Twitter is in trouble. It struggles with declining stocks, declining interest, better competition, and cyber bullying scandals. Furthermore, not even President Trump and the NFL can help. But more competition is here. They’re Twitch and Pulse. Twitch and Pulse: Does this equal Twitter’s doom?
So, Twitch is Amazon’s answer to Twitter. It’s a streaming site for the gaming community. In fact, top Twitch accounts have over a million followers per account. There’s no telling how many followers smaller accounts have. But yesterday, Twitch made an announcement. They introduced Pulse. What is Pulse?
With Pulse, you can keep up with all your followers. Hence, top Twitch streamers can keep up with their millions. They can do so with texts, links, pictures, emojis, and also videos. Pulse is even available on your Twitch smartphone app. So if you’re an account leader, you can share with them your gaming skills at anytime. Though Twitch made the announcement today, it will take a few weeks for Pulse’s debut. However, Twitch account leaders can moderate their accounts. They choose who their friends are, how many they can have, and they can delete comments. So trolls need not apply. When I look at what’s happening to Twitter, this is a good idea.
But you may say, “Twitch and Pulse are no threats to Twitter. Besides, Twitch and Pulse only caters to gamers.” Well, they’re expanding beyond the video game community. Twitch is catering to people who want to talk about real life issues, like food and drink. Twitter does that every day. Oh, Amazon owns Twitch and Pulse. And look at how Amazon is blowing up. In computer repair, from Boston to elsewhere, we love our games. Maybe you’ll see us on Pulse. Then, Twitch account leaders have power to control who gets in and who says what. There’s some control. As this continues, more people will choose Twitch. More people will follow accounts. And more people will probably leave the volatility of Twitter. Twitch and Pulse: Does this equal Twitter’s doom?
I wouldn’t say Facebook is in trouble. Obviously, it’s not. But it look like Facebook is in transition. They’re trying to shake off the ‘fake news‘ stigma. They also want to go into streaming TV. Facebook redefines itself: changes are coming.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg talked about making Facebook a safe and equal place for all. Zuckerburg wrote a 5,800 word essay about his vision for Facebook. ?He then delivered a slogan all in computer repair and IT support should take to heart. He said, “To give people the power to share and make the world more open and connected.” In fact, that’s what the company’s front page says.
So, some may say, “Facebook already does that. I connect with people I haven’t seen in years, or decades.” That’s true. But Zuckerberg points out problems with Facebook. One time, people ranked Facebook one of the most hated companies in America. Then came 2016. Users criticized Facebook for allowing false information and outright hoaxes during the most brutal election of my lifetime. To this day, some blame this kind of ‘fake news’ for Donald Trump’s election on November 8, 2016. In the months following, Zuckerberg vows to combat misinformation. In this essay, he talks about his concern for sensationalism.
That’s not the only thing that concerns Zuckerberg. He sees the world we’re living in. It seems like everywhere you go, people are going to the extreme. In fact, in yesterday’s press conference, President Donald Trump even made reference of ‘nuclear holocaust’. That’s a phrase I hoped would die out after the Cold War ended in 1989. But it’s back again. That alone tells you what era we’re in. Plus, social media gives extremists the tool to push social political ideas to the extreme. I don’t really how Facebook redefines itself. But it sounds like Zuckerberg wants Facebook to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. And that’s what we all need right now. How should Facebook redefines itself?
Did you know around three million Americans use a wheelchair? So sometimes, the IT support and IT service industry does well tending to their needs. Then, in other times, they fall way short. Google Maps is trying to change this.
Google Maps introduce a ‘wheelchair accessible entrance’ option. Also, it will be in the ‘Amenities’ section. So let’s say someone in a wheelchair goes to a restaurant. There’s wheelchair accessibility the user knows nothing about. Then, Google Maps will let them know.? Sounds great, right? Well, it’s a huge step in the right direction. But this feat is far from complete.
Consequently, this new feature isn’t available everywhere. In fact, it doesn’t even cover some major US cities. So you know it’s not available worldwide…yet. But pack the patience. Google Maps is getting there. As I write this, Google Maps is reaching out to locals everywhere to help them with locations. Let’s remember how Google Maps got started in the first place. We can thank Google employee Rio Asaka for this feat. You see, they insist their employees spend time on side projects. This was Asaka’s side project. But there is another complication.
Not all buildings are wheelchair friendly. I know that’s in contrast with the American Disabilities Act. But there are two things to note here. Many of these buildings existed way before this act came out. And another thing: since 1993, the rules are loose when it comes to wheelchair accessibility. And you can’t blame Google Maps for that. But I applaud them for taking a step in the right direction. I know the timing and waiting will be tedious. But let’s pack the patience. This project will take lots of work, time and research. Just about everybody in computer repair knows what’s that’s like. So yes, this is a tremendous feat. I hope Asaka gets a raise and a promotion for this. But my question is: What took so long?
President-Elect Donald Trump’s Twitter use is almost infamous. Yesterday, it happened again. So, this tweet was against an Indiana union leader who criticized his Carrier deal. But let’s take a closer look at the Twitter and Trump peculiar relationship.
First of all, let’s talk about the tweet itself. President-Elect Trump’s Carrier deal allegedly saved American jobs from going to Mexico. Also, much of his campaign focused on saving American jobs. But Indiana union leader Chuck Jones said the deal didn’t save that many America jobs. Hence, President-elect Trump lashed criticized Jones on Twitter. He said, “Chuck Jones, who is President of United Steelworkers 1999, has done a terrible job representing workers. No wonder companies flee [the] country.”
But there’s a debate here. Some say openly criticizing a man’s job skill, in front of millions, is inappropriate. Also, keep in mind Trump will be US President and leader of the free world starting January 20, 2017. Then, add some of the controversial things that came out during his campaign. Furthermore, add Twitter’s ‘zero tolerance’ on bullying and harassment. This came in the wake of the Leslie Jones case last summer. Several people lost their Twitter accounts in the following months. This includes several high profile people.
Personally, I don’t find this tweet to be bullying or harassing. Yes, it was a little embarrassing, especially for Chuck Jones. But this is nothing compared to some of the tweets Leslie Jones received. And tweets by the growing alt-right movement horrify me?. But most of them are banned now. However, that’s not what this is. This is the President-elect’s every move and communication on watch. This puts Dorsey in quite a position. In fact, Dorsey offers no comment when it comes to Trump’s account, except for, “It’s complicated”. Yes it is. It won’t get easier anytime soon. Trump’s Twitter account isn’t going away. Neither are the critics. What are they to do?
Friday, I talked about Black Friday deals and expectations. But in some ways, you guys proved me wrong. Black Friday online sales broke records. So did mobile sales.
According to Adobe report, Black Friday online sales made over $3 billion. It’s also a first time for mobile sales. They made over a billion dollars this Black Friday. This is a first. Online Black Friday sales grew 21.6% from last year. Also, mobile Black Friday sales grew 33% from last year. The retail winners were Amazon, eBay, Target and Walmart. For instance, Amazon sales of Thanksgiving Day 2016 did better than Cyber Monday 2015 sales. Walmart said over 70% of their sales came from mobile devices. Furthermore, Target said 60% of their sales came from mobile devices. This trend continued all weekend long.
In addition to that, here is something just as ironic. The majority of these mobile sales didn’t even come from smartphones. The majority of mobile sales came from laptop and tablets, while orders processed on desktop computers rose. Apple products processed slightly more sales than Android devices. So this year, orders from Apple averaged $144. While orders from Android devices came at $136 a pop. But the top selling electronics and tech gear included Apple iPads, LG TV’s, Microsoft Xbox’s, and anything VR technology.
Let me call the elephant in the room. I know the real reason online sales are breaking record. Furthermore, I don’t need an Adobe report to tell me either. People don’t want to deal with the turmoil and mayhem that’s called Black Friday. Year after year, the humanity unleashed at retail stores gets worse and worse. This year alone, several people were shot and two were killed during Black Friday altercations. Apparently, it’s spreading overseas. In South Africa, a riot broke out over toilet paper! That’s right; some toilet paper! No wonder why more people choose Small Business Saturday instead. No wonder more people are shopping online. What do you think Cyber Monday will be like?
Have you ever compromised freedoms in the name of business? Ever compromise principals in the name of business? I ask because even in the computer repair business, that can be a dilemma. But Facebook faces that dilemma today. Facebook caters to China…no matter what.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg wants China. He wants it bad. As a result, he visits China frequently. He has a great relationship with Chinese President Xi Jingping. Also, he’s cool with Chinese tech leaders. He’s even learning Mandarin Chinese. But these aren’t compromises. Here is compromise: they’re building software to block certain info from reaching Facebook pages. This is from anonymous Facebook employees. This software prevents certain content from going on Facebook feeds. Consequently, this breeds censorship. Let me be clear. Facebook itself isn’t blocking content in China. But they’re enabling it, assuming this becomes reality.
In addition, this comes from a company whose motto is, “To make the world open and connected”. But look at China’s relationship with social media. For years, China clashed with Google and Twitter over censorship. They forced LinkedIn to cave into their censorship demands. Furthermore, they made Uber pay extra just to serve in China. And they still censored Uber. Under Xi Jingping, online censorship tightened.
I can’t blame Zuckerberg for catering to China. Look at their power. Also, look at their potential. China has 1.4 billion people, and growing. Also, how many of these people have online access? Let me answer that: lots. Let’s say Facebook gets 20% of that pie. That equals 280 million people. That’s alone is 90% the entire US population. So from a business move, I understand it. But as a human being and freedom advocate, I don’t like it. I can’t condone any software that supports censorship. And why? Because Chinese President XI Jingping doesn’t like it? Don’t let one man, or a group of men, have this much power. If I were the Facebook CEO, I’d live up to my motto, no matter what. But I’m not the the Facebook CEO. If you were the Facebook CEO, what would you do?
