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Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Monday, February 20, 2017
Sunday, February 19, 2017
YouTube to Ditch 30-Second Unskippable Ad Format in 2018
YouTube to Ditch 30-Second Unskippable Ad Format in 2018
Google has announced that it is planning to ditch the 30-second unskippable advertisement format on YouTube, which show up right before a video starts, from next year onwards. The company is reportedly looking at other formats to present ads that can work well for both advertisers and the viewers.
The search giant has decided to kill the 30-second unskippable ads in order to provide a better advertising experience to the online users, Google said in a statement to Campaign. "As part of that, we've decided to stop supporting 30-second unskippable ads as of 2018 and focus instead on formats that work well for both users and advertisers," Google spokesperson was quoted as saying in the Campaign report.
It is important to note that this statement doesn't mean that the company will move away from the unskippable ads format altogether.
Advertisements that are shorter than 30 seconds, including 20-second spots can be made unskippable, Campaign points out in its report. Users can expect
more six-second "bumper" ads, introduced last year in April, from the company going forward considering that it is moving away from the longer advertisement format.
It seems like YouTube has realised that the unskippable advertisements with long duration can often cause frustration among users and result in bad experience online. As it is a consumer-centric approach, it is definitely a welcome move. However, advertisers are unlikely to be pleased by the company's latest strategy. Considering that Facebook has recently focused heavily on videos and platforms like Snapchat are becoming hugely popular, YouTube might need to be on its toes to remain the preferred video-platform among users going ahead.
Friday, February 17, 2017
Xiaomi Redmi 5 Specifications, Image Leaked
Xiaomi Today reports that the Tenaa listing provide a glimpse at the Redmi 5 smartphone design and key specifications. The device is seen sporting a metal build with rounded edges, and a fingerprint sensor at the back. The camera is placed on the top edge with the flash sitting beside it, while the Xiaomi Redmi 4 had the camera placed top centre. Capacitive navigation buttons sit below the display in the front, while volume and power buttons sit on the right edge
as for the specifications, the Redmi 5 is tipped to feature a 5-inch display, and pack a 4000mAh battery. It is expected to support dual-SIM functionality, and the dimensions allegedly measure at 141.3x69.6x8.9mm. Apart from this, nothing else has been revealed about the device as of yet.
A few speculate that this could just be the Redmi 4X smartphone, as Xiaomi is known for releasing many variants of a device before unleashing the successor. The Redmi 4X will sit comfortably next to the recently released Redmi Note 4X in the Xiaomi portfolio. However, this is all just speculation and the upgraded design seen in the Tenaa listin means this could well be the Redmi 5 smartphone.
While other tech giants like Nokia, Samsung, and Motorola are gearing up for the MWC 2017, Xiaomi has decided to skip it entirely. This could be because of the delay in launch of the Xiaomi Mi 6 smartphone. Samsung Galaxy S8, which is also tipped to sport the latest Snapdragon 835 chipset, is set to be the first device to launch with the SoC. This means that other manufacturers have to either compromise with an older SoC or delay the launch of their devices.
Monday, February 13, 2017
Reliance Jio May Soon Give Users Mobile Numbers Starting With '6'
Reliance Jio
The latest entrant in the telecom industry, Reliance Jio has reportedly received permission to assign new users mobile numbers starting with the numeral '6'. The Department of Telecom (DoT) has given its nod towards operators issuing 6-series MSC (mobile switching code) codes for phone numbers, with Reliance Jio being the only one given this permission so far. However, Reliance Jio will give users mobile numbers starting with '6' in some circles at present, not all.
Telecom Talk reports that the DoT has issued 6-series MSC codes in Assam, Rajasthan, and Tamil Nadu. Reliance Jio reportedly got 60010-60019 MSC codes in Rajasthan, 60020-60029 MSC codes in Assam and 60030-60039 in Tamil Nadu. In Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, it received 7-series MSC codes, and in Kolkata and Maharashtra, it received 8-series MSC codes.
This means that Reliance Jio will effectively be able to offer new mobile numbers starting with '6' moving forward in the above mentioned states. The report states that this is done to meet the demand of more one million new subscribers. "In consideration to the request of service providers, the undersigned is directed to convey approval of competent authority Sr DDG (AS) for allotment of MSC Codes," the department said.
In the Indian telecom industry, operators have so far been allotted mobile numbers in 9, 8, and 7 series. Reliance Jio's entry, along with its free data and voice offers, gave birth to a large number of subscribers increasing demand by many folds. Mobile numbers that start with 9, 8, and 7 series are reportedly set to be exhausted soon. According to Telecom Regulatory Authority of India's recent data, Indian subscriber base grew by 21.02 million to cross 1.12 billion in November 2016. Most of the credit for this goes to Reliance Jio.
Reliance Jio reached 72.4 million subscribers as of December 31 since its commencement of operations on September 5. To recall, Reliance Jio had crossed the 50-million subscriber milestone in just 83 days since launch back - adding an average of 600,000 subscribers a day.Thursday, February 9, 2017
RBI, finally announces limit on cash withdrawal limit removed completely
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday has announced to remove the limit on cash withdrawal from savings bank accounts. This step of RBI has brought a major relief to the citizens of India. Notably, cash withdrawal limit will be removed in two stages. In the first stage, the weekly withdrawal limit will be increased to Rs 50,000 from the current Rs 24,000 from 20 February and then completely removed from 13 March.
RBI Governor said that it will establish a separate Enforcement Department to ensure compliance with the people’s safety in order to curb corruption. RBI governor talking on the GDP said that the expected growth is 6.9 percent for 2016-17 fiscal year ending in the month of March and expected growth for 2017-18 fiscal year will be around 7.4 percent.
Importantly, RBI maintained its key policy rate unchanged at 6.25 per cent. The reverse repo rate stood at 5.75 percent. Interestingly, this was against the consensus estimate of a 25 basis points cut given the easing inflation and rising concerns over a slowing economy. In the previous monetary policy also RBI kept the repo rate and reverse repo rate unchanged.
RBI sees the inflation number at 4 to 4.5 percent during the period of April-September. The MPC is of the view that the persistence of inflation excluding food and fuel prices could set a floor on further downward movements in headline inflation and trigger second order effects. Nevertheless, headline CPI inflation in quarter 4 of 2016-17 is likely to be below 5 percent.
GVA growth for 2016-17 is projected at 6.9 percent with risks evenly balanced around it. RBI believes growth is expected to recover sharply in 2017-18 on account of expected bounce back in demand after demonetization. The emphasis in the Union Budget for 2017-18 on stepping up capital expenditure, and boosting the rural economy and affordable housing should contribute to growth. Accordingly, GVA growth for 2017-18 is projected at 7.4 percent.
RBI said the current account deficit (CAD) is likely to remain muted and below 1 per cent of GDP in 2016-17. There will be no limit on cash withdrawal from March 13. RBI will also raise the withdrawal cap to Rs 50,000 a week from Rs 24,000 a week for savings accounts with effect from February 20.
Saturday, February 4, 2017
Reliance Jio Tariff plans comply with regulations,says TRAI
Reliance Jio Tariff Plans Comply With Regulations, Says TRAI
Reliance Jio got a boost on Thursday after telecom regulator TRAI said that the Jio tariff plans comply with its regulations and the current regime of tariff orders. This comes after Bharti Airtel and Idea Cellularmoved telecom tribunal TDSAT against TRAI for allowing Reliance Jio to extend its promotional free services Welcome Offer, which expired on December 31 2016, to March 31 2017 in the form of the new Happy New Year Offer.
TRAI is expected to communicate the statement of Reliance Jio plans complying with existing regulations to Airtel and Idea. The two had contended that Jio's free services should not be allowed to extend after the 90 day period. Jio's free calls, data and other services have led to a tariff war in the telecom sector, and rivals Vodafone and Idea are in talks for a merger.
"TRAI has examined the tariffs and has found that the [Reliance Jio] tariffs are in compliance with regulations and existing tariff orders," sources said.
The decision comes just days after the Attorney General communicated to TRAI that Reliance Jio tariff plans do not violate any existing regulation or order issued by the regulator, and therefore it should not intervene in the matter.
TRAI had asked for the Attorney General for views on Jio's free voice and data offering till March 2017, that rivals have termed "predatory."
Sources said during the hearing at TDSAT on Wednesday, TRAI counsel submitted that the regulator has already taken a decision on the issue, after which TDSAT directed TRAI to file its decision. The next date of hearing on the matter is February 6.
On December 20, 2016, TRAI had asked Reliance Jio to clarify as to "why the offer of free data under the promotional offer should not be treated as predatory" and also explain why its tariffs were not in violation of existing regulatory guidelines.
In its response, Jio had stated that its latest Happy New Year offer is substantially different from the Jio Welcome Offer - which commenced on September 5 - as in the initial offer, it had provided 4GB of free data per day, while in the new one, the same was capped at 1GB under Fair Usage Policy.
Also, Reliance Jio contended that in the first, there was no option of renewal or payment after the 4GB limit was exhausted, but in the fresh offering, one can recharge both data and the promised speed.
In terms of market dominance, Reliance Jio said it accounts for 6 percent market share in the country whereas the Competition Commission of India (CCI) norms specify 30 percent threshold to trigger the misuse of market dominance clause.
"The two tariff plans are not the same, in terms of data on offer and other aspects," TRAI sources said.
Thursday, February 2, 2017
Instagram Reportedly Testing Multi-Photo Album Uploads on the Android App
If you feel constrained by your inability to share multiple photos on Instagram in a single move, a new feature will soon make your vacation look beautiful in a single album.
According to a report in Droid Life on Thursday, Instagram is testing a new feature in the Android app that lets users share multiple photos from their smartphone's gallery as an album on the photo-sharing network.
Only advertisers are able to share multiple photos from their gallery currently which users can swipe through horizontally, but with the test, it looks like the feature may make its way to all 600 million Instagram uses soon.
"Users can select up to 10 photos from their galley, slap on filters to each photo they choose, then upload the photos as an album to your timeline. From your followers' perspective, they will see the album and can then slide through the various shots, liking photos as they go," the report noted. While users can select photos and apply filters, they cannot yet upload the entire album to their Instagram timelines.
So for, only limited users can see the feature on Instagram v10.7.0 for Android, the latest version of the app that's available from Google Play. The Facebook-owned company looks to be testing the feature with select Android users for now, as not everyone with the app can see it. It's probably a server-side update that may be enabled in a future version, or, in switched on for other users soon. Some users report that they are seeing the feature in the beta version of the Android app - there's no telling when iOS devices will get the new feature.
Do you see the new feature in the Instagram app for Android? Do let us know in the comments section below.
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
The view count on videos, which was first spotted by BuzzFeed's Dorsey Shaw, is now showing up for some people right next to the usual timer, as pointed out in a report by Mashable.
Twitter has reportedly started showing view count on videos for some users as the social network continues to experiment with video related features on its platform. Much like other social media platforms, Twitter has also been trying to figure out video features that are desired by its users so that it can stay relevant.
The view count on videos, which was first spotted by BuzzFeed's Dorsey Shaw, is now showing up for some people right next to the usual timer, as pointed out in a report by Mashable.
Photo Credit: Twitter/@dorseyshaw
"As video consumption continues to increase on Twitter, we are constantly experimenting with ways to provide a rich video experience," a Twitter spokesperson told Mashable via email. "View counts provide helpful context on the popularity of a video, and we are exploring this feature to help surface the best content," the spokesperson said.
With this test, it appears like Twitter will soon be ranking content on the basis of their popularity, possibly for its Explore tab, which was added with the aim to make it easier to find interesting content.
The spokesperson has also clarified that within this test the views will be counted as "[Media Rating Council]". This essentially means that the view will be counted by industry standard of "2 seconds consecutively in view at 50 percent visibility," Mashable said citing the spokesperson in its report.
It remains to be seen when this new feature will eventually be rolled out to everyone. Twitter recently started looping all videos posted on its website with duration less than 6.5 seconds after the conversion of Vine into a pared-down camera app.
OnePlus, Meizu Are Reportedly Cheating on Benchmark Scores
In a new development, OnePlus and Meizu have reportedly both been found to be artificially boosting their benchmark scores to fool critics and users. The OnePlus 3T and Meizu Pro 6 Plus were found to have been tweaked to show slightly higher scores than they deserve.
In the past, many OEMs including Samsung were reported to have cheated to elevate their benchmark scores. These unethical measures were lambasted, and Samsung rolled back the fraudulent practice after a major backlash.
XDA Developers claims to have uncovered that OnePlus was using cheats to achieve a higher score on benchmarks. Furthermore, the increase in score was minimal, and the need to indulge in fraudulent practices for such a little perquisite was questionable.
"OnePlus was making it CPU governor more aggressive, resulting in a practical artificial clock speed floor in Geekbench that wasn't there in the hidden Geekbench build. It wasn't based on the CPU workload, but rather on the app's package name, which the hidden build could fool," the report said.
When OnePlus was contacted, it swiftly promised to fix it in a future OxygenOS update. 'In order to give users a better user experience in resource intensive apps and games, especially graphically intensive ones, we implemented certain mechanisms in the community and Nougat builds to trigger the processor to run more aggressively. The trigger process for benchmarking apps will not be present in upcoming OxygenOS builds on the OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T," the company's spokesperson told XDA.
As for Meizu, XDA Developers found that Meizu Pro 6 Plus switched to 'Performance Mode' from its normal 'Standard Mode' whenever it sensed benchmark apps. It had further tweaked Performance Mode that be even more aggressive than usual when entering a benchmark app. The company has not reacted to XDA Developers' criticism.
This also gives a fair warning to all buyers to not take benchmark scores as the final word on a smartphone's performance. The only certain way to know how a device will perform is by using it for a while.
Google Allo No Longer Features in Top 500 Apps on Google Play
It seems like Google's experiment to simplify messaging and video chats with the release of its Allo and Duo apps is not going as well as the search giant would have hoped - Google Allo is not featuring even in top 500 apps on Google Play in the US currently.
On the basis of Google Play data provided by App Annie, it is clearly visible that Google Allo has dropped out of the top 500 apps several times in since November, with a sharp downward trend more evident in the last couple of weeks, Android Police pointed out in its report. You can see the times it has dropped off the chart as the blank spaces in the graph below, with yellow representing Communications app rank, red representing Applications rank, and blue representing overall rank.
Things aren't very different in India either - in the same period, Google Allo dropped off the top 500 charts in the first week of January, as you can see in the graph below.
Notably, Google introduced Hindi Assistant for India in December last year and Amit Fulay, Group Product Manager at Google, claimed at the time that the app had received tremendous response, especially in India, which he said had one of the highest number of Google Allo users.
Just two months ago, the text-messaging app was ranking consistently around top 200 apps but has seen almost a free-fall since mid-December, AP pointed out in its report.
Google recently added a new chatbot named Lucky to the Allo app that provides users with GIF images on the basis of their requirements. In order to get help from the chat bot, users need to simply type @lucky in the app followed by whatever phrase they want.
Considering that Google has been consistent with its updates to Allo since its launch, it comes across as a surprise that the app is failing to gain traction among Android users.
WhatsApp Sued for Sharing Data With Facebook by German Consumer Group
WhatsApp, the Facebook-owned messaging app, has been sued by a German consumer group for sharing data with the parent company. The Federation of German Consumer Organisations (Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband) also referred to as VZBV has asked for an injunction in a Berlin court against data sharing between WhatsApp and Facebook.
Notably, the suit challenges the transfer of data between Facebook and WhatsApp. "Our experts brought the misconduct to light. Now we'll meet in court. Be it Facebook, Google, Amazon or now WhatsApp: we target violations," said VZBV. The group has alleged WhatsApp transfers private data to Facebook without consumer approval.
Last year, WhatsApp made some changes in its terms of service after which it could start sharing the phone numbers of its users with Facebook. Though, users were able to opt out of the sharing. The move was seen as a subtle but significant shift for WhatsApp, which for long promised to protect the privacy of more than 1 billion users around the world.
ZDNet points out that despite users opting out, WhatsApp still exports the data to Facebook. It also claims that Facebook utilises the phone numbers from WhatsApp to improve its friend suggestion feature on the social platform.
According to Bloomberg, WhatsApp however defends itself and claims that the privacy policy and terms updates comply with the law.
The European Commission in December sent a Statement of Objections to Facebook alleging that it provided incorrect or misleading information during the Commission's 2014 investigation under the EU Merger Regulation of Facebook's planned acquisition of WhatsApp. The European Commission had earlier stressed that companies are required to give the Commission accurate information during merger investigations.
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Sunday, January 29, 2017
Saturday, January 28, 2017
Google Pixel 2 to Feature Improved Camera, SoC; Budget Pixel Also in the Works: Report
Google is reportedly working on its next-generation Pixel devices expected to be announced later this year. According to a new report, Google is again focusing on the camera on the Pixel 2 device and this year we may finally see an affordable Pixel smartphone from the company.
9to5google cites an unnamed person familiar with the matter to report that Google is also considering including the water resistance to its next Pixel smartphone. Though, the report adds that the feature is "still on the table" which indicates that the company is still considering and has not made its mind. Last year, Google confessed that the Pixel and Pixel XL were not water resistant as the company reportedly ran out of time.
The report says that the Pixel is being tested with improved processors from two manufacturers and will flaunt a higher price tag than the first Google Pixel devices. The Pixel 2 is being claimed to be tested with "some Snapdragon 83X chips, others with Intel chips." The report citing sources claim that Google is testing the new Pixel phones for low-light photography. To recall, Google last year claimed that the Pixel phones sport the best smartphone camera and the company seems to be working to further improve the feature.
It's worth noting that the new leak points to an early version of the alleged Pixel 2 and there might be alterations and other tweaks by the company when the devices are actually launched later this year.
The report further claims that Google is also testing a custom chipset for a test device. "Multiple test devices with different chipsets are being used now," the report adds.
Google Pixel phones, the first self-branded smartphones by the company, have shown consistent performance in the overall market. Morgan Stanley recently predicted that Google sold 3 million Pixel smartphones by end of 2016 and thus generating $2 billion in revenue. Last year, an analytics firm during Black Friday Sales claimed that the Google Pixel was more popular than the iPhone 7 when it came to activations over the weekend. In India, the Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones have been available with great discounts through e-commerce websites.
HP Recalls About 101,000 Laptop Batteries Due to Fire and Burn Hazards
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a fresh noticeinforming users that HP has recalled more than 100,000 lithium-ion batteries made by Panasonic used in its notebook computers. CPSC says that these batteries sold in a specific timeframe tend to overheat, and can pose 'fire and burn hazards'.
As a safety measure, HP has recalled specific batteries compatible with HP, Compaq, HP ProBook, HP Envy, Compaq Presario, and HP Pavilion laptops purchased between March 2013 and October 2016. The affected batteries feature bar codes starting with 6BZLU, 6CGFK, 6CGFQ, 6CZMB, 6DEMA, 6DEMH, 6DGAL, and 6EBVA - if you have any of these batteries, you should follow the company's recommended course of action. For immediate safety protocol, users with these laptops are asked to remove the battery from the laptop right away, and use the laptop by connecting to external power. Take the removed battery to the nearest service centre for more information on replacement. Furthermore, batteries sold as accessories or spares, or provided as replacements through support also need to be checked and replaced.
"Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled batteries, remove them from the notebook computers and contact HP for a free replacement battery," the company warns. As we mentioned, the company has also listed the affected battery bar codes of the above mentioned notebooks for a more structured recall.
An HP spokesperson further toldCNET, 'The problem affected less than 1 percent of the HP laptops sold during the time frame.' In June 2016, HP did its first recall for the same issue with as many as 41,000 lithium-ion batteries in the US, citing the same reason as above. At that point, HP had received seven reports of battery packs overheating, melting or charring, including four reports of property damage of about $4,000 total. The expanded recall issued this week as after it received one additional report, causing property damage worth roughly $1,000.
Of course, lithium-ion batteries overheating and catching fire is nothing new, and the general public was recently shown a harsh reminder with the infamous Samsung Galaxy Note 7 controversy, where several units of the smartphone exploded or caught fire due to faulty batteries. The incidents caused Samsung to recall over 2.5 million smartphones, and saw airlines and aviation authorities across the world ban the transport of the smartphone.Thursday, January 26, 2017
Hugo Barra Is Joining Facebook ‘To Lead All VR Efforts’, Says Zuckerberg
Xiaomi’s Global Vice President Hugo Barra, who said earlier this week he is leaving the Chinese company to head back to the Silicon Valley, is joining Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg announced via the social network on Wednesday.
“I’m excited that Hugo Barra is joining Facebook to lead all of our virtual reality efforts, including our Oculus team,” Zuckerberg said in his Facebook post.”
Hugo shares my belief that virtual and augmented reality will be the next major computing platform. They’ll enable us to experience completely new things and be more creative than ever before. Hugo is going to help build that future, and I’m looking forward to having him on our team,” he added.
Barra, who’s been the face of Xiaomi ever since he joined the company after leaving Google around three and a half years ago, announced his departure via Facebook earlier this week citing health and other personal reasons.
“What I’ve realized is that the last few years of living in such a singular environment have taken a huge toll on my life and started affecting my health.” Hugo Barra said, “My friends, what I consider to be my home, and my life are back in Silicon Valley, which is also much closer to my family. Seeing how much I’ve left behind these past few years, it is clear to me that the time has come to return.”
Before joining Xiaomi, Hugo Barra was the Vice President of Product Development for Android at Google.
Xiaomi Mi 5c Launch Pegged for February in New Leak; Won't Support Fast Charging
GizmoChina reports that five different xiomi models went through certification on the website, but the one with the model number MAE136 is expected to be the Xiaomi Mi 5c (aka Xiaomi Meri). The other model numbers that went through certification are 2105212, 2016089, 2016101, and MBE6A5.
The listing reveals that the model number MAE136 will use a 5V/2A power adapter, which means that the Xiaomi Mi 5c will not support fast charging. The smartphone is tipped to come with really narrow bezels, and a 5.5-inch full-HD display with 2.5D curved glass protection. The smartphone is expected to be powered by the company's in-house Pinecone processor paired with 3GB of RAM.
Furthermore, it should offer 64GB of inbuilt storage. The Xiaomi Mi 5c is pegged to sport a 12-megapixel rear camera and an 8-megpaixel front camera for selfies and video chats. It is expected to run on Android Marshmallow-based MIUI 8 out of the box.
After many delays, the launch is finally pegged to be around February. Xiaomi was heavily expected to launch the device in December, but that didn't happen, and we wouldn't recommend you to put your hopes up this time either. Live images of the device along with specifications have been tipped several times in the past, and we sure do hope that the Xiaomi Mi 5c sees the light of the day soon.Sunday, January 22, 2017
Is Mark Zuckerberg Getting Ready to Run for President?
As America changes presidents, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is doing something. This week, he did something in Texas: He went to his first rodeo. He wore a hard hat and a safety vest. He thanked police officers in Dallas for their hard work. He helped plant a community garden.
So what, exactly, is Mark Zuckerbergdoing? Well, even without a peep from the man confirming any interest in the job, some have started to believe that Zuckerberg is running for president.
The reason people think that is, well, because whatever it is that Zuckerberg is doing looks a lot like what presidential hopefuls do:
In this case, Zuckerberg was in Dallas to testify in a $2 billion (roughly Rs. 13,616 crores) lawsuit. The Facebook-owned Oculus VR company has been accused of corporate theft by ZeniMax - an accusation that Facebook has denied. But the chief executive managed to make the most of his trip on Facebook itself by looping it into an unrelated personal project.
Zuckerberg's New Year's resolution this year is to make sure that he has visited each of the 50 states by the end of the year. He has been to several already, (for instance: Hawaii, where he owns a house and is suing some of his neighbours), so the resolution will mean making sure he visits about 30 additional states by December.
"My work is about connecting the world and giving everyone a voice. I want to personally hear more of those voices this year," Zuckerberg wrote in his Facebook post explaining the resolution.
But that resolution wasn't the first thing Zuckerberg that sounded a bit presidential to some. Over the holidays, Zuckerberg said he no longer considers himself an atheist and that religion is "very important" to him. He also hired David Plouffe, President Barack Obama's former campaign chair, to work for the philanthropic organization that he and his wife, Priscilla Chan, created.
Once again, it is important to emphasize that while the above sure does make you go "hmm," Mark Zuckerberg has not said that he is running, or would like to run, for president.
One other reason that Zuckerberg might want to spend 2017 meeting Americans could have to do with, you know, Facebook. This year, the company was accused of having a bias against conservative news sources and topics in its trending topics bar. That accusation had a lasting impact on Facebook's reputation in conservative circles. And after the 2016 election, the company faced repeated interrogations from the media about its influential role in spreading fake news and hoaxes. As a result, Facebook announced changes designed to improve its ability to discourage the sharing of outright false information.
Zuckerberg's business model depends on its users believing that the platform is a newsworthy and trustworthy place where they might feel comfortable posting lots of things from their personal lives. Both perceptions have been threatened over the past year. Going out and talking to people, particularly those who have recently lost trust in the company, could be helpful PR for Zuckerberg - for reasons that have nothing to do with running for president.
With someone like Zuckerberg, it can be hard to separate signs of insatiable ambition from those pointing to a specific political goal. Take this passage from Nick Bilton, who outlined the case for at least thinking about the possibility that Zuckerberg might run over at Vanity Fair:
"If he does want the job, Zuckerberg definitely has the personality for it. When Facebook went public in 2012, I co-authored a profile of the young C.E.O. During the reporting, I heard from several friends about his penchant for playing world-conquering board and video games. Early childhood pals told me that one of Zuckerberg's favorite video games as a boy was Civilization, the game in which you have to "build an empire to stand the test of time." Others have told me that, to this day, Zuckerberg loves to play Risk, a strategy board game where you have to essentially take over the world."
Interesting. Except, my dudes, I too really love playing Civilization, and I would never want to run for president. Other things pointed to in that Vanity Fair story are more concrete - like the fact that a Facebook proxy statement from April said Zuckerberg could leave Facebook to serve in a government office but still keep control of his company. Hmm. (In a long statement about those changes in April, Zuckerberg said he was "committed to our mission and to leading Facebook there over the long term.")
Zuckerberg would be 36 by the time the 2020 election rolls around, which is one year over the minimum required age to be president (by contrast, incumbent President Donald Trump would be 74). But even if the rumors of a Zuckerberg run are true - which, again, is not something that has been confirmed in any way - Bilton says that the prevailing thought in Silicon Valley is that the still completely hypothetical Zuckerberg run for office would happen in 2024.
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