China’s online censors target short videos, artificial intelligence and ‘pessimism’ in latest crackdown

China’s online censors target short videos, artificial intelligence and ‘pessimism’ in latest crackdown

The country’s top censorship body has been running an annual online crackdown known as Qing Lang, which means clear and bright, since 2020. It said this year’s crackdown would benefit people’s mental health and create a healthy space for competition that would help the short video industry develop. The country’s best known short video platform …

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Here’s which apps teens spend the most time using

Here’s which apps teens spend the most time using

YouTube remains the most widely used online platform by U.S. teenagers, followed by TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram, according to a new survey by Pew Research Center.  Some 93 percent of teens between 13 and 17 years old said they use YouTube, while 63 percent said they use TikTok, 60 percent said they use Snapchat and …

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Mulch and the enduring appeal of internet absurdism

Mulch and the enduring appeal of internet absurdism

Image Credits: Austin Wilcox / Unsplash (modified by TechCrunch) (Image has been modified) I am haunted by mulch posts.  The most recent mulch video came to me in the middle of the night, when I was hours into scrolling through a particularly nasty bout of insomnia. The video was an edit of a tiny dog …

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Canadians can now buy tickets via Ticketmaster through TikTok

Canadians can now buy tickets via Ticketmaster through TikTok

TikTok’s Ticketmaster partnership, which first launched in the U.S. last year, is now rolling out in Canada. The platform is expanding the ticketing partnership in over 20 new markets. The integration allows Canadian users to buy tickets for live events directly from within TikTok. The feature also allows verified artists to promote their upcoming shows …

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Duolingo users ask the language app to ‘chill’ after it puts them on blast with ‘gaslighting’ rival to Spotify Wrapped

Duolingo users ask the language app to ‘chill’ after it puts them on blast with ‘gaslighting’ rival to Spotify Wrapped

DUOLINGO users have brilliantly fired back at the app – after it took a bold swipe at their reasons for using it. The language learning app recently delivered year-end wrap ups for its users, detailing how they had performed over the past 12 months. Duo, the mascot of language learning app, Duolingo has become notorious …

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TikTok ban in Montana blocked by US judge over free speech rights

TikTok ban in Montana blocked by US judge over free speech rights

Montana’s unprecedented state-wide ban of Chinese short-video app, TikTok, was supposed to take effect on January 1, 2024, but as reported by Reuters, US District Judge Donald Molloy issued a preliminary injunction just one month ahead to block said ban. This means that for now, ByteDance and app stores are allowed to continue serving TikTok …

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His comedy went viral on TikTok, he did a Netflix special and then broke Ticketmaster – Matt Rife on his sold-out world tour, social media and cancel culture

His comedy went viral on TikTok, he did a Netflix special and then broke Ticketmaster – Matt Rife on his sold-out world tour, social media and cancel culture

“It’s a blessing and a curse,” Rife says. “You’re used to the 11 years of not having any work at all, and nobody wanted to give you shows or would come to your shows. So obviously, when something like this happens, you say ‘Yes, yes, yes.’ For Rife, success was slow. Then he went viral …

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