More than a year after WhatsApp’s founders resigned in protest, Facebook is backtracking on its plans to include ads in the messaging app, according to The Wall Street Journal. WhatsApp’s founders, Jan Koum and Brian Acton, were so strongly opposed…
Advertisers Balk At Google’s Plan To Kill Third-Party Cookies
In what is a surprise to no one, advertisers are begging Google not to kill third-party cookies in Chrome, according to CNBC. Google announced earlier this week its plans to phase out third-party cookies within two years. The company is…
Google Restricting Cookies In Chrome To Improve Privacy
The days of cookies may be coming to an end as Google announces its plans to phase out third-party cookies within two years. The first indications of Google’s plans came in August when the company announced a new initiative called…
Verizon Launches OneSearch, A Privacy-Focused Search Engine
Verizon has announced the launch of OneSearch, a brand-new search engine focused on privacy, according to a press release. Privacy is increasingly becoming a major factor for tech companies, governments and users alike. The European Union’s Genera Data Protection Regulation…
Instagram Prohibits Influencers From Promoting Tobacco, Vaping & Weapons
Instagram has long had rules restricting advertisers from promoting tobacco, vaping and weapons, but influencers have been exempt from those restrictions—until now. As the L.A. Times reports, “Instagram, owned by Facebook Inc., has long allowed people with thousands or even…
Google and Facebook Face Tougher Rules in the UK Over Ad Dominance
According to Reuters, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) delivered a mixed bag of news for Google and Facebook. On the one hand, the CMA indicated a reluctance to subject the two tech companies to more in-depth investigations, saying…
Microsoft Slips Ads Into Windows 10 and This Time They Can’t Be Disabled
MSPoweruser is reporting that Microsoft has—once again—slipped ads into Windows 10 apps, including Mail and Calendar. Unlike previous instances, however, this time the ads cannot be disabled. The last time Microsoft placed ads in their flagship apps was over a…
AT&T Agrees to Pay $60 Million to Settle Legal Dispute Over Throttling Smartphone Plans
While every major smartphone carrier advertises unlimited plans, the reality is that all of them come with restrictions. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), AT&T has just agreed to settle a case where it misled millions of customers about…
Twitter Accidentally Used Phone Numbers and Email Addresses For Advertising
Twitter is the latest company to admit to a privacy faux pas. In a statement Twitter informed users that phone numbers and email addresses intended for security may have inadvertently been used for advertising purposes. Twitter uses Tailored Audiences, a…
Facebook Trying To Habituate Consumers Around Driving Transactions, Says Button CEO
In reality, what I think Facebook is doing is very smart. They’re trying to habituate consumers around driving transactions from their platform. For the future of advertising, especially in mobile, the way that you’re going to be able to make money and build durability into your business model is to give consumers what they want.