SOCIAL
Cambodian PM Hun Sen dumps Facebook on eve of poll campaign

Cambodia’s longtime Prime Minister Hun Sen vows he will no longer post on social media giant Facebook, saying he will use Telegram and TikTok instead as he ramps up his latest re-election campaign – Copyright AFP Nhac NGUYEN
Cambodian leader Hun Sen, a prolific Facebook user, vowed on Thursday to quit posting on the popular social media platform, days before he launches a re-election campaign.
Facebook announced Thursday it would be removing one of Hun Sen’s videos in line with a ruling by its independent Oversight Board, which said the video contained “unequivocal statements of intent to commit violence” against his political opponents.
Cambodia will go to the polls on July 23 in an election that has been widely dubbed a sham after authorities denied registration to the chief challenger to Hun Sen’s ruling Cambodian People’s Party.
Hun Sen is among the world’s longest-serving leaders and, after 38 years in power, is on the cusp of retiring. His son Hun Manet is slated to lead the kingdom in the future.
Hun Sen announced he will now use the Telegram app to relay his political messages to supporters, and TikTok to engage with youth.
“From now on, I will no longer post on Facebook,” Hun Sen told thousands of garment workers at an event.
His Telegram channel has 860,000 followers and he has ramped up activity in recent months, posting pictures and political messages.
Hun Sen, who will kick off his re-election campaign on Saturday, said the Telegram app was “more efficient compared to Facebook”.
His Facebook page — which remains online — was launched in 2015 after his opponents, particularly exiled opposition leader Sam Rainsy, used the platform to successfully reach younger voters.
It has 14 million followers but the account has been dogged by allegations that a significant chunk of fans come from “click farms” — networks of fake and real users controlled by digital middlemen who sell likes.
Hun Sen’s move away from Facebook came as the Oversight Board for Meta, Facebook’s parent company, recommended his Facebook and Instagram accounts be suspended for six months due to a video where he is seen threatening to beat up opposition politicians.
In January, Hun Sen warned opponents that they would face legal action or a beating with sticks if they accused his party of vote theft in July’s national polls.
Meta’s Oversight Board, an independent panel funded by the company and whose decisions are binding, on Thursday overturned the social network’s decision to leave the video up based on “newsworthiness” and recommended the six-month ban on Hun Sen’s accounts.
“Given the severity of the violation, Hun Sen’s history of committing human rights violations and intimidating political opponents, as well as his strategic use of social media to amplify such threats, the Board calls on Meta to immediately suspend Hun Sen’s Facebook page and Instagram account for six months,” an Oversight Board statement said.
Hours later, Meta said it would comply with the decision regarding removing the content.
“We will conduct a review of all the recommendations provided by the board in addition to its decision, and respond to the board’s recommendation on suspending Prime Minister Hun Sen’s accounts as soon as we have undertaken that analysis,” said a statement.
– ‘High stakes’ –
Sebastian Strangio, the author of “Hun Sen’s Cambodia”, said the timing of Hun Sen’s withdrawal indicated it was likely a preemptive response to the Oversight Board’s decision.
“Otherwise, Hun Sen’s social media pivot to Telegram and TikTok seems to reflect the broader trajectory of Cambodia’s foreign policy over the past two decades: away from the West, and toward China and Russia,” he told AFP.
“Based on their track record, it is much less likely that these two platforms will restrict Hun Sen from using them as he sees fit, including as a vehicle for baiting, goading, and threatening his opponents.”
On Thursday, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said the move was a “face-off between Big Tech and a dictator over human rights issues” that was “long overdue”.
“The stakes are high because plenty of real world harm is caused when an authoritarian uses social media to incite violence — as we have already seen far too many times in Cambodia,” HRW’s Deputy Asia Director Phil Robertson said.
Rights groups also accuse Hun Sen of using the legal system to crush opposition.
Hun Sen’s party won every seat in the 2018 national election after the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party was dissolved.
SOCIAL
TikTok Encourages Creators To Make Longer Videos, With Focus On Ad Revenue 11/30/2023

A new report by The Information shows the company’s recent efforts to convince
creators to put out longer videos in order to provide more room for ad placements.
According to the …
SOCIAL
X Adds Option To Embed Videos in Isolation From Posts

Next time you go to embed an X post, you may notice a new step:
Now, X will enable you to choose whether you want to embed the video element in isolation, or the whole post, as normal.
And if you do choose to embed just the video (or GIF), it’ll look like this:
Which could be a helpful way to present X-originated video on third-party websites, and add context to, say, your blog post, without the clutter of the full X framing.
But it could also reduce brand exposure for X, which is likely why Twitter didn’t enable this before, though it did once provide an “embedded video widget” which essentially served the same purpose.

Twitter gradually seemed to phase that out as the platform evolved, and there’s no specific reason that I can find as to why it removed it as an option. But either way, now, it’s back, so you have more options for using X-originated content, and putting more focus on video elements specifically.
Though I don’t know why they didn’t also take the opportunity to remove the ‘Tweet’ reference. Since the re-brand to X, the platform seems to have gone to little effort to weed out all the tweet and bird terminology, but then again, with 80% fewer staff, that’s probably understandable as well.
SOCIAL
TikTok stars are using Fanova to generate income from social media

Image courtesy of Fanova
Opinions expressed by Digital Journal contributors are their own.
In recent years, Latin American influencers and content creators have witnessed a remarkable surge in popularity. Despite boasting substantial and highly engaged fan bases, these influencers often find themselves in the shadows, overlooked for lucrative brand deals and partnerships. This oversight is especially pronounced, given their substantial influence over a diverse, global audience.
The moment is ripe for these creators to carve out a dedicated space where they can effectively monetize their exceptional talents. Such a platform would empower Latin American influencers and create fresh opportunities for profound collaborations and enhanced engagement with audiences worldwide.
This is where Fanova comes into play, revolutionizing the Latin American creator economy. In an environment where the creator market is still in its nascent stage, and many talented individuals remain underserved, Fanova is pioneering a new era for creators to make real money doing what they love.
Latin America’s creative minds have often found their potential hindered by a lack of opportunities. Fanova is here to break the barriers and provide a platform that allows them to monetize their content and recognize the value of their unique talents. The creator economy in the region is brimming with untapped potential, and Fanova seeks to unleash it. Creators with massive, loyal followings often find themselves unable to monetize their social media presence effectively or are overlooked by brand deals. Fanova aims to change that narrative.
With Fanova, creators have the freedom to set their monthly subscription prices, giving them the ability to provide exclusive content to their most devoted fans while ensuring a steady, reliable income month after month. Additionally, they have the flexibility to establish their own pricing for direct messages, creating a direct avenue for intimate one-on-one interactions with their followers.
By using Fanova, creators can deepen their connection with their audience by sharing a wide range of captivating content, such as behind-the-scenes glimpses, travel adventures, workout routines, insightful blogs, engaging podcasts, exclusive photos, and much more. It’s a dynamic platform that enables creators to monetize their craft and foster a stronger, more personal bond with their fan base.
Fanova is attracting top talent in the Latin American creator economy. Melissa Andress recently joined the platform. Renowned as @melissaandress on Instagram and @melipandaa on TikTok, Melissa boasts a significant and dedicated following of 1.6M and 13.7M followers, respectively. She uses Fanova to share daily behind-the-scenes of her life with her followers, treating it like a private story.
“I was immediately interested in the general concept of this platform: having a place to document behind-the-scenes content and not relying solely on brand deals seemed great to me,” Melissa explained.
Her impressive online presence has contributed to Fanova’s success in a significant way. Her engagement and credibility have introduced countless new creators and users to the platform.
Fanova is already leaving its mark in the Latin American creator economy, having attracted 150 creators. Even more impressive, Fanova has paid out over $100,000 to these creators. This is not just a promise; it’s a proven reality.
Fanova is a clean subscription platform, so nudity and explicit content is not permitted. The platform employs a team of moderators as well as artificial intelligence to monitor content.
For creators in Latin America, Fanova represents a new beginning. It’s an opportunity to be part of a transformative journey where your passion can be your paycheck. It’s a place where talent meets technology, and creators are valued. The new application is leading the charge to monetize content in Latin America, one passion at a time. For more information, visit www.fanova.io.
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