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Facebook-owner Meta to roll out paid subscription

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  • Service will be rolled out in Australia and New Zealand this week.
  • Users over age of 18 will be allowed to subscribe, says Meta chief.
  • In 2022, Meta saw its ad revenue decline for first time since 2012.

SAN FRANCISCO: Facebook, the social network that was supposed to stay free “always,” and its stablemate Instagram launched on Sunday a paid subscription service, as the advertising-based business model that has long dominated the internet falters.

Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Facebook-parent Meta, announced on Sunday the launch of Meta Verified, a service starting at $11.99 a month to authenticate one’s account, which follows a similar move by Elon Musk on Twitter.

“This new feature is about increasing authenticity and security across our services,” Zuckerberg wrote in a statement posted to Facebook and Instagram.

Meta Verified will be rolled out in Australia and New Zealand this week before coming to markets in the United States and other countries.

Subscribers will get a badge indicating their account has been verified with a government ID, extra protection against impersonation, direct access to customer support and more visibility, according to the company.

The social media giant said the service would be primarily aimed at content creators looking to expand their presence on the platforms and could see adjustments after a test phase.

There would be no changes to accounts on Facebook and Instagram that are already verified, the company said, adding that only users who are over the age of 18 will be allowed to subscribe. The service is not yet available to businesses.

It was not immediately clear how Zuckerberg planned to price Meta Verified in countries where users cannot afford to pay $12 a month, or in cash-based economies where they may have fewer ways to get the money to Meta.

Musk’s initial attempts to launch a similar service at rival social media network Twitter last year backfired, with an embarrassing spate of fake accounts that scared advertisers and cast doubt on the site’s future.

He was forced to briefly suspend the effort before relaunching it to muted reception in December.

‘Free’?

Facebook helped establish the dominant model of large platforms on the internet today, which sees users benefit from “free” services that collect their data to sell personalized ad space.

It is a model that has earned the company, along with other advertising titans such as Google, tens of billions of dollars a year.

For years the Facebook homepage proudly declared that the site was “free and always will be.”

But in 2019 the company quietly ditched the slogan. At the time experts suggested it was because the value of users’ personal data meant the site was never truly free.

In 2022, Meta saw its ad revenue decline for the first time since the California-based group went public in 2012.

The company recently announced that the number of Facebook’s daily users hit two billion — but between inflation eating into advertisers’ budgets and fierce competition from apps such as TikTok, those users are not bringing in as much revenue as they used to.

The company has also suffered from regulatory changes introduced by iPhone maker Apple, which restrict the ability of social networks to collect data and sell advertising.

Similar factors have already pushed other networks, from Reddit to Snapchat as well as Twitter, to launch paid plans.

Meta is also under pressure for making a huge gamble on the metaverse, the world of virtual reality that Zuckerberg believes will be the next frontier online.

‘Not a small fee’

Investors last year punished Meta, sending the company’s share price down by an astonishing two-thirds over 12 months, but the stock has recovered some ground in 2023.

Meta announced in November it would lay off 11,000 employees, or 13 percent of its staff — the largest worker reduction in the company’s history.

Meta Verified will be cheaper on the web than on mobile applications because of commissions taken by Apple on the iPhone or Google on smartphones operated by its Android system.

Zuckerberg said it would cost $11.99 on the web, and $14.99 per month on iOS or Android.

The company said it doesn’t expect to make significant revenue from the service during the test phase but that it is part of diversification efforts.

“Personally, I think it’s more about diversifying revenue,” said Carolina Milanesi, an analyst at Creative Strategies.

After Twitter launched its subscription, other social media groups thought “well, we might as well try,” she told AFP.

“Justifying that from a creator perspective I think is more of a marketing pitch than of true value to creators,” she added.

Platforms are fighting for users and influencers that draw their attention.

But for Milanesi, the Meta Verified offers are “a weird mix.”

“I don’t know if it gives enough to one category (of users) to justify the amount of money, which is not a small fee.”

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Elon Musk lands in Tel Aviv to meet Israeli president, families of hostages

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Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has begun his wartime visit to Israel as he landed in Tel Aviv on Monday to discuss “rising antisemitism” on social media with Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

During his visit to Tel Aviv, the tech billionaire will also meet the relatives of the hostages held by Hamas following their October 7 attack. 

“In their meeting, the president will emphasise the need to act to combat rising antisemitism online,” said President Herzog’s office on Sunday after announcing the meeting with Musk.

His meeting comes after the tech guru was accused by civil rights groups of amplifying anti-Jewish hatred on the microblogging website X, formerly known as Twitter.

The tweet accused Jews of promoting hatred against whites, and Musk’s reply, acknowledging the statement as the “actual truth,” triggered a fierce online backlash.

Musk, later defending himself against accusations of anti-semitism, asserted that such claims were “nothing could be further from the truth.” He clarified his intentions, expressing goodwill towards humanity and a desire for a prosperous future for all.

In an effort to counterbalance the controversy, Musk announced his commitment to donating advertising revenue from his company, X, to hospitals in Israel and Gaza.

Last week, Israeli media reported that Musk would visit Israel this week, with plans to tour Gaza border towns.

According to N12, the Tesla magnate was expected to engage in discussions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Herzog during his visit.

Additionally, Musk had previously pledged to provide internet satellite connectivity to Gaza’s remaining civilians and humanitarian workers.

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Here’s how WhatsApp plans to enhance display of profile info

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To further enhance user experience, WhatsApp is working on a new update to further enhance the display of profile information by acting on the user feedback and incorporating desired updates into the platform.

The development was discovered via the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.25.11 update available on the Google Play Store, reported WaBetaInfo.

The meta-owned platform is working to allow the displaying of profile information within conversations beneath the contact name.

Once introduced, the feature will provide users with an easier and faster way to interact with profile information when it is made visible in our conversations.

— WaBetaInfo
— WaBetaInfo

Users would be able to easily view the profile information within the chat rather than having to navigate to the chat info screen. 

Furthermore, this enhances visibility in the event that users have recently updated their profile information, guaranteeing that those involved in the conversation are promptly informed of any modifications.

It is significant to remember that the user’s privacy settings will only permit the display of this information.

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OpenAI’s ChatGPT offers human-like voice feature for all regular iOS, Android users

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OpenAI has rolled out a significant update for ChatGPT, enabling regular users on both iOS and Android devices to engage with the chatbot using a human-like voice. 

Initially introduced in September, the voice feature was exclusively available to Plus and Enterprise users until yesterday. This expansion signifies a milestone in ChatGPT’s accessibility, allowing a broader audience to experience conversational capabilities in voice mode.

To activate the voice feature, users will find a headphone icon at the bottom right of the screen upon opening ChatGPT. Clicking on it prompts users to choose from five distinct voice options: Juniper, Ember, Breeze, Cove, and Sky, representing a spectrum from feminine to masculine. Users can easily switch between these options later.

The interaction with the voice assistant is visually engaging, with a grey circle appearing in the centre, transforming into a white cloud-like image while the chatbot processes information. 

The voice assistant, exemplified by options like Sky with a raspy voice, introduces a more human-like element, including pauses during responses, fostering a conversational experience.

Despite the innovative leap, some users noted that the voice function occasionally prompted assistance queries even when the user remained silent, and there was a lack of a clear mechanism to turn off the application. 

However, the flexibility to exit the app while keeping it active in the background enhances multitasking possibilities, catering to scenarios where users may want information while engaged in other activities.

This move towards a voice-centric interaction marks a departure from traditional text-based chatting, offering a more natural and engaging conversational AI experience. 

OpenAI’s decision to make this feature available to a wider user base underscores the evolution of ChatGPT, positioning it as a versatile and accessible tool for diverse interactions.

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