1. Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade on June 24, fears about location privacy have taken on a new urgency -- with many warning that location data collected by apps, brokers, Android devices and wireless carriers could be used to prosecute women seeking abortions. Fueling those fears, Vice reported that data brokers including SafeGraph sold data indicating which women visited abortion clinics; the report sparked outrage and prompted
two senators to demand an investigation. While it's unclear how often law enforcement has accessed such data in the past, there is now a greater risk that such data will be used to target women who exercise their right to choose.
2. In anticipation of Jordan Peele's newest blockbuster thriller, "NOPE," which premieres in theaters July 22, Meta has partnered with Oscar-winning Monkeypaw Productions to create and launch a multi-world virtual reality experience in its free gaming platform Horizon Worlds.
Fans with a Meta Quest 2 headset can log in to experience the "NOPE World" via Monkeypaw Productions: All Aboard, in which they will board a virtual train bound for Peele Station. The experience will feature immersive 360-degree video and 3D audio, allowing fans to fully experience the world of "NOPE.""NOPE" tells the story of a young woman who is haunted by a mysterious presence on a train. The VR experience will allow fans to step into the shoes of the main character and explore the world of
the film in a completely new way. With "NOPE,"Meta and Monkeypaw Productions are pushing the boundaries of what is possible in virtual reality, and we can't wait for fans to experience it."
3.McDonald's McCafé is deeply rooted in the 24-hour coffee culture. The company released this ad that captures how coffee helps people move throughout the day, with images of young people working, studying, or playing around, all to the beat of a fast-paced song. The ad highlights how coffee is an important part of people's lives, and how McDonald's McCafé is aleader in providing high-quality coffee. The ad is effective in its use of music and
visuals to communicate the message that coffee is an essential part of people's daily lives.
4. The Unicode Consortium is the organization responsible for selecting the emoji icons we use on our phones and computers. Every year, they consider new emojis to add to the existing lineup. For 2021, they're considering 31 new emojis, including a jellyfish, a wireless symbol, and different variations of a pushing hand.While we don't know yet which of these emojis will be approved, it's exciting to see the potential new additions. The Unicode
Consortium does a great job of considering popular culture and current trends when selecting new emojis, so we can expect the 2021 lineup to be just as relevant and useful as the current one. We can't wait to see what made the cut!
5.Google Analytics 4 (GA4) will allow users to select any event as a conversion, which gives users more accurate tracking capabilities for performance. This impacts brands who have events that are unique to their business or website, as GA4 will be able to better measure conversion rate for those events. This data will be especially useful for optimization and marketing purposes. In the past, custom objectives have been difficult to track in Google
Analytics, so this update is a welcome addition for many brands. With this new feature, businesses will be able to more accurately understand how their website or app is performing and make changes accordingly.
6. This is getting ridiculous. First, TikTok was accused of being a national security threat because the Chinese government might have access to user data. Then, they were accused of mishandling sensitive user data and exposing it to China-based employees. Now, senators are sending questions to the CEO of TikTok about who has access to data and over Chinese government control over TikTok. Can't we all just agree that TikTok is a fun app where
people can post videos of themselves dancing and lip syncing? Do we really need to turn it into a political football? Let's just enjoy TikTok for what it is - a lighthearted way to kill some time. Now TikTok has denied allegations that sensitive user information is accessible to China-based employees. In a statement, TikTok CEO Alex Zhu said that the company takes data security "very seriously" and that it stores all U.S. user data on servers located
outside of China. He also rebuffed claims that the Chinese government has any control over TikTok, saying that the company is "fully operated by an American CEO."
7. There's a new threat to Google's business, and it's called TikTok. The popular video-sharing app is having a major impact on the way younger users discover new content, a Google exec acknowledged today. Senior Vice President Prabhakar Raghavan, who oversees Google's Knowledg, said that TikTok is "definitely a threat" to the company's core services, including Search and Maps. He noted that TikTok users are more likely to start their journey on
the app, rather than on Google. This is a major shift in the way people use the internet, and it poses a serious challenge to Google's business model. However, Raghavan remains optimistic about the future of Google, saying that the company is "constantly innovating" and will continue to be a leader in the tech industry. Only time will tell if Google can survive the TikTok threat.
8. Twitter is experimenting with a new feature that allows developers to curate custom timelines, and it's starting with a bang: The Bachelorette. That's right, now you can swipe or click on a timeline dedicated to all the latest news and gossip about the hit reality show. And what's even better? These timelines are constantly updating, so you'll never miss a beat. Whether you're a fan of the show or just want to keep up with the latest water
cooler conversation, these custom Twitter timelines are sure to satisfy.
9. If you want to know what the kids are into these days, just log onto Tumblr. The social media platform has seen a resurgence in popularity thanks to Gen Z’s hunger for 2010s nostalgia. From K-Pop to vaporwave, there’s no corner of the internet that hasn’t been exhumed and repurposed by the kids of today. And while some of it is admittedly baffling to anyone over the age of 25, there’s no denying the power of the web’s cultural memory. With
its vast archive of user-generated content, Tumblr is the perfect place to take a trip down memory lane. So whether you’re looking for fashion inspiration, music recommendations, or just a good laugh, there’s sure to be something on Tumblr that will appeal to you.
10. LEAD GENERATORS BEWARE: WEB SESSION DATA TECHNOLOGIES MAY PRESENT A LEGAL PROBLEM: The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently held that use of certain technologies on a website to track and record web session data before obtaining affirmative consent may be a violation of California’s wiretap statute. Read More.
11. In the age of data privacy concerns, brands must get creative in their use of customer data to personalize shopper journeys. This is where non-personally identifiable information (non-PII data) comes in. Successful marketing in this new environment begins with objectives based on accurate insight into the customer journey. Non-PII data is information that cannot be used to identify an individual, such as ZIP code, gender, or age range. While
this type of data may seem limited, it can actually be quite powerful in helping to create personalized experiences. Learn more.