YouTube announced on Monday that it’s expanding video action campaigns (one of Google’s interactive ad types for video) to connected televisions (CTV) to make YouTube ads more shoppable. The company says this new move will help advertisers drive more online sales and grow their businesses. For context, when viewers see a video action campaign on […]
No-code mobile website builder Universe launches new themes, block features and more
Mobile website building platform Universe has launched a new update that brings advanced creative controls, enhanced themes, block features and more to its grid-based web builder. Universe allows users to create a custom site or open an e-commerce store directly from a mobile phone through a simplified grid system without the need for coding. The […]
TikTok bans viral ‘milk crate challenge’ over safety concerns
TikTok has banned the popular “milk crate challenge” from its platform due to concerns that users participating in the trend could be seriously injured. The challenge saw TikTok users stacking milk crates into a pyramid and then attempting to climb across the unstable structure. A spokesperson from the company told TechCrunch in an email that […]
Twitter experiencing widespread outages
Twitter users in Canada and parts of the U.S. appear to be having trouble accessing the social media platform on Friday morning. Reports from third-party web monitoring service Downdetector indicate the issue is impacting users across Canada and mainly the eastern parts of the U.S. near the Canadian border, though users from more states continue […]
Otter.ai expands automatic transcription assistant to Microsoft Teams, Google Meet and Cisco Webex
AI-powered voice transcription service Otter.ai is expanding its Otter Assistant feature for Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, and Cisco Webex. Otter.ai first released this feature for Zoom users earlier this year in May. With this new integration, Otter Assistant can now join and transcribe meetings on more platforms, even if the Otter user is not attending […]
Airbnb to allow anyone, not only current hosts, to sign up to house Afghan refugees
Airbnb announced on Thursday it will allow anyone with available space to sign up to provide housing for Afghan refugees. The new initiative aims to build upon Airbnb’s initial commitment to provide free temporary housing for 20,000 Afghan refugees. The company says existing Airbnb hosts and anyone else can sign up to provide free or […]
Netflix sets ‘Tudum,’ its first ever virtual global fan event, for September 25
Netflix has announced Tudum, a global virtual fan event set for September 25 that will showcase exclusive news and first looks at some of the streaming giant’s original content. Tudum, which is named after the sound users hear when they press play on Netflix, will feature stars and creators from over 70 Netflix series, films […]
OnlyFans ‘suspends’ decision to ban explicit content
OnlyFans has suspended its decision to ban sexually explicit content after it received widespread backlash over the planned policy change. Although Onlyfans was not created specifically for porn, the content has become the platform’s most visible use case. “Thank you to everyone for making your voices heard. We have secured assurances necessary to support our […]
Linktree partners with PayPal to allow users globally to accept direct payments
Linktree, the popular “link in bio” service with more than 16 million users, is partnering with PayPal to expand its recently launched “Commerce Links” tools for direct payment on Linktree globally. The Melbourne-based startup says creators in over 200 countries where PayPal operates can now accept payments through the transaction tools. Launched in March, Commerce […]
Airbnb to provide free temporary housing for 20,000 Afghan refugees
Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky said on Tuesday the company plans to offer free temporary housing to 20,000 Afghan refugees around the world amid the Taliban’s rise to power in Afghanistan. Chesky said the company will cover the costs for the housing, using funds from contributions to its nonprofit Airbnb.org and a specific Refugee Fund established […]