SOCIAL
Facebook Pushes Ahead with Plans for Full End-to-End Encryption of its Messaging Tools


Despite ongoing concerns about the proposal among various authorities, Facebook is pushing ahead with its plan to implement full end-to-end encryption by default within all of its messaging tools.
Within an overview of a recent virtual workshop Facebook held with experts in privacy, safety, human rights and consumer protection, the company noted that:
“We’re working hard to bring default end-to-end encryption to all of our messaging services. This will protect people’s private messages and mean only the sender and recipient, not even us, can access their messages. While we expect to make more progress on default end-to-end encryption for Messenger and Instagram Direct this year, it’s a long-term project and we won’t be fully end-to-end encrypted until sometime in 2022 at the earliest.”
The news of Facebook’s continued work on this front will please privacy advocates – but as noted, various authorities have raised significant concerns with the plan, with respect to how such a process could be used to hide criminal activity, with no way for authorities to track such exchanges.
Which maybe they shouldn’t have – but then again…
Facebook first announced its messaging encryption plan in March 2019, as part of a move towards facilitating more data transfer options via its messaging tools.
As explained by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg:
“End-to-end encryption is an important tool in developing a privacy-focused social network. Encryption is decentralizing – it limits services like ours from seeing the content flowing through them and makes it much harder for anyone else to access your information. This is why encryption is an increasingly important part of our online lives, from banking to healthcare services.”
So the focus of the project, at least initially, seemed to be on expanding the use of messaging in new ways, like funds transfers and eCommerce, which aligns with Facebook’s broader efforts to make its messaging tools the key connector in regions like India and Indonesia, where digital adoption is on the rise.
But immediately, various organizations sounded the alarm, noting that full encryption would make Facebook’s tools a safe haven for criminal activity.
In October 2019, representatives from the US, UK and Australia co-signed an open letter to Facebook which called on the company to abandon its end-to-end encryption plans, arguing that it would:
“…put our citizens and societies at risk by severely eroding capacity to detect and respond to illegal content and activity, such as child sexual exploitation and abuse, terrorism, and foreign adversaries’ attempts to undermine democratic values and institutions, preventing the prosecution of offenders and safeguarding of victims.”
The Governments of each region called for Facebook to provide, at the least, ‘backdoor access’ for official investigations, which Facebook has refused.
The debate over the proposal has raged on ever since, with the UK’s digital minister recently warning that he has “very grave concerns” about Facebook’s plan, while the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children has argued that move sees the tech giant prioritizing the privacy of adults over their duty of care to children.
As per NSPCC chief executive Peter Wanless:
“Private messaging is at the front line of child sexual abuse, but the current debate around end-to-end encryption risks leaving children unprotected where there is most harm.”
That’s the most compelling, and important argument against the move at present. By providing full encryption across all of its messaging apps, Facebook would essentially hide all communications by predators and those who would seek to use such systems for child exploitation, which could then lead to an expansion of such activity.
Of course, WhatsApp messages are already end-to-end encrypted by default, so you could equally argue that such capacity already exists. But then again, the expansion of such to all messaging platforms, in alignment with Facebook’s plan to integrate all of its messaging tools into a single platform, would greatly boost this capacity, which underlines the stated concerns.
The argument then comes down to your personal feelings on the matter. Is Facebook looking to implement full encryption to better protect user information, or is it looking to boost its own business potential, with a focus on making people more comfortable in transferring private data, like financial and health information?
Another argument is that full encryption would enable Facebook to escape scrutiny around what’s being shared – if it has no way of knowing what users are sharing with each other via messages, it can’t be held responsible for such either.
Again, it comes down to your perspective – will encryption provide protection for criminals, or should Facebook be looking to provide more data privacy, in line with rising industry shifts?
As an aside, it’s interesting to note Facebook’s pushback against Apple’s new ATT prompts, which provide more data privacy options for users, while also advocating for increased user privacy in messages.
One way or another, it seems that Facebook is going to test how much authorities are really opposed to its plan.
SOCIAL
Who is HRH Collection founder and YouTuber, Alexandra Peirce?

ALEXANDRA Peirce proves there’s no such thing as bad publicity, garnering more fans and subscribers every time she posts one of her infamous video rants.
Peirce, known better by her social media pseudonym HRH Collection, has been an internet mainstay for years, and her fame only continues to grow after sharing more of her contentious takes online.
Who is Alexandra Peirce?
Alexandra Peirce is a social media personality, influencer, and jewelry designer.
Peirce was born on May 13, 1984, in the US.
She currently resides near Los Angeles, California.
Before launching her famous YouTube channel, Peirce graduated from college in 2007 with a degree in political science.
In 2009, she earned a master’s degree in international business.
While in graduate school, Peirce studied abroad in Shanghai, China, where she says she “fell in love with all things Asian.”
Peirce returned to the US during the peak of the 2008 economic recession, forcing her to move in with her parents.
Despite applying for countless jobs, she couldn’t land a position, leading her to create her YouTube channel.
Peirce post her first video, a “What’s in my bag” vlog where she walked viewers through everyday items she carried in her purse.
Peirce kept the channel going even after landing a job in accounting, posting videos and designing jewelry pieces during lunch breaks and after hours.
Fueled by her growing subscriber count, her design hobby would eventually turn into a full-fledged company, HRH Collection.
While Peirce now runs her jewelry line full-time, she is even better known on the internet for her viral videos, which typically show Peirce sitting in her car, ranting about anything from current events and pop culture trends to hairstyles and holidays.
Her videos are often cut up and reposted on TikTok, where select sound clips go viral.
Some of Peirce’s most well-known tirades include her take on beachy waves – “it’s not the vibe, stop!” – and her controversial views on Women’s Day – ““I think it’s stupid. I really do.”
Nevertheless, Peirce has amassed a legion of hardcore fans and haters who can’t help but watch her scream and shout her opinion on just about everything.
Peirce’s controversial videos (and views) have been compared to other un-cancellable influencers, like Trisha Paytas and Theo Von.
Who else could get away with yelling: “Shut up! Stop being fat! Stop being ugly!” at her viewers, who keep coming back for more?
It seems like no matter what she posts, or how many people disagree with her, viewers can’t help but leave her videos wanting more.
One TikTok user commented: “This woman is actually problematic but my brain is itched by the way she complains because it’s exactly how I think when I’m annoyed.”
Despite – or maybe because of – the controversies, Peirce has continued to grow her social media following.
Her Instagram account boasts 118,000 followers, despite several of her past accounts being banned or deleted.
Peirce’s X account is currently suspended, but that hasn’t stopped the internet icon from sharing her views online.
Her YouTube channel, which hosts over 600 videos, has 449,000 subscribers.
The hashtag #hrhcollection has also garnered nearly 1 billion views on TikTok, from reposted videos to sound bites.
Peirce has also garnered fame via interviews with BuzzFeed News and Interview Magazine, and appeared on podcasts like The Spillover With Alex Clark.
What is HRH Collection?
HRH Collection is a jewelry line created by Alexandra Peirce.
Besides rings, earrings, necklaces, and bracelets, the website also sells bag chains, keychains, ankle socks, t-shirts, and a windbreaker.
On the company’s about page, Peirce explains that the e-commerce site “started as a hobby and has now grown into a company that I’m so proud to call my own.”
Peirce first designed “a Japanese style frosting cupcake ring and key fob,” sharing the pieces on her YouTube channel.
Viewers were interested in purchasing the items, leading Peirce to create La Lumiere, mixing chain metals with assorted crystals to create bracelets and necklaces.
Peirce wore her jewelry to work and showcased her pieces on her social media, leading to steady stream of customers and orders.
From there, Peirce launched an Etsy shop, juggling her full time job alongside designing new pieces and fulfilling online orders.
Peirce states that she is “so thankful” for everyone who helped her along the way, but also offers some practical advice for anyone who hopes to turn their hobby into a viable career, saying she was “strategic” in developing HRH.
She writes: “Many of you guys ask me if you should quit your jobs to pursue YouTube or your other hobbies.”
“To be completely honest, I do not think you should quit your job for any hobby, until you have grown your company into one that can reasonably replace your job – this is very important.”
HRH collection features hundreds of items, with most priced between $50 and $150.
Shoppers can also select items from “Alex’s Musts,” which includes products like a $190 sterling silver tennis necklace, a trio of mixed metal rings for $87, and $59 diet soda hoops, resembling soda can tops.
Consumers looking for unique pieces are in luck, as there is a limited amount of inventory available per item, with many pieces already sold out.
Is Alexandra Peirce married?
Peirce came under fire from both her fans and haters after getting married on June 16, 2023, to her second husband, Jason Locke.
The influencer was mocked for her dress, venue, food, and overall wedding aesthetic.
She was also trolled on social media for live-streaming the event, charging users $25 to watch the party.
Peirce chose to wear a short, white, recycled Zara dress for the reception, while the groom chose to don a camouflaged Trump/Pence hat.
After a small ceremony at Bethania Lutheran Church, a reception was held in the parking lot of the Hitching Post, a BBQ joint in Buellton, California.
The eatery’s website says it is known for its wines and West Coast barbecue, and guests dined on veggies, garlic bread, and quesadillas, among other items.
Decorations were minimal, with few flowers adorning the white tent erected in the parking lot.
Each table did come with a cherry-scented ashtray candle, personalized with ‘Mr. & Mrs. Locke’ in a gothic font.
Peirce then changed into yoga pants before heading off to a local casino with her new beau and a few close friends, keeping the party going well into the morning hours.
Many users took to X to share their thoughts.
Some users called the wedding trashy, while others lamented the party’s seemingly low budget.
One user tweeted: “You had a trailer park wedding” along with a crying and skull emojis.
Another wrote: “how can hrh collection talk about anyone when her dress looks like it came out of a Zara clearance section?”
One influencer even branded the event as “the tackiest wedding ever.”
Peirce fought back, going after her online haters and critics in another one of her infamous video rants.
In a video titled Addressing The Devils, Peirce asks her viewers: “Do you think I didn’t know what my wedding was gonna be like? Like, I didn’t plan my wedding?”
“I don’t like big to-dos. I’m the least to-do person ever.”
She added: “B***h, I could fly to the f**king Maldives with every damn f**king person in my damn family and pay for everyone and not have it impact me at all, you f**king idiots.”
Peirce then stressed that her and Locke wanted to keep the wedding “casual and mellow.”
She said: “I did exactly what I wanted to do for my wedding and I would do it all exactly over again.”
Peirce ended the video by saying: “I’m happy, I’m in a really loving relationship. I basically have everything I want.”
“I have my own business, a beautiful house, I have a husband. I’m really happy right now and you guys are so vicious and mean.”
Then, in her signature fashion, she addressed her haters head-on, explaining: “I get it, because you’re miserable and ugly.”
“And you’re a loser, I understand. Life isn’t fair.”
SOCIAL
New Guide Highlights Key Considerations for Effective TikTok Ads

Looking to make TikTok a bigger focus of your marketing effort in 2024?
This will help. TikTok recently partnered with creator intelligence platform CreatorIQ to conduct an analysis of the key factors that make for a resonant TikTok promotion, culminating in a 26-page report which covers a range of key notes and tips for your planning.
You can download CreatorIQ’s full TikTok ads guide here, but in this post, we’ll look at some of the key notes.
The report is broken up into five key pillars of TikTok ads creation, which echo much of the best advice that’s been shared for the platform over time.
CreatorIQ’s five key TikTok marketing notes are:
- Grab attention from the start
- Foster a personal connection
- Show your product in action
- Use high-impact creative elements
- Close with a clear call to action
For each of these elements, the guide digs deeper into how to enact them, and the critical considerations of each, including stats on effectiveness:
Tips on TikTok-specific trends and tools:

As well as case study examples to underline each point:

It’s a handy overview, with a range of valuable notes, though the main finding, above all of the creative pointers and advice, is that established creators perform better for TikTok promotions.
As per CreatorIQ:
“The report found that creators overwhelmingly make the best-performing TikTok ads, with recommendations carrying more weight than traditional brand advertisements and celebrity spokespeople. In fact, after watching a creator-driven Spark Ad, 57% of TikTok community members say the creator is trustworthy, 56% say they can trust the brand because the creator shared it, and 71% say creator authenticity led them to buy a product.”
So while there are a heap of practical notes and pointers for increasing the resonance of your in-app promotions – like this:

The key point of emphasis is that creators make better TikToks, and thus, better ads, so partnering with relevant influencers in your niche is still likely a better way to go.
Some good considerations, and some valuable, data-backed tips, which could help to get your TikTok promotion plan on the right track in the new year.
You can download CreatorIQ’s full TikTok marketing report here.
SOCIAL
Adobe Highlights Rising Visual Trends in 2024 Creative Trends Report

Looking for creative inspiration for your 2024 strategic planning?
This will help. Today, Adobe has published its annual Creative Trends Report, which incorporates insights from Adobe’s 30 million+ Creative Cloud users, in order to determine rising visual styles of interest, which look set to resonate with audiences in the new year.
Based on its research, the Adobe team has established four creative trends that are worthy of note:
- Calming Rhythms – Fluid and flowing forms that soothe the senses and support emotional balance
- Wonder and Joy – Visuals that inspire a sense of awe, joy, and enchantment
- Dynamic Dimensions – Where all dimensions and types of content seamlessly merge
- The New Nostalgia – Contemporary interpretations of vintage styles
Adobe’s 22-page report, which you can download here (with email sign-up), provides more insight into each of these trends, along with various examples, and data that explains why they’re set to gain more momentum.
There are handy notes and insights for each, which help to illustrate how to use them in your process.

Interestingly, a lot of the images used by Adobe in the report look like they’ve been created by generative AI. I don’t know that they have, but it is worth noting the composition in this regard, as another potential means to tap into these trends.

The report provides some interesting perspective on rising visual trends, which could help in your planning. Maybe one of these resonates especially well with your branding, or aligns with what your target audience has been sharing.
Either way, some additional, data-backed considerations, which could be helpful in your process.
You can download Adobe’s “2024 Creative Trends Report” here.
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