Category Archives: Blog

It hasn’t been Facebook’s year. Or, years, really. But it really, really hasn’t been the company’s day.

Over 24 hours starting Tuesday night, news organizations have dropped multiple reporting bombs on the social media company. The investigations at the very least call into question many of the statements CEO Mark Zuckerberg has made about privacy, user data, advertising, and more.

We’ve emailed Facebook to ask if they’re ok. No word yet.

Here’s what we have all learned about Facebook in one no good, very bad day.  Read more…

More about Facebook, Privacy, Tech, Social Media Companies, and Media Industry

‘Tis the season to watch the former president of the United States be cute as hell, apparently.

Barack Obama spent Wednesday donning a Santa hat and spreading holiday cheer while handing out presents at Washington’s Children’s National hospital.

Footage shared by the hospital on Twitter shows an excited crowd singing carols, cheering for, and taking photos of Obama Claus in the hallway. The former POTUS greets patients with presents, dances into rooms, and even gives out some hugs.

More about Christmas, Children, Culture, Barack Obama, and Hospital

Securing your online accounts with two-factor authentication can be an effective way to ward off hackers. But the system isn’t perfect. One mysterious group has been defeating the protection method in attempts to phish upwards of 1,000 people, according to the human rights group Amnesty International.

The group today published a report documenting the phishing attacks, which have been targeting journalists and activists based in the Middle East and North Africa through the use of phony emails and login pages.

The goal behind the attacks has been to trick victims into handing over access to their Google and Yahoo accounts, even when two-factor authentication is in place. “What makes these campaigns especially troubling is the lengths to which they go to subvert the digital security strategies of their targets,” Amnesty International said in its report. Read more…

More about Two Factor Authentication, Phishing Attacks, Tech, and Cybersecurity

There’s no argument: OnePlus absolutely crushed 2018. Read more…

More about Mobile, Android, Reviews, Oneplus, and Mclaren

For years, queer representation has been sorely lacking in the most venerate genres: made-for-TV Christmas movies.

I personally can’t say I ever cared, but for those who do: Congratulations! 2018 has brought you a Christmas miracle in the form of Life-Size 2, a new straight-to-Hulu Christmas movie featuring a bisexual character and Tyra Banks.

It’s a gay double whammy. Minor cultural achievement unlocked!

Made-for-TV Christmas movies are a fairly conservative genre, so seeing any queer representation — and representation of queer women of color — is mind-blowing. I’m sure some closeted kid out there who loves subscription-based streaming services and made-for-TV Christmas movies will be thrilled to see themselves represented in this unapologetically corny 81 minute film. Read more…

More about Watercooler, Reviews, Christmas Movies, Culture, and Movies Tv Shows

While everyone isn’t quite pleased with Aquaman, maybe this clearly unlicensed piece of merchandise will do better.

Australian company Geeky Sex Toys have released AquaMoan, a silicone dildo which features a scaly texture and curves reminiscent of the Justice League hero, played by Jason Momoa. 

The A$85 ($61) sex toy is a limited release of 500, and yes, it’s really a thing.

The company has previously made toys inspired by franchises like the Avengers, Star Wars, and Guardians of the Galaxy. What legal threats? Read more…

More about Culture, Justice League, Sex And Relationships, Aquaman, and Culture

You’ve been there: Caught on a dodgy website, faced with a barrage of ads or suspicious content, and found yourself trapped — no matter how much you hit the back button.

It’s a sinister issue called “history manipulation,” where multiple dummy pages are inserted into your browser’s history to fast forward you to the page you were trying to leave.

The issue has been on the Chrome team’s radar since 2016, and now it could be a thing of the past in a future release of the browser, as spotted by 9to5Google.

In a series of published Chromium code changes, Chrome would flag pages that have been added to the back/forward history without the user’s intention, then skip them when the user hits the back button.  Read more…

More about Google, Google Chrome, Tech, and Big Tech Companies

Time seems to work differently when you spend your days online. The memes, moments, and scandals that feel like ages ago are often really only months, weeks, or even days in the past — and what was once unthinkable quickly transforms into how it’s always been. 

The General Data Protection Regulation, known as GDPR, only went into effect on May 25 of 2018, but by now the regulation has reached so far into the everyday life of the internet that it’s becoming harder to imagine a time before. Things online are changing as a result of GDPR, even if you have to  to remind yourself of that fact, and as we move toward closing out 2018 it’s important to take a moment to explore just what those changes are — and the battle that’s still to come.  Read more…

More about Entertainment, Gdpr, Tech, and Other

We stan a meme that calls for standards. 

Last week, Twitter user Kat Hasty posted a picture of a depressing living room, bare except for a single reclining armchair and a TV. There’s no art on the walls, no surfaces other than the kitchen counter, and no lamps other than a harsh overhead light. It’s … sad. 

“Guys really live in apartments like this and don’t see any issue,” she said. 

In response, some people felt personally attacked and defended their minimalist decor. Amid all the digital hand waving, though, Hasty’s tweet sparked a meme calling out the men who have absolutely no standards for their living spaces.  Read more…

More about Twitter, Memes, Culture, and Web Culture

Ribeiro made a name for himself with his moves, which were then apparently copied by a video game. Now, the actor is suing.  Read more…

More about Mashable Video, Lawsuit, Fortnite, Fresh Prince, and Entertainment