Game of Thrones S07E04, The Spoils of War, leaks online
The fourth episode of the latest season of Game of Thrones has leaked online before its official air date. Download links to the episode -- The Spoils of War -- have been shared on Reddit and Twitter, and the video appears to be a low-quality internal version.
Earlier this week, HBO was the victim of a hack in which 1.5TB of data was stolen. In addition to full episodes of other shows, there were scripts and spoilers for Game of Thrones, and these were subsequently leaked. This time around, however, it does not seem that the hack was the source of the S07E04 leak.
Twitter looks to boost profits with $99 per month automatic tweet promotion beta
When Twitter revealed its Q2 earnings yesterday the figures weren't quite as bright as people would have hoped. With growth stalling, the company is seeking new ways to bring in money, and its latest idea is a tweet promotion service for a fixed monthly fee.
Twitter is testing a new ad program which automatically promotes tweets and profiles for $99 per month. The program is currently in private beta, but it could be rolled out to a wider audience at any stage.
Europe says Facebook, Twitter and Google need to improve user terms or face fines
Facebook, Twitter and Google have failed to impress EU authorities with their proposed revisions to user terms. The three companies have been under pressure to amend their terms to bring them in line with European law.
The European Commission and consumer protection authorities wrote to the tech giants last month, giving them until July 20th to submit proposals about their respective social networks. The companies have until September to implement changes that satisfy Europe, or fines could be handed out.
Twitter's new muting controls make it easier to avoid trolls
Abuse, harassment and trolling on Twitter is a serious problem, and something that sees many users -- celebrities in particular -- forced off the site. Having already introduced a quality filter to help reduce unwanted content, Twitter is now making it possible to block notifications from various types of account, such as those that don’t follow you.
As an extra safeguard, you can opt to block notifications from new accounts, thereby helping to avoid the problem of trolls who bypass blocks by signing up under a new username. The "advanced filter settings" are available online as well as in the iOS and Android apps.
Judge says Twitter can proceed with lawsuit to increase transparency about government surveillance
Transparency reports about government data requests have become very common from tech companies such as Facebook, Twitter and Google. But while these firms publish reports, their hands are tied when it comes to what they can reveal. Twitter wants to change that.
A federal judge in California ruled in Twitter's favour, dismissing the US government's claim that revealing precise numbers of data requests represented a "clear and present danger." The ruling against the government doesn't change anything in the short term, but it is still an important victory for freedom of speech.
Facebook, Twitter and Snap Inc may bid millions for World Cup 2018 streaming rights
World Cup 2018 is not far off, and social media networks are preparing to offer millions to obtain streaming rights from Fox Sports. The soccer tournament is to be held in Russia next year, and Facebook, Twitter and Snap Inc are all eager to be able to show highlights online.
As Fox Sports is the exclusive US rights holder, there is potential for bids for access to highlights to become high. A report from Bloomberg suggests that the social media giants have already put up "tens of millions of dollars."
Facebook and Twitter have secret Harry Potter Easter eggs to celebrate 20 years of the Sorcerer's Stone
Today is the twentieth anniversary of the publication of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (or Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone depending on where you are in the world). To celebrate, Facebook has hidden a Potter-related Easter egg on the site, and Twitter is getting in on the action as well.
As Harry Potter is all about magic, it should come as little surprise that in order to unlock the Easter egg, you need to use the right magic words. Here's what you need to do...
How to avoid Twitter's bubbly redesign
With its latest redesign, many people are complaining that Twitter has stepped back in time. If you are not a fan of the "circles and curves everywhere" look, you can -- with a little help -- avoid the redesign and stick with the way things were.
There's just one catch -- you have to be using Chrome. If this is already your web browser of choice, all you need to do is to install an extension built specifically to "remove Twitter's 'bubbly' redesign."
Twitter's redesign basically comprises old fashioned rounded buttons and new icons
It has been a while since Twitter was treated to a new lick of paint, but that all changes today. A new look is rolling out, and "round" is the word that springs most readily to mind.
Think back to the look of the web around 15 years ago -- all rounded corners and the like -- and you're in the right ballpark. Online there are not only rounded buttons and round profile pictures, but also redesigned, wireframe icons. Mobile users are also treated to a new look.
Does Donald Trump tweet too much? America thinks so
Donald Trump may not be the first US president to take to Twitter, but he's certainly proved unique in the way he uses the social platform. Tweets have become his public mouthpiece, used to issue train-of-thought broadcasts, as well as plenty of oddities -- it's going to be some time before "covfefe" is forgotten.
But while many are pleased to see Trump issuing statements through an accessible medium, critics on both sides of the political spectrum have voiced concern about his outpourings. Importantly, the American public now believes that the president tweets too much.
Facebook launches a trio of features to help US constituents connect with elected officials
Donald Trump is just one example of politicians using social media to get their messages out. With President Trump, Twitter acts very much as a one-way means of communications -- Facebook wants to make the channels between elected officials and constituents a two-way street.
As such, the social network is launching three new features -- Constituent Badges, Constituent Insights and District Targeting -- to help users get in touch with their elected representatives. These are the latest attempts by Facebook to increase meaningful civic engagement through its service while fighting back complaints about fake news.
Apple nixes Facebook and Twitter integration from iOS 11
With the arrival of any new operating system, the focus tends to be on what has been added and what has been improved. But it's also important to keep an eye on what has been removed, and this is true of Apple's newly announced iOS 11.
One of the things to have been removed from the upcoming version of Apple's mobile OS is social media integration. Specifically, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and Vimeo have been dropped from Settings, meaning that these services will no longer be able to offer an easy way to sign into apps and services using social media accounts.
Tech companies retaliate against Theresa May's claim they offer a 'safe space' for extremists
Following the attacks on London over the weekend, prime minister Theresa May made calls for further regulation of the internet -- despite having already ushered in the snooper's charter, one of the most invasive pieces of online legislation in the world.
Speaking about the attacks, May said: "We cannot allow this ideology the safe space it needs to breed. Yet that is precisely what the internet, and the big companies that provide internet-based services provide." Google, Facebook and Twitter have all lashed out, saying they already do a great deal to combat terrorist and extremist content on their networks.
Police ask people not to share London Bridge and Borough Market attack footage on social media
Last night saw two attacks in London leading to the deaths of seven people and dozens of injuries. A van driven at pedestrians on London Bridge, and stabbings in Borough Market have been labelled as terrorist attacks, and Facebook Safety Check was activated for the incident.
The social network was not just used by people to let loved ones know that they were safe following the attacks, but also to share footage of the shocking aftermath. While police are keen for witnesses to come forward with footage they may have shot on mobile phones, they are pleading with people not to share videos on social media.
Fake News: Half of Donald Trump's Twitter followers are bots
This story isn’t actually "Fake News", but rather news about fakes. We all know Donald Trump loves Twitter (more than covfefe itself!), and with over 31 million followers it appears the 45th President of the United States of America is hugely popular on the social site.
Except, well, his 31 million followers aren’t quite what they seem.
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