With Facebook announcing plans to merge its Messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram messaging services, we take a closer look at the giant’s stronghold on the ways in which we communicate, and explore whether the new changes will bring us closer together, or give Facebook access to more data to sell advertising and increase its dominance in the market.
ALL CHANGE AT FACEBOOK
Whether you’re an avid Facebooker or you steer clear from the platform, the chances are that you use at least one of the tech giant’s products. Zuckerberg has his fingers in many pies, including WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram, and may just be the most powerful tech CEO in the world. Of course, companies like Alphabet, Amazon, and Apple have been able to secure higher returns and, albeit briefly, become trillion-dollar brands, but where Facebook is different is in its data. Facebook attracts an eye-watering 2.27 billion users to its platform per month, messaging service WhatsApp has more than 1.5 billion users, and the celebrityobsessed social network Instagram has more than 1 billion monthly users, growing more than 200 million users from September 2018 to December 2018 - demonstrating the power of the brand.
At a time when Zuckerberg’s core product is facing unprecedented scrutiny following a series of data leaks and dishonest advertising practices, the company has decided to take more control over the networking divisions and create a unified messaging experience for users.
According to a report in The New York Times, the services will continue as standalone apps, but the technical infrastructure will be unified, connecting more than 2.6 billion users and enabling cross-platform communication for the first time. Many believe that the move will redefine the way billions of us communicate with friends and family, as we will no longer be locked into one platform when chatting with our loved ones. Others argue that the plan does nothing more than increase the firm’s grip on its users, citing privacy and security concerns, and raising antitrust as a reason against the potential messaging merger.
This story is from the AppleMagazine #379 edition of AppleMagazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the AppleMagazine #379 edition of AppleMagazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
AUSTRALIAN STATES BACK NATIONAL PLAN TO BAN CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN 16 FROM SOCIAL MEDIA
Australia’s states and territories unanimously backed a national plan to require most forms of social media to bar children younger than 16.
FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM USERS IN EUROPE CAN OPT FOR LESS PERSONALIZED ADS
Facebook and Instagram users in Europe will get the option to see less personalized ads if they don’t want to pay for an ad-free subscription, social media company Meta said Tuesday, bowing to pressure from Brussels over privacy and digital competition concerns.
IN THIS FLORIDA SCHOOL DISTRICT. SOME PARENTS ARE PUSHING BACK AGAINST A CELLPHONE BAN
It’s no surprise that students are pushing back on cellphone bans in classrooms. But school administrators in one South Florida county working to pull students’ eyes away from their screens are facing some resistance from another group as well – parents.
DIAMOND SPORTS GROUP WILL OFFER SINGLE-GAME PRICING TO STREAM NBA AND NHL GAMES STARTING NEXT MONTH
The nation’s largest owner of regional sports networks will offer single-game pricing for NBA and NHL games beginning next month.
ON THE EVE OF OSCARS HONOR, JAMES BOND PRODUCERS REFLECT ON LEGACY AND FUTURE OF 007
For the late James Bond producer Albert “Cuddy” Broccoli, receiving the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award was a true high point in his career.
'SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE' TO TRUMP: 'WE'VE BEEN WITH YOU ALL ALONG'
The first “Saturday Night Live” since Donald Trump’s election victory began with the most somber of tones as a group of plainly dressed cast members, primarily women and minorities, described their new reality.
US AGENCY SAYS TESLA'S PUBLIC STATEMENTS IMPLY THAT ITS VEHICLES CAN DRIVE THEMSELVES. THEY CAN'T
The U.S. government’s highway safety agency says Tesla is telling drivers in public statements that its vehicles can drive themselves, conflicting with owners manuals and briefings with the agency saying the electric vehicles need human supervision.
WAYMO'S ROBOTAXIS NOW OPEN TO ANYONE WHO WANTS A DRIVERLESS RIDE IN LOS ANGELES
Waymo this week opened its robotaxi service to anyone who wants a ride around Los Angeles, marking another milestone in the evolution of self-driving car technology since the company began as a secret project at Google 15 years ago.
BITCOIN HAS TOPPED $93,000 FOR A NEW RECORD HIGH. WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT CRYPTO'S POST-ELECTION RALLY
As money continues to pour into crypto following Donald Trump’s victory last week, bitcoin has climbed to yet another record high.
AMAZON LAUNCHES AN ONLINE DISCOUNT STOREFRONT TO BETTER COMPETE WITH SHEIN AND TEMU
Amazon has launched a low-cost online storefront featuring electronics, apparel and other products priced at under $20, an effort to compete with discount retailers that have increasingly encroached on the e-commerce giant’s turf.
