Media
Nothing is actually free
When we post a picture, upload a story on a blog, or tweet about the latest news on Elon Musk, we contribute to the social media business. And, regardless of how we do it, it doesn't cost us anything, or at least that's how we perceive it. But, in reality, there are several ways social…
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Nobody fools me!
The usage of social media as a source of news is a common habit in the current consumption of online platforms. Yet, users not only use them as a place to search information and remain updated, in fact they also trust them enough to form their opinion and base decisions solely on the content they…
Media
What about Mastodon?
Twitter's downfall is increasingly becoming a reality; under "Musk's reign," users are in despair and count the days the platform might resist. Fortunately, not all hope is lost since there is a potential alternative to the bird app called Mastodon. It shares similarities with Twitter; it functions as a microblogging network and allows people to…
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The Chief Twit
"The bird is freed," one of the multiple phrases originated from Elon Musk’s barrage of tweets after his historical purchase of the social media giant Twitter. The implications of this event have already become a turning point in the social media landscape. However, before discussing how the new ownership has affected the platform and the…
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The split: is Twitch upsetting its golden goose?
A few weeks ago, Twitch announced that their revenue distribution for streamers would change from a 70/30 split from paid subscriptions to a 50/50. The paid subscriptions on the platform start at 4.99$. It allows subscribers to reward and support their favorite streamers while accessing exclusive content. However, it also means creators' cut would decrease…
Media
A shift towards the creator's economy
Since the pandemic, many companies have drastically changed their operations due to the boom of e-commerce, videoconferencing, and the availability of digital infrastructures. Many working environments have integrated working-from-home policies or implemented remote job opportunities. McKinsey & Co acknowledges these events, which also presents the consultancy's vision of working after COVID-19. The report has other…
Media
Going back to authenticity
A new platform has disrupted the social media environment. A few months ago, "BeReal" started to fight the artificiality of social networks, and users couldn't be more excited about it. Despite being launched in 2020, it didn't gain recognition until mid-2022. As the name suggests, the platform claims to connect with "your friends for real."…
Media
Privacy protection: taking accountability in the media environment.
Amid many recent events and news, such as the war in Ukraine, inflation rates, and extreme droughts during the summer that have kept tabloids occupied, a new subject is making its way into the headlines. Last August, a video of the Prime Minister of Finland, Sanna Marin, trended on social media; during the clip, Marin…
Media
The last media hit of Elizabeth II
On the 8th of September, Buckingham Palace announced that the Queen, Elizabeth II, had passed away "peacefully" at her residence in Scotland. That afternoon and the following day, Britain and many nations worldwide would pay tribute to her figure and honor her legacy. Because of the longevity of her reign and the interest that she…
Media
Trust in Media: Everyone’s Problem
Why does trust matter? Trust is critical for every institution to gain credibility and build a strong reputation. But it is a complex subject to study since it's subjective and fluctuates through time. But trust is no secret for Edelman. This global communication firm has researched it for the past two decades. Each year, the…
Media
Physical and Cyber Wars
For a few weeks now, everyone has been keeping a watchful eye on the war that has exploded when Russia invaded Ukraine. There had been a lot of speculation about what a contemporary war in the Western world would be like and now we are seeing it with our own eyes. Undoubtedly, most predictions foresaw…
Media
Linear Broadcasting vs Streaming: the jury is still out
We have known for years that conventional television is losing its influence to the increasing power of streaming platforms such as Netflix, YouTube, Disney+ or Hulu. New generations consume audiovisual content with different patterns from those offered by traditional broadcast networks: they want to be able to enjoy their favorite programs or series at any…
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Spotify: Censorship or profits?
Joe Rogan has turned controversy into his best partner in professional adventures. But from so much playing with fire, he is getting closer to burning. The latest problem that has affected the American comedian, and Spotify, the platform that Rogan uses to distribute his content has been the spread of misinformation about COVID-19 on his…
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Is it the end of the founder myth?
After more than a decade, Twitter's co-founder, Jack Dorsey, has stepped down from his CEO position, bringing to the spotlight an issue that frequently impacts tech companies—the founder dilemma. Today's tech giants were touted as miracles born out of the minds of geniuses in the 90s or early 2000s. Among those entrepreneurs were Steve Jobs,…
Media
Facebook's problems pile up
In September, the Wall Street Journal unveiled many of Facebook's secrets in the Facebook Files investigation. One of those findings relates to the nature of the 2018 algorithm change, which prioritized content from friends and family over the news. That decision has been partly responsible for today's polarization, as it was the germ that created…
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M&A and SPACs—how the media sector finally secures funds
The last 12 months have brought significant changes to the financial markets, with the rise of retail investors, the SPAC (special purpose acquisition company) boom, and the merger and acquisitions flow. Those trends have also reached the media industry. As an introduction, a special purpose acquisition company, also known as a blank-check company, is a…
Media
Spotify rides the wave of audio news
Spotify’s diversification strategy is finally showing results. The firm has been investing for years in podcasts to move away from its core business, music. So far, the tactic is working. Demand for audio news is still rising, and ads within those podcasts are bringing in revenue. Spotify has become the podcast king in little over…
Media
Social media wars 2021
It’s been only three years since TikTok landed in the US, and its success is unparalleled. The Chinese ByteDance-owned app garners around 100 million active users in the country, with most of them under the age of 40. With its short videos, its fantastic selection algorithm, and its strategy to increase the duration of the…
Media
Clubhouse’s death is Twitter’s gain
Despite the hype surrounding Clubhouse earlier this year, the platform is slowly dying in favor of its tech mogul competitors. Its invitation-only structure and its iPhone-based design (at first,) Clubhouse has been a victim of its own success—the app will disappear, but what it brought won’t. And while the app’s numbers become stagnant, the other…
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NFTs or how to collect on the Internet
In March, a new buzzword took hold of social media—non-fungible tokens (NFTs). NFTs, assets verified by blockchain, were suddenly everywhere, and artists were trying to figure out how to take advantage of the wave. Some managed to make eye-popping gains from selling their digital art through NFTs, and soon, media outlets, musicians, and even Jack…