social-media
Likee bans 42,751 accounts in 5 months for violating rules
Singapore-based global short video creation and sharing platform Likee has banned 42,751 Bangladeshi accounts from January to May this year for violating safety protection regulations.
Recently, Likee kicked off a campaign titled "#BhalorJonnoJano" (#KnowForGood) to enlighten the users about Likee community rules and the positive values that it would like to promote among the content creators and celebrities using this platform.
Also read: Likee steps forward to ensure user safety, content quality
As part of the campaign, actor Mumtaheena Chowdhury Toya, YouTuber Tawhid Afridi, actor Tanha Tasnia, 10 Minute School founder and CEO Ayman Sadiq and Gender Equality Consultant Rijve Arefin created videos, delineating the rules for posting contents and the necessity of everyone's participation to build a safe and healthy online community.
Also, Likee has taken many steps in the last few months to filter any objectionable contents and encourage users to showcase the brighter side of their creativity through creating contents that inspire others and reveal their talents.
Also read: CID arrests five, inc. Bigo and Likee executives, for app-based crimes
The platform strictly maintains a set of criteria to screen out any objectionable content. Also, a complete content security mechanism is in place to inspect fraudulent information, pornographic links, gambling, and other negative activities in real-time.
Joy, Likee's head of operations in Bangladesh, said: "From January to May this year, Likee banned 42,751 accounts for violating rules, and around 8.7 million videos were given penalties per month."
Read Short video platforms are new way of building communities: Head of Likee Operations in Bangladesh
Facebook to end rule exemptions for politicians
Facebook plans to end a contentious policy championed by CEO Mark Zuckerberg that exempted politicians from certain moderation rules on its site, according to several news reports.
Read: Facebook won’t remove posts claiming COVID-19 is human-made
The company’s rationale for that policy held that the speech of political leaders is inherently newsworthy and in the public interest even if it is offensive, bullying or otherwise controversial. The social media giant is currently mulling over what to do with the account of former President Donald Trump, which it “indefinitely” suspended Jan. 6, leaving it in Facebook limbo with its owners unable to post.
The change in policy was first reported by the tech site The Verge and later confirmed by the New York Times and the Washington Post.
Read: Online speech shield under fire as Trump Facebook ban stays
Facebook has had a general “newsworthiness exemption” since 2016. But it garnered attention in 2019 when Nick Clegg, vice president of global affairs and communications, announced that speech from politicians will be treated as “newsworthy content that should, as a general rule, be seen and heard.”
The newsworthiness exemption, he explained in a blog post at the time, meant that if “someone makes a statement or shares a post which breaks our community standards we will still allow it on our platform if we believe the public interest in seeing it outweighs the risk of harm.”
Read: Facebook board’s Trump decision could have wider impacts
This hasn’t given politicians unlimited license, however. When Facebook suspended Trump in January, it cited “the risk of further incitement of violence” following the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol as the reason. The company says it has never used the newsworthiness exemption for any of Trump’s posts.
Facebook declined to comment.
Likee launches ‘Crazy Movie Editors’ campaign for film buffs
Likee, the popular short video creation and sharing app has recently kicked off an exciting activity named ‘Crazy Movie Editors’ for film buffs who can win variety of prizes by creating video contents reviewing movies of any language.
The activity commenced on May 22 and will continue till June 4, 2021.
The initiative aims at discovering talented movie reviewers from Likee users and content creators. Any Likee user is eligible to participate in the activity. All a user needs to do is create a movie review video, add #CrazyMovieEditors and upload it. For every movie, one can upload a review in a maximum of 6 parts, each part not more than one minute, totaling six minutes.
Read Free Online Movies: Best Netflix Alternatives for Streaming Movies in 2021
However, in order to qualify for the contest, the review contents must be original, genuine and complete. The contents must also have original clips from reviewed movies inserted into it to clarify the points, information related to the video cover, and clear voice-over/audio.
Joy, Likee’s Head of Operations in Bangladesh, said, “This activity has been designed in a way to let our users and content creators come up with interesting reviews of movies that will give them an opportunity to exhibit their film acumen.”
The winning reviewers will get prizes in three categories for the most popular video contents – cash prize, quality prize, and identity prize. If any user can create review videos for more than five different movies within 2 weeks, selected accounts will get the opportunity to share USD 1000.
Read Bengali OTT Platforms for Watching Movies, Web Series, Musical Shows
Under the second category (quality prize), a user will have the chance to earn as much as USD 50 from each movie review and USD 500 from each individual account.
For every 2000 likes in an individual video, the creator will get 1 US dollar. 10 best content creators will be awarded with Likee Blue V Badge verifications. Next time the user creates any content, it will be evaluated based on the Blue V standard.
Boithok: Bangladeshi video conferencing app for online meeting
The recent COVID-19 pandemic has forced everyone to stay home and eventually work from home. Bangladesh government and other organizations have been using Zoom and other available alternatives to continue work from home. It seems working from home and having online meetings becomes a new normal. In this context, the Bangladesh government has launched a web-based video conferencing platform ‘Boithok,’ to overcome the dependency on other international apps such as Zoom, Google Meet, Teams, etc. In this article, we have accumulated all the things you need to know about the Bangladeshi online meeting app Boithok.
Key Features of Boithok
It has a lot of similarities to other available apps in the market. However, the developers have tried to improve those similar features alongside adding some new features.
First of all, you don’t need to have an account to operate or arrange a meeting on Boithok. You will just need to visit the Boithok website or apps and create a new meeting on your own. However, you may need to add a password to secure the meeting and refrain unwanted people to join in. So, the lock-protected room ensures the maximum security of your data.
Read How to Use Ridesharing Vehicles Safely during COVID19 Pandemic
Next, the video and audio quality are top-notch compared to the international competitors. It ensures the richness and clarity of the visuals and audio.
In-app messaging is available in the Boithok. It features unlimited messaging while the online meeting is going on. Besides, the participants can also exchange private messages during the meeting.
You don’t need to download any app for your computer, a desktop browser is good enough to create a meeting and continue the conversation. However, you may need to install apps to use on phones or tablets. The conference link or URL is small, which is easily shareable with others to get started.
During the meeting, participants can raise their hand by clicking the raise hand option if they want to participate or have any questions and after that user can click or tap on the lower the hand option.
Further, it comes with recording and sharing features. A host can record the meeting and others can share their screens too. However, you will need to have an account to record and download the recording from the Boithok server.
Read Top Job Searching apps in Bangladesh
How to use Boithok?
Using the Boithok is very simple as a piece of cake. To create a meeting from your computer, you will just need to visit https://vc.bcc.gov.bd/ and then type the Boithok name. After creating the meeting room you can share the link and invite others to join the room. As a participant, you will just need to click on the link provided by the host and join in, and set a name for yourself.
After that, you will be able to access all the features we have mentioned above. However, you will have to provide access to your microphone and camera to talk and share screen or video during the meeting.
How much is the Boithok video conferencing app?
Currently, it is free to use, and it should be free in the future too. However, currently, 60 participants can join the meeting at a time. The developers are working relentlessly to add more features and improve the app. Further, the app will have a paid version in the future, which will generate remittance for the country. But it will take time and the government is planning to introduce the app to the international level and arrange a cross-country governmental meeting via Boithok.
Boithok has already been released on April 24 and different ministries are currently using the app and it is also available to use for anyone.
Read Top health apps for online doctor consultation services in Bangladesh
Boithok on iOS, Android, and Windows devices
Bangladeshi virtual meeting app Boithok is available on Android, iOS, and Windows platforms. You can visit the respective application stores such as Google Play, App Store, etc. to download Boithok on your device. Currently, the app size is 62MB for Android, 42.5MB for iOS, and 62MB for Windows PC.
However, the web version and the app versions have identical features, so you will find it easier to use from any device.
Who developed the Boithok?
Bangladesh government’s Department of Information and Communication Technology has developed the Boithok and it is maintained by the BNDA team. 10 developers have developed the Boithok software and 50-100 programmers will join the team in the future.
Read Best Food Delivery Apps in Bangladesh in 2021
Pros of Boithok App
Although it is similar to other online meeting applications, it has some good features that can make it unique from the international apps. The good thing about Boithok is that it uses the Bangladeshi data center, so the data will remain secure. Besides, hosting on Bangladeshi servers will overcome the dependency on international servers, which will ensure safety too. Another good option is that users can stream YouTube videos during the meeting.
Limitations of Boithok App
Boithok is testing its beta version, so there might be some bugs and UI issues. The initial launch has experienced several server crashes, which is not a major issue for a beta version. Nevertheless, other limitations may come up when mass people start using it.
Read Best Ride-Sharing Apps in Bangladesh
Needed permissions from the user
Whenever you install the app on your device, it will ask you to give access to some of your device’s applications such as calendar, camera, microphone, etc. The calendar permission will let the app read the calendar events and modify them according to upcoming Boithok meeting details. Cameras will allow the app to steam yourself and speak via microphone access.
Bottom Line
Bangladeshi video conferencing app Boithok can be a revolutionary app to represent the country in other countries by competing with giant tech companies like Google, Microsoft, Zoom, and more. As we have mentioned earlier different ministries have already adopted Boithok, which will certainly put an impact on the future of our online meeting.
Read Top WhatsApp Alternatives for Free Calling and Group Chatting
How To Be A Popular Instagram Influencer
Despite being a social platform for the common man, Instagram has doubled as a multi-billion dollar industry that has turned the heads of advertisers, sponsors, e-commerce platforms and other businesses. There are so many variables that are in play to become a viral hit, and there is no perfect strategy to attain that kind of success - but there are clear guidelines that will expand your reach and presence: here is how to be a popular Instagram influencer.
Tips and Tricks To Be Famous in Instagram
Choosing Your Niche
The ideal kind of audiences are the ones who will come back to your content, i.e followers. The best way to do this is to find a niche that will have others looking forward to your next post, and being generic will make it difficult to incentivise commitment. Because of this, finding a niche is crucial to arrow in the kind of audiences you want to view your content. Finding a niche could vary from food, fashion, gaming, movie, cosmetics and so much more.
The most important thing to remember when thinking about this is identifying something you are passionate about. This is important for a few reasons: one, being that a passion-driven page will give you the motivation to post content regularly. This is synonymous with having a good understanding of your niche. With knowledge, your post will have substantiated preferences, informative bios and the trust of future investors or partners.
Read How to Earn Money from Instagram
Creating A Memorable Bio
At the end of the day, Instagram, like other social media platforms are meant to be more personal than formal. Because of this, fans who are emotionally invested would appreciate knowing the background behind the creator of their favourite content. When they can establish a common ground with you, their motivation to support your content will naturally become stronger. Since Instagram is accessed primarily for leisure, showing a bit of your personality through your bio would genuinely matter to them.
Generic quotes aren’t the way to go if you want to establish originality in your bio. Being genuine with your story and what makes you passionate about the content you are posting is grounded enough for audiences to appreciate. With more authenticity, audiences will feel that they are interacting with your page at the angle of a relationship, rather than being a consumer of your content. The bio sets the introductory tone to your content and should be perfected before moving forward.
Read Quarantine Income Opportunities: How to Earn Money during lockdown period
Insta-stories Are A Must
There’s more to Instagram than just photos: Insta-stories are a great way to deliver concise video content that give people a “live” update of what you’re up to. It keeps audiences involved in your life and can appear to be way more authentic than a carefully edited photo if done right. Showing off your expensive car or expensive items that you have just bought is not the way to go, because showing off can often be interpreted as the content creator actively trying to one-up his or her audiences- which is not very tactful.
Instead, making a quick reaction of news within your niche or something within your niche that currently has your attention are simple, but effective ways to set the tone of your page in that period of time. Overall, it isn’t rocket science to post something genuine, and it can easily be done with the niche you are passionate about, or even something even more personal when your fanbase has properly been cultivated.
Read How to Earn Money from YouTube Channel
Consistency In Your Grid
Presentation at a glance holds an immense amount of power that decides whether people are going to bother even exploring your page or scroll right through. There’s no shame to edit your pictures to be aesthetically pleasing, but the filters, editing style and overall tone should be consistent so that your collage of photos are coherent and can give audiences a sense of understanding of what they can expect from your future uploads.
Applications like Visco or Lightroom can do wonders to up your editing game, but over-editing may pose a risk of robbing authenticity off your images. Audiences appreciate truth in their content and having images that are edited too much may hamper the audience’s perception of the truth behind each uploaded photo. Ultimately, the best way to approach this is to edit just enough for aesthetic appeal and consistency, but not to cast any doubt on its authenticity.
Read How to Earn Money from Facebook
Knowing Your Hashtags
Now we’re entering a slightly more business approach to your Instagram profile. Keywords are a critical component to ensuring that your page gets the right kind of exposure in its field. This is where finding a niche will save you; when having a niche, your keywords become much more specific and that allows your page to land on the “recommended” feed for potential audiences.
On a reach perspective, this is possibly one the key components to allow more exposure. Naturally, you’ll want to scout other specialists in the same niche to see what hashtags are used. Do keep in mind that if the hashtag is too common, it might get lost in the crowd, but going for something too niche may also make it hard to reach audiences, as the algorithm needs to know where your page should land.
Read Monetising Your Blog
Consistency Is Key
Posting frequently is the other component that affects your reach as a content creator. Ensuring that your posts are uploaded at high-traffic times will be the way to go so that you can cast your net wide to attract as many eyes as possible during the day. Posting twice a day is good as it tackles the two time slots with peak user activity while avoiding bombardment of content.
Ultimately, finding the perfect balance of hashtags, a relatable bio, perfect edits and other factors is a daunting task and is extremely difficult to get right. Instead of setting your eyes on getting viral and tracking your numbers constantly, the best way is to post frequently about things you enjoy with the aforementioned tips in mind - if done so, there’s a good chance people will start to see the authenticity behind each post.
Read Tips and Tricks to Increase YouTube Subscribers organically
Apple signals return of right-wing 'free speech' app Parler
Apple said it has reached an agreement with the right-wing social app Parler that could lead to its reinstatement in the company’s app store. Apple kicked out Parler in January over ties to the deadly Jan. 6 siege on the U.S. Capitol.
In a letter to two Republican lawmakers in Congress, Apple said it has been in “ substantial conversations ” with Parler over how the company plans to moderate content on its network. Before its removal from the app store, Parler was a hotbed of hate speech, Nazi imagery, calls for violence (including violence against specific people) and conspiracy theories.
Apple declined to comment beyond the letter, which didn’t provide details on how Parler plans to moderate such content. In the letter, Apple said Parlor’s proposed changes would lead to approval of the app.
Also read: Judge says Amazon won’t have to restore Parler web service
Parler said it has implemented “several new safeguards” designed to detect posts that “would not fall within the protections of the First Amendment,” but added that it did not make broad policy changes.
“While the App Store version of Parler will prohibit some posts that Parler allows, those posts will still remain visible on the web-based and Android versions of Parler,” the company said in a statement.
The First Amendment does not apply to private companies such as Parler — it prohibits the government from making laws that impede free speech. But this has not stopped people from claiming that social media companies violate their free speech rights by moderating content, or from “free speech” apps such as Parler from popping up to fill a perceived void of “censorship-free” discussion sites.
As of midday Monday, Parler was not yet available in the app store and Apple did not give a timeline for when it will be reinstated. According to Apple’s letter, Parler proposed changes to its app and how it moderates content. Apple said the updated app incorporating those changes should be available as soon as Parler releases it.
Also read: Apple CEO escalates battle with Facebook over online privacy
Google also banned Parler from its Google Play store in January, but Parler remains available for Android phones through third-party app stores. Apple’s closed app system means apps are only available through Apple’s own app store. On Monday, Google reiterated its January statement that “Parler is welcome back in the Play store once it submits an app that complies with our policies.”
So far, this has not happened.
Parler remains banned from Amazon’s Web Services. Amazon said in January that Parler was unable to moderate a rise in violent content before, during and after the insurrection. Parler asked a federal judge in Seattle to force Amazon to reinstate it on the web. That effort failed, and the companies are still fighting in court.
Republican political donor Rebekah Mercer has confirmed she helped bankroll Parler and has emerged in recent months as the network’s shadow executive after its founder John Matze was ousted as CEO in February.
Imo brings end-to-end encrypted 'SecretChat' feature
Instant messaging app imo has introduced a new "SecretChat" feature with end-to-end encryption to protect users' data.
The new feature will enable users to connect and communicate more securely on imo. It comes with facilities such as message self-destructing after the session and dissemination control, which means the entire conversation will be wiped out instantly after exiting the chat session, thus ensuring no trace of the conversation.
The secret chat feature is available in the attachment bar of the chat interface with a specific contact.
Read India unveils WhatsApp alternative, Sandes
Chat sessions of the users will be protected through end-to-end encryption.
The most important aspect of this new feature is the dissemination control functions. Under this function, no one can copy, forward, share, download, screenshot, or record any private chat conversations. This feature will enable imo users to communicate with greater confidence and security when sharing their private matters.
To ensure an enhanced security experience for the users, imo has rolled out a series of security measures over the last few months.
Read Top WhatsApp Alternatives for Free Calling and Group Chatting
In December 2020, the global instant communication platform introduced a new enhanced phone number verification system for Bangladeshi users to protect user information, especially when the user is switching numbers.
This verification system does not allow the old phone number to access the associated imo account. So, the relevant data remains intact and secure.
Around 150 million free calls, videos, and pictures are exchanged using imo every day in Bangladesh, said the platform.
Read A clear Signal that Indians are increasingly shunning WhatsApp?
Apart from that, 96 billion messages and 26 billion audio and video calls were made by Bangladeshi imo users in 2020, it added.
Muslim civil rights group sues Facebook over hate speech
A civil rights group is suing Facebook and its executives, saying CEO Mark Zuckerberg made “false and deceptive” statements to Congress when he said the giant social network removes hate speech and other material that violates its rules.
The lawsuit, filed by Muslim Advocates in Washington, D.C., Superior Court on Thursday, claims Zuckerberg and other senior executives “have engaged in a coordinated campaign to convince the public, elected representatives, federal officials, and non-profit leaders in the nation’s capital that Facebook is a safe product.”
Also read:Facebook acknowledges a bug that blocked coronavirus news
Facebook, the lawsuit alleges, has been repeatedly alerted to hate speech and calls to violence on its platform and done nothing or very little. Making false and deceptive statements about removing hateful and harmful content violates the District of Columbia’s consumer-protection law and its bar on fraud, the lawsuit says.
“Every day, ordinary people are bombarded with harmful content in violation of Facebook’s own policies on hate speech, bullying, harassment, dangerous organizations, and violence,” the lawsuit says. “Hateful, anti-Muslim attacks are especially pervasive on Facebook.”
In a statement, Facebook said it does not allow hate speech on its platform and said it regularly works with “experts, non-profits, and stakeholders to help make sure Facebook is a safe place for everyone, recognizing anti-Muslim rhetoric can take different forms.
The company based in Menlo Park, California, said it has invested in artificial intelligence technologies aimed at removing hate speech and proactively detects 97% of what it removes.
Facebook declined to comment beyond the statement, which did not address the lawsuit’s allegations that it has not removed hate speech and anti-Muslim networks from its platform even after it was notified of their existence.
Also read: US govt, states sue Facebook for 'predatory' conduct
For example, the lawsuit cites research by Elon University professor Megan Squire, who published research about anti-Muslim groups on Facebook and alerted the company. According to the lawsuit, Facebook did not remove the groups — but it did change how outside academics can access its platform so that the kind of research Squire did would be “impossible other than if done by Facebook employees.”
Facebook’s hate speech policy prohibits targeting a person or group with “dehumanizing speech or imagery,” calls for violence, references to subhumanity and inferiority as well as generalizations that state inferiority. The policy applies to attacks on the basis of race, religion, national origin, disability, religious affiliation, caste, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity and serious disease.
But in one example from April 25, 2018, Squire reported to Facebook a group called “Purge Worldwide,” according to the lawsuit. The group’s description reads: “This is an anti Islamic group A Place to share information about what is happening in your part of the world.”
Facebook responded that it would not remove the group or the content. The lawsuit cites other examples of groups with names like “Death to Murdering Islamic Muslim Cult Members” and “Filth of Islam” that Facebook did not remove despite being notified, even though Facebook policy prohibits “reference or comparison to filth” on the basis of religion. In the latter case Facebook did remove some posts from the group, but not the group itself.
The lawsuit also cites an exception Facebook made to its policy for former President Donald Trump, for whom Facebook made an exception to its rules when he posted as a candidate in 2016 about banning all Muslims from entering the U.S.
Zuckerberg and other social media executives have repeatedly testified before Congress about how they combat extremism, hate and misinformation on their platforms. Zuckerberg told the House Energy and Commerce Committee that the issue is “nuanced.”
“Any system can make mistakes” in moderating harmful material, he said.
The plaintiffs seek a jury trial and damages of $1,500 per violation.
Supreme Court sides with Facebook in text message dispute
The Supreme Court on Thursday sided with Facebook in a lawsuit over unwanted text notifications it sent, rejecting a claim that the messages violated the federal ban on robocalls.
The high court’s ruling for the Menlo Park, California-based social media giant was unanimous.
Democratic lawmakers and consumer groups said the court opened a gaping hole in the law, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, that would subject anyone with a cellphone to endless automated calls and messages.
The case was brought by a man who received text messages from Facebook notifying him that an attempt had been made to log in to his account from a new device or browser. The man, Noah Duguid, said he never had a Facebook account and never gave Facebook his phone number. When he was unable to stop the notifications, he filed a class action lawsuit.
Also read:Facebook says it will pay $1B over 3 years to news industry
The 1991 consumer law bars abusive telemarketing practices. The law restricts calls made using an “automatic telephone dialing system,” a device that can “store or produce telephone numbers to be called, using a random or sequential number generator” and then call that number.
The question for the court was whether the law covers equipment that can store and dial telephone numbers even if the equipment does not use a random or sequential number generator.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote for the court that it does not.
Facebook spokesman Andy Stone said in an emailed statement, “As the Court recognized, the law’s provisions were never intended to prohibit companies from sending targeted security notifications and the court’s decision will allow companies to continue working to keep the accounts of their users safe.”
But Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., and Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., said in a joint statement that the court ignored Congress’ intent when it passed the law and now will allow “companies the ability to assault the public with a non-stop wave of unwanted calls and texts, around the clock.”
The lawmakers said they would introduce legislation to expressly prohibit Facebook’s practice.
“If the Justices find their private mobile phones ringing non-stop from now until our legislation becomes law, they’ll only have themselves to blame,” Markey and Eshoo said.
Facebook had argued the lawsuit should be dismissed because Duguid had not claimed Facebook was sending messages that were randomly generated. Facebook said it sends targeted, individualized texts to numbers linked to specific accounts. A trial court agreed, but an appeals court reversed that decision.
Also read:Facebook acknowledges a bug that blocked coronavirus news
Facebook said it was possible Duguid’s cellphone number previously belonged to a Facebook user who opted to receive login notifications.
The case is Facebook v. Duguid, 19-511.