TWEAKS & UPDATES

Opera 36 is now available.

WordPress 4.5 beta 4 is now available.

AROUND THE SEARCH AND SOCIAL MEDIA WORLD

TechCrunch on Instagram’s shift to an algorithmic feed: it’s all about the dollars. “This change is being spun as a way to optimize a user’s feed, when actually it grants Instagram the power to control ad content. ‘On average, people miss about 70% of the posts in their Instagram feed,’ says Kevin Systrom, the co-founder and CEO of Instagram. ‘What this is about is making sure that the 30% you see is the best 30% possible.’ While this certainly is true, make no mistake, Instagram is about to do this for monetization.”

Is Google going to start getting more aggressive about the cloud? “Google has assembled an early working list of possible acquisition targets in enterprise that include a number of startups, according to sources familiar with the discussions.”

SECURITY/LEGAL ISSUES

The Guardian has an extensive article on Facebook scams and how to protect yourself from them.

RESEARCH AND OPINION

The BBC: Twitter’s role in modern warfare. “Virtual warfare is being waged on social networks with the majority of users unaware that nations and militant groups alike are targeting their hearts and minds. Modern conflicts are no longer about warring states and control over territory, but more about identity, control of the population and the political decision-making process, argues military researcher Thomas Elkjer Nissen.”

Where are people talking about guns on Instagram? “A series of novel infographics from Net Quote show the frequency of 12 gun-related hashtags and their likes, and with over 6 million Instagram pictures ultimately analyzed….” Good morning, Internet…

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