Rule #1 of X. Don’t piss off the Swifties

X's move to shut down searches is like trying to tame a wild beast, exposing the chaotic tech landscape where the line between mischief and harm gets blurrier every day.The last few days have tested as explicit photos deep fakes, of Taylor Swift go viral.

Xplicit photos

Swifites were pissed.

In response to the deepfake incident, X has temporarily blocked searches for Taylor Swift on its platform, aiming to curb the spread of ‘disgusting’ explicit content. Critics argue that this reactive measure highlights the ongoing challenge social media platforms face in addressing the proliferation of harmful AI-generated content.

Swift action is needed

The incident involving Taylor Swift adds to mounting concerns about X's content moderation practices, including a rise in hate speech since Elon Musk's ownership in 2022. As X grapples with these challenges, calls for more effective content moderation strategies and proactive approaches. Elon musk has vowed to hire a 100+ person team in the new ‘Trust and Safety’ center in Austin. The move follows criticism of Musk for reducing headcount in the platform's trust and safety operations.

The Infomercial Influencers

• TikTok's latest feature automatically identifies objects in videos and encourages viewers to "find similar items on TikTok Shop," effectively turning every video into a potential ad. This is known as its referral engine. While this presents lucrative opportunities for approved influencers and brands, it has also raised concerns about shitty dupes, fakes, and flipping cheap products with no oversight from the brand.

• But wait there’s more ... TikTok's e-commerce evolution has transformed the platform into a hub for pitching commerce, with the introduction of TikTok Shopping Ads. Content creators have legeraged their following for commissions on product purchases, TikTok is effectively turning its entire user base in a new wave of infomerical Influencers.

Time to BeReal

The Spontaneity Over Curation Platform is changing tactics after 10% of users are still active.

• Starting February 6, BeReal, a unique mobile app known for its unscripted and spontaneous angle, will include celebrities and brands with verified accounts. This move aims to showcase celebrities and brands in their ‘raw, unfiltered form’.

• Celebrities and brands on BeReal will have no special privileges; they will operate under the same rules as regular users.

• This includes; not being able to use filters, pre-plan posts, or schedule content. The goal is to maintain the app's authenticity and prevent the glamorization seen on other social media platforms.

• BeReal seeks to avoid curated content and retain a sense of immediacy, stripping the celebrity status and brands of their larger-than-life personas.

• BeReal's COO, Romain Salzman, criticizes platforms like Instagram and Twitter for perpetuating a culture of boasting, negatively impacting mental health, especially among teenagers. BeReal aims to combat this toxicity by promoting a more genuine and authentic moments in real live.