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WhatsApp Photo Sharing HD

WhatsApp Upgrades Photo Sharing Experience with HD Image Support

In an exciting development, WhatsApp is poised to enhance its photo sharing capabilities by introducing a new upgrade that enables users to share high-definition (HD) photos directly through the messaging platform. The revelation came via a communication by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg on his Instagram broadcast channel, and it was also shared through a post on Facebook. This eagerly awaited feature, designed to maintain the exquisite resolution of the photos shared among friends and family, had previously undergone testing with a select group of users in its beta phase.

During the earlier part of this summer, astute users discovered this functionality within the Android beta rendition of WhatsApp and the TestFlight application for iOS. These observations strongly hinted at an imminent public release of the feature.

To avail oneself of this fresh attribute, users must initiate the update to the most recent version of the app. Upon doing so, a novel “HD” button will become conspicuous at the upper section of the photo-sharing interface, adjacent to the existing image manipulation tools like rotation, text addition, and sticker placement.

Depressing the HD button will summon a newly presented pop-up window, affording users the option to elect their preferred photo quality. The default setting is “Standard Quality,” a deliberate choice by WhatsApp to ensure swift and reliable photo sharing. However, users now possess the ability to opt for “HD Quality,” which will safeguard the high-definition version of the photograph.

"HD" label

Once the image has been transmitted, the recipient will perceive the presence of an “HD” label adorning the bottom-left corner of the photo, serving as an indicator that a superior-quality image has been shared. Notably, all images remain secure under WhatsApp’s robust end-to-end encryption protocols.

The company underscores that in instances where the recipient is grappling with limited bandwidth connectivity, a decision can be made on a photo-by-photo basis whether to retain the standard version or upgrade it to HD quality.

Anticipate the gradual global rollout of the HD photos feature over the ensuing weeks, with subsequent support for HD videos slated to follow, as per the company’s announcement.

X Logged Out

X Shifts to Like-Based Post Sorting for Logged Out Users

X, formerly recognized as Twitter, has recently implemented a significant alteration to the way posts are displayed when users are logged out. Instead of the traditional chronological order, posts are now arranged based on their like counts, marking a departure from the previous approach. While posts, previously referred to as tweets, continue to appear in a time-based sequence when users are logged into the platform, the sorting mechanism shifts to performance metrics when users are logged out.

This noteworthy adjustment was initially noticed by 9to5Google, raising intrigue and speculation among users and observers alike. The alteration entails that posts are organized according to the number of likes they have garnered, rather than the number of views they have received. This has led to situations where posts with higher view counts but comparatively fewer likes are positioned lower in users’ feeds. This unexpected change has led to some intriguing dynamics, particularly as it can lead to previously well-liked posts from years ago resurfacing at the top of users’ feeds, potentially overshadowing more recent content.

Interestingly, the new sorting methodology has garnered attention for its propensity to elevate popular posts while subduing newer and more current content. Even posts that have been pinned to the top of a user’s profile do not enjoy prominence in the feed when that user is logged out. This has sparked debate about the efficacy of pinning posts in light of this new sorting strategy.

The motivation behind X’s decision to adopt this approach remains shrouded in mystery. Speculation abounds, with one possibility being that X is wagering on the idea that presenting logged-out users with highly popular posts upfront may encourage them to follow the account or even consider signing up for the service. This strategy aims to leverage the allure of well-received content to entice potential new users.

X’s recent transformations have been closely tied to the leadership of Elon Musk, who assumed control of the company in the preceding year. In another development this morning, the social networking platform introduced X Pro, a formerly known product as TweetDeck, as a subscription-based offering. This decision aligns with the company’s prior announcement in June that TweetDeck’s accessibility would be restricted to verified users in the near future. This ongoing evolution underscores X’s dynamic strategy under its new leadership.

Series iOS Photo App

Introducing Series: Your Ultimate iOS Photo App for Instagram Threads

In the realm of iOS photo app, Series has emerged as a dynamic tool, designed to fuel your creativity while presenting your photos in captivating ways across social media platforms. Particularly, Series has stepped into the limelight as the essential companion for users looking to share their images seamlessly on Instagram Threads. The app’s innovative features enable users to relish full-screen image viewing, and with impeccable formatting, to craft panoramic visual narratives that resonate profoundly.

Already, users are embracing this fresh format, with artists like Pete Halvorsen pioneering experimentation. He skillfully played with diverse aspect ratios, breaking down images to be clicked and swiped through in full-screen mode – a technique that artfully engages the viewer.

This trailblazing movement within the Threads community spurred the ingenious mind behind Series, Ryan Carver, to introduce new tools. One such tool, TH+, was thoughtfully incorporated to cater specifically to the needs of Threads users, streamlining the process and elevating the visual storytelling experience.

Ryan Carver brings a wealth of photography and design expertise to the table. His track record includes pivotal roles in notable ventures such as product development at the acclaimed photo-sharing app VSCO, and his co-founding of Typekit, an endeavor that was ultimately acquired by Adobe, now known as Adobe Fonts. The past four years have seen him passionately focused on Series, where he has channeled his creative energy as an independent iOS developer.

From Vision to Innovation: Ryan Carver’s Journey in Photography and Design

The initial spark for Series was ignited by Carver’s own photographic journey, which culminated in curating and designing a compelling gallery show in 2019. Reflecting on this experience, Carver revealed, “Two desires emerged: the need for enhanced tools to explore the visual dynamics between images, and the aspiration to facilitate seamless sharing of multiple images.” The Instagram Carousel emerged as the ideal canvas for this endeavor, given its innate ability to present multiple images in captivating and unique layouts.

For optimal utilization, Carver recommends uploading a series of photos and delving into Series’ diverse layout options, enabling you to craft your visual narrative through pairings, stacks, grids, and carousels.

The discovery of Threads’ support for full-screen panoramas triggered an instant response from Carver. He promptly integrated the TH+ Frame Ratio into Series, a move that took mere days following Threads’ public launch. Since then, this feature has been embraced by Meta employees, including CTO Andrew Bosworth (@boztank), who astounded the Threads community with an awe-inspiring Everest panorama, amassing over 7,000 likes and 180 responses.

Threads users have enthusiastically embraced the panorama option, transforming a single image into a captivating spread across multiple panels, enticing viewers to swipe through. Some users ingeniously position the full image at the culmination of their carousel, enhancing the visual journey.

TH+ Frame Ratio: Elevating Threads Users’ Visual Adventures

Access to the TH+ Frame Ratio feature necessitates an upgrade to the Pro subscription, which comes at a modest annual fee of $15. This premium package unlocks an array of advanced tools, ranging from the ability to import and arrange more than two photos or videos simultaneously, to the power to extend content across more than three panels within Instagram’s Carousel or Threads. The package further encompasses high-resolution export capabilities, the export of videos up to 60 seconds in duration, the preview of Instagram Posts or Stories before exporting, customizable templates for preserving and applying favored aesthetics, robust tools for intricate layouts, and personalized app icons.

Since its inaugural launch in December 2019 with version 1.0, Series has garnered a dedicated user base of approximately 5,000 monthly active users, with nearly half embracing the role of paying subscribers. The app evolved to version 2.0 in December 2022, introducing video support and an expanded array of layout options. Most recently, the TH+ Frame Ratio was introduced with a July release, tailored to Threads users seeking to elevate their visual narratives.

Notably, Series captured the attention of Instagram head, Adam Mosseri, who responded affirmatively to a request from the Series team on Threads. This dialogue aims to cultivate closer integration, promising swifter workflows, enhanced previews, and an expanded range of layout choices – a testament to Series’ commitment to continuous improvement.

Series is available for free download with optional in-app purchases on the App Store. It offers compatibility with both iPhone and iPad devices, promising to enrich your visual storytelling journey on Instagram Threads and beyond.

X Implements Traffic Throttling

Elon Musk’s X Implements Traffic Throttling on Disfavored Websites

In an attempt to hinder traffic to its rival websites, X has implemented a strategy of delaying the website redirection process from its own page.

The initial instance of this issue was raised on a Tuesday morning by a user of the Hacker News platform. The user noted a five-second delay when attempting to access websites such as ‘NYTimes.com’ and ‘threads.net’ through X, formerly known as Twitter. The user’s post highlighted: “Instead of banning disliked domains, Twitter opts to waste your time during visits.”

The proprietor of the microblogging website, Elon Musk, who acquired Twitter in the previous October, has previously engaged in multiple outbursts against news outlets and journalists that have provided critical coverage of his enterprises, including Tesla and SpaceX. On August 5th, the billionaire referred to The New York Times as a ‘racial genocide apologist.’

Four days after that, in a reply to a post quoting Musk from an earlier interview, he said he is calling out the media, particularly NYT and one other organization, for being racist against Whites and Asians.

A spokesman for NYT, Charlie Stadtlander spoke to Washington Post and revealed that the Times had “made similar observations” about the systemic delays and “not received any explanation from the platform about this move.”

“While we don’t know the rationale behind the application of this time delay, we would be concerned by targeted pressure applied to any news organization for unclear reasons,” added Stadtlander.

Zuck’s businesses targeted

The biggest blow perhaps was for Mark Zuckerberg-led companies like Facebook, Instagram and Threads, which also faced delays. Although a startling revelation, throttling of Zuckerberg’s websites don’t exactly come as a surprise since he has been in crosshairs with Musk, rivalling over their respective social media platforms. The two have also been taking digs at each other over an impending (although improbable) cage fight.

WaPo’s analysis found that links to other businesses like The Washington Post, Fox News remained unaffected.

Twitter has been long using the t.co domain to shorten links redirecting from Twitter. Anytime an X user composes a tweet/post which includes a link, that link is shortened using the http://t.co shortener. Traffic to every website is routed through the domain, which enables X to track, and in this case throttle, activity to the websites.

Concurring to the Hacker News’ user’s findings, The Washington Post ran their own investigation and found that users who clicked on a link — redirecting to websites belonging to Musk’s competitors — were made to wait about five seconds before seeing the page.

Since X was called out over the delay tactics, it is being observed that redirection from the website to NYT is taking two seconds instead of five.

Musk: I am a free speech absolutist

Substack too had been facing such delays and had urged X to review the anomaly. “Substack was created in direct response to this kind of behavior by social media companies,” said the founders of the company in a statement to WaPo.

“Writers cannot build sustainable businesses if their connection to their audience depends on unreliable platforms that have proven they are willing to make changes that are hostile to the people who use them,” they added.

The consistent delay seems deliberate and costs Musk’s adversaries money in ad revenue. According to Google Analytics, 53 percent of website visits are abandoned if a mobile site takes longer than three seconds to load. 

One must spend money to make money. And that’s why organizations spend thousands and millions of dollars to drive up the number of visitors on their websites. If the traffic doesn’t convert, the investment is more or less insignificant. So, given the allegations against Musk, he clearly knows what he’s doing.

WhatsApp Web Screen Lock Feature

WhatsApp Web Enhances Security with Screen Lock Feature

WhatsApp web application has introduced a new screen lock feature aimed at bolstering user security while accessing their messages. Presently restricted to WhatsApp Web beta testers, this innovative addition prevents unauthorized entry to the app without the requisite account password. Despite initially announcing the screen lock function last year, they are now officially launching it.

A Stride Forward in Security

Meta, the company that owns WhatsApp, has disclosed that the update will once again be accessible to individuals enrolled in the Beta program. WhatsApp conveyed in a recent blog post, “In a prior communication last year, we unveiled the screen lock alternative—an attribute designated for WhatsApp Desktop Beta.” They provided more details, stating that they designed this functionality to safeguard the application against unauthorized access through password protection. While this feature was still under development at the time of the announcement, it was not yet available for beta testers.” WhatsApp further explained that after conducting extensive testing, they are now gradually introducing the feature to specific beta testers who are using the latest version of WhatsApp Web and are part of the official beta initiative.

For those intrigued by this advancement and who are active WhatsApp users, ascertaining its availability is as simple as navigating to “WhatsApp Settings” and checking beneath the “Privacy” category. Once you activate it, you can customize additional adjustments when engaging the lock. If you forget the password, you have the option to log out of WhatsApp to initiate a reset or scan the QR code from the smartphone app—a process similar to the initial setup.

Deactivation

Deactivation of this feature can similarly be accomplished through the app’s settings menu. Depending on the security protocols implemented on the smartphone application, effectuating any alterations might necessitate validation via password entry, facial recognition, or fingerprint authentication.

Beyond substantially bolstering user security by obstructing access to message streams, the innovative feature also halts push notifications when the screen is locked. This facet is especially significant, as message notifications that appear on the screen are often visible to anyone within view. This enhancement is particularly advantageous when employing WhatsApp Web in communal settings or workplaces, as it diligently preserves the confidentiality of conversations and safeguards users’ privacy from prying gazes.

Uplifting User Privacy

“In our estimation, this undoubtedly empowers users to preserve the sanctity of their conversations, elevating privacy safeguards and deterring unauthorized individuals from perusing their personal content,” WhatsApp expounded. Non-beta testers can anticipate the broader availability of this feature in the coming weeks.

Instagram photo carousels with music

Instagram Introduces Music Integration to Photo Carousels for Creative Expression

In a groundbreaking move blurring the lines between visual and auditory art, Instagram has announced its latest feature that enables users to infuse their photo carousels with music, thereby enhancing the immersive experience of their content. This novel addition not only offers a new dimension to the world of photography but also empowers users to express their musical preferences in tandem with their visual storytelling.

Partnering with Pop Sensation Olivia Rodrigo to Unveil the Fusion

Instagram’s partnership with pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo serves as the catalyst for this innovative integration. Demonstrating the feature’s potential, Olivia Rodrigo showcased her artistry by sharing a captivating photo carousel accompanied by her new single “bad idea right?” This synergistic amalgamation of visuals and music highlights the creative possibilities of the platform, providing a glimpse into the future of artistic expression on social media.

Continued Evolution of Multimedia Expression on Instagram

This music-driven enhancement follows closely on the heels of another music-related offering introduced in June. Instagram initiated a feature that empowers users to share snippets of tracks they are currently listening to through Instagram Notes. This strategic progression emphasizes Instagram’s commitment to transforming its platform into a multimedia haven, offering users multifaceted ways to share their passions and creative endeavors.

Fostering Collaborative Creativity and Recognizing Fan Contributions

In tandem with this musical evolution, Instagram is launching an exciting collaborative feature. Users now have the capability to invite up to three friends as co-authors for posts and reels. This innovative step fosters communal creativity, allowing creators to synergize their talents while expanding their reach. The posts or reels resulting from such collaborations are poised to resonate with diverse audiences, facilitating greater engagement and artistic exploration.

Elevating User-Generated Content Through Enhanced Stickers

Instagram’s commitment to celebrating user-generated content is further exemplified by the revitalized “Add Yours” sticker feature. First introduced in 2021, this sticker is now imbued with the power to initiate challenges or harness the potential of hashtags. Creators can leverage this tool to spotlight the most compelling Reels from their fan base. These distinguished Reels will sport a distinctive “Creator pick” tag, making them easily accessible to other users who share a mutual appreciation for creative ingenuity.

Driving Reels Engagement and Monetization

The evolution of Instagram’s features aligns with the platform’s overarching goal to enhance Reels’ engagement and monetization potential. With over 200 billion daily plays and a revenue run rate surpassing $10 billion, Reels has emerged as a formidable medium of content consumption. Mark Zuckerberg’s pronouncement during the Q2 2023 earnings call underscores the platform’s success in reshaping media consumption patterns, cementing Reels as a dominant force in social media storytelling.

Balancing Tradition and Innovation

As Instagram embarks on this dynamic evolution, it remains cognizant of its roots. The platform’s journey toward multimedia prowess does not negate its commitment to traditional forms of content. Despite the strategic pivot toward video, Instagram’s Head, Adam Mosseri, reaffirmed the platform’s allegiance to photography. The fusion of music with photo carousels serves as a testament to Instagram’s harmonious synthesis of its heritage with contemporary multimedia trends.

In essence, Instagram’s foray into music-integrated photo carousels epitomizes its determination to revolutionize content creation and consumption. This fusion of visual and auditory artistry opens a realm of possibilities for users to craft narratives that resonate on multiple sensory levels, further enriching the tapestry of creativity within the platform’s vibrant community.

WhatsApp Screen Sharing

WhatsApp Introduces Screen Sharing: Enhancing the Video Calling Experience

WhatsApp, the popular messaging platform, has just unveiled its latest feature aimed at enhancing the video calling experience. This move places WhatsApp in direct competition with established video conferencing apps such as Microsoft Meet, Google Meet, Zoom, and even Apple’s FaceTime. The new feature, announced by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, promises to bring a new dimension to video calls and elevate the way users connect.

Seamless Sharing: What You Need to Know

WhatsApp’s new screen sharing feature is set to revolutionize the way we communicate through video calls. The feature, initially released to a select group of beta testers on Android in late May, is now being rolled out to a wider audience. With a simple tap or click on the ‘Share’ icon, users can instantly share documents, photos, or even their shopping cart with contacts during video calls. This functionality is akin to how screen sharing works on other popular video conferencing platforms like Google Meet and Zoom.

Cross-Platform Accessibility: Availability and Accessibility

The screen sharing feature is making its way across different platforms, including Android, iOS, and Windows Desktop. However, its rollout is being executed in a phased manner, meaning not all users will have immediate access. WhatsApp users can expect to see this exciting new feature in the near future as it becomes progressively available to all.

A New Perspective: Landscape Mode and Video Calling

In addition to screen sharing, WhatsApp has also introduced video calling support in Landscape mode. This addition offers users a broader and more immersive viewing experience compared to the existing Portrait mode. Interestingly, this Landscape mode can also complement the screen sharing feature, providing users with an optimized setup for sharing their screens.

Evolving to Stay Relevant: WhatsApp’s Ongoing Improvements

Video calling has been a staple feature of WhatsApp for several years, dating back to its introduction in November 2016. However, in the face of competition, WhatsApp is continuously innovating and enhancing its services to remain at the forefront of user preferences. Recent updates, such as picture-in-picture support for iOS users and the ability to share short video messages, demonstrate the platform’s commitment to providing versatile and effective communication options.

Beyond the Competition: WhatsApp Sets a New Standard

Screen sharing has become an integral aspect of video conferencing apps, catering to both consumers and professionals alike. In 2021, Apple incorporated SharePlay into FaceTime, enabling iOS users to share their screens seamlessly. WhatsApp has taken this concept a step further by extending screen sharing capabilities to Android, iOS, and desktop users. This move showcases WhatsApp’s dedication to setting a new industry standard and offering an unparalleled video calling experience.

As WhatsApp continues to evolve and introduce innovative features like screen sharing and Landscape mode, it is clear that the platform is committed to staying relevant and meeting the ever-changing communication needs of its users. With its cross-platform accessibility and user-friendly approach, WhatsApp’s screen sharing feature is poised to redefine video calling and elevate interpersonal connections to new heights.

Cage Fight on X

Tech Titans Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg Set for Cage Fight will be live on X

Elon Musk, the renowned CEO of X, formerly known as Twitter, recently made a thrilling announcement. He revealed that he will be squaring off against Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, in a riveting clash that will be live-streamed on X.

Taking to Twitter, Musk tweeted, “Zuck v Musk fight will be live-streamed on X.” But this event isn’t just for spectacle; it carries a noble cause as well. All proceeds from the highly anticipated fight will be donated to charity, benefiting veterans in need.

Under the ownership of Elon Musk, X, the microblogging platform, has been undergoing significant transformations in both policies and branding. Following its acquisition by the visionary behind SpaceX and Tesla, the company has been making remarkable strides in its evolution.

The clash between these two influential figures promises to be an electrifying event, and the fact that it supports a charitable cause adds an extra layer of significance to this exciting showdown. The tech community eagerly awaits the date of the live-streamed face-off, as the anticipation continues to build for this historic event in the tech world.

The tweet was met with a flurry of reactions from X users, who asked Musk about the purpose and the rules of the fight.

Musk replied, “It’s a civilized form of war. Men love war.”

Musk, 51, and Zuckerberg, 39, have been at odds for years over various issues, ranging from politics to artificial intelligence.
But the feud escalated last month when Meta, formerly known as Facebook, launched a new app called Threads, which has features similar to X.
Musk challenged Zuckerberg to a cage fight in a playful jibe at X, saying, “I’m up for a cage fight with Zuck.”

Zuckerberg, who has been posting videos of his martial arts training on Instagram, accepted the challenge by sharing a screenshot of Musk’s message and writing, “Send me location.”
The exchange sparked a frenzy on social media, with many users making predictions and memes about the fight. The date and the venue of the fight have not been revealed yet, but sources close to both parties say that it will be held in a neutral location with no audience.
The fight as it seems will be broadcasted exclusively on X, which has seen a surge in popularity since Musk acquired it last year. And if you wanted to know what it would look like, a Twitter user named @mahmoudfoqha9 posted a deep fake video of both the tech titans dressed as gladiators ready for battle.

Both Musk and Zuckerberg have said that they are not fighting for money or fame, but for the future of technology and humanity.

X to pay legal bills for users facing employer bias

In another development, Twitter has announced that it will cover the legal expenses of any user who faces discrimination or retaliation from their employer for their online activity.

As per a BBC report, the announcement was made by X’s owner and CEO, Elon Musk, on Sunday. He said that his platform would provide “no limits” financial assistance to users who were treated unfairly for posting or liking something on X.

He urged users to “let us know” if they had encountered any such situation and said that X would “stand with you”.

Musk, who is a billionaire entrepreneur and a vocal advocate of free speech, took over Twitter in April last year and renamed it, X, last month.

He said that he wanted to make X “the digital town square where matters vital to the future of humanity are debated” and that “free speech is the bedrock of a functioning democracy”.

X stock trading

Elon Musk’s X Aims From Social Media to Stock Trading Platform

Elon Musk’s ambitious vision for X, previously known as Twitter, involves transforming it into a multifaceted platform, including the potential for stock trading. Reports suggest that the company has reached out to fintech firms to explore the development of this feature, although no financial commitment has been made at this time, according to Semafor.

Ever since Musk expressed interest in taking over Twitter last year, he has been contemplating adding various features to create an all-encompassing “everything app” for users to accomplish a multitude of tasks.

Musk drew inspiration from WeChat, a Chinese app that successfully integrates various functionalities, and he also revisited a similar concept he once pursued with his venture X.com, founded over two decades ago. Though Musk was ousted as CEO, and the company later evolved into PayPal, now with the acquisition of Twitter, he sees an opportunity to revisit the idea.

Since assuming control of Twitter, Musk has introduced features like “cashtag,” which allows users to view live stock charts by using the “$” symbol before ticker names, powered by Trading View, a data startup. Additionally, plans were announced to enable users to buy and sell stocks within the platform using eToro, a competitor of the popular trading and investing app Robinhood. However, this feature is yet to be implemented, and under its new branding, the company is now approaching financial data giants to create a trading hub within X.

According to the Semafor report, X is positioning itself as a platform capable of reaching “hundreds of millions of highly qualified users,” but it is not committing funds to build this hub. Instead, the company is inquiring about the level of commitment that fintech companies are willing to make for the project. Whether any firms have responded to this inquiry remains uncertain.

Integrating financial services with social media platforms is not a new idea in Silicon Valley, with attempts by companies like Snap and Meta in the past. However, such efforts have not always been successful, except for limited cases like payments in WhatsApp. Musk believes that by offering integrated services within X, the platform’s user base could potentially quadruple to a billion people. This could also open up a new revenue stream through brokerage from stock transactions, especially since advertisers have been somewhat elusive.

Musk may find encouragement in Apple’s recent offering of a savings account, which attracted deposits of a billion dollars in just four days. Even a small percentage of Musk’s 151 million followers using X as a trading platform could result in significant brokerage revenue every month.

However, unlike Apple, which has earned trust over many years, Musk’s frequent changes and Twitter’s instability have driven some users away. To succeed, X must rebuild trust and effectively highlight its advantages over existing tools that users have grown accustomed to in recent months.

Canada Online News Act

Meta Blocks News Content in Canada Amidst Controversial Online News Act

Facebook and Instagram users in Canada will notice a significant change in their feeds as Meta, the parent company of these platforms, begins blocking access to links and stories from news publishers. This move is a response to the recently passed Canadian Online News Act, which aims to address the declining news industry by forcing tech platforms to negotiate fair revenue sharing with publishers for their content. When negotiations fail, the law allows for mandatory arbitration, putting tech companies in a difficult position.

Meta’s policy communications director, Andy Stone, expressed their disagreement with the law on Twitter, stating that it is based on a flawed premise. Consequently, the only way Meta can comply is by ending news availability in Canada, and this process will be rolled out gradually over the next few weeks.

Google also plans to follow suit by implementing a news blackout in its search results in response to the same law.

For over a decade, tech platforms have benefited from publishers’ original content without compensating them, leading to a decline in the news industry. Despite some attempts to fund news initiatives, Meta has now taken an adversarial stance and distanced itself from the news content. They argue that news has little economic value for them, which has sparked criticism given the significant engagement news and political content generate on their platforms.

Critics of the Canadian Online News Act point out that the news industry is already heavily reliant on social networks, and this legislation might deepen their dependence, necessitating new and more sustainable solutions. Additionally, some argue that the forced negotiation frameworks could favor large media groups over smaller, independent publishers.

While controversial, these laws could pave the way for future regulations worldwide, with California also considering a proposal to make social platforms pay for content, on hold until 2024. As the situation unfolds in Canada, it will likely be a significant indicator of how such laws impact the relationships between social platforms and news publishers.