The apps giveth, the apps taketh away. This week Reddit is going deep on AI translation while TikTok released a ton of new features for subscribers. At the same time, LinkedIn is nixing a popular badge and X is looking at overhauling the block button.
Let’s get into all the new twists and turns.
Threads
TechCrunch reports that Meta has at last acquired the coveted Threads.com URL. Since launch, the social network has lived at the far less desirable Threads.net. The URL had most recently been owned by Shopify, but domain records indicate that Meta recently gained control of the site. It’s unclear when or if the site will transition to Threads.com, though one would assume it will.
X
Elon Musk it as it again. The billionaire owner of X is set to fundamentally change the way blocking works on the platform. Musk responded to a report about block changes by confirming: “The block function will block that account from engaging with, but not block seeing, public post (sic).”
This announcement raises a number of concerns over privacy and safety and whether it will make it easier for harassment to continue. It’s also unclear whether the change will even come to pass — Musk claimed as far back as 2023 that he would eradicate the block feature altogether, though no such drastic step has been taken. Yet.
Reddit is using machine learning to translate entire feeds, including comments, into another language. France, Spain and Brazil now all have the option to change comments into their native tongue, with the feature expected to roll out to Germany, Italy, the Philippines and Latin America in the near future. YouTube recently began to release AI-powered dubbing services. It’s clear that AI will make the English-speaking internet more accessible to those who might not have native fluency.
YouTube
YouTube is expanding access to its conversational AI tool. All YouTube Premium members will now be able to access the tool, which will appear just below a video and will not interrupt playback. YouTube gave the example of asking the AI to tell the user about a song playing in the video.
The platform is currently blocking music by a number of popular artists, including Bob Dylan and Green Day, over a royalties dispute with SESAC, Variety reports.
TikTok
TikTok is building out its subscriber perks, nibbling away at the features offered by sites like Patreon. The new features will allow creators to make tiers of perks for those willing to pay to support them, including private communications channels (think Discord), content exclusive to subscribers, stickers and badges, and other customized perks.
The app is also unveiling three third-party brand safety measurements to help advertisers determine their potential risk for appearing next to questionable content.
Pinterest is beefing up its collages tool with several new features. Remixing allows other users to build on collages someone else has created. This option can be toggled on or off. Collages can also now be turned into videos that can be shared off-platform.
Lindsey Gamble reports that LinkedIn is killing off its Community Top Voice badge. According to an email sent to those who hold the badge, “we’ve learned that it’s challenging to maintain the highest quality standards for our Community Top Voices Badge, as they are currently awarded automatically to top contributors, and not manually awarded by our teams.”
In other words, someone could post a bunch of AI-generated nonsense and get a badge that looks like LinkedIn endorsed the activity.
The Top Voices badge, which is awarded by staff, will remain.
Allison Carter is editor-in-chief of PR Daily. Follow her on Twitter or LinkedIn.
