NEWS
The social media news you’ve been missing
media update’s Taylor Goodman is here to keep you clued up on your favorite social media platforms’ latest advancements.
WhatsApp group admins may be criminally liable for sharing fake news in South Africa
The news: WhatsApp group administrators can now face jail time if they knowingly share fake news on the platform. As sharing fake news in relation to COVID-19 is a crime according to South Africa’s disaster regulations, violating this law could lead to six months in jail. This penalty may also apply to admins that are aware that false information is being shared on their group.
According to Business Insider, it has to be clear that this misinformation is being spread with malicious intent — and the administrator needs to be conscious that this information is false.
Why it’s making headlines: WhatsApp is a breeding ground for fake news and most people know someone who shares spam on Whatsapp on a daily basis — that misinformation spreads, and it spreads fast.
The spread of fake news can be detrimental to us all during this pandemic, so it is commendable that the South African government and WhatsApp are enforcing serious measures to prevent this.
Instagram launches media sharing feature: Co-watching
The news: Instagram has been making a serious effort to promote social distancing and staying in quarantine — from its stay-at-home and donation stickers for Instagram stories to its latest update, co-watching. This update will allow users to browse their Instagram feeds with their friends while on a video chat.
Why it’s making headlines: As people will be self-isolating this will be a fun and interactive way for users to pass the time.
As video communication has skyrocketed with apps like Zoom and Hangouts, Instagram decided to roll out their version sooner than planned. Co-watching will make a routine activity like scrolling through your Instagram feed more engaging as users will be able to share content with their friends.
Pinterest’s CEO plans to launch a self-reporting COVID-19
The news: Pinterest’s co-founder and CEO Ben Silbermann has teamed up with CRISPR gene-editing pioneer and MIT/Harvard Broad Institute member Dr. Feng Zhang to build the How We Feel App.
This app is free to download for Android and iOS users and makes it easy for users to report on their current state of health daily. If they are feeling unwell, they are asked about the symptoms they are experiencing, whether they have been tested for COVID-19 and if they are self-isolating. This information is then shared with doctors, healthcare professionals and scientists.
Why it’s making headlines: With many people working to flatten the curve, any attempt to ease the blow of COVID-19 is making headlines. How We Feel has the potential to track the progression and spread of the pandemic, allowing experts to gain insight into Coronavirus and identify any infection hotspots.
The project is also independently built and a non-profit that promises to donate a meal to Feeding America every time someone downloads the app for the first time.
LinkedIn makes recruitment tools free for essential businesses
The news: Popular business and employment app LinkedIn is doing its bit in lending a helping hand during the COVID-19 pandemic by offering free job posts to those working in essential services.
Those working in healthcare, supermarkets, warehousing and freight delivery services are eligible for free job listings on the platform and additional promotion to candidates that are highly qualified through an ‘urgently hiring’ category.
Why it’s making headlines: As LinkedIn generates most of its revenue through job posts, it is bound to make headlines that they are sacrificing this capital for the greater good.
Hospitals, healthcare organisations and essential workers worldwide have been overwhelmed by the demand for their services since the surge of COVID-19, and LinkedIn is working to ease their burden and reduce the stress placed on these frontline service workers during this trying time.
According to SocialMediaToday, making these job listings free will “help expedite efforts to fill roles, providing key support” and in turn, will help us fight back against COVID-19.
Facebook launches Community Help internationally
The news: Facebook has made its Community Help feature accessible to users on a global scale. This feature has been rolled out as a part of Facebook’s digital strategy to ease the burden of COVID-19.
The feature allows users to connect with each other to request help or lend a hand to those struggling at the hand of coronavirus. It also enables users to donate to non-profit organisations aimed at aiding Coronavirus victims. It has previously been used during terrorist attacks and natural disasters.
Why it’s making headlines: This is the first time Facebook will be launching Community Help internationally, making it available in the US, Canada, France, UK and Australia. This is also the first time that the feature will be used to support users during a health pandemic.
Facebook’s Community Help feature will be accessible via their COVID-19 information center found on top of the news feed. Here, users are able to access verified health information and curated, informative posts.
Google donates $6.5-million to fact-checking organizations to prevent spread of misinformation on social media
The news: In the fight against COVID-19, the spread of misinformation is public enemy number one. In order to combat this pandemic, society needs to know exactly what the virus is, how it is spread and how to prevent catching it. Despite this, the spread of fake news is still rife on social media.
This makes Google’s donation to outlets like The International Fact-Checking Network, the American Association for the Advancement of Science and First Draft so meaningful.
These organisations are fact-checking and nonprofits that prevent the spread of misinformation relating to the Coronavirus. According to Social Media Today, this donation will assist in boosting the capacity of fact-checkers and amplifying authoritative voices.
Why it’s making headlines: As Google is usually the first place people go to verify information, it is meaningful that they would go to these lengths to ensure that the information their users receive is verified.
The implementation of this fact-checking system will also be particularly useful on social media, where fake news and misinformation is too easily accessible and spreads like wildfire.
Are there any breaking social media news stories that you think we missed out on? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Want to catch up on more important social media news? Be sure to check out Social media news you missed: March recap
*Image courtesy of Vecteezy
NEWS
OpenAI Introduces Fine-Tuning for GPT-4 and Enabling Customized AI Models
OpenAI has today announced the release of fine-tuning capabilities for its flagship GPT-4 large language model, marking a significant milestone in the AI landscape. This new functionality empowers developers to create tailored versions of GPT-4 to suit specialized use cases, enhancing the model’s utility across various industries.
Fine-tuning has long been a desired feature for developers who require more control over AI behavior, and with this update, OpenAI delivers on that demand. The ability to fine-tune GPT-4 allows businesses and developers to refine the model’s responses to better align with specific requirements, whether for customer service, content generation, technical support, or other unique applications.
Why Fine-Tuning Matters
GPT-4 is a very flexible model that can handle many different tasks. However, some businesses and developers need more specialized AI that matches their specific language, style, and needs. Fine-tuning helps with this by letting them adjust GPT-4 using custom data. For example, companies can train a fine-tuned model to keep a consistent brand tone or focus on industry-specific language.
Fine-tuning also offers improvements in areas like response accuracy and context comprehension. For use cases where nuanced understanding or specialized knowledge is crucial, this can be a game-changer. Models can be taught to better grasp intricate details, improving their effectiveness in sectors such as legal analysis, medical advice, or technical writing.
Key Features of GPT-4 Fine-Tuning
The fine-tuning process leverages OpenAI’s established tools, but now it is optimized for GPT-4’s advanced architecture. Notable features include:
- Enhanced Customization: Developers can precisely influence the model’s behavior and knowledge base.
- Consistency in Output: Fine-tuned models can be made to maintain consistent formatting, tone, or responses, essential for professional applications.
- Higher Efficiency: Compared to training models from scratch, fine-tuning GPT-4 allows organizations to deploy sophisticated AI with reduced time and computational cost.
Additionally, OpenAI has emphasized ease of use with this feature. The fine-tuning workflow is designed to be accessible even to teams with limited AI experience, reducing barriers to customization. For more advanced users, OpenAI provides granular control options to achieve highly specialized outputs.
Implications for the Future
The launch of fine-tuning capabilities for GPT-4 signals a broader shift toward more user-centric AI development. As businesses increasingly adopt AI, the demand for models that can cater to specific business needs, without compromising on performance, will continue to grow. OpenAI’s move positions GPT-4 as a flexible and adaptable tool that can be refined to deliver optimal value in any given scenario.
By offering fine-tuning, OpenAI not only enhances GPT-4’s appeal but also reinforces the model’s role as a leading AI solution across diverse sectors. From startups seeking to automate niche tasks to large enterprises looking to scale intelligent systems, GPT-4’s fine-tuning capability provides a powerful resource for driving innovation.
OpenAI announced that fine-tuning GPT-4o will cost $25 for every million tokens used during training. After the model is set up, it will cost $3.75 per million input tokens and $15 per million output tokens. To help developers get started, OpenAI is offering 1 million free training tokens per day for GPT-4o and 2 million free tokens per day for GPT-4o mini until September 23. This makes it easier for developers to try out the fine-tuning service.
As AI continues to evolve, OpenAI’s focus on customization and adaptability with GPT-4 represents a critical step in making advanced AI accessible, scalable, and more aligned with real-world applications. This new capability is expected to accelerate the adoption of AI across industries, creating a new wave of AI-driven solutions tailored to specific challenges and opportunities.
This Week in Search News: Simple and Easy-to-Read Update
Here’s what happened in the world of Google and search engines this week:
1. Google’s June 2024 Spam Update
Google finished rolling out its June 2024 spam update over a period of seven days. This update aims to reduce spammy content in search results.
2. Changes to Google Search Interface
Google has removed the continuous scroll feature for search results. Instead, it’s back to the old system of pages.
3. New Features and Tests
- Link Cards: Google is testing link cards at the top of AI-generated overviews.
- Health Overviews: There are more AI-generated health overviews showing up in search results.
- Local Panels: Google is testing AI overviews in local information panels.
4. Search Rankings and Quality
- Improving Rankings: Google said it can improve its search ranking system but will only do so on a large scale.
- Measuring Quality: Google’s Elizabeth Tucker shared how they measure search quality.
5. Advice for Content Creators
- Brand Names in Reviews: Google advises not to avoid mentioning brand names in review content.
- Fixing 404 Pages: Google explained when it’s important to fix 404 error pages.
6. New Search Features in Google Chrome
Google Chrome for mobile devices has added several new search features to enhance user experience.
7. New Tests and Features in Google Search
- Credit Card Widget: Google is testing a new widget for credit card information in search results.
- Sliding Search Results: When making a new search query, the results might slide to the right.
8. Bing’s New Feature
Bing is now using AI to write “People Also Ask” questions in search results.
9. Local Search Ranking Factors
Menu items and popular times might be factors that influence local search rankings on Google.
10. Google Ads Updates
- Query Matching and Brand Controls: Google Ads updated its query matching and brand controls, and advertisers are happy with these changes.
- Lead Credits: Google will automate lead credits for Local Service Ads. Google says this is a good change, but some advertisers are worried.
- tROAS Insights Box: Google Ads is testing a new insights box for tROAS (Target Return on Ad Spend) in Performance Max and Standard Shopping campaigns.
- WordPress Tag Code: There is a new conversion code for Google Ads on WordPress sites.
These updates highlight how Google and other search engines are continuously evolving to improve user experience and provide better advertising tools.
Facebook Faces Yet Another Outage: Platform Encounters Technical Issues Again
Uppdated: It seems that today’s issues with Facebook haven’t affected as many users as the last time. A smaller group of people appears to be impacted this time around, which is a relief compared to the larger incident before. Nevertheless, it’s still frustrating for those affected, and hopefully, the issues will be resolved soon by the Facebook team.
Facebook had another problem today (March 20, 2024). According to Downdetector, a website that shows when other websites are not working, many people had trouble using Facebook.
This isn’t the first time Facebook has had issues. Just a little while ago, there was another problem that stopped people from using the site. Today, when people tried to use Facebook, it didn’t work like it should. People couldn’t see their friends’ posts, and sometimes the website wouldn’t even load.
Downdetector, which watches out for problems on websites, showed that lots of people were having trouble with Facebook. People from all over the world said they couldn’t use the site, and they were not happy about it.
When websites like Facebook have problems, it affects a lot of people. It’s not just about not being able to see posts or chat with friends. It can also impact businesses that use Facebook to reach customers.
Since Facebook owns Messenger and Instagram, the problems with Facebook also meant that people had trouble using these apps. It made the situation even more frustrating for many users, who rely on these apps to stay connected with others.
During this recent problem, one thing is obvious: the internet is always changing, and even big websites like Facebook can have problems. While people wait for Facebook to fix the issue, it shows us how easily things online can go wrong. It’s a good reminder that we should have backup plans for staying connected online, just in case something like this happens again.
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