66: Barcelona is the new Twitter by Meta 🤔

Yay Space - The TechReview

Join us for the latest podcast episode as we discuss Spotify's layoffs in its podcast division, Meta's upcoming Twitter alternative, and YouTube's controversial decision to allow election misinformation. Get insights into the changes reshaping the digital landscape and their impact on creators, users, and voter participation. Stay informed and engaged by subscribing now!

00:00 - Intro
01:06 - 1: Spotify will cut 200 jobs in its podcast unit
08:46 - 2: Meta’s Twitter Alternative App Gets its Own Icon as it Moves Closer to Launch
16:27 - 3: YouTube rolls back its rules against election misinformation

1. https://techcrunch.com/2023/06/05/spotify-will-cut-200-jobs-in-its-podcast-unit/
2. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/meta-twitter-alternative-app-icon-launch/651877/
3. https://techcrunch.com/2023/06/03/youtube-rolls-back-its-rules-against-election-misinformation/

Summary:

Music streaming giant Spotify has announced plans for another round of layoffs, this time affecting its podcast division. The job cuts are part of a corporate reorganization that involves merging Parcast and Gimlet Studios. Sahar Elhabashi, Spotify's head of the podcast division, stated in an internal memo that the changes would result in a 2% reduction in the workforce, affecting around 200 jobs. The company aims to optimize its approach to partnership efforts with podcasters worldwide and better support the creator community. Affected employees will receive generous severance packages and outplacement support. Spotify had made significant investments in podcasts, acquiring popular networks like Parcast and Gimlet Media in 2019 for substantial amounts. However, the company is now scaling back its original content strategy and combining Parcast and Gimlet into Spotify Studios. The Ringer, another content company acquired by Spotify, will remain a separate business unit. Spotify shared that it has 100 million podcast listeners across 5 million shows and has experienced substantial growth in podcast ad revenue. The recent layoffs suggest a shift in Spotify's original content strategy and a focus on maximizing value for creators and users.

Meta, the parent company of Instagram, is getting closer to launching its Twitter alternative app. The latest discovery in the app's back-end code reveals that it will have its own icon, featuring a Twitter-like color scheme combined with Instagram's gradient approach. Meta has been developing the platform over the past few months, capitalizing on growing unrest among Twitter users due to recent changes made by Elon Musk. With the network effects of Instagram, Meta aims to step into Twitter's territory and attract a significant audience seeking real-time updates. The upcoming app, tentatively called 'Barcelona,' will serve as an offshoot of Instagram, allowing users to log in with their Instagram credentials. It will offer a simplified, chat-based feed similar to Twitter, allowing users to post text updates, add links, photos, and up to 5-minute videos. The app is expected to be decentralized, although specifics on how it aligns with other decentralized social offerings are still unclear. Rumors suggest a summer launch, possibly even sooner.

YouTube has announced that it will reverse its policy on election denialism, allowing false claims about widespread fraud in the 2020 US Presidential elections and previous elections. The company believes that removing such content may curb misinformation but could unintentionally limit political speech without effectively reducing the risk of violence or harm. However, YouTube will still prohibit false claims about the location of polling places and other efforts to discourage voting. The decision has raised concerns about sowing broad mistrust in the democratic process and discouraging voter participation. YouTube plans to provide more updates on its 2024 election strategy in the coming months.

Our panel today
Vincent https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincent-t-irmler/
Tarek https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarekmadanymamlouk/
Henrike https://www.linkedin.com/in/henrike-hedel/

Every week our panel of technology enthusiasts meets to discuss the most important news from the fields of technology, innovation, and science. And you can join us live!

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