Daily Crunch: Apple and Google block banned apps in India

Banned Chinese apps are beginning to disappear from India’s app stores, Palantir is raising more funding and Venmo starts testing Business Profiles.

Here’s your Daily Crunch for July 2, 2020.

1. Apple and Google block dozens of Chinese apps in India

Two days after India blocked 59 apps developed by Chinese firms, Google and Apple have started to comply with the government’s order and are preventing users in the world’s second-largest internet market from accessing those apps.

UC Browser, Shareit, Club Factory and other apps are no longer listed on Apple’s App Store and Google Play Store. In a statement, a Google spokesperson said that the company had “temporarily blocked access to the apps”on Google Play Store as it reviews the order.

2. SEC filing indicates big data provider Palantir is raising $961M, $550M of it already secured

Palantir, the controversial and secretive big data and analytics provider, has reportedly been eyeing up a public listing this autumn. But in the meantime it’s also continuing to push ahead in the private markets.

3. Venmo begins piloting ‘Business Profiles’ for small sellers

Business Profiles offer small sellers and other sole proprietors the opportunity to have a more professional profile page on its platform. Sellers can share key business details like address, phone number, email, website and more.

4. Tesla delivered 90,650 vehicles in second quarter, a smaller than expected decline

Tesla said Thursday that it delivered 90,650 vehicles in the second quarter, a 4.8% decline from the same period last year, prompted by challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic — like suspending production for weeks at its main U.S. factory. But the company still managed to beat expectations despite the headwinds.

5. Top LA investors discuss the city’s post-COVID-19 prospects

From larger fund investors like Mark Suster and Kara Nortman at Upfront Ventures to Dana Settle at Greycroft Partners; to early-stage investors like Will Hsu at Mucker Capital; TX Zhuo at Fika Ventures, the responses were generally upbeat about the future opportunities for Los Angeles startups. (Extra Crunch membership required.)

6. Dish closes Boost Mobile purchase, following T-Mobile/Sprint merger

T-Mobile today announced that it has closed a deal that divests Sprint’s pre-paid businesses, including Boost and Virgin Mobile. The whole thing was a key part of T-Mobile’s bid to merge with Sprint.

7. AR 1.0 is dead: Here’s what it got wrong

Many AR startups made huge promises and raised huge amounts of capital before flaring out in a similarly dramatic fashion. Lucas Matney argues that a key error was thinking that an AR glasses company should be hardware-first, when the reality is that the missing value is almost entirely centered on first-party software experiences. (Extra Crunch membership required.)

The Daily Crunch is TechCrunch’s roundup of our biggest and most important stories. If you’d like to get this delivered to your inbox every day at around 9am Pacific, you can subscribe here.

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Are virtual concerts here to stay?

The COVID-19 pandemic pushed the music industry to experiment seriously with virtual concerts.

Historically, musicians and their managers have been careful about challenging the traditional concert model that became their main source of income as revenue from album sales disappeared.

Is the current surge of virtual concerts here to stay or will it be abandoned as soon as large in-person gatherings are permitted again and the novelty of concerts in Fortnite wears off?

For the middle tier of recording artists, virtual concerts are shaping up to be a worthwhile part of their business portfolio, generating healthy income and engaging a geographically dispersed base of core fans. For the top tier of artists — those who perform in stadiums and arenas — the opportunity cost of virtual concerts doesn’t make financial sense to do very often once in-person concerts return. That said, a couple such performances each year can unlock a lot of the untapped potential revenue from fans who can’t attend their normal concerts.

Virtual concerts are having their moment

There’s no opportunity cost to trying a virtual concert during a pandemic. Artists aren’t performing, touring, shooting videos or even doing in-person sessions with songwriters. With everyone stuck at home, fans will forgive a disappointing attempt at performing online and artists have time to experiment. Live Nation, the dominant concert promotion and venue management company, has even converted its site to curating a schedule of virtual performances.

Virtual concerts have been growing in three formats: video streaming platforms, within the virtual worlds of video games and virtual reality.

Concerts via video

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Daily Crunch: Apple and Google block banned apps in India

Banned Chinese apps are beginning to disappear from India’s app stores, Palantir is raising more funding and Venmo starts testing Business Profiles.

Here’s your Daily Crunch for July 2, 2020.

1. Apple and Google block dozens of Chinese apps in India

Two days after India blocked 59 apps developed by Chinese firms, Google and Apple have started to comply with the government’s order and are preventing users in the world’s second-largest internet market from accessing those apps.

UC Browser, Shareit, Club Factory and other apps are no longer listed on Apple’s App Store and Google Play Store. In a statement, a Google spokesperson said that the company had “temporarily blocked access to the apps”on Google Play Store as it reviews the order.

2. SEC filing indicates big data provider Palantir is raising $961M, $550M of it already secured

Palantir, the controversial and secretive big data and analytics provider, has reportedly been eyeing up a public listing this autumn. But in the meantime it’s also continuing to push ahead in the private markets.

3. Venmo begins piloting ‘Business Profiles’ for small sellers

Business Profiles offer small sellers and other sole proprietors the opportunity to have a more professional profile page on its platform. Sellers can share key business details like address, phone number, email, website and more.

4. Tesla delivered 90,650 vehicles in second quarter, a smaller than expected decline

Tesla said Thursday that it delivered 90,650 vehicles in the second quarter, a 4.8% decline from the same period last year, prompted by challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic — like suspending production for weeks at its main U.S. factory. But the company still managed to beat expectations despite the headwinds.

5. Top LA investors discuss the city’s post-COVID-19 prospects

From larger fund investors like Mark Suster and Kara Nortman at Upfront Ventures to Dana Settle at Greycroft Partners; to early-stage investors like Will Hsu at Mucker Capital; TX Zhuo at Fika Ventures, the responses were generally upbeat about the future opportunities for Los Angeles startups. (Extra Crunch membership required.)

6. Dish closes Boost Mobile purchase, following T-Mobile/Sprint merger

T-Mobile today announced that it has closed a deal that divests Sprint’s pre-paid businesses, including Boost and Virgin Mobile. The whole thing was a key part of T-Mobile’s bid to merge with Sprint.

7. AR 1.0 is dead: Here’s what it got wrong

Many AR startups made huge promises and raised huge amounts of capital before flaring out in a similarly dramatic fashion. Lucas Matney argues that a key error was thinking that an AR glasses company should be hardware-first, when the reality is that the missing value is almost entirely centered on first-party software experiences. (Extra Crunch membership required.)

The Daily Crunch is TechCrunch’s roundup of our biggest and most important stories. If you’d like to get this delivered to your inbox every day at around 9am Pacific, you can subscribe here.

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Scenes from a Black trans life | D-L Stewart

Scenes from a Black trans life | D-L Stewart

At the crossroads of life and livelihood, scholar D-L Stewart invites us into scenes from his own life as he resists and reflects on the dehumanizing narratives that shape the Black trans experience in the US. With each word of his captivating and poetic dissection, Stewart emphasizes the magnitude and urgency of the rallying cry "Black trans lives matter" -- and calls on others to uphold that truth, too.

https://ift.tt/31Cz8gV

Click this link to view the TED Talk

Facebook discovers it shared user data with at least 5,000 app developers after a cutoff data

Facebook accidentally allowed around 5,000 developers to access data from their app’s inactive users, even though that access should have been cut off. The company explained on Wednesday it recently discovered an issue that had allowed app developers to continue receiving this information beyond the 90 days of inactivity that is meant to cut off data access until the user returns to the app and again re-authenticates.

In 2018, Facebook had announced a change to the way app developers would be able access Facebook user data in the wake of the Cambridge Analytica scandal which saw the personal data of 87 million Facebook users compromised. Among many new restrictions to Facebook’s API platform, it introduced a stricter review process for the use of Facebook Login for apps and said it would block apps’ access to user personal data after three months of non-use.

This latter change is the one that was not adhered to, in the case of this latest data sharing incident.

Facebook Login, by way of background, gives app developers a way to make it easier for users to sign into apps using their Facebook sign-in credentials. But it also allows developers to request access to a subset of that person’s data on Facebook, including things like email, user likes, gender, location, birthday, age range, and more. It’s unclear among the 5,000 apps how many access which specific user details. Facebook says apps accessed “for example, language or gender” but Facebook Login isn’t limited to just those two attributes when requesting user data.

According to Facebook’s announcement, the issue didn’t impact all apps using Facebook Login but only occurred in certain circumstances. For example, it said, if someone used a fitness app to invite friends to a workout, Facebook didn’t recognize that some of those invited friends had been inactive for many months — meaning, beyond the cutoff data of 90 days.

This new issue is not the same as the one that occurred during the Cambridge Analytica scandal, when an app’s user provided access to their all their friend network’s user data, due to the app’s shady use of access permissions. But it is another example of how Facebook’s friend network leads to data being compromised through someone’s personal associations. In this case, the user data was inadvertently shared with developers because of a user’s connection to a friend who used an app and invited them to try it, too.

Facebook said the issue has since fixed and it’s continuing to investigate.

Related to this, the company also introduced new Platform Terms and Developer Policies to push more of the data-minding aspects, legally speaking, into developers’ hands. The terms now limit the information developers can share with third-parties without explicit consent from users, strengthen data security requirements, and clarify when developers must delete data.

For instance, the terms now require developers to delete data that’s no longer required for a legitimate business purpose, if the app is shut down, if Facebook tells them to, or if data was received in error, the announcement states.

Those last two stipulations are interesting, as Facebook could reach out to developers in the future if it noticed other data access problems, like this latest, and inform the developer that they’ve received user data in error. Facebook’s Terms also allow Facebook to audit third-party apps by requesting either remote or physical access to the developers’ systems, according to these terms, to ensure compliance with its policies. Facebook could then ask the developer to delete the data that is non-compliant, as required by these new Terms.

To what extent the wider world would know about any later issues would be up to Facebook to disclose, as it does today by blog posts.

Developer policies were only one area that received an update. Facebook also updated its Business Terms, including its Business Tools Terms, to also cover data involved with certain usages of the Facebook SDK, Facebook Login, and social plugins. It’s making changes to its Commercial Terms to make the terms clearer, as well, it says.

It will take time to fully analyze what loopholes Facebook is closing with an comprehensive update to terms like this and how these will impact user data and transparency about subsequent data access issues.

Facebook says the new policies and terms will go into effect August 31, 2020. Developers don’t have to take any action to agree to the updates.

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The 5 Best Swimming Wireless Headphones or Earbuds

When someone mentions swimming, the last thing you’d think of is headphones. Music is a great way to improve your fitness and swimming is like any other exercise, except dramatically wetter.

If you want to listen to music while doing your laps, you’ll need some waterproof headphones. Here’s our round-up of the best swimming headphones to deliver perfect sound, wet or dry.

1. Pyle MP3 Player Bluetooth Headphones

Pyle MP3 Player Bluetooth Headphones Pyle MP3 Player Bluetooth Headphones Buy Now On Amazon $43.20

As the name suggests, the Pyle Waterproof MP3 Player Headphones come with an integrated MP3 player. There is 8GB of internal flash memory, which is plenty of room to store the MP3s for your swimming workout. These in-ear swimming headphones sit inside your ear canal while you work out. There’s also a neck-wire to make sure you don’t lose them.

This set of headphones are IPX8-rated for waterproofing. With this in mind, you can wear them whether you’re just having a quick dip in the pool or training for long-distance swimming. The buds also block water from entering your ears. If you’d rather connect to an external device, consider the Pyle MP3 Player Bluetooth Headphones.

2. Tayogo Waterproof MP3 Player Headphones

Tayogo Waterproof MP3 Player Headphones Tayogo Waterproof MP3 Player Headphones Buy Now On Amazon $67.89

The Tayogo Waterproof MP3 Player Headphones are an excellent, inexpensive set of bone conduction headphones. The bone conduction tech means they sit outside the ear, relying on vibrations to transmit sound. Unlike traditional headphones, which have diaphragms inside the buds, there are no exposed parts here for water to damage.

This set of  Tayogo headphones features a built-in MP3 player with 8GB of internal memory, which should comfortably store around 2,000 tracks, plenty to keep you going through your swim. They come crafted in supple silicone material, so water will just bead up and roll off them. This also makes them comfortable to wear.

Other business doesn’t even have to get in the way of training, either. These headphones have Bluetooth functionality so that any call that comes through on your mobile can be taken while you’re in the water. These are wraparound headphones, so you have less risk of misplacing them.

3. FINIS Duo Underwater MP3 Player

FINIS Duo Underwater MP3 Player FINIS Duo Underwater MP3 Player Buy Now On Amazon $70.26

One of the best things about swimming headphones is that so many feature an integrated MP3 player. This not only makes them multi-functional, but it also means they are convenient. The FINIS Duo Underwater MP3 Player is one such device.

This MP3 player is a little different as it clips onto your goggles strap. The bone conductors are also held in place by your goggles strap, ensuring they remain securely flush with your head for optimum sound conduction.

While these don’t have Bluetooth, they do come with 4GB of storage built-in. This means you’ll have enough space for around 1,000 songs and won’t be reliant on a smartphone or smartwatch. This capacity should be more than enough to keep you pushing through the pain barrier towards your personal best.

The conductors are attached to the MP3 player using a wire, so everything is kept together. You can also control the music from the panel on the side of one of the conductors. So, if you need to skip a track or stop play, you can do so easily.

4. H20 Audio Stream 2

H20 Audio Stream 2 H20 Audio Stream 2 Buy Now On Amazon $89.99

The H2O Audio Stream 2 are an excellent option thanks to their customizable clip. The MP3 player attaches to your goggles strap, swimsuit, or Speedo, and can rotate until you find a suitable angle for your head. This is ideal as you don’t necessarily need to be wearing a swimming cap or goggles.

Add this to the fact that they are in-ear—so you don’t need to hold them in place or clip them to anything—and you’ve got a pretty nifty set of waterproof Bluetooth headphones. Unlike many MP3 player headphones, these are compatible with iTunes. So, if you use music files associated with Apple devices, this shouldn’t be an issue.

Alongside MP3s, the player also works with standard music files like WMA and the lossless FLAC format. The H20 Audio Stream 2 also feature a tightly sealed headphone jack. As a result, you don’t need to worry about moisture damaging the headphones despite the wire.

5. Sony NW-WS623 Walkman

Sony NW-WS623 Waterproof Walkman Sony NW-WS623 Waterproof Walkman Buy Now On Amazon $68.92

Sony’s Cassette Walkman was the first device to make music portable. As the years have progressed, so has the company. The Sony NW-WS623 Walkman is an all-in-one unit. The band has an integrated MP3 player and in-ear headphones. If you prefer taking your exercise in the sea, these headphones are suitable for both fresh and saltwater.

The band also means that the headphones stay secured to your head, so they won’t pop out of your ears and disappear down a drain. As you’d expect for a Walkman device, the audio experience is one of the best you’ll find. Fortunately, so is the battery life; the NW-WS623 can last up to 12 hours.

However, if you are in a pinch, a tiny 3-minute charge will give you an extra hour of playback so you can finish your laps. Thanks to the Bluetooth capabilities, you can take calls while you listen to music. They have an IP58 rating for dust and water-resistance. So, you can throw them onto the sand after your swim, and none will get inside. You will need to wash them afterward, though.

The Best Swimming Headphones for You

The best swimming headphones will depend on your needs. For example, whether or not you want to go for bone conduction or standard in-ear headphones. We’ve listed a variety here to give you a head start with your shopping.

Would you like to take a look at some more bone-conduction options? Take a look at the best bone conduction headphones to find out what else is out there.

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How to Fix Zoom and Other Video Conference Apps on Your iPhone

Right before an important business call, it’s a huge scare to discover that Skype, Zoom, or whatever video conference app you planned to use is not working. Problems can range from your video appearing as a black screen to the app not opening at all.

Whatever issue you’re struggling with, you can fix any video conferencing app on your iPhone with the troubleshooting steps below. And if you’re looking for FaceTime help, we’ve covered fixes for when FaceTime isn’t working separately.

1. Allow Access to Your Camera and Microphone

Apple encourages you to take more control over your privacy by letting you choose which apps can and can’t access the camera or microphone on your iPhone. Zoom, Skype, and other video conferencing apps usually ask for this permission in a popup when you first start using them.

If you chose Don’t Allow when your video conferencing app asked for permission, your microphone or camera won’t work until you change your settings.

Go to Settings > Privacy > Microphone and enable the slider next to your video conference app. Then go to Settings > Privacy > Camera to allow camera access for that app as well.

Even if you allow permission to use your camera and microphone here, it’s still possible to turn them on and off within the app itself. Make sure you’re familiar with how to use Zoom, Skype, or other apps so you know how to control your camera and microphone during a call.

2. Make Sure the Servers Are Functional

It’s possible that Skype, Zoom, or other video conferencing apps aren’t working due to a problem with the services’ servers. You can usually check the status of these online.

Here are the service status websites for the most popular video conferencing apps:

• Skype Status
• Zoom Status
• Microsoft Teams
• Google Meet

If you discover any service problems with your video conferencing app, you need to wait for the developers to fix it. Keep checking back on the status website to find out when that happens.

3. Restart the Video Conference App

When an app freezes or crashes, the only way to fix it is to close it down, then open it again. Even if Skype, Zoom, or other conferencing apps seem as though they’re still working, try restarting them in case something stopped running behind the scenes.

On a modern iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of your iPhone screen and hold for a moment to view all your open apps. If you have an iPhone with a Home button, double-click it to view your open apps instead.

Slide each app off the top of the screen to close it down, then go back to your Home screen and launch the app again.

4. Restart Your iPhone

If restarting your video conference app doesn’t help, the next step is to restart your iPhone. This is an effective troubleshooting step for a wide range of software issues, including many that can affect Skype, Zoom, and other popular video conferencing apps.

Press and hold the Side button with either Volume button (or just hold the Side button if your iPhone has a Home button). Then slide to power off when your iPhone prompts you to do so. Wait 30 seconds for your iPhone to power down, then hold the Side button again to restart it.

5. Test Your Internet Connection

Every video conference app depends on an internet connection of some kind to work, whether that’s over Wi-Fi or cellular data. Take a moment to make sure your connection is up and running. The easiest way to do this is by loading a new website or streaming a video on YouTube.

Try connecting to a different network if there are any problems. This might also be the only solution if your mobile data is too slow to work with a large conference call.

If you want to use Skype, Zoom, or other video conference apps over cellular data, make sure you allow it in your iPhone’s Settings. Go to Settings > Cellular and scroll down to find your video conference app, then turn on the toggle to allow cellular data for that app.

6. Update Zoom or Skype in the App Store

Your video conference app might not work on your iPhone if you aren’t using the latest version. App developers frequently release new updates to patch bugs or introduce new features. Make sure you’ve installed all the latest updates from the App Store.

Open the App Store and tap the Profile icon in the top-right corner of the Today tab. Scroll down to view any apps you need to update. Update your specific video conference app if it’s listed, or tap Update All to update all your apps at once.

7. Update to the Latest Version of iOS

Apple releases new iOS updates all the time to fix problems and introduce new features. Even if you’re using the latest app updates, you still might encounter problems if the operating system on your iPhone is out of date.

Go to Settings > General > Software Update to check for new updates available for your iPhone. If any are available, make sure your download and install them before trying to use Zoom, Skype, or other video conferencing apps again.

8. Delete and Reinstall Your Video Conferencing App

Sometimes you need to delete an app entirely and reinstall it again from scratch. This might be necessary if the app became corrupt or failed to update correctly. There’s a chance you might lose data by doing this, but most video conferencing apps don’t store data locally, so it shouldn’t be a problem.

To delete an app on your iPhone, tap and hold on the app icon from the Home screen. In the popup menu that appears, choose to Delete App, then confirm you want to Delete the app in the following alert.

After deleting an app, search for it in the App Store and tap the cloud icon to download it again. You’ll need to sign in to your account and allow microphone and camera access when you open the app for the first time.

Find an Alternative Conference App to Use Instead

Hopefully, you were able to use these tips to fix Zoom, Skype, or other video conferencing apps on your iPhone. If your app still isn’t working, you should consider switching to an alternative video conferencing app instead.

While Zoom and Skype are some of the most popular video conferencing apps around, there are plenty of other options available. Take a look at our rundown of the best free conference call apps to find a more reliable replacement for your team.

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How to Use TikTok on Your PC or Mac

TikTok’s mobile app isn’t the only way you can access the platform for short videos. In case you want to get your fill of TikTok on your PC or Mac, you’ll be happy to hear that TikTok gives you the ability to browse and upload videos on its website.

The only downside to the TikTok website is that you can’t use the built-in tools to edit your videos. So, in this article, we’ll explain how to use TikTok on your PC or Mac a couple of different ways. One of which removes any and all restrictions.

How to Use the TikTok Website

TikTok’s desktop site is incredibly simple to use, and lets you casually browse TikToks right from your computer. Just keep in mind that you can’t download TikTok videos from the desktop site. If you want to download TikTok videos to your desktop, you’ll have to use a third-party service.

How to Browse Videos on the TikTok Website

When you head to the TikTok website, you’ll be greeted by the site’s landing page. To start browsing, simply click the Watch now button in the top-right corner of the screen.

You’ll then get redirected to TikTok’s main feed of videos. From here, you can freely browse through trending TikToks. In case you want to sign in to your account, select Login in the top-right corner of the site.

At the top of the feed, you’ll see three headings that you’re probably familiar with if you use TikTok on mobile: For You, Following, and Discover. While the For You tab will display TikTok’s recommended videos, the Following tab shows you the latest from the users you follow. Lastly, the Discover tab gives you plenty of new users and TikToks to check out.

On the right side of the screen, TikTok provides a list of suggested accounts, as well as a list of new accounts and hashtags to discover. You can still follow users, like videos, leave comments, and share videos just like you would in the app.

How to Uploading Videos to the TikTok Website

What if you just don’t want to browse TikToks, but you want to upload your own? To start posting your own videos, you’ll have to sign in to your account, and then hit the cloud icon at the top-right corner of the screen.

If you have already edited your TikTok using one of the best video editing apps, click Select video to upload on the left side of the screen. Simply select the file from your computer, and wait for it to upload. Just keep in mind that your video has to have a resolution of 720×1280 or higher, and it must be no more than 60 seconds long.

After you successfully upload your video, you can add a caption, select a cover, and determine the privacy of your video. You can also give your viewers the chance to comment, as well as reply with a duet or reaction. Once you’re ready to post your TikTok, click Upload.

How to Use TikTok on Bluestacks

TikTok comes with a video editing feature that, unfortunately, isn’t available on the desktop site. If you prefer to use TikTok’s built-in editing tools, you’ll want to use an Android emulator on your PC or Mac to upload and edit your TikToks. An Android emulator lets you access the mobile version of TikTok from your computer. And for the purposes of this article, we’re using Bluestacks.

1. Download Bluestacks

To get started, you’ll need to download your Android emulator of choice. We’re using Bluestacks as it has a clean, user-friendly interface. And the best part is, you can use Bluestacks on a PC or Mac.

Download: Bluestacks for Windows or macOS (Free)

2. Install TikTok on Bluestacks

Once you download and open Bluestacks, you’ll notice that it has a similar look to a mobile device. On the home screen, ensure that the Game Center tab is selected, and hit the Google Play Store under the “Recommended for you” heading.

Simply sign in to your Google account, and navigate to the Play Store’s search bar at the top of the screen. Search for TikTok, and hit Install. When you head back to the Library tab, you’ll notice that TikTok has been added.

3. Browse TikTok Using Bluestacks

Now that you’ve download TikTok on Bluestacks, you can finally start browsing. TikTok will appear in the same way it does on your smartphone.

Make sure to sign in to your account by hitting the Me tab at the bottom of the screen. Next to the Me tab, you’ll also find the Discover and Inbox tabs—hitting Discover brings you to a feed of trending users and hashtags, while the Inbox tab displays your recent messages.

Just like the mobile version of TikTok, you’ll also see the familiar Following and For You tabs at the top of the page. You can easily scroll through your TikTok feed using your mouse wheel or trackpad.

4. Upload and Edit TikTok Videos Using Bluestacks

Do you want to upload your own video to TikTok using Bluestacks? To do this, you first have to upload your video to Bluestacks, and then to TikTok.

First, open Bluestacks, and head to Home > Library, and click System Apps > Media Manager.

Select Import From Windows/Mac in the bottom-left corner of the emulator. Now, choose the video file that you want to upload to TikTok.

After you’ve imported the video to Bluestacks, you must now upload it to TikTok. Navigate back to the TikTok app, hit the plus button at the bottom of the page, and select Upload in the bottom-right of the recording screen.

When TikTok pulls up the media in the emulator’s library, you should see the video you just imported to Bluestacks. Once you select the video, hit Next to continue the uploading process.

TikTok will then direct you to its video editing tool. From here, you can crop the video, adjust its speed, and rotate it. When you’re done, select Next in the top-right corner of the screen to move onto the next stage of editing.

On the next screen, you can opt to add sounds, text, filters, effects, voiceovers, and stickers, just like the app. Click the arrow at the bottom-right corner of the screen to start entering the details of your post—describe your video, change the privacy settings, and toggle on duets and reactions.

When everything is finalized, go ahead and select Post at the bottom of the page.

Getting to Know TikTok on Your PC or Mac

So, now you know how to use TikTok on your PC or Mac. However, it might take some time to get used to the differences, whether you’re using the TikTok website or an emulator. However, they’re both reliable ways to browse and upload TikTok videos. Plus, it’s sometimes more convenient to browse TikTok on your computer, rather than having to constantly open the app on your smartphone.

Are you a budding TikTok star? Then check out how to get more TikTok fans and followers.

Read the full article: How to Use TikTok on Your PC or Mac

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Take Your Photo Editing to the Next Level With This AI-Powered App, Now $59

It was the great American landscape photographer, Ansel Adams, who once said: “You don’t make a photograph just with a camera.” After you take a shot, the editing process can make or break the image. To help you produce great work, The Award-Winning Luminar 4 Bundle brings together professional software, popular plugins, and essential training. You can get the whole bundle now for just $59 at MakeUseOf Deals.

An Instant Upgrade

Given the importance of editing, your choice of software is pretty important. Named the Best Photo Software 2019-2020 by Outdoor Photographer, Luminar 4 is a very compelling option.

This non-destructive photo editor offers hundreds of manual adjustments, powerful brushes, and over 60 one-click styles. Luminar 4 also has a unique feature called AI Accent, which combines multiple adjustments into one slider. This allows you to enhance sunsets and smooth skin in seconds.

To expand the app further, this bundle includes two packs of augmented skies and one set of cinematic presets. You can use these to enhance your images and add a unique twist.

You also get the Luminar for Landscape Photography Video Course, which provides 120 minutes of training with professional photographer David Johnston, along with a great ebook on digital photography.

Software, Presets, and More for $59

The total value of this bundle is $239, but this deal brings the price down to just $59 for a limited time.

Read the full article: Take Your Photo Editing to the Next Level With This AI-Powered App, Now $59

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Hate Shopping Around for Car Insurance? The Zebra Helps You Find the Best Deal in Minutes

No one likes looking for car insurance. Just getting a quote from one supplier can take ages, not to mention the follow-up nuisance calls. However, shopping around can save you hundreds of dollars a year. If you would like to make the process less painful, The Zebra is definitely worth a visit. This independent comparison site lets you view quotes from over 100 insurers, helping you find the best deal in minutes.

Insurance Made Simple

According to industry research, Americans overpay for car insurance to the tune of $21 billion per year. In many cases, we pay a premium for staying with the same provider year after year — even when they push up the price of renewal. The problem is, finding a replacement can seem like too much hassle.

The Zebra aims to fix this problem. Instead of filling out loads of different forms, you simply enter your details once. The comparison site then searches through over 100 insurance companies for a suitable policy.

The results page includes a range of options that best suit your needs, and you can take the next step with minimal effort. In the words of Lifehacker: “The Zebra makes it super simple to find a better rate.”

Users save $364 on average, and up to $670 a year. The Zebra covers both auto and home insurance, with quotes from Nationwide, MetLife, 21st Century, Allstate, Esurance, and many other top names. Just as importantly, you won’t get any follow-up spam.

Get Started Free

Comparing insurance providers with The Zebra is entirely free to use. Want to give it a go? Head over to the site now and enter your ZIP code to see how much you could save.

Read the full article: Hate Shopping Around for Car Insurance? The Zebra Helps You Find the Best Deal in Minutes

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Take Your Photo Editing to the Next Level With This AI-Powered App, Now $59

It was the great American landscape photographer, Ansel Adams, who once said: “You don’t make a photograph just with a camera.” After you take a shot, the editing process can make or break the image. To help you produce great work, The Award-Winning Luminar 4 Bundle brings together professional software, popular plugins, and essential training. You can get the whole bundle now for just $59 at MakeUseOf Deals.

An Instant Upgrade

Given the importance of editing, your choice of software is pretty important. Named the Best Photo Software 2019-2020 by Outdoor Photographer, Luminar 4 is a very compelling option.

This non-destructive photo editor offers hundreds of manual adjustments, powerful brushes, and over 60 one-click styles. Luminar 4 also has a unique feature called AI Accent, which combines multiple adjustments into one slider. This allows you to enhance sunsets and smooth skin in seconds.

To expand the app further, this bundle includes two packs of augmented skies and one set of cinematic presets. You can use these to enhance your images and add a unique twist.

You also get the Luminar for Landscape Photography Video Course, which provides 120 minutes of training with professional photographer David Johnston, along with a great ebook on digital photography.

Software, Presets, and More for $59

The total value of this bundle is $239, but this deal brings the price down to just $59 for a limited time.

Read the full article: Take Your Photo Editing to the Next Level With This AI-Powered App, Now $59

Hate Shopping Around for Car Insurance? The Zebra Helps You Find the Best Deal in Minutes

No one likes looking for car insurance. Just getting a quote from one supplier can take ages, not to mention the follow-up nuisance calls. However, shopping around can save you hundreds of dollars a year. If you would like to make the process less painful, The Zebra is definitely worth a visit. This independent comparison site lets you view quotes from over 100 insurers, helping you find the best deal in minutes.

Insurance Made Simple

According to industry research, Americans overpay for car insurance to the tune of $21 billion per year. In many cases, we pay a premium for staying with the same provider year after year — even when they push up the price of renewal. The problem is, finding a replacement can seem like too much hassle.

The Zebra aims to fix this problem. Instead of filling out loads of different forms, you simply enter your details once. The comparison site then searches through over 100 insurance companies for a suitable policy.

The results page includes a range of options that best suit your needs, and you can take the next step with minimal effort. In the words of Lifehacker: “The Zebra makes it super simple to find a better rate.”

Users save $364 on average, and up to $670 a year. The Zebra covers both auto and home insurance, with quotes from Nationwide, MetLife, 21st Century, Allstate, Esurance, and many other top names. Just as importantly, you won’t get any follow-up spam.

Get Started Free

Comparing insurance providers with The Zebra is entirely free to use. Want to give it a go? Head over to the site now and enter your ZIP code to see how much you could save.

Read the full article: Hate Shopping Around for Car Insurance? The Zebra Helps You Find the Best Deal in Minutes

Apple and Google block dozens of Chinese apps in India

Two days after India blocked 59 apps developed by Chinese firms, Google and Apple have started to comply with New Delhi’s order and are preventing users in the world’s second largest internet market from accessing those apps.

UC Browser, Shareit, and Club Factory and other apps that India has blocked are no longer listed on Apple’s App Store and Google Play Store. In a statement, a Google spokesperson said that the company had “temporarily blocked access to the apps”on Google Play Store as it reviews New Delhi’s interim order.

Apple, which has taken a similar approach as Google in complying with New Delhi’s order, did not respond to a request for comment.

Some developers including ByteDance have voluntarily made their apps inaccessible in India, a person familiar with the matter told TechCrunch. India’s Department of Telecommunications ordered telecom networks and other internet service providers earlier this week to block access to those 59 apps “effective immediately.”

Thursday’s move from Apple and Google, whose software power nearly every smartphone on the planet, is the latest escalation in an unprecedented tension in recent times between China and India.

A skirmish between the two neighbouring nations at a disputed Himalayan border site last month left 20 Indian soldiers dead, stoking historical tensions. Earlier this week, India blocked 59 Chinese apps including ByteDance’s TikTok citing national security concerns in a move that some saw as retaliation.

In its order, India’s Ministry of Electronics and IT alleged that these apps were “compiling, mining, and profiling” users’ data that posed threats to “national security and defence of India.”

The Indian government has invited executives at these companies to give them an opportunity to answer concerns. Kevin Mayer, the chief executive of TikTok, said on Wednesday that his app was in compliance with Indian privacy and security requirements and he was looking forward to meeting with various stakeholders.

On Thursday, Chinese social network Weibo said it had deleted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s account at the request of the Indian embassy. Modi had amassed about 200,000 followers on Weibo before his account was deleted.

India has emerged as the biggest open battleground for Silicon Valley and Chinese firms in recent years. Like American technology groups Google, Facebook, and Amazon, several Chinese firms including Tencent, ByteDance, and Alibaba Group also aggressively expanded their presence in India in the last decade. TikTok, which has 200 million users in India, counts Asia’s third largest economy as its biggest overseas market.

The 59 blocked apps that include Likee, Xiaomi’s Mi Community, and Tencent’s WeChat, had a combined monthly active user base of over 500 million users in India last month, according to mobile insights firm App Annie — data of which an industry executive shared with TechCrunch. (A significant number of smartphone users in India use several of these apps so there’s a lot of overlap.)

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Apple and Google block dozens of Chinese apps in India

Two days after India blocked 59 apps developed by Chinese firms, Google and Apple have started to comply with New Delhi’s order and are preventing users in the world’s second largest internet market from accessing those apps.

UC Browser, Shareit, and Club Factory and other apps that India has blocked are no longer listed on Apple’s App Store and Google Play Store. In a statement, a Google spokesperson said that the company had “temporarily blocked access to the apps”on Google Play Store as it reviews New Delhi’s interim order.

Apple, which has taken a similar approach as Google in complying with New Delhi’s order, did not respond to a request for comment. Some developers including ByteDance have voluntarily made their apps inaccessible in India, a person familiar with the matter told TechCrunch. India’s Department of Telecommunications has also ordered telecom networks and other internet service providers to block access to those 59 apps.

Thursday’s move from Apple and Google, whose software power nearly every smartphone on the planet, is the latest escalation in an unprecedented tension in recent times between  China and India.

A skirmish between the two neighbouring nations at a disputed Himalayan border site last month left 20 Indian soldiers dead, stoking historical tension between them. Earlier this week, India ordered to block 59 Chinese apps including ByteDance’s TikTok citing national security concerns.

The Indian government has invited executives at these companies to give them an opportunity to answer their concerns. Kevin Mayer, the chief executive of TikTok, said on Wednesday that his app was in compliance with Indian privacy and security requirements and he was looking forward to meeting with various stakeholders.

On Thursday, Chinese social network Weibo said it had deleted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s account at the request of the Indian embassy. Modi had amassed about 200,000 followers on Weibo before his account was deleted.

India has emerged as the biggest open playground for Silicon Valley and Chinese firms in recent years. Like American technology groups Google, Facebook, and Amazon, several Chinese firms including Tencent, ByteDance, and Alibaba Group also aggressively expanded their presence in India in the last decade. TikTok, which has 200 million users in India, counts Asia’s third largest economy as its biggest overseas market.

The 59 blocked apps that include Likee, Xiaomi’s Mi Community, and Tencent’s WeChat, had a combined monthly active user base of over 500 million users in India last month, according to mobile insights firm App Annie — data of which an industry executive shared with TechCrunch. (A significant number of smartphone users in India use several of these apps so there’s a lot of overlap.)

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Facebook is shutting down Lasso, its TikTok clone

Facebook is no longer betting on Lasso, an app it launched a year and a half ago, to take on TikTok. The social juggernaut’s TikTok clone is shutting down on July 10, Lasso alerted users on Wednesday.

Launched in late 2018, Lasso was seen as Facebook’s answer to TikTok that’s gained ground with young users, both in China and in the West. Lasso allowed users shoot up to 15-second long videos and overlay popular songs. The app centered around an algorithmic feed of recommended videos, but also allowed users to tap through hashtags or a Browse page of themed collections.

As of February, Lasso was available in Colombia, Mexico, the U.S., Argentina, Chile, Peru, Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ecuador, and Uruguay, research firm Sensor Tower told TechCrunch. Earlier this year, Facebook added support for Hindi language in Lasso, suggesting that it may have had plans to bring Lasso to India, its biggest market by users account.

Lasso’s demise comes ahead of the launch of Instagram Reels — the new horse Facebook is counting on to steal TikTok’s lunch, said Josh Constine, who first spotted Lasso’s announcement.

Facebook’s TikTok clone lasso is shutting down ahead of the Instagram Reels launch, so basically Fb lost 2 years by half-assing. Brb, gotta go save my zero Lassos pic.twitter.com/VgKImjgWM4

— Josh Constine -SignalFire (@JoshConstine) July 2, 2020

It’s unclear why Facebook never expanded Lasso to more markets. But what is clear is that Lasso’s journey was troubled from the beginning. Brady Voss, who led the development of this app, left Facebook days after the launch of Lasso.

We have reached out to Facebook for comment.

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How to Watch Netflix on Your TV: 5 Simple Methods to Try

If you’re looking for ways to watch Netflix on your TV, you’ve come to the right place. There are a number of different ways to watch Netflix on your TV, and most of them are very simple.

But what options are available? Can you connect Netflix to your TV from a phone? Can you still get Netflix on your non-smart TV? And which platforms offer official Netflix apps?

Let’s look at a handful of ways to get Netflix on your TV, and, in the process, answer any questions you may have.

1. Use an App to Watch Netflix on a Smart TV

The world of smart TV operating systems is a confusing one. Ever since Firefox TV met its demise in 2016, there are four major smart TV operating systems still in use. These are Tizen, WebOS, Android TV, and Roku TV.

As a user, that’s not ideal. Sadly, as you’d expect, the various app marketplaces for each OS are fragmented, with different apps available on different platforms. The good news, though, is that all four of the major smart TV operating systems offer an official Netflix app. Some televisions will even come with the Netflix app pre-installed and with a shortcut button hard-coded on the remote control.

Install the app first if you don’t have it, then fire the app up and enter your Netflix credentials. You’ll be watching Netflix on your TV in seconds. If you encounter problems and can’t install Netflix on your TV, contact your TV manufacturer for troubleshooting tips.

2. Connect Netflix to a TV From Your Phone

Smart TV apps aren’t always the best solution. Depending on the quality of your television’s hardware, the app could be slow and buggy. So, what other options are out there? If you have a smartphone or tablet, you could buy a Chromecast dongle and cast Netflix directly from the mobile version of the app.

To cast from Netflix to your Chromecast, open the Netflix app, and tap on the cast icon in the upper right-hand corner. You will see a list of all your available devices. Tap on one to connect to it. The connection process will take a few seconds to complete.

NB: Before you buy a Chromecast, check your TV’s handbook. Many newer models have the technology built-in. Some set-top boxes, such as the Nvidia Shield, also offer it natively.

3. Cast Netflix From Windows to Your TV

If you have a Windows computer, you could try and use Miracast. The Wi-Fi Alliance finalized the Miracast technology at CES 2013 and touted it as a wireless alternative to HDMI cables.

Sadly, Miracast is not as popular or as reliable as Chromecast, but it is available on more devices thanks to Miracast support on Windows. Indeed, Miracast is available on all Windows machines running 8.1 or later and all Android-powered devices.

On the receiver end, Roku devices and the Amazon TV Fire Stick are Miracast-enabled. Many smart TVs also offer the technology natively.

To use Miracast on Windows, go to Settings > System > Display > Multiple Displays > Connect to a Wireless Display. To use Miracast on Android, go to Settings > Display > Cast Screen and tap on your TV’s name.

Miracast is not available on Apple devices.

4. Get Netflix on a Non-Smart TV

If you don’t own a smart TV, you could try using a trusty HDMI cable. It is arguably the most reliable way to get Netflix on a non-smart TV.

Sure, an HDMI cable might not be at the forefront of cord-cutting technology anymore, but it will always get the job done. You can pick up a functional six-foot-long HDMI cable relatively cheaply on Amazon.

4K 60HZ HDMI Cable 4K 60HZ HDMI Cable Buy Now On Amazon $13.79

Setting up the HDMI cable is easy. Just connect one end to your TV and the other end to your computer. On your machine, load up the Netflix web app and find the content you want to watch. On your TV, make sure you have selected the correct input channel.

If you’re lucky, your computer will recognize your TV and it will connect immediately. If it doesn’t, the next step will vary depending on the operating system you’re using.

Windows

To tell your Windows operating system to send your monitor’s display to your TV, follow the step-by-step instructions below:

1. Right-click on the Start Menu.
2. In the pop-up menu, select Mobility Center.
3. Locate the box called External Display.
4. Click on Connect Display.
5. A menu will pop out of the right-hand side of the screen, choose Second Screen Only.

Your Windows screen will go black, and both the video and audio will be playing on your TV.

NB: Some manufacturers might have included a keyboard hotkey to switch to HDMI output.

Mac

If you own a Mac, follow these steps instead:

1. Open the Apple menu.
2. Click on System Preferences.
3. Choose Displays.
4. Hold down the Option key.
5. Click on Detect Displays in the lower right-hand corner.

If your computer still can’t connect to the TV, you have a problem with either the TV’s HDMI port, the Mac’s HDMI port, or the HDMI cable itself.

NB: Many modern Apple laptops do not include an HDMI port, so you will need to buy an adapter first.

Hopefully, you should now be seeing Netflix on your TV screen. You might notice the edges of the screen are missing. Don’t worry, it’s called “Overscan” and is a common occurrence. Typically, the problem needs to be resolved in your television’s settings rather than on the operating system.

5. Use an Apple TV and Apple AirPlay

Unsurprisingly, Apple is the only company that doesn’t offer support for Miracast, Chromecast, or HDMI cables.

Instead, the company wants you to either buy an Apple TV and install the platform’s version of Netflix, or use its proprietary AirPlay technology and cast the web app version of Netflix. AirPlay does work well, but given its proprietary status, support for the standard among smart TVs and set-top boxes is sorely lacking.

How Do You Watch Netflix on Your TV?

Now we have introduced you to a number of different ways to watch Netflix on TV. The right solution for you depends on the equipment you own and the gadgets you use.

Once you have figured that out, you can then turn your attention to tracking what movies and shows you’ve watched and figuring out what to watch next on Netflix, like these awesome British crime dramas or the best musicals.

Read the full article: How to Watch Netflix on Your TV: 5 Simple Methods to Try

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Is Your Yahoo Mail Account Safe? 10 Ways to Stay Secure

Worried about the security of your Yahoo Mail account? It’s a valid concern. Yahoo has suffered from some notable security breaches, and it’s always wise to review your account security options for any online service.

We’ll show you how to secure your Yahoo account and keep everything safe.

1. Set a Strong Password

No guide to security is complete without this basic but vital tip. Your email provider is a critical account because you use it to log into so many other services. If someone broke into your Yahoo email, they could reset passwords on other sites to really mess with your online life.

That’s why you should upgrade your password strength before you do anything else. Even if you already use a strong password, changing it is a good idea in light of Yahoo’s history with security breaches.

Start by opening Yahoo Mail (sign into your account first if needed). There, click your profile picture in the top-right and choose Account Info to open your account settings.

Next, click the Account security tab on the left sidebar. Select the Change password link and type your new password twice.

Remember to create a strong password that you don’t use with any other account. We recommend that you start using a password manager so you don’t have to remember them all.

2. Enable Two-Factor Authentication

Next to a strong password, enabling two-factor verification is one of the best ways to protect any account. When activated on Yahoo, in addition to your password, you’ll need to enter a code sent to your phone in order to sign in. This means that even if someone steals your password, they can’t get into your account without your phone.

To enable this, head back to the Account Security tab. Under Two-step verification, slide the switch next to Phone Number on. Verify your mobile number, then choose to get a text message or call with your code. Once you receive the code, enter it and click Verify.

After this, you’ll have the opportunity to create app passwords. Some apps, like Mail on iOS and Outlook, don’t support two-factor authentication. Thus, you can create special one-time app passwords that allow you to sign in on those apps.

If you skip this, you can create these passwords later by clicking Generate app password on the Account Security tab.

3. Update Your Recovery Information

You should have updated account information added to your Yahoo account in case you get locked out. This allows you to use another email address or your phone number to get back into your account if you forget your password.

To check this, visit Account security again. Click inside either the Phone numbers or Email addresses section to show your recovery methods.

You can add a new recovery method by clicking Add email or mobile no. Enter the applicable information; for phones, you’ll receive a verification code via SMS or a call. If you add a new email address, you’ll get a message with a link to verify the address.

While you’re here, it’s worth reviewing any old account recovery info. If you don’t use a particular email address or phone number anymore, click the edit icon next to it, followed by Remove from my account.

Yahoo has retired security questions as a verification method, since they’re often easy to guess. If you’re a longtime Yahoo user, you might still see security questions in your settings here. Click Disable security questions and follow the steps to stop using them.

4. Review Your Account History Regularly

Yahoo provides a handy log of your account activity. Looking over this can help determine if someone has broken into your account.

To see your history, click Recent Activity on the left sidebar of the account settings page. You’ll see a list of active sessions at the top, including the browser and operating system for each. Click one to see a list of logins on that device for the past 30 days, including exact times, IP addresses, and locations.

Below this, you’ll see any apps connected to your Yahoo account. Review them carefully to make sure you still trust them, and click remove next to anything you no longer need.

At the bottom, you’ll see the most recent account changes, like setting a new password or adding a recovery email address. If you see anything on this page you don’t recognize, you should change your password right away. Doing so will automatically sign you out of your account everywhere.

5. Beware Phishing Emails

Email phishing never goes away, so it’s vital to stay on the lookout for it. To stay safe from fake messages that want to steal your account information, you should never click links in emails.

Review our tips on how to spot phishing emails so you know what to look for. If you receive a message from your bank or other sensitive entity claiming it has an important message for you, don’t follow the link. Instead, go directly to the website to see it for yourself.

Following phishing emails will provide your account details to thieves, rendering your strong password worthless.

6. Check Your Forwarding Settings

Email forwarding is a handy tool if you juggle multiple accounts. But it can also be something an intruder uses to spy on you. With just a few minutes in your account, someone could set up email forwarding so they get a copy of everything you receive.

It’s worth double-checking to make sure your messages aren’t forwarding without your consent. In Yahoo Mail, click the Settings button at the top-right and choose More Settings at the bottom. On the resulting page, open the Mailboxes tab on the left and select your account from the Mailbox list section.

On the right panel, you’ll see a Forwarding section at the bottom. If there’s an address listed here, all email you receive goes to it. In case it’s an address you don’t know, make note of it and click Remove. You should then change your password for safety.

7-10. Further Secure Your Yahoo Account With These Tips

Though less important than the above, you should also keep a few important smaller tricks in mind for protecting your Yahoo account:

• Try to avoid signing into your email on a public computer, if you can help it. If you must, make sure to sign out before you leave that PC to prevent someone else from accessing your account afterward.
• On your own PC, use a secure browser that’s up-to-date and make sure you have trustworthy security software installed.
• Protect your smartphone with a fingerprint, PIN, or other security method so nobody can access your email on your unattended device.
• Know the signs of your email account spamming your friends.

Is Yahoo Mail Secure?

The above tips will all help protect your Yahoo account. But it’s worth keeping in mind that you might want to leave Yahoo altogether.

In 2016, Yahoo reported two major data breaches that had occurred years prior. It was also proven that the company scanned users’ emails to provide them to the NSA as part of the PRISM program.

Yahoo hasn’t had any major issues since then, but these were serious security and privacy problems. It’s thus not a bad idea to think about switching to a more secure email provider.

Yahoo Security Enhanced

Now you know how to secure your Yahoo email account. These tips will protect your account, whether you use it for email or fantasy football. Remember that a bit of vigilance in this area goes a long way.

For more, learn about common email security protocols.

Read the full article: Is Your Yahoo Mail Account Safe? 10 Ways to Stay Secure

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State-backed COVID-19 disinfo spreads faster and farther than local news outlets in 4 languages

Questionable stories on COVID-19 from state-backed outlets in Russia, China, Turkey, and Iran are being shared more widely than reporting by major news organizations around the world, according to Oxford analysts. French German, Spanish and English news sites see far less social engagement than these foreign-originated ones in their languages.

The study is part of ongoing monitoring of COVID-19 disinformation campaigns by the Computational Propaganda Project. The group found that major outlets like Le Monde, Der Spiegel, and El Pais are being outshared four or five to one in some metrics by content from Russia Today, China Radio International, and other state-backed organizations.

Earlier reports focused on English-language sharing of this type of media, which can be generally described as act-adjacent with a strong emphasis on certain narratives. The repeated finding was that although mainstream news outlets have an overall stronger presence, state-backed and junk news is way ahead in engagement per post or article. In the latest report it is shown that on average, mainstream articles collect about 25 engagements per post, while state-backed items get 125. When multiplied by millions of users and followers, that becomes an enormous discrepancy.

There is more nuance to the data than that, of course, but it gives a general idea of what’s happening: disinformation is being spread widely, whether by bots or organic reach, while ordinary news sources only reach a similar amount of people through more output and wider initial reach. It wasn’t, however, clear whether this was the case outside English-language media.

It certainly seems to be, according to data collected over three weeks from a variety of news sources. Mainstream media had a larger overall reach but state-backed media often produced far higher engagement per article. This is perhaps explained by the fact that the state-backed organizations tended to pursue and push controversies and divisive narratives. As the study puts it:

• Russian outlets working in French and German consistently emphasized weak democratic institutions and civil disorder in Europe, but offered different kinds of conspiracy theories about the pandemic;
• Chinese and Turkish outlets working in Spanish promoted their own countries’ global leadership in combating the pandemic, while Russian and Iranian outlets generated polarizing content targeted at Latin America and Spanish-speaking social media users in the United States.

That sort of clickbait spreads like wildfire on social media, of course, and few of those who thoughtlessly hit that share button will have the inclination to check whether the source is a government-backed news agency plainly attempting to sow discord.

On the other hand, it seems as if some consider turnabout fair play. For example: a Chinese state-backed news countering the flourishing U.S. conspiracy theory that the virus is a Chinese bioweapon with a counter-theory that it is a U.S. bioweapon released in and blamed on China.

“Many of these state-backed outlets blend reputable, fact-based reporting about the coronavirus with misleading or false information, which can lead to greater uncertainty among public audiences trying to make sense of the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Oxford’s Katarian Rebello in a news release.

The countries and state-backed outlets mentioned also have a major presence in Arabic language markets and the researchers are working on a follow-up study inclusive of those.

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