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  • Revolution in Digital Age Verification: Child Safety Advances Amid Global Social Media Clampdown

    Revolution in Digital Age Verification: Child Safety Advances Amid Global Social Media Clampdown

    In recent years, technology firms have been reluctant to constrict minors’ access to their platforms, citing technical constraints, practicality issues, overreach, and security threats. However, an increasing number of governments are now viewing these challenges as surmountable and are moving forward with stringent new age-verification requirements for social media networks, AI chatbots, and adult content providers alike.

    Global Regulatory Shifts

    Following Australia’s notable prohibition on adolescent social media accounts three months ago, regulatory bodies across Europe, Brazil, and several U.S. states are seeking to replicate the move. High-profile political figures such as California Governor Gavin Newsom and former President Donald Trump have also reportedly shown interest in implementing age restrictions.

    The driving forces behind these regulatory changes are mounting anxieties over online abuse and adolescent mental health issues, recent outrage over AI-generated explicit images of children, and a growing faith in the potential of ‘age assurance’ software. Such software can estimate an individual’s age based on facial analysis, parental permission, ID checks, and other digital hints.

    Technological Advancements and the Age Assurance Market

    Recent strides in artificial intelligence have enhanced the efficiency and reduced the cost of age-verification tools. Social media enterprises can now often accurately determine a user’s age group using digital indicators such as the account creation date and the type of content viewed. Meanwhile, an emerging industry of age-verification vendors offers added layers of checks through automated tools like facial scans and machine-based analysis of government IDs.

    App store platforms like Apple and Google have also introduced tools that enable parents to communicate their child’s age range to app developers. This overall improvement in technology and the resultant drop in verification costs have expanded the scope of its application.

    Cost and Effectiveness of Age Verification

    Age-verification vendors usually charge less than a dollar per check for basic machine-only age-assurance tools. Traditional methods that were standard a decade ago, such as human confirmation and triangulation of personal data, are still available at a premium but are needed less frequently. Furthermore, independent evaluations show progress in the accuracy and precision of these tools.

    For example, face-scanning software was off in age estimations by an average of 4.1 years in 2014, while by 2024, this average has dropped to 2.5 years. The latest models from vendors like Yoti and Persona boast of an average error of less than two years for the age range of 13 to 18.

    Challenges and Limitations

    Despite these advancements, there are still limitations. The systems face difficulties with certain skin tones and older phones. Also, they might fail to catch attempts by youngsters to appear older than they are. However, executives believe that facial age estimation can offer a digital equivalent of offline age screening.

    Adding to this, social media services generally require fewer facial scans and ID checks than adult content or gambling sites due to the abundance of personal information they have on users. This allows them to depend more on an age-verification method called ‘inference’.

    Early Implementation Results

    While it’s too early to assess the full impact of Australia’s teen ban, preliminary results are promising. According to Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, companies have blocked 4.7 million suspected underage accounts since the law came into effect. Regulators in other countries are closely monitoring these developments as they consider implementing similar measures.

    Questions & Answers

    What are some of the driving forces behind the implementation of age verification measures?
    Concerns over online abuse, adolescent mental health issues, and the spread of AI-generated explicit child images have all contributed to the push for stricter age verification measures.

    How have technological advancements influenced the age assurance market?
    Advancements in artificial intelligence have improved the efficiency and lowered the cost of age-verification tools. This has broadened the scope of their application beyond high-value transactions.

    What limitations do current age-verification systems face?
    Current age-verification systems can struggle with certain skin tones and older phones. They may also fail to catch attempts by youngsters to appear older than they are. These challenges highlight the need for ongoing refinement and improvement in this technology.

  • Tiffany Chen Takes the Helm at Coles 360: A New Era of Retail Media Innovation Begins

    Tiffany Chen Takes the Helm at Coles 360: A New Era of Retail Media Innovation Begins

    Tiffany Chen has recently been named General Manager for Coles 360, ushering in a fresh period for the retail media arm of Coles Group.

    Tiffany Chen’s Appointment

    The new appointment comes along with Coles 360’s transition into its next developmental phase. Michael Courtney, the Chief Customer Experience Officer at Coles, expressed his faith in Chen’s retail media expertise and its potential to guide the business’s future path. Chen’s extensive international experience and nuanced understanding of both Coles and the Australian retail media market, according to Courtney, equips her to spearhead the next phase of the enterprise and bolster the outcomes for the supplier partners of Coles 360 starting this year.

    Courtney emphasized Coles 360’s clear vision, which is to establish a gold standard for retail media performance in Australia. He voiced his confidence in Chen’s leadership skills, coupled with the existing momentum, to elevate their network to unforeseen heights.

    Chen’s Role and Past Experience

    As Coles 360 embarks on a series of enhancements, including amplified reporting and measurement, scalable performance capabilities, and the burgeoning of advertising offerings, Chen steps in. Her experience spans a decade of work with McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm. As a founding member of the company’s Retail Media Network practice, Chen has supported numerous businesses in the development and global scaling of their retail media networks.

    Chen expressed optimism in Coles 360’s position to generate new opportunities for partners and design more effective strategies to engage customers as the new year commences. She expressed her enthusiasm towards expanding upon the already robust foundations and contributing to the next chapter of retail media innovation.

    Impact on Coles Group

    Coles 360 continues to be a significant contributor to the growth of Coles Group, yielding measurable brand and performance results for supplier partners. Coles Group has also recently announced additional developments, including acquiring site leases with the approval of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

    Questions & Answers

    What is the vision for Coles 360 under Tiffany Chen’s leadership?
    The vision for Coles 360 is to set the benchmark for retail media performance in Australia. Chen’s international experience and understanding of Coles and the Australian retail media market are expected to guide the business’s future direction.

    What improvements does Coles 360 plan to undertake?
    Coles 360 plans on a series of enhancements, which include amplified reporting and measurement, scalable performance capabilities, and the development of advertising offerings.

    What role did Tiffany Chen play at McKinsey & Company before joining Coles 360?
    Before joining Coles 360, Chen was a founding member of McKinsey & Company’s Retail Media Network practice, where she supported businesses in building and scaling their retail media networks globally.

  • Malaysia Amplifies Youth Online Safety: Social Media Age Limit Raised to 16 with Mandatory ID Checks from 2026

    Malaysia Amplifies Youth Online Safety: Social Media Age Limit Raised to 16 with Mandatory ID Checks from 2026

    Starting from 2026, Malaysia has decided to raise the age restriction for social media registration to 16 years old. This decision was announced at a recent cyber scam awareness seminar, led by Minister of Communications, Datuk Fahmi Fadzil. The Malaysian government has expressed its commitment to safeguarding children online, and these steps are part of that pledge.

    Identity Verification and Age Restrictions

    Social media platforms will be required to put identity verification measures into place. The aim is to ensure that young users meet the revised age limit. Datuk Fahmi Fadzil explained that a similar regulation has already been planned for implementation in Australia, and that Malaysia will study and learn from the implementation strategies of other countries to develop the most effective practices.

    This initiative is part of an overarching plan to safeguard Malaysian children online. This plan will become law with the Online Safety Act, which will be effective from January 1, 2026.

    Guidance for Parents

    Parents have been encouraged to promote outdoor activities for their children and to monitor their usage of electronic devices closely, in order to reduce screen time. The intention is to cultivate healthier habits in children and to prevent them from becoming overly reliant on digital media.

    Addressing Social Media Use in Schools

    Last month, the Malaysian Cabinet proposed an increase in the minimum age for social media users to 16, a change from the previously suggested age of 13. In order to ensure this, social media platforms will need to verify the ages of users during registration using official identification documents such as MyKad, passports, and MyDigital ID.

    Furthermore, the Cabinet reviewed the idea of establishing a special task force to identify and address issues that schools across the country might be encountering due to the use of social media among students. In line with these discussions, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has disclosed that the Cabinet is also considering imposing a ban on smartphone usage for individuals below the age of 16.

    Questions & Answers

    Q: What changes are being made to social media registration in Malaysia?
    A: From 2026, the minimum age for social media registration in Malaysia is being raised to 16 years. Social media platforms will also be required to implement identity verification measures during registration.

    Q: What is the purpose of these changes?
    A: These changes are part of the Malaysian Government’s plan to protect children online. The measures are intended to ensure that young users meet the age requirement for social media usage.

    Q: What else is the Malaysian government considering to protect children online?
    A: In addition to the changes in social media registration, the Malaysian government is considering the establishment of a task force to address issues arising in schools due to students’ use of social media. There are also discussions about potentially banning smartphone usage for those under 16 years old.

  • Meta Triumphs in FTC Monopoly Lawsuit: Federal Judge Rules in Favor of Social Media Giant

    Meta Triumphs in FTC Monopoly Lawsuit: Federal Judge Rules in Favor of Social Media Giant

    In a significant legal triumph, technology giant Meta saw a favorable ruling from a federal judge in a lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The lawsuit pertained to Meta’s acquisitions of Instagram in 2012 for $1 billion and WhatsApp in 2014 for $21 billion, comprising cash and Meta (formerly Facebook) stock. The final purchase price for WhatsApp had initially been $19 billion, but a surge in the Meta shares propelled it up to $21 billion.

    Monopoly or Fair Competition?

    The FTC’s contention was that Meta, which changed its brand name from Facebook in 2021, acquired these two prominent social media platforms to eliminate competition. The regulatory body viewed these acquisitions as possible infringements of anti-trust legislation. The seven-week trial witnessed the testimony from Meta’s founder, chairman, and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, who posited that Meta faces stiff competition from other platforms such as YouTube and TikTok.

    These statements managed to draw the attention of Federal Judge James Boasberg, who in his ruling pointed out that YouTube and TikTok prevent Meta from monopolizing social media. He also highlighted that the dynamics of the social media market have transformed significantly since the FTC’s lawsuit was filed, with AI being the most notable shift. The judge argued that AI-generated content nullifies the FTC’s concerns, concluding that Meta does not hold a monopoly in the relevant market.

    Meta’s Market Share and Competition

    Judge Boasberg’s ruling stated that Meta’s apps only account for a “modest share” of the overall time spent on social media, which includes platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube. The judge noted that this share is on a downward trend, and even excluding YouTube’s share, Meta would not constitute a monopoly. Boasberg’s ruling also acknowledged that TikTok, considered by Meta as its primary competitor, managed to penetrate the market a mere seven years ago and has been dominating the sector ever since.

    Reacting to the decision, Jennifer Newstead, Meta’s Chief Legal Officer, emphasized the beneficial nature of their products for people and businesses, and their embodiment of American innovation and economic growth. She expressed eagerness to continue collaborating with the Administration and to contribute to the country’s investment landscape.

    Instagram Acquisition and Market Valuation

    Meta’s acquisition of Instagram could be regarded as one of the most profitable tech deals in history. Instagram’s current estimated valuation ranges from $441 billion to $538 billion. Initially known for its ephemeral messages, Instagram gained user traction when people began using it to share photos of their meals. Instagram’s popularity soared when it incorporated the ‘Stories’ feature from Snapchat.

    Significance of Instagram and WhatsApp for Meta

    Meta argued during the trial that a forced breakup would have been catastrophic for the company. Instagram generates ad revenue for Meta, while WhatsApp provides business subscribers and enhances Meta’s international reputation. Zuckerberg also admitted that Facebook, the company’s flagship platform, is losing popularity. Meta’s argument that regulators had already approved the Instagram and WhatsApp acquisitions when initially proposed was also a crucial point in their defense.

    The Broader Tech Industry Implications

    This victory has considerable implications not only for Meta but also for the larger tech industry, as U.S. regulators have attempted to dismantle Google. The tech behemoth has been deemed a monopoly in two cases, one concerning the company’s search engine and the other its online advertising business. Other tech firms such as Apple and Amazon are also facing scrutiny from the government.

    Questions & Answers

    Why did the FTC sue Meta over its acquisition of Instagram and WhatsApp?
    The FTC claimed that Meta’s acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp were attempts to eliminate competition, which they viewed as a violation of anti-trust laws.

    What was Judge James Boasberg’s ruling on the case?
    Judge Boasberg ruled that Meta did not hold a monopoly in the relevant market. He noted that other platforms, such as YouTube and TikTok, prevent Meta from monopolizing social media.

    What is the significance of this ruling for the larger tech industry?
    This ruling is significant not just for Meta, but for the broader tech industry. With U.S. regulators attempting to dismantle other tech giants like Google, Apple, and Amazon, this victory could set a precedent for upcoming cases.

  • Malaysia and Timor-Leste Amplify Alliance in Telecommunication & Media Through Landmark MoUs

    Malaysia and Timor-Leste Amplify Alliance in Telecommunication & Media Through Landmark MoUs

    Malaysia and Timor-Leste have taken significant strides in bolstering their collaboration in telecommunications and media. This progress is marked by the endorsement of two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), which highlight their joint dedication to enhancing regional interconnectedness and collaboration.

    The MoUs were endorsed by a host of key figures from both nations. From Malaysia, it was Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, and from Timor-Leste, Transport and Communications Minister Miguel Marques Gonçalves Manetelu and State Secretary for Social Communication Expedito Loro Dias Ximenes.

    A Milestone in Bilateral Relations

    In a joint proclamation, the Communications Ministry of Malaysia, Transport and Communications Ministry of Timor-Leste, and the State Secretariat for Social Communication hailed the agreements as a landmark in bilateral ties. They serve as a testament to the enduring friendship and mutual faith between the two nations. This relationship has been strong since Malaysia was one of the first countries to acknowledge Timor-Leste’s independence in 2002.

    The statement further highlighted that both countries reaffirmed their mutual commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation and fostering closer people-to-people connections. The two nations also expressed excitement at the prospect of collaborating in creating a more interconnected, robust, and forward-thinking Southeast Asian region.

    Memorandums of Understanding

    The first MoU, which focuses on telecommunications cooperation, outlines the intention of both countries to fortify their telecom infrastructure, improve digital connectivity, and share technical expertise. The agreement’s overall objective is to fuel mutual growth in telecommunications to support sustainable progress and digital inclusion.

    The second MoU, which emphasizes information and media development, encourages professional collaboration between the media sectors of both countries. This includes initiatives for exchanging information, sharing news, and implementing capacity-building programs for media practitioners.

    Questions & Answers

    What are the key objectives of the MoUs between Malaysia and Timor-Leste?
    The agreements aim to strengthen telecommunications infrastructure, enhance digital connectivity, promote professional collaboration between media sectors, and foster closer people-to-people ties between the two countries.

    Who were the key figures involved in the endorsement of the MoUs?
    The MoUs were signed by Malaysia’s Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, Timor-Leste’s Transport and Communications Minister Miguel Marques Gonçalves Manetelu, and State Secretary for Social Communication Expedito Loro Dias Ximenes.

    What is the significance of these agreements for the relationship between the two nations?
    These MoUs are seen as a milestone in bilateral relations between Malaysia and Timor-Leste, reflecting the long-standing friendship and mutual trust between the two countries. They also testify to the countries’ shared commitment to regional connectivity and cooperation.

  • Small Chinese Noodle Shop Sparks Debate with Eye-Popping $300 Bowl Price Tag

    Small Chinese Noodle Shop Sparks Debate with Eye-Popping $300 Bowl Price Tag

    In an unexpected culinary twist, a small eatery in Hangzhou is causing quite a stir with its lavish noodle dish priced at an eye-popping $300. This dish isn’t just a meal; it’s a spectacle that seems to rival the likes of Michelin-starred restaurants. Customers are eagerly taking to social media to share their experiences, with nearly a dozen of these extravagant bowls reportedly sold since their debut.

    What makes this luxurious bowl of noodles so special? Packed with a blend of premium ingredients, it features a generous assortment: 120g of onion, 130g of egg or 10g of fresh caviar, 270g of swamp eel, 400g of red prawn, and 210g of small abalone. For those wanting to indulge a bit more, guests can add 20g of tomatoes for an additional 20 yuan, just to keep it fresh.

    The eatery’s owner, known only by his surname Wu, defends the extravagant prices, arguing that they reflect a level of culinary skill that leaves typical noodle dishes in the dust. He assures patrons that his creations are neither oily nor limp, tapping into the fresh seafood sourced from a nearby market. With each bowl taking about 15 minutes to prepare, it’s clear there’s artistry at work.

    While Wu has captured the interest of curious diners, it’s the social media buzz created by food influencers that has really fueled this phenomenon. Some customers have even taken their bowls of luxury on the road, with one avid fan transporting the pricey dish back to Shanghai via high-speed rail. However, the public is divided; some express doubt regarding the dish’s worth. Observers have quipped that “the noodles will become mushy after traveling,” and others have likened it to dining experiences at luxury hotels. One witty commenter even speculated that the price must have been mistakenly listed in Japanese yen.

    Wu’s culinary journey is just as intriguing. Once a sales professional, he made a sharp career pivot to open his eatery in 2021. After parting ways with his initial chef, he took charge of the kitchen, showcasing his newfound passion for gastronomy. Interestingly, this isn’t the first time the establishment has turned heads; earlier in the year, the most expensive dish on the menu retailed for 558 yuan ($78), and just last year, diners could find a top dish costing as little as 68 yuan ($9.50).

    Legal expert He Shengting from Guangdong Guoding Law Firm weighed in on the controversy, stating that the restaurant is in the clear legally, as pricing and ingredients are transparently disclosed. He noted that any issues would only arise if the diner misrepresented its offerings, which is not the case here.

    Questions & Answers

    What unique ingredients contribute to the $300 noodle dish?
    The dish boasts a mix of luxurious ingredients, including swamp eel, red prawn, small abalone, and even fresh caviar, making it a feast for both the eyes and palate.

    How has social media influenced the popularity of this eatery?
    Food influencers sharing their experiences and reactions have significantly heightened the restaurant’s visibility, drawing both curious diners and skeptics alike.

    What sparked the dramatic price increase for the noodle dish from last year?
    The eatery’s owner, Wu, attributes the price increases to his culinary expertise and the high-quality, fresh ingredients sourced locally, as well as a broader strategy to position the restaurant in the upscale dining market.

  • TikTok’s legal battle against the U.S. ban heats up this September

    TikTok’s legal battle against the U.S. ban heats up this September

    The popular social media platform TikTok is gearing up for a major legal battle this fall that could determine its future in the United States. The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia has set a September date for oral arguments in two cases challenging a law that could potentially lead to a ban of the app.

    The legal challenges were triggered by a law that mandates ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to sell the app or face a ban due to national security concerns. TikTok, however, has been vocal in its opposition to this law, arguing that divesting from ByteDance is not feasible and that it has already taken steps to address the government’s concerns.

    Earlier this month, TikTok filed a lawsuit asserting that the law is unconstitutional. This move was echoed by a group of TikTok creators who are also challenging the law because it infringes upon their First Amendment rights, as a ban would prevent them from communicating on the platform. Engadget reported that TikTok is reportedly covering the legal fees for the creators in this case.

    Recognizing the urgency of the matter, the appeals court has decided to consolidate both cases and will hear the challenges in September, aligning with TikTok’s request for an expedited schedule. The outcome of this legal battle carries immense weight, as it will not only determine TikTok’s fate in the US but also set a precedent for future cases involving technology, national security, and freedom of speech. This could even lead to a review by the Supreme Court.

    The September showdown is shaping up to be a pivotal moment for TikTok, as the court’s decision will determine whether the app can continue to operate in the US under its current ownership structure. The case has attracted widespread attention due to the platform’s immense popularity and the potential impact a ban would have on its vast user base.

  • Snapchat doubles down on Family Center, adds new controls for parents

    Snapchat doubles down on Family Center, adds new controls for parents

    Introduced last year, Snapchat’s Family Center was one of Snap’s most important steps toward allowing parents to control the accounts of their offspring. Today, the social app announced more improvements are coming to Family Center, which includes additional controls for parents who aren’t content with what they received in 2022.

    Suggestively dubbed “Content Controls,” the latest feature for Family Center allows parents to limit the type of content their children can watch on Snapchat. Surprisingly, this wasn’t available when Family Center was launched last year, but at least the feature if finally here.

    Particularly, the newly added controls enable parents to filter out Stories from publishers and creators that they feel are not a good match for their kids. Either they’re creating sensitive, suggestive content or their views are in contradiction with what parents believe about a particular topic, it’s now possible to filter out Stories based on who creates them.

    Snap’s policies are designed to prevent “unvetted content from going viral,” so it’s harder for certain content you can find on TikTok or other social networks to share widely on Snapchat. Not to mention that Snap moderates public-facing content from creators and Snapchatters before it’s eligible to get reach on Stories or Spotlight.

    Of course, to take advantage of the latest feature for Family Center, you’ll need to have an account set up with your child. The Family Center account is free and can be created in just a few minutes.

    In related news, Snap revealed plans to add even more new features to the Family Center. Some of these upcoming features will be built around My AI, Snap’s experimental chatbot, and are meant to provide parents with more visibility and control around their children’s usage of My AI. Other new features might be in the pipeline too, but these are the only ones we know of so far.

  • Digital media startup raises another $2.7 mln

    Digital media startup raises another $2.7 mln

    Vietcetera, a digital media startup, raised $2.7 million in a pre-series A round last month after earlier raising $700,000 in March.

    The pre-series A round was attended by U.S. venture capital firm North Base Media, Indonesian investment company Go-Ventures and early-stage venture capital firm East Ventures, Philippine digital lifestyle network Summit Media, Japanese venture capital firms Genesia Ventures and Z Venture Corporation.

    Vietcetera plans to use the money to expand its content catalog by adding new shows and podcasts, and further developing its mobile app.

    In March, Genesia Ventures had led the seed funding round with an investment of $700,000.

    Established in 2016, Vietcetera produces content in Vietnamese and English, ranging from articles about business and stories about lifestyles to podcasts.

    Vietcetera said it has over 20 million users a month, mostly from Vietnam, of whom 60 percent are women. It also said it has witnessed “rapid audience and revenue growth” as users in Vietnam, especially from Gen Z (those born in 1996 or later), demand high-quality multimedia content.

    One of Vietcetera’s most viral content is a rap music video featuring former U.S. ambassador to Vietnam, David Kritenbrink. The video was released in February to welcome the Lunar New Year.

    According to a report by Google, Temasek Holdings Pte and Bain & Co, Vietnam’s digital media market is expected to surge to $7billion in 2025 from $3.3 billion in 2020, and its digital economy to $52 billion, including $29 billion from e-commerce, from $14 billion.

  • Twitter users can now report misleading tweets

    Twitter users can now report misleading tweets

    Twitter’s Twitter Safety account sprung to life on Tuesday to announce that starting yesterday, Twitter users in the U.S., South Korea, and Australia can flag a tweet as misleading. To do so, you need to click on “Report Tweet.” That can be found by tapping on the three-dot menu found to the right of the screen in the Twitter app.

    After tapping on “Report Tweet,” you’ll be asked to explain what is wrong with the tweet. You’ll select “It’s misleading.” You’ll then be asked if the misleading tweet is about one of three subjects: Politics, Health, or Something else.” When you pick one of the three, Twitter will ask you to take a deeper dive into the subject.

    For example, choose Politics and Twitter will ask you whether the tweet you find misleading contains Election information or Other political information. You will be able to report the tweet to Twitter and choose to unfollow, mute, or block the author of the tweet that you deem misleading.

    While the new feature is currently being tested, Twitter said that it might not respond and take action against all tweets reported as misleading. However, even if it doesn’t take action, reporting a tweet as misleading will help Twitter identify trends that are taking place on the social media app. “We’re assessing if this is an effective approach so we’re starting small,” Twitter wrote in a tweet. “We may not take action on and cannot respond to each report in the experiment, but your input will help us identify trends so that we can improve the speed and scale of our broader misinformation work.”

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  • Beyond Meat opens JD store, as Chinese remain wary of meat substitutes

    Beyond Meat opens JD store, as Chinese remain wary of meat substitutes

    Beyond Meat has launched an online store in China on e-commerce platform JD, as the plant-based meat maker aims to boost sales in the world’s biggest meat market, where consumer interest in meat alternatives is low.

    US-based Beyond Meat said the JD store will initially help expand the availability of its products in four major cities, including Beijing and Shanghai, and eventually in 300 cities across China.

    Its products are currently mainly available in China through its partnerships with Starbucks Corp, Yum China Holdings and Alibaba Group’s Freshippo markets.

    But expanding into the retail segment by selling on JD will help it reach a wider audience in the country, which is increasingly purchasing fresh food online.

    Online sales in China of fresh food, into which category Beyond Meat’s products fall, are expected to top US$46.4 billion this year, an increase of 18 percent from last year, according to consultancy iiMedia Research.

    Beyond Meat’s direct retail foray follows a similar move by Nestle in December, which launched a range of plant-based burgers, sausages, nuggets, and dishes suited to Chinese cooking.

    The push by global firms comes even as consumers in China are not exactly devouring plant-based meat.

    “Currently it is a solo dance by the manufacturers, the consumers are not joining the tango,” said Zhu Danpeng, an independent food industry analyst.

    A recent poll on Sina Weibo, China’s Twitter-like social media platform, found only 14 percent of 400 participants were willing to try plant-based meat.

    Chinese consumers are deterred by concerns over food safety as well as taste, said Zhu.

    Beyond Meat, which has set up its first manufacturing plant outside of the US in the eastern Chinese city of Jiaxing, near Shanghai, declined to comment on its sales in the market so far.

    A 454gm twin pack of plant-based beef will be sold at $32.50 on the company’s JD store. By comparison, 1kg of good quality domestic beef costs about $21.60 on JD’s fresh food platform.

    Beyond Meat is also adding Beyond Pork to its offering on JD, which has been created for the pork-loving Chinese market.

    It will also sell ingredients that are used in the cooking of local dishes such as stir-fry, dumplings, mapo tofu, zhajiang noodles and lion’s head meatballs to appeal to Chinese consumers.

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  • Instagram is getting an Exclusive Stories feature

    Instagram is getting an Exclusive Stories feature

    Instagram has been busy with a string of initiatives lately to boost its social media platform and capitalize on monetization techniques. The latest of these is a new “Exclusive Stories” feature, which was discovered by reverse engineer and full-stack Android developer Alessandro Paluzzi. The code Paluzzi found shows the layout of the future option to post paywalled content, much like Twitter’s upcoming Super Follows feature. This will allow certain Instagram users to deliver paid content to fans who are paying a regular fee for access to it.

    Although Instagram hasn’t made any official announcements regarding Exclusive Stories, they’ve acknowledged that it is something they’re working on after news of Paluzzi’s discovery spread. Public testing hasn’t started yet, nor have any details been released, as Instagram still seems to be preparing for an effective launch.

    Тhe leaked screenshots of the “Exclusive Stories” feature show an advanced stage of development, which means that it’s sure to arrive to the platform sometime in the near future.

    As per the screenshots, these paywalled posts will be set apart from regular stories by a marked purple color. And if you haven’t paid your dues to the creator yet, you will see a message across the story stating that “Only members of x can see this story.” Naturally, these exclusive stories will not be able to be screenshotted even by paid members.

    Creators of Exclusive Stories will be prompted to share their story as a Highlight as well, so that “fans always have something to see when they join.”

    There is currently no other information on Exclusive Stories circulating beyond this.

    Alessandro Paluzzi has also caught on to a “collectibles” NFT feature, the details around which are even less clear as of yet. Essentially, it’s another way to allow Instagram users to sell certain virtual goods (NFTs, or non-fungible tokens) in exchange for money, increasing Instagram’s revenue as well.

  • TikTok, seeking advertisers, reveals info about its subscribers and how they use the app

    TikTok, seeking advertisers, reveals info about its subscribers and how they use the app

    TikTok has been seeking more advertisers for the global and U.S. versions of the short-form video app. As a result, the company has been meeting with potential advertising partners while carrying a B2B pitch book for its TikTok for Business unit. As you might imagine, the pitch deck reveals information about TikTok designed to show off the large number of TikTok users that could be mined by advertisers.

    The pitch deck has leaked online revealing plenty of information about TikTok’s audience. As of October, TikTok’s own numbers show that it’s monthly active users (MAUs) worldwide amount to 732 million. In the U.S., the MAU figure is over 100 million.

    When you consider that those figures are six months old, the numbers are much higher-perhaps tens of millions higher globally. Thanks to a lawsuit filed against the government last year, we know that from the end of July 2020 to October 2020, the app gained approximately 14.3 million monthly active worldwide users each month. If this growth continues over the next 13 months, by May 2022 the app will have over one billion monthly active users globally.

    Some of the data that TikTok is pitching to advertisers should be able to convince them to put some money in TikTok’s till. 47% of users said that they have purchased something that they saw on TikTok in the past while 67% said that TikTok gave them the inspiration to go shopping even if they weren’t planning to do so.

    The pitch deck also revealed the app’s attractive demographics with 42% of active users between 18 and 24 years old. 17% are between 13 and 17 with 22% aged between 25 and 34, 12% between 34 and 44 and only 7% over the age of 45. TikTok users continually return to the app as the average user opens TikTok 19 times a day although it isn’t clear whether this number reflects the actions of global or U.S. users.

    And as of this past January, the average TikTok user views the app 89 minutes a day. 80% of users call TikTok “the most entertaining platform.” The pitch deck is supposed to make TikTok sound like the perfect place for advertisers to spend their money and based on the numbers, many of them will do so on the app.

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  • Twitter is working on an Undo button

    Twitter is working on an Undo button

    Judging by evidence spotted by reverse engineer Jane Wong, Twitter is working on a yet-unannounced Undo button. The feature will appear after the user sends a tweet. The point of the “Undo” button is probably to give the user the option to stop their tweet from posting shortly after hitting the Send button if a mistake has been made. This alleged feature could be the answer to the criticism Twitter has gathered for not having an edit button.

    Over the years there has been pressure on the social network from the Twitter community to add an edit button.

    Twitter’s new “Undo” button seems like a partial solution, as it shows the company is still on the offensive about the idea to edit tweets.

    The Undo Button isn’t the only new feature expected to come to Twitter. Recently, the network was spotted testing a Shop button that shows up in tweets including links to online stores, and earlier, the Super Follow feature was introduced, allowing people to charge for access to their tweets. We won’t be surprised if Twitter has more goodies to show us in the near future.

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  • Yeah1 suffers another year of loss

    Yeah1 suffers another year of loss

    Media company Yeah1 reported a post-tax loss of VND151 billion ($6.55 million) last year, its second straight year of losses, as it developed a new business.

    Amid the Covid-19 pandemic the company, one of the largest digital media ecosystems in Vietnam, decided to set up a new multi-channel trading platform, Giga1, which seeks to cut out intermediaries and deliver goods directly from manufacturers to customers.

    “In 2020, we spent a lot of resources on this ecosystem of consumption and retail, which led to higher spending and affected the company’s profits,” Nguyen Dang Quynh Anh, deputy director of Yeah1, said.

    Revenues fell by 16 percent last year to VND1.22 trillion. In March, its contract with YouTube was terminated due to a violation of policies.

    It began as an operational error but later “turned into a real crisis for the company,” chairman Nguyen Anh Nhuong Tong said.