Verge of Replacing Its Own Mobile Game Store with The Play Store And App Store

Recent report highlights that Microsoft is keenly interested in replacing the Google play store and Apple app store with its mobile game store.

Over recent years, Android's play store and iOS's app store tend to be in a less competitive market in the gaming industry. Both platforms enjoy a high position with millions of games within them. But recently, the technology giant Microsoft seems interested in building its mobile gaming hub, where it will host all Android and iOS games.

The mobile gaming industry plays a vital role in the whole gaming industry as it captures 51% of the whole market share. With the updating technologies and modernized versions of cell phones, it seems comfortable and more attractive to do gaming on cell phones despite PC, luring more & more Gen Z users towards mobile gaming.

As per the reports, the company is executing to build the X-Box branded gaming store that will support all the games from the play store and app store. The following application will be an extended version of the X-Box store that will provide competition to the current competitors.

By this launch, Microsoft is working towards a diversified working strategy that will attract potential customers to the organization. By giving competition to existing competitors and powering games such as Candy Crush Saga and Call of Duty Mobile, the company has high hopes to capture a better marketplace and strengthen its brand image.

Besides this, Microsoft can release its application on Android platforms but seems to avoid this step because of the tough competition from Apple in different sectors of gaming. In the opposite case, if they have to launch their application on iOS, then focusing on browser gameplay with strict Apple restrictions and rigid competition from Android might be a downside for the organization.

To add, Microsoft also highlighted the purchase of Activision Blizzard and its interrelated revenue model. As per the reports, Microsoft hopes to capture the gaming market successfully after the launch of its mobile application. They seem to boost their ad revenue and gain better customer equity by this step. With the required expertise and better idea of consumer behavior, Microsoft highlights that mobile gaming is a hefty part of the overall gaming industry, with 51% of coverage over the whole industry.

To conclude, with the decline in PC gaming, Microsoft seems to be more focused on mobile gaming and launching its setup for capturing different markets and attracting various customers within its ecosystems. The existing markets seem to be tougher competition for the organization, but with their expertise and better experience, Microsoft hopes for better results.

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by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

Instagram Unveils New ‘Creator Profile’ Option That Puts Users' Audience Reach On Display

Instagram will soon be rolling out a new creator profile option for more users.

The feature will reportedly showcase a creator’s audience reach and any work related to brands, the company announced this week.

This will arise in the form of a unique media kit so that profile building becomes simpler than before. Creators can begin by utilizing their Professional Dashboard for creation that’s located on the app. Hence, the process will make it so much simpler now for creators to reach out to brands and pitch their offerings than before. Moreover, there’s also going to be a new view option that ensures marketing deals conducted by influencers are more secure when compared to previous times.

You can best envision it as a different marketplace for listings and that’s where you’ll see influencers putting forward the data in the form of a unique showcase. But remember that the new Creator Profile option allows so many users to put out profiles directly with various partners on the app.

This feature was first seen through a series of tests that were conducted last month. But we’ve seen the app refine the offers in recent times.

During the early part of this month, it was Alessandro Paluzzi who really added extra effort to welcome the screen offering on display, thanks to reverse engineering techniques where back-end codes were used to glance over the work.

Instagram says it has really been putting in a lot of effort to enhance the great amount of talent that its creators have so they can benefit. This is a smart move to prevent so many leading creators from shifting gears and migrating to popular video apps and fellow archrivals like YouTube or TikTok. And in case you didn’t know, Adam Mosseri called this move a huge priority for the platform as the stakes are higher than ever and the app doesn’t want to lose out on big stars.

But Mosseri also noted how the platform is falling behind in terms of some quintessential areas in the talent race.

Recent surveys conducted by the app are showing some rather unique finds. Instagram has fallen short against leading apps like YouTube and TikTok in all aspects that are considered pivotal for customer satisfaction. This includes a few that are related to generating revenue from a creator’s point of view as are factors like fun, algorithms, and audience reach.

Mosseri also revealed that his team’s surveys proved how Instagram isn’t quite where it should be and is falling behind with its initiatives to assist creators in making more money through the app. Still, it’s working hard and upping its game with plenty of progress being seen along the way.

This new feature will definitely be an integral part of the push for Instagram’s success and new content generation through profiles that users aren’t currently following in their feeds. Here, the main idea is to achieve diversity in content for more audiences.

This further paves the way for maximal engagement on the app if Instagram can nail its algorithm targeting. At the same time, it can also give rise to more distribution of different types of content thanks to emerging talent spread out toward a larger scale audience. Only then can we hope for better Creator engagement statistics and some more chances. See, the goal is to make creators post more frequently on the platform.

The goals are plenty and the stakes are high, so whether or not Instagram can beat out the king of social media apps, TikTok, only time can tell. And let’s not forget how YouTube is really doing a fabulous job at providing more monetization chances for users. Nevertheless, Instagram has its own popularity and there are plenty of chances for creators of the app to avail. But thanks to new features such as these, expansion is definitely on the rise.

As far as release is concerned, Creator Profiles will be officially launched for Instagram users as early as next month. So we suggest you keep an eye out for that in case you’re interested.

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by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World