By Liam Frost

UK researchers analyzed over 200 million tweets about the coronavirus and identified more than 100 false narratives pushed by bots.

In brief

• Researchers analyzed over 200 million tweets about the coronavirus and identified more than 100 false narratives.
• Bots are reportedly responsible for over 45% of tweets that spread misinformation.
• Twitter itself began labeling messages that contain disputed or misleading information related to the pandemic.

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University said that roughly 45% of Twitter accounts that have been posting messages about the coronavirus pandemic are likely controlled by automated bots.

Since January, researchers have analyzed over 200 million tweets that discussed the virus and found that almost half of them behaved “unhumanly,” according to an article published by NPR on Wednesday.

“We do know that it looks like it’s a propaganda machine, and it definitely matches the Russian and Chinese playbooks, but it would take a tremendous amount of resources to substantiate that,” said Kathleen Carley, a professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon University.

Currently, Carley is conducting a study on bot-generated coronavirus activity on Twitter. While it’s not clear exactly what individuals or groups are operating these bot accounts, the researchers said that it looks like the tweets aim to cause social division in the US.

Among over 100 identified “false narratives” about the coronavirus propagated by bots are conspiracy theories about hospitals filled with mannequins and 5G towers accelerating the spread of the coronavirus.

As Decrypt reported in early April, at least 20 cell towers have been burned in the UK over a conspiracy theory linking the coronavirus pandemic to 5G technology. 

At the same time, numerous conspiracy theories were being endorsed by several UK celebrities such as Amanda Holden on Twitter, making the bots’ job for them. Although she later claimed the tweet was made by accident.

“We’re seeing up to two times as much bot activity as we’d predicted based on previous natural disasters, crises and elections,” Carley added.

To determine whether an account is controlled by a bot, the researchers examined their behavior and tweeting patterns. If some users are posting more messages than it is humanly possible or claim to be in different countries almost simultaneously, a so-called bot-hunter tool will flag them.

“When we see a whole bunch of tweets at the same time or back to back, it’s like they’re timed,” Carley noted, adding “We also look for use of the same exact hashtag, or messaging that appears to be copied and pasted from one bot to the next.”

On May 11, Twitter updated its approach to misleading information. According to the announcement, the platform will add labels and warning messages to tweets “containing disputed or misleading information related to COVID-19.”

https://decrypt.co/29657/twitter-bots-have-spread-90-million-coronavirus-messages

Christi Carras

As if the lineup for YouTube’s virtual graduation ceremony weren’t already star-studded enough, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lopez and more entertainment icons will now join headliners Barack and Michelle Obama in celebrating the class of 2020.

Among the other celebrities set for YouTube’s “Dear Class of 2020” livestream next month are Lizzo, Janelle Monáe, Bill and Melinda Gates, Lana Condor, Yara Shahidi, Demi Lovato, Camila Cabello, Hasan Minhaj, Andy Cohen, Billy Porter, Megan Thee Stallion and many more.

The event schedule boasts a variety of festivities, featuring commencement speeches from the Obamas; performances by BTS, Cabello, Chloe X Halle, Lizzo, Maluma, CNCO, Doja Cat and Megan Thee Stallion; and an “inspirational message” from none other than Queen Bey.

Previously announced participants include Lady Gaga, Alicia Keys, Kelly Rowland, Kerry Washington, Malala Yousafzai and Zendaya.

YouTube is one of several platforms enlisting top talent for virtual commencement ceremonies after the coronavirus crisis canceled graduations around the world. On Saturday, former President Barack Obama delivered a pair of powerful speeches to both graduates of high schools and historically black colleges and universities in his first major public addresses since the coronavirus outbreak.

A day earlier, Oprah Winfrey headlined Facebook and Instagram’s #Graduation2020 event featuring Miley Cyrus, Awkwafina, Kristen Bell, Mindy Kaling, Selena Gomez, Sterling K. Brown, Hugh Jackman and more. In her closing speech, Winfrey dubbed 2020 graduates “the chosen class.”

Lakers superstar LeBron James also organized an hourlong commencement special over the weekend, drafting several entertainers including Bad Bunny, Pharrell Williams, the Jonas Brothers, Chika, YBN Cordae, H.E.R., Ben Platt, Megan Rapinoe and Lena Waithe. And before that, “The Office” alum John Krasinski tapped Winfrey, Yousafzai, Steven Spielberg and Jon Stewart for a graduation episode of his hit quarantine web series, “Some Good News.”

YouTube’s “Dear Class of 2020” starts June 6 at noon Pacific.

https://news.yahoo.com/beyonc-taylor-swift-join-obamas-191850472.html

By Carlos Christian

The buying function will even finally combine with stay streams

Nearly 1,000,000 companies within the UK and around the globe can now arrange a single on-line retailer to promote merchandise, with no payment, on Facebook and Instagram.

The preliminary stage of the Facebook Shops rollout has been introduced ahead and prolonged due to Covid-19.

The stores will seem on enterprise pages, Instagram profiles and via focused adverts.

The firm has already used a no-fees method in its Facebook Marketplace for private classifieds.

“It’s bigger than usual just because we want to make sure we’re moving quickly to get these tools in the hands of as many businesses wherever they are, big or small, to help them survive during this time,” Facebook’s Layla Amjadi stated.

And product supervisor George Lee stated it had been within the pipeline for no less than half a yr.

“Obviously, given the current situation, we have accelerated a lot of our efforts,” he stated.

“We’re in a unique position to be able to contribute to the survival of a bunch of these businesses.”

The buying function will even finally seem on WhatsApp and the corporate’s different messaging apps and combine with stay streams.

For the typical Facebook consumer, “this will be a really seamless experience,” Ms Amjadi stated.

“You can go much deeper now without having to leave the app.”

Facebook Shops may pose a problem to eBay, Etsy and solely on-line marketplaces that cost charges

Once a purchaser decides they need to spend cash, they are going to often be directed to the corporate’s web site to finish the transaction.

And if issues come up or a purchaser desires to ask questions, they’ll accomplish that via Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, or Instagram Direct messages, a few of that are already utilized by corporations for that objective.

The rollout is a part of a wider vary of adjustments deliberate for buying throughout Facebook’s merchandise, together with:

• a loyalty scheme that may hyperlink issues reminiscent of factors from native espresso outlets to Facebook
• a Shop button, the place merchandise and manufacturers can be showcased, on Instagram’s predominant navigation bar

Anthony Ha, a senior author at know-how information website TechCrunch, stated the pandemic lockdown might have labored in Facebook’s favour.

“After all, if your favourite store has changed their hours, or switched to online delivery or kerb-side pickup, they’ve almost certainly posted about it on Facebook or Instagram,” he stated.

“So it is smart for Facebook to make the acquisition course of as straightforward as attainable from these profiles.

“From a enterprise perspective, the plain objective is to drive extra promoting.

“But it is also value remembering that the pandemic’s financial fallout will probably kill off many small enterprise – together with those that publish and promote on Facebook.

“So the company has a stake in helping those businesses survive in any way it can.”

Andrew Hutchinson

Of all the sectors impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, SMBs look set to be among the hardest hit. 

Small to medium businesses generally operate at very tight margins as it is, and they don’t have the same safety nets that larger corporations are able to fall back on. As a result, predictions suggest that up to 7.5 million small businesses in America are at risk of shuttering permanently in the coming months unless they’re able to find a way to recoup costs, and get back to some level of regular operation.

The expanded impacts of this – on employment, opportunity, local economies, etc. – are difficult to fully comprehend. But while the forecasts are dire, it’s likely of more value to get some sense of what’s actually happening on the ground. What are SMBs seeing at the moment, how are they dealing with the impacts of the pandemic, and how do they feel about their situations moving forward?

This week, Facebook has published a new report to shed some more light on this, incorporating responses from over 86,000 people who own, manage or work for a small to medium-sized business. The data also includes 9,000 operators of “personal” businesses (i.e. people who reported that they were “self-employed providing goods or services”).

The report provides a range of insights into SMB sentiment, and may also highlight rising areas of opportunity moving forward. You can read Facebook’s full report here, but below are some of the key points of note.

First off, Facebook’s report provides some scale as to how many businesses have actually been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 lockdowns, with a look at the percentage of SMBs in each sector that are currently unable to operate.

Many businesses, of course, have been able to shift to alternate operational models, like working from home or putting more focus on delivery. That makes it difficult to get a true sense of the full impacts of the current lockdowns – but this chart gets a little deeper into the actual reality of the situation. 

As per Facebook:

“According to the survey, 31% of small and medium-sized businesses have shut down [entirely] in the last three months. The situation is worse for personal business (52% of which report shutting down), hotels, cafes and restaurants (43%) and services like wellness, grooming, fitness or other professional services (41%).”

Most of these trends are as you would expect, with high exposure businesses going into forced hibernation. But it is interesting to note the scope of the impacts, with all sectors seeing at least some closures. The numbers also wrap some further context around the 36 million unemployment claims in the US over the past six weeks.

The question, then, is how many of these businesses expect to recover, and rebound once the lockdowns are lifted?

That’s obviously difficult to answer, as we don’t know how long it’s going to take to ‘snap back’ to our normal way of life, and the longer the forced closures remain in place, the worse the economic situation gets.

In general, however, the majority of SMBs remain cautiously optimistic.

There are a lot of ‘maybe’s here, but most notably, there are very few ‘No’s. That reflects the pervading uncertainty, but also provides some hope of getting most people back into employment, and the economy back on track, at some stage.

In the report’s further notes, Facebook also provides some context as to current impacts on revenue, even for those businesses that have remained in operation.

Unfortunately, for almost everybody, 2020 is essentially a write-off for growth plans.

But as noted, there are some indicators of future potential, in addition to enduring owner optimism/hope.

More businesses are exploring online connection opportunities and digital payments, which are both progressive steps towards the next generation of consumption.

That may actually end up being the biggest long-term shift we see stemming from the COVID-19 shutdowns. With consumers forced to shop online, many will become more accustomed to the convenience of such, aided by the simplicity of digital payments. For those already working in the digital sector, that could lead to ongoing opportunities to help usher more businesses along this shift, with many, potentially, putting increased reliance on digital connection, and shifting their business models in line with what the next generation of consumers are growing to expect.

Indeed, while eCommerce accounted for only around 16% of total US retail sales in 2019, that figure is steadily inching upwards year after year, a trend that’s expected to continue.

COVID-19 may exacerbate this shift – and while retail is only one of the sectors highlighted here, the trend may well be indicative, which could prompt more businesses to consider their options for digital operations, meeting consumers where they’re spending more and more of their time.

Essentially, the lockdowns have forced many businesses to look at their online opportunities, which could have benefits going forward, and could even help SMBs expand their reach into new markets in future. But the immediate path ahead remains tough and uncertain, at least until some sort of breakthrough is reached.

Hopefully, there are enough alternative revenue paths to keep most SMBs running as we navigate through the pandemic – but it may well be worth exploring digital options, where possible, to align with broader consumption shifts.

https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/facebook-publishes-new-report-on-the-impact-of-covid-19-on-small-businesses/578099/

Naomi Campbell has shared a picture on Instagram showing the extreme measures she’s taken to avoid Covid-19 on a flight.

Campbell is known for her germaphobe tendencies, and she opted to wear a hazmat suit and a face shield on her latest flight.

She captioned the photo “on the move”.

Some followers were not a fan of her look and accused the star of using far more PPE than she needs.

“You have on more PPE than medical professionals wear when actually caring for patients who have Covid-19. You can dial it back a little,” one commenter wrote.

Another called her look “extremely selfish and self-serving”.

The 49-year-old first debuted her hazmat suit look in LAX in March, complete with an N95 mask and pink latex gloves.

“Safety First NEXT LEVEL [sic],” she posted on Instagram.

In July last year, Campbell posted her extensive flight routine on YouTube. In the video the model uses antibacterial wipes to sanitise the overhead lockers, her seat, tray table, and the TV screen – as well as everything else in reach.

It appears Campbell will not be letting go of her extreme cleaning habits anytime soon.

‘”Dettol wipes. Clean everything you touch. Anything you could possibly touch. All this stuff … anything that you put your hands on,” she told viewers in the YouTube video.

“This is what I do on every plane I get on. I do not care what people think of me. It’s my health and it makes me feel better.

“I mean as much as I travel, I should get sick so much more with colds and stuff and I’m blessed that I don’t, and I really think that this helps me, my little routine.”

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=12332622

Chris Evans spoke about the cute reason for joining Instagram in an interview with Jimmy Fallon

By Shaheen Irani

Chris Evans was the latest Instagram star to join Instagram early this month. The actor now opened up on the reason for him to come on the image sharing platform so late. Revealing the reason, Evans also said ‘I guess I caved’.

The real reason Chris joined Instagram was not to raise awareness about novel coronavirus, but to share images of his pet dog ‘Dodger’. In a virtual interview with Jimmy Fallon on his show ‘The Tonight Show’, Chris said, “You know what it is? I had too many good pictures of my dog. I was like, they’re being wasted in my phone. I need to put these somewhere.”

“I guess I caved. I feel like such an old man. I’m so late to the party,” Evans added. The actor, who bid goodbye to his role as Captain America with ‘Avengers: Endgame’, also revealed that he gave Dodger a haircut, which actually went wrong.

For the people who have been following Chris Evans ever since he joined Instagram, the news would not come as a surprise. Out of his four posts so far, Evans has shared two with images of Dodger, which is where he revealed about the haircut gone wrong and keeping Dodger in the dark about it. The actor’s ‘Avengers’ co-star Chris Pratt, who played Star-Lord in ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy’, was the reason for Chris Evans to join Instagram.

https://www.dnaindia.com/hollywood/report-not-to-raise-awareness-on-covid-19-chris-evans-joined-instagram-for-this-reason-2825108

Samantha Lock

A NEW YORK tourist has been arrested in Hawaii after posting a series of beach-side snaps on Instagram when he should have been in quarantine, state officials say.

Tarique Peters, 23, of the Bronx, flew to the island which imposes a mandatory 14-day quarantine for arriving travelers, but authorities say he was seen sunbathing and carrying a surfboard the same day he arrived.

Peters arrived in Honolulu on Monday, a news release from the Hawaii COVID-19 Joint Information Center revealed Friday.

“He allegedly left his hotel room the day he arrived and traveled many places using public transportation,” the release said.

“Authorities became aware of his social media posts from citizens who saw posts of him – on the beach with a surfboard, sunbathing, and walking around Waikiki at night.”

Hotel staff told agents they had seen Peters leave his room and the hotel premises “on numerous occasions” throughout the week.

The young man was arrested by special agents from the Department of the Attorney General Friday morning.

His bail has been set at $4,000.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/11640921/new-york-tourist-arrested-hawaii-not-quarantining-post-beach-instagram/

by ALYSSA MORIN

Words are powerful… even when it comes to makeup names.

Now more than ever, people are turning to beauty as a way to practice self-care and lift their spirits. Considering the Coronavirus pandemic has reshaped our world, many are de-stressing and pampering themselves with luxurious moisturizers, delightful fragrances and more. 

However, there’s one makeup item that has people upset… and for good reason.

On Friday, Jeffree Star teased his upcoming launch, which is titled the Cremated collection.

Shortly after the reveal, many expressed their upset over the makeup line’s name. Many claimed it’s especially insensitive and offensive in light of the COVID-19 outbreak, which has caused an overwhelming amount of deaths.

One Instagram user commented on Trendmood’s post (who shared the sneak peek early), “This seems kinda tacky considering the rise of deaths around the world related to the pandemic… Don’t come for me!”

Another replied, “Whoa. This theme doesn’t seem like very good timing..” With someone else chiming in, “All things considered… The name of this palette is tone deaf.”

Not long after Trendmood’s post, the YouTube star shared his makeup collection on his personal accounts. Others directly commented on his posts to share their disappointment over the Cremated line.

“My grandma had to be cremated after she died from Covid. This seems like bad timing for such a product,” a Twitter user responded.

Another person expressed the same sentiment. “Um wtf people are being CREMATED because the mortuaries have run out of space. Bad timing. This could have waited until thousands aren’t dying daily.smfh.”

While some of Star’s fans pointed out that he trademarked the Cremated name back in September 2019, others argued that he could have postponed the launch date to a later time.

“Doesn’t matter that he made it months before, it’s the fact he’s bringing it out now.. he could of brought it out at a different date,” one person noted.

Another added, “The timing is badddd. I love jeffree but the timing is bad considering 1) not a lot of ppl can buy or afford makeup 2) it’s called cremated, regardless of when the name was created the name is in bad taste and poorly timed.”

The Cremated name aside, many were also left feeling underwhelmed by the eyeshadow palette’s shade range.

“I thought he gonna make a dark goth palette not ashy,” one user commented under Trendmood’s post on Saturday, which showed the palette. “Such poor taste and really boring color story,” another said.

“Was hoping it would at least be like, a variation of super dark colors and jewel tones,” another added. “It’s just a cool toned palette? we’ve all seen that before.”

Summing up the collection, one person shared, “I guess he really nailed the theme because this is going to have anyone tan or deeper looking funeral ready.”

At this time, Jeffree has yet to address the backlash.

https://www.eonline.com/ca/news/1152779/jeffree-star-receives-backlash-over-cremated-makeup-line-during-coronavirus-pandemic

BY HILARY WEAVER

Everyone has their own routines right now, and let me start by saying: Your quarantine self-care plan is yours, which means it’s perfect. Keep doing whatever you’re doing to make yourself feel as good as you can.

Jennifer Lopez certainly seems to be sticking to her own self-care plan right now. On Friday, she posted a mirror selfie during her workout with the caption, “If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you… #CamoFriday.”

If that’s not a motivational message in the gym, what is? And congratulations on your abs, J.Lo.

This is not the first time those abs have appeared on Instagram. Following her epic Super Bowl performance in February, J.Lo took a bikini selfie with the caption “relaxed and recharged.”

The 50-year-old singer and actress has also made an appearance in our homes during quarantine. At the Together at Home concert, she covered “People” from Funny Girl, which was originated by Barbra Streisand.

She has also spoken out about her wedding to Alex Rodriguez, plans for which have been affected by the global pandemic. In an interview with Ellen DeGeneres, Lopez said the pandemic did change some things for wedding, as it has so many other couples .

She said the pandemic “did affect [our wedding plans] a little bit,” she told DeGeneres. “So, we will see what happens now. Honestly, I really don’t know what’s going to happen now as far as dates or anything like that. We’re just kind of in a holding pattern like the rest of the world. So, again, it’s something we’re just going to have to wait and see in a few months how this all pans out.”

For now, it seems like she’s going to stay home, work out, and continue to motivate us all to do the same.

By Erin Fox

San Francisco: Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has granted an choice to his workers to work at home ‘without end’ even after the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, Buzzfeed reported on Tuesday. Twitter has upped the ante after Facebook, Alphabet (Google) and others have requested their workers to work at home until year-end. In an e-mail to workers on Tuesday, Dorsey granted the choice for employees to work at home indefinitely. Twitter Rolls Out New Labels to Provide Additional Context on Tweets Containing COVID-19 Misinformation.

The choice would not apply to these required to make a bodily look, like sure upkeep workers, however these for which their jobs will be completed remotely, mentioned the report.

“We’ve been very thoughtful in how we’ve approached this from the time we were one of the first companies to move to a work-from-home model,” a Twitter spokesperson instructed BuzzFeed News.

Dorsey mentioned it’s unlikely Twitter would open its workplaces earlier than September. Twitter was one of many first tech firms to make it necessary for its almost 5,000 workers to work at home. Google and Facebook have additionally determined to enable most of their workforces to keep house and work by the top of this yr.

Facebook will open most of its workplace from July 6. Google workers can be ready to stroll into their workplaces beginning July, however majority of these whose roles enable them to work at home may accomplish that till the top of the yr. Google’s authentic plan was to preserve work at home coverage till June 1. E-commerce main Amazon India has additionally allowed its workers to work at home until October.