Tag: social media

  • ‘Khan through paid social media teams is running vulgur, abusive trends against COAS, DG ISPR’: Aisha Gulalai’s letter to CJP

    ‘Khan through paid social media teams is running vulgur, abusive trends against COAS, DG ISPR’: Aisha Gulalai’s letter to CJP

    Former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmaker Aisha Gulalai Wazir has written a letter to the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial, demanding the apex court to take suo motu notice of the anti-army campaign being run “by PTI Chairman Imran Khan”.

    In the letter, she demanded the court to put Khan’s name on Exit Control List (ECL), for a treason case to be registered against him and that he and his party should be banned.

    Gulalai argued that Khan is “shamelessly” dragging the army into politics. “Criticising it [army] for being neutral, maligning it, threatening with dismembering the country, waging civil war and creating anarchy in the country, if the army stayed neutral,” she added.

    Furthermore, she said, “Acting like a mafia, Khan and his party through social media teams are running shameful, abusive and vulgar social media trends against Pakistan army, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa and Director General (DG) Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Babar Iftikhar.” Along with these allegations, she also attached screenshots as proof.

    Gulalai also alleged that they [Khan and PTI] are using some mainstream media channels and journalists for their propaganda.

    The former PTI member also pointed out that in this way Khan is trying to “instigate the masses” against the armed forces. Moreover, she said, “Khan is threatening the state that he will disclose the security secrets of Pakistan.”

    She also alleged that the provincial government recruited social media influencers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) with Rs736 million from public funds.

    Giving the reference of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Altaf Hussain — who is banned due to hate speech — and Member National Assembly (MNA) Ali Wazie, Gulalai wrote that if their hate speech cannot be allowed who actually “never went to such an extent”, Khan “should be no exception and above law”.

    Who is Aisha Gulalai Wazir?

    In 2017, Gulalai quit PTI and alleged that her then-party Chairman Imran Khan had sent her inappropriate text messages but she did not reveal any other details to support her allegations.

    According to her, she is not the only one who faced this and claimed many women in the party are facing similar issues.

  • Twitter is testing 2,500 word limit ‘Notes’ feature

    Twitter is testing 2,500 word limit ‘Notes’ feature

    Twitter announced on Wednesday that it is testing a new feature called ‘Notes’ that will allow users to create long-form content utilising rich formatting and uploaded media.

    The new feature allows users to share ‘Notes’ up to 2,500 words long. Presently, posts on the social media platform are limited to 280 characters.

    Once published, these notes can be tweeted and shared with followers. It will include embedded photos, GIFs, videos, tweets, etc.

    https://twitter.com/TwitterWrite/status/1539640956915290112

    According to Dr Laura Toogood, a social media specialist, the trial was an important step for Twitter. She stated that this feature would encourage users to stay on the platform rather than linking to other websites that could host long-format content.

    “Adding this extra capability means that Twitter is now in a position to compete with some of the popular blogging platforms and potentially attract a new audience and a different type of user,” she added.

    The two-month test will include a small group of authors from Canada, Ghana, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

  • Are you ready to buy Snapchat Subscription?

    Are you ready to buy Snapchat Subscription?

    Snapchat is reportedly working on a subscription plan that will allow users access to several features, including the ability to pin conversations. With the launch of Snapchat +, users may have to pay to access exclusive, experimental, and pre-release features on social media platforms. With a premium subscription, Snapchat users will get a special Snapchat icon and a special badge.

    What is Snapchat Plus?

    With Snapchat Plus, Liz Markman (Snapchat Spokesperson) reports, subscribers will have access to certain features of the app.

    “You’ll be able to pin friends as best friends, get custom snap chat icons and subscriber profile badges, and see how many retweets you have on Snap Stories”. He also notes that “you will be able to see your friends’ location in the last 24 hours, but only if they share it with you”.

    Why paid when they can offer free?

    This is not the only social media platform to launch a paid subscription model. Other social media platforms are also running the same race. For example, Twitter launched its first subscription offer, Twitter Blue, in June, which is currently available in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada.

    The transition to a subscription-based business model may be the result of app tracking transparency, a feature introduced by Apple in iOS 14 that requires apps to ask users before they can track their data. Companies such as Snap and Meta have publicly stated that Apple’s new guidelines have affected their revenue, which is largely based on advertising.

    By introducing new subscription plans, these companies hope to offset the loss in advertising revenue by charging for access to special features that will not be available to free users.

    How much does Snapchat Plus cost?

    The service costs € 4.59 (Rs1,009) monthly or € 45.99 (Rs10,111) per year.

    It is not clear when Snapchat Plus will launch as it is still in testing mode, but keep an eye out for it. Will you pay for it?

  • Instagram’s repeated stories glitch in iPhones fixed in newer version

    Instagram’s repeated stories glitch in iPhones fixed in newer version

    On iPhones, Instagram stories have been acting up for certain users, forcing them to go through all of someone’s stories before being allowed to see new ones.

    Since Monday, numerous users have been afflicted by the problem, and other Reddit users have complained that the same thing is occurring to them’.

    The source of the problem appears to be that Instagram forgets where you left off when viewing someone’s story.

    For example, if a user uploads five stories and you look at four of them before swiping away, you should see their fifth story the next time you tap on their symbol. Instead, each time you want to view the story, Instagram forces you to go back through the four you have previously seen.

    When someone adds a new story to their feed, the problem occurs as well.

    According to The Verge, Instagram released an update for the app in the iOS App Store on Wednesday morning that appears to have fixed the problem.

    In case, you’re having problems, check for updates and make sure your app is up to date, to the latest version, which is v239.1.

    The update notes only state that “the current version provides bug fixes and performance enhancements,” yet netizens claim that it has solved the problem of repeating Stories.

    In an email to The Verge, Meta representative Christine Pai said the business is “aware that some customers are having problems accessing Instagram Stories”.

    Pai apologised for the disruption and stated that Instagram is “trying to bring everything back to normal as quickly as possible”.

    The exact number of users that have been affected is unknown. Many twitterati are saying that they have to replay stories on Instagram, still the platform is not that massively trending.

  • Army denies taking action against officers after Maryam Nawaz’s speech

    Army denies taking action against officers after Maryam Nawaz’s speech

    The Pakistan Army has revoked all the post-retirement benefits, including pensions and free medical coverage, for five retired army officers for their involvement in anti-army campaign.

    One ex-major general’s name is also included in the list. Action against these officials was conducted last month following legal procedures and allowing the ex-servicemen a chance to defend themselves.

    “The GHQ had proceeded against the five retired officers at least two weeks before Maryam spoke on the issue,” said one of the sources while denying the statements of some YouTubers who are connecting the military action against with a recent statement of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz.

    According to the source, the military expects the government to take action against individuals who defame the military.

    “The social media reports of 150 ex-servicemen facing the action are totally incorrect,” the source added.

  • ‘PhD in cringeonomics,’ Twitter reacts to Maryam’s tears

    ‘PhD in cringeonomics,’ Twitter reacts to Maryam’s tears

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) Vice President Maryam Nawaz Sharif addressed the PML-N Instagram team in Lahore. When Yeh Watan Tumhara Hai‘, was played, Maryam could be seen wiping her tears while listening to the milli-naghma.

    Maryam Nawaz re-shared the tweet and wrote: “I am in love with Pakistan.”

    Social media users were quick to give all kinds of comments on Maryam’s video. Have a look at the reactions:

    https://twitter.com/passingthedays_/status/1534106417762025472

    https://twitter.com/_amnahtweets/status/1534067890386763776

  • Elon Musk threatens to terminate Twitter deal once again

    Elon Musk threatens to terminate Twitter deal once again

    Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk warned Twitter in a statement on Monday that if it fails to give him with data on spam and bogus accounts, he may back out of his $44 billion offer to buy the social media company.

    This isn’t the first time Musk has hinted that his takeover of Twitter might not go through. However, the warning, which came in the form of a letter from Musk’s lawyers to Twitter’s chief legal officer, Vijaya Gadde, signified a significant step forward. It accused Twitter of “materially breaching” its contract commitments.

    Musk’s warnings to rip up the contract have coincided with a drop in many technology equities, including Tesla Inc, the electric vehicle company he runs, as investors worry about an economic downturn and higher interest rates in the face of soaring inflation.

    On Monday, Twitter shares fell 1.5 per cent to $39.57, a significant discount to the planned $52.20 purchase price, as investors wagered Musk will either persuade Twitter to accept a lower deal price or walk away from the deal.

    Musk’s attorneys reaffirmed their request for facts on bot accounts in a letter to Twitter, saying he reserved all rights to cancel the transaction because the business had failed to meet its duties in a “clear material violation”.

    Twitter responded by stating that it intended to enforce the deal’s completion on the agreed-upon conditions. “In order to complete the acquisition in accordance with the terms of the merger agreement, Twitter has and will continue to cooperatively exchange information with Musk,” the firm stated in a statement.

    Musk, a self-proclaimed free-speech absolutist, has stated that removing “spam bots” from the platform will be one of his top goals.

    In mid-May, he announced that the Twitter transaction was “temporarily on hold,” stating that he will not forward with the offer unless the firm can prove that spam bots make up less than 5 per cent of its overall users. He has stated that spam bots account for at least 20 per cent of the user base.

    According to independent analysts, 9 per cent to 15 per cent of the millions of Twitter profiles could be bots.

    Musk wrote in his letter that he needs the information to perform his own analysis of Twitter users because he doesn’t trust the company’s “loose testing techniques.” Twitter has stated that it stands by its forecasts and that it is unable to reveal private information on how they are generated.

    “He’s trying to back out of the Twitter transaction, and this is the first shot across the bow,” according to Wedbush analyst Dan Ives.

    The caveats Twitter employed in its forecasts on spam accounts, according to legal experts, give it some protection against prospective lawsuits, whether from Musk over the transaction or shareholders over the integrity of the company’s regulatory representations.

    Even if Twitter’s estimate is incorrect, Musk would have to establish that the San Francisco-based business was attempting to deceive with the intent to deceive – a high legal bar.

    “It’s quite evident that Musk has buyer’s remorse, and he’s doing all he can to get a price reduction, and I believe he’ll succeed,” Dennis Dick, a proprietary trader at Bright Trading LLC, said.

    To be sure, Musk may be able to walk away or renegotiate the deal even if the law is on Twitter’s side.

    This is because any litigation is likely to be protracted, and Twitter may decide it makes more sense to agree to a lower price or receive compensation from Musk rather than try to force him to complete the transaction in court.

    Several companies renegotiated or walked away from agreed acquisitions when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in 2020 and delivered a global economic shock.

    In one instance, French retailer LVMH threatened to walk away from a deal with Tiffany & Co. The U.S. jewelry retailer agreed to lower the acquisition price by $425 million to $15.8 billion.

    Musk is contractually forced to pay a $1 billion breakup fee if he cannot complete the sale because the loan financing falls apart or authorities stop it, according to Forbes, a sliver of his $219 billion fortune.

    Last Monday, antitrust officials in the United States opted not to investigate Musk’s acquisition of Twitter any further, indicating that it is unlikely to face regulatory challenges. The deal is still being reviewed by the European Union.

    Attorney General Ken Paxton of Texas stated on Monday that he has launched an investigation against Twitter for “possibly fraudulent reporting regarding its bogus bot accounts,” which he described as a possible violation of state law.

    As part of the investigation, Paxton requested that Twitter provide over documents. “I have a responsibility to safeguard Texans if Twitter is misrepresenting how many accounts are fraudulent to increase their revenue,” Paxton said in a statement.

    Twitter’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, according to a spokeswoman, are accurate.

  • Sheryl Sandberg to step down from Facebook after 14 years

    Sheryl Sandberg to step down from Facebook after 14 years

    Facebook-parent Meta confirmed that Sheryl Sandberg is stepping down as its chief operating officer (COO) of the social media platform.

    However, Sandberg did not specify the reason for her departure from the company, which will happen in the fall, in a Facebook post. Sandberg revealed that she intends to concentrate on her charity efforts in the future.

    “The debate around social media has changed beyond recognition since those early days. To say it hasn’t always been easy is an understatement,” Sandberg wrote. “But it should be hard. The products we make have a huge impact, so we have the responsibility to build them in a way that protects privacy and keeps people safe”.

    Mark Zuckerberg clarified that Sandberg will remain on the board of directors of Meta, according to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg in a separate Facebook post. The company’s Chief Growth Officer, Javier Olivan, will take over as COO, although his work will be “distinct from what Sheryl has done” and “a more traditional COO function”.

    In a recent post, Zuckerberg said: “It’s unusual for a business partnership like ours to last so long. I think ours did because Sheryl is such an amazing person, leader, partner, and friend”.

    Sandberg established herself as a high-profile figure in the IT industry prior to joining Facebook, having previously served as Google’s vice president of global online sales and operations. Prior to joining Google, she worked for President Bill Clinton at the World Bank and the Treasury Department.

    She was often regarded as the adult supervisor for a firm led by a very young entrepreneur during her early years at Facebook.

    Sandberg closely worked with Zuckerberg to increase Facebook’s income from around $150 million in 2007 to over $3.7 billion in 2011, the year before the company went public.  She also rose to fame as one of the most powerful women in technology. Her notoriety was enhanced by her role in founding the Lean In movement, which outlined a strategy for women to succeed and achieve their objectives.

  • Musk sued for stock manipulation during Twitter takeover bid

    Musk sued for stock manipulation during Twitter takeover bid

    The most controversial billionaire Elon Musk has been sued by Twitter Inc shareholders, who claim he manipulated the company’s stock price downward, as the CEO of electric carmaker Tesla Inc mounts a $44 billion buyout offer for the social media platform.

    According to the investors, Musk saved $156 million by failing to disclose that he had acquired more than 5 per cent of Twitter by March 14. They requested class certification and an unknown amount of punitive and compensatory damages.

    They also named Twitter as a defendant, claiming the company owed them an investigation into Musk’s behaviour, though they are not seeking monetary damages from the company.

    As per the lawsuit, filed on Wednesday in San Francisco federal court, the investors claimed Musk continued to buy stock after that and eventually disclosed in early April that he owned 9.2 per cent of the company.

    “By delaying his disclosure of his Twitter stake, Musk engaged in market manipulation and purchased Twitter stock at an artificially low price,” the investors, led by Virginia resident William Heresniak, claimed. Requests for comment were not immediately returned by Musk or his lawyer.

    The recent drop in Tesla’s stock has put Musk’s ability to finance his acquisition of Twitter in “major jeopardy,” according to the investors, because he has pledged his shares as collateral to secure the loans he needs to buy the company.

    Tesla’s stock was trading around $713 per share on Thursday afternoon, down from over $1,000 in early April. According to the Wall Street Journal, the timing of Musk’s disclosure of his stake has already triggered an investigation by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

    The SEC demands any investor who purchases more than 5% of a company’s stock to disclose their assets within 10 days of crossing the limit.

    The investors also claimed that Musk’s public criticism of the company, such as a May 13 tweet stating that the buyout was “temporarily on hold” until Twitter proved that spam bots accounted for less than 5% of its users, amounted to an attempt to drive the share price even lower.

    Musk pledged an additional $6.25 billion in equity financing to fund his bid for Twitter on Wednesday, indicating that he is still working to close the deal.

    Earlier this month, the tech mogul was sued in Delaware Chancery Court by a Florida pension fund, which sought to halt the transaction on the grounds that some other large Twitter shareholders were supporting the buyout, which is a violation of Delaware law. The lawsuit filed by Heresniak does not seek to halt the takeover.