In its ongoing effort to keep Facebook users inside the Facebook universe at all times, the social media giant is adding a new feature to Messenger that will allow folks to hail a ride with Uber and other on-demand car services from within the app. [More]
Facebook Taking On Yelp, Angie’s List To Provide Users With Highly-Rated Professional Services
By 12.15.15
Finding a reliable service provider can be a test of patience for some consumers, despite sites like Angie’s List and Yelp that aim to connect customers with local professionals focused on repairs, installations, or other jobs around the house. Facebook thinks it has what it takes to make the quest for a dependable handyman, lawn care service, plumber, and other local businesses with its new “Professional Services” feature. [More]
Disney Decides To Be Evil Again, Re-Sends Copyright Takedown For Star Wars Figure Pic
By 12.11.15
This morning, it seemed like Disney had realized that sending copyright takedown notices for legally obtained and posted photos of Star Wars action figures was maybe not a good idea. But the Dark Side apparently has Mickey in its grips, as Disney continues to send takedown notices for copyright claims the company had already retracted. [More]
Facebook Adds Offline News Feed To Mobile App So You’ll Never Miss Another Baby Photo, Gym Status Again
By 12.10.15
You’re trapped on the subway, and the panic sets in: what is that high school acquaintance doing today? Is he/she going to the gym and THEN the grocery store or vice versa? Does your friend in Nevada’s baby like eating avocado upon first try or not? These questions will all be answered, now that Facebook is enabling an offline mode on its mobile app that allows users to browse their News Feeds even when their connection is slow or nonexistent. [More]
Facebook Pulls The Plug On Internal App Incubator, Creative Labs, And Three Underused Apps
By 12.8.15
After two years and probably thousands of ideas from employees on how to attract users via new programs and apps on the site, Facebook is shuttering its Creative Labs feature — and some of the programs that came out of it. [More]
Facebook Wants You Able To Live-Stream Whatever You’re Doing To Everyone You Know… Eventually
By 12.3.15
You can already use Facebook to sign in to locations, tell everyone what you think about them, post pictures of what you did there, leave reviews of how it went, and host video of all your shenanigans. So why not use it as a platform to live-stream your escapades too? [More]
Cable Company Decides To Shame Overdue Customers By Posting Names On Facebook
By 12.3.15
There are a lot of reasons you might fall behind on your cable bill — finances are tight, a medical emergency — or maybe, as we’ve heard all too often, the cable company screwed up and hasn’t properly credited your account. But even if you’re just a cheap jerk with no intention of ever paying your bill until they cut off service, that still doesn’t merit being called out publicly on Facebook. [More]
No, Target Is Not Giving You A 50% Off Everything Coupon For Liking A Page On Facebook
By 11.24.15
We all want to believe that there are special coupons out there just waiting to be grabbed, and the newest questionable offer to take hold of Facebook newsfeeds involves the false promise of a coupon that will magically grant you 50% off anything at Target. [More]
Now You See It, Now You Don’t: Facebook Testing Self-Destructing Messages
By 11.13.15
Facebook is reportedly trying a totally new, completely novel, never-before-seen kind of message — oh, hang on a second, Snapchat has been doing self-destructing photos and videos for a while now. But anyway, Facebook apparently wants to do that kind of thing, too. [More]
Facebook Bringing 360-Degree Video To iOS Newsfeeds
By 11.12.15
While we once wondered why Facebook would spend $2 billion to buy virtual reality company Oculus, we’re starting to get answers. Two months after Facebook said it was working to bring virtual reality to consumers’ phones via newsfeed ads, the social media company unveiled an iOS version. [More]
Coming Soon: Facebook Will Ask If You’re Really, Really Sure You Want To Upload That Photo From Last Night
By 11.12.15
In the early stages of a Sunday morning hangover, your bleary eyes and the residual alcohol in your system might make you think you looked really good in that photo from last night, but Facebook’s artificial intelligence knows better: the social media behemoth is working on technology that will warn users when they’re about to upload photos they shouldn’t. [More]
Facebook Tweaking “Real Name” Policy To Make It Easier For Users To Verify That They Are Who They Claim To Be
By 10.30.15
If you’ve ever tried to insist to Facebook that you really do go by the name Her Magnificence The Empress Of Catland and been frustrated at your efforts, things are about to change: the company announced it’s tweaking its so-called “real name” policy to make it easier for users to verify that they really do answer to a name other than their legal one. [More]
Don’t Go To Chick-Fil-A On Friday Expecting Unlimited Nuggets For $13
By 10.29.15
Word has spread across the Internet of a truly glorious event coming up later this week: all you can eat chicken nuggets and waffle fries at Chick-Fil-A for four hours in the evening. People shared the ad on Facebook and adjusted their weekend plans accordingly, but failed to notice one important detail: the promotion is only at one location, in Florida. [More]
Facebook Wants To Kill Game Invites And The “Other Messages” Folder, Users Rejoice
By 10.28.15
We have good news and bad news when it comes to Facebook features. The social media platform is getting rid of two almost universally-disliked features: the “Other” inbox that hardly anyone used, and the ability to send your friends game invites that they probably don’t want. However, the replacement spam-filter could be more annoying than the existing solution. [More]
Facebook Wins Dismissal Of $15 Billion Privacy Lawsuit
By 10.26.15
It’s been more than three years since a federal judge in California heard arguments in a large class-action lawsuit filed against Facebook over its questionable privacy practices. Finally, on Friday that judge sided with the social network and threw out the case — while leaving open the option for plaintiffs to revise and re-file their case. [More]
Facebook Updates Search Function; Now Is A Great Time To Run And Check All Your Privacy Settings
By 10.22.15
Facebook search is… well, kind of a joke. It can tell you which 400 people in your area have similar names to that one person you want to connect to but aren’t quite them, but it’s not great for finding that post you really, really wanted to dig up from last year with that article you half-remember. Until now. [More]
Facebook Will Now Alert You If You’re The Victim Of A Government-Sponsored Cyber Attack
By 10.19.15
Are you sick of those boring old Facebook notices for birthdays, group updates, event invites, and even the occasional “poke” from someone who still thinks it’s 2007? Maybe you need some international intrigue to liven up your day. Thankfully, Facebook will be there to let you know if your profile has been targeted by a government-sponsored cyber attack. [More]
Facebook Testing A Dedicated Shopping Feed That Features Retailers’ Posts About Sales
By 10.12.15
Facebook is continuing its effort to push users to shop within the confines of the social network, announcing today that it’s testing a dedicated shopping feed that will feature deals and sales from different retailers’ pages. [More]
