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In an unexpected twist, following President Donald Trump’s 2025 inauguration, Instagram and Facebook users began noticing their accounts automatically following official profiles of the new administration, including Vice President JD Vance and First Lady Melania Trump. For many, this raised alarms about their control over their social media accounts and Meta’s evolving relationship with political power. ‘I Didn’t Sign Up for This’: The Backlash According to Yahoo News, social media lit up with frustrated users who claimed their accounts were now following President Trump, Vice President Vance, and First Lady Melania without their consent. The sentiment was clear: users were uneasy, especially as trust in social media platforms continues to be scrutinized. Meta’s Explanation: Procedural or Problematic? Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, quickly responded, attributing the issue to standard procedure. According to the company, users who had previously followed the...
Users are already looking to find new social homes to replace TikTok. Is TikTok Going Away? As AFROTECH™ previously told you, the platform is on the brink of a potential ban following President Joe Biden’s signing of a law in April 2024, which requires ByteDance, the owner of TikTok, to sell the platform to a U.S.-based company within a year “For years, the Chinese government has sought to build detailed profiles about Americans – where we live and work, who are friends and coworkers are, what our interests are, and what our vices are,” Elizabeth Barchas Prelogar, the 48th Solicitor General of the United States, told the Supreme Court during a hearing on Friday Jan. 10, 2025, according to CNN. She also stated TikTok’s “immense data set” gives China “a powerful tool for harassment, recruitment and espionage.” If ByteDance refuses those terms, the application will no longer be available in the United States on Jan. 19, 2025. “Absent such relief, the Act will take effect on Jan. 19,...
Content creators are taking over. Entertainment is entering a new era as attention shifts away from traditional cable TV, streaming platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, and Peacock, and even movie theaters. More people are seeking fresh, innovative ways to engage their time and dollars. And the creators are certainly delivering with engaging content that circulates the web and is also attracting countless celebrities and companies who are looking to capitalize in a new territory. Forbes notes the creator economy is currently valued at $250 billion, and that number is projected to nearly double by 2027. Three top Black creators are not just participating in this revolution — they’re leading it. Kai Cenat Kai Cenat currently holds the crown as Twitch’s most-subscribed streamer, as AFROTECH™ previously reported. The New Yorker, who once lived in a shelter, recently concluded his month-long November 2024 “Mafiathon 2.” Users tuned in to his 24/7 Twitch livestream throughout the month,...
When considering the “It Girl”, Kirah Ominique is top of mind. She had no intentions of being a full-time content creator. In fact, she had first envisioned attending an Historically Black College and University, potentially Howard University or Texas Southern University, to obtain a pharmaceutical degree. Although that did not become a reality, her Plan B was to always be involved in the beauty field. “I was supposed to come become a pharmacy tech first. Girl, I failed pharmacy math like, ‘Yeah no let’s go to P lan B.’ Now Plan B is Plan A, doing something in like the beauty field but a mix with the medical. Or maybe a traveling nurse wouldn’t sound too bad either,” she explained in a YouTube video posted in May 2024. Ominique has stayed true to her interests in diving into the beauty world through content creation, which also encompasses fashion and lifestyle and has led to a strong social media presence. @kirahominique Get Ready With Me For Dinner In Thailand , Its Giving...
In a world that’s been evolving constantly in the digital realm for as long as most of us can remember, it’s hard to deny the negative impacts smartphones and social media have on our attention span. Users can hardly sit through a 60-second TikTok video , let alone a 20-minute training course for work. Rather than allowing weaponized incompetence and distractibility to seize the day, app developers have been working tirelessly on creating platforms that make retaining knowledge fun and easy again. They’ve dubbed this trend “microlearning,” and while it could simply be a fad, there are clear benefits to challenging your mind in a bite-sized way. What Is Microlearning? Photo by LinkedIn Sales Solutions/Unsplash The concept of microlearning is based on the forgetting curve , which comes from Hermann Ebbinghaus. His research demonstrates that “when people take in large amounts of information, retention of what was learned tends to degrade over time.” More specifically, they reportedly...
The talent that Black women exhibit when given an opportunity in the video gaming industry has been game-changing. However, the level of representation doesn’t measure in comparison to how limitless they are. According to data from the International Game Developers Association, only 2% of game developers are Black, per CNBC.
Musiq Soulchild penned a song with the lyrics, “Soon as I get my money right, I’ma take good care you.” While the neo-soul singer talked about the financial responsibility of supporting a romantic partner, there is a conviction in the song centered around taking the necessary steps toward financial health. The internet is bombarded daily with thoughts and ideas on obtaining wealth and what it means to get in your financial bag. And with the freedom the internet provides, there is little to no guidance on who can share what type of information. However, in the flurry of folks vying for attention, several people have the dedicated goal to offer practical, tried, and factual information that can take a person from where they are to where they want to be financially. The next time you seek advice around budgeting, investing, estate planning, and saving, here’s who you need to tap in with.
Seeing a Black woman break into the tech industry is always an accomplishment to celebrate, but what makes the win even more major is how they lift up others along with them. In the age of social media, the underrepresented group is not only sharing their experiences in their fields but also using their platforms to create a domino effect of Black talent going from sending in their resumes to signing job offer letters. Here are 10 Black women tech influencers who are working with big names like Google, Meta, and Microsoft that are teaching the ins and outs of the industry to help bring more of the community on board.
Aaliyah fans are in for a huge treat. According to Forbes, the late singer’s music could soon be available on streaming platforms. Aaliyah — who passed tragically at the age of 22 — singlehandedly changed the music industry as one of the most influential singers of R&B. To this day, her music continues to impact the masses. Now, it will reportedly make the transition into the digital age. The official paperwork has been reportedly been completed to share her music digitally with a staggered rollout of her music onto streaming platforms starting with “One In A Million” (1996) on Aug. 20. The only music from the singer that lives on streaming platforms is her 1994 debut album, “Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number.” Her “One In a Million” hit, which was released in 1996, along with the self-titled album “Aaliyah” released just one month before her death in 2001, is noticeably missing from streaming platforms. Plus, singles like “Are You That Somebody?” Documents reveal that the music...
If we’ve learned anything over the last year, it’s that technology has the power to transform, influence and shape entire industries with the latest tools and resources. While the pandemic completely turned the music industry on its back, technology became its saving grace to show us all our future possibilities. From virtual concerts to emerging platforms, the music industry was under pressure to still deliver entertainment, and innovative tech made sure that happened. Some of the best things birthed out of the pandemic stemmed from tech startups, apps and social media — including things like Verzuz and hybrid awards shows . And what’s better, Black leaders and changemakers were at the center of it all. To close out Black Music Month, we’re highlighting some revolutionary Black-owned companies that are shifting the way the industry will operate in years to come. Check out some of the hottest tech innovations that the music industry is betting on to shape its future. Music Breakr...
The nation’s first climate-friendly snack brand could soon become more accessible for Americans. Certified WBENC woman-owned business and BIPOC-founded and owned brand, Moonshot, has announced that it’s expanding its distribution. Its signature crackers are now available for purchase through several value-aligned retailers both in-stores and online, including Bubble, Goldune, and New Leaf, reports 69 News. Created by Planet FWD , Moonshot is made with the planet’s health in mind. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Moonshot (@moonshotsnacks) “We’re thrilled to grow the reach of our climate-friendly food movement with retailers that consumers already rely on to uphold their sustainability standards,” shared Julia Collins , founder, and CEO of Moonshot in a statement. “We recognize that the power of our impact cannot be achieved by any one brand alone and look forward to the continued growth of this movement through trusted retail partners.” Research reveals that the...
According to some estimates, live streaming will be a $70 billion dollar industry by 2021 . Today, live streaming is highly popular among internet users and will only grow in popularity, especially with the COVID=19 pandemic. Interested in streaming your content? Below is a list of popular streaming platforms you can leverage to grow your audience. RELATED: Twitch’s Black Guild Members Share Their Take on the Importance of Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace 3 BEST LIVE STREAMING PLATFORMS FOR CONTENT CREATORS DURING QUARANTINE 1. INSTAGRAM LIVE Since most of us spend time on Instagram every day, it only makes sense to use the platform to live stream your content. Instagram live usage has increased by 70% this past March when the U.S. quarantine began. Instagram Live is a great platform that allows you to: Save your live streams to post on your feed. Notify your followers when you start streaming. Join other Instagrammers lives and vice versa. 2. YOUTUBE LIVE YouTube Live is...
Technology has proven to be the elite tool this year as it continues to innovate and improve industries all over. Even more so, tech is entering the food industry in ways that overall tweaks the F&B business models to better serve their customers. Prime example, Dashible , a subscription-based deal creation/distribution platform, and EatOkra , a location-based mobile app that helps customers easily find local Black-owned restaurants, have both partnered together to integrate their tech platforms as a means to benefit Black-owned food businesses in the U.S. View this post on Instagram We are excited to announce our partnership with EatOkra!! The #1 app for finding black-owned restaurants. Be on the lookout for Dashible deals at black-owned restaurants throughout the city. You can find the deals in the Dashible app or @eatokratheapp • Download both apps today and support local businesses. • • #eatokra #eatokratheapp #deals #shoplocal #supportlocal #supportblackbusiness A post...
Many people have the misconception that social media influencers and entrepreneurs are two separate entities, but the influx of influencers over the last few years has brought on the rise of influencer-entrepreneurs. Social media’s added value plus a strong following/presence on its platforms has given influencers the power to impact brands in ways that ultimately help boost their business, including brand awareness, a growing customer base, added market value, and more. Of the many successful social media influencers, Ariana Fletcher — better known online as @therealkylesister — has become one of the most influential of them all, utilizing her social media presence to help brands make millions and in turn made herself into a multi-millionaire. View this post on Instagram A post shared by KYLESISTER (@therealkylesister) Fletcher started her entrepreneurial journey back in 2016 when she started her hair company called KYCHE Extensions. Though she had no formal experience, she learned...