TWEAKS AND UPDATES

Mashable: Snap Map adds ‘My Places’ for a Google Maps feel. “What if Google Maps, but more Snapchat? That’s what the new ‘My Places’ feature on the disappearing messaging app’s map feels like. My Places, which starts rolling out Wednesday around the world, makes it easier to remember and discover nearby restaurants, bars, and new, well, places. The new map option is already in testing with a small group of users.”

Mozilla Blog: Celebrating Mozilla VPN: How we’re keeping your data safe for you. “Developed by Mozilla, a mission-driven company with a 20-year track record of fighting for online privacy and a healthier internet, we are committed to innovate and bring new features to the Mozilla VPN through feedback from our community. This year, the team has been working on additional security and customization features which will soon be available to our users.”

USEFUL STUFF

MakeUseOf: How to Use Facebook’s New Soundmojis on Messenger. “There are different ways of expressing yourself on Facebook Messenger. You can call, via audio or video, sent plain text messages, audio messages, or even use emojis, GIFs, and stickers to convey a message. In addition to that, you can also now use Soundmojis—emojis with sound—which makes chatting even better. This article will explain what Soundmojis are, how Soundmojis work, and how to use them in Facebook Messenger.”

Search Engine Journal: How to Use GMB Posts & Facebook Events for Local Marketing. “Looking for new ways to market to a local audience? Google My Business Event Posts and Facebook Events are two great ways to get a little extra exposure. In this article, you’ll learn how to utilize Google My Business Posts and Facebook Events to gain extra exposure for your local business or clients.”

AROUND THE SEARCH AND SOCIAL MEDIA WORLD

Bandwagon: 7 social audio room apps to check out – Stationhead, Spotify Greenroom, Discord Stages, Twitter Spaces, and more. “Audio room apps are developed to allow users to have live conversations with others with topics ranging from entertainment, politics, and more. Here are 7 social audio apps to check out if you feel like having a live conversation in real-time with people on the internet and beyond.”

WUSF: Google Plans To Expand Its Campus — Which Might Become Unsafe As Sea Levels Rise. “Google is expanding its campus in the San Francisco Bay Area. The company is planning to build offices as well as housing and green space near the shoreline, which is at risk from rising sea levels. And that’s raising the question of whether building there should happen at all. NPR’s Lauren Sommer has the story.”

SECURITY & LEGAL

The Register: Scam-baiting YouTube channel Tech Support Scams taken offline by tech support scam . “The Tech Support Scams YouTube channel has been erased from existence in a blaze of irony as host and creator Jim Browning fell victim to a tech support scam that convinced him to secure his account – by deleting it.”

San Diego Union-Tribune: Calif. task force recommends public archive for digital campaign ads. “A task force convened by the state agency in charge of enforcing the California Political Reform Act is recommending the creation of a digital archive to track online advertisements promoting candidates for state office. In a report released this week by the Fair Political Practices Commission, task force members say a public database of digital ads would help voters, researchers, journalists and others keep better track of campaign spending by state office seekers.”

RESEARCH & OPINION

New York Times: Social media platforms are failing to monitor anti-Semitism, two reports say.. “On Twitter, a photoshopped image of world leaders with the Star of David on their foreheads was posted above the hashtag #JewWorldOrder. And on YouTube, a video of the World Trade Center on fire was used as a backdrop for an argument that Jews were responsible for the terrorist attacks on the towers 20 years ago. All are examples of anti-Semitic content explicitly banned by social media companies.”

SlashGear: Google’s quantum computer supposedly just made a time crystal. “Google’s quantum computer has been used to build a ‘time crystal’ according to freshly-published research, a new phase of matter that upends the traditional laws of thermodynamics. Despite what the name might suggest, however, the new breakthrough won’t let Google build a time machine.” Good evening, Internet…

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