While Mark Zuckerberg interviewed Anthony Fauci on Facebook, some users posted comments spreading vaccine misinformation and conspiracy theories (FB)

July 16, 2020, 4:14 pm

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Mark Zuckerberg interviewed Dr. Anthony Fauci on Facebook Live about the pandemic on Thursday.
But as they spoke, some users posted comments that spread conspiracy theories about coronavirus and falsely claimed vaccines are dangerous.
The incident highlights how Facebook's open platform can contribute to the spread of dangerous misinformation, even when the company is trying to educate the public with advice from authoritative sources.
The majority of the comments were positive, but some users claimed that the vaccine would make people sick and that Fauci was profiting off of the pandemic.

Mark Zuckerberg interviewed top US immunologist Dr. Anthony Fauci on Thursday, in a livestreamed discussion about the state of the coronavirus pandemic, the progress of vaccine development, and safety steps ordinary people should take to combat COVID-19.

Meanwhile, a very different discussion was taking place in the comments below.

As Zuckerberg and Fauci chatted on Facebook Live, dozens of Facebook users reacted in real time by spreading misinformation about vaccines, conspiracy theories about Fauci and Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates profiting off the virus, and other medical falsehoods.

The comments highlight how Facebook's live conversation tools can become vectors for the spread of dangerous misinformation — even when it is being used with the intention of sharing reliable information about medicine and health from experts with the general public.

To be clear, the vast majority of Facebook users commenting as the interview took place were overwhelmingly positive. Some announced their adoration for Fauci, who has been openly attacked by White House officials; some thanked Zuckerberg for holding the interview; and others raised legitimate questions for Zuckerberg to ask Fauci, such as advice on schools reopening across the US.

But mixed in with the innocent commenters were also people sharing bogus advice and conspiracy theories about coronavirus.

Some cast doubts about the purported dangers of vaccines. "No doctor or government injecting me with a disease. I don't take the flu/pneumonia vaccination either. People get sick after receiving the annual vaccination," one wrote (Business Insider is not naming the commenters as they are not public figures).

"Smart people will build their own immunity and skip the vaccine," said another. "It should be required that all parties involved in bringing a vaccine to market be willing to take the vaccine themselves (and give to their families) prior to distributing it to the masses," wrote a third. (Vaccines are rigorously tested before being made available to the general public.)

Others questioned the motives of Zuckerberg, Fauci, and Bill Gates, who invests heavily in public health and has become a bogeyman for anti-vaccine conspiracy theorists — suggesting that they're profiting off it, or even started the pandemic themselves. "Dr. Fauci isn't as great as everyone thinks he is. Just cause he's a 'dr' doesn't mean shit! Of course he's going to push for a vaccine so he can make bank. Don't just blindly follow what he says," wrote a user.

"How can it be safe when it has been rushed through in record speed. Why doesn't Bill Gates vaccinate his own family when he is such an investor and advocate for them" said another. "Fauci already admitted he lied. He's going to drag this out as long as possible. He said it was coming way ahead of time. Wouldn't be surprised if he helped release it," a different user added.

Facebook has struggled with how to handle misinformation for years — from political disinformation spread by Russian agents during the 2016 US election to vaccine denialists sharing bogus warnings about the false dangers of mainstream medicine.

The company has taken significant steps to promote more reliable information relating to coronavirus, including building a prominently displayed "Coronavirus Information Center" to share reliable information from authoritative sources, as well as interviews conducted by Zuckerberg with experts — like Thursday's with Dr. Fauci.

"As the coronavirus impacts communities around the world, we're focused on connecting people to accurate, authoritative information however we can, whether that's through products like the COVID-19 Information Center and the WHO Health Alert on WhatsApp, or through conversations Mark is having with government and health officials on his Facebook page," a spokesperson told Business Insider about the strategy in April.

But the vaccine denialists commenting on Thursday's livestream show that Facebook's open approach to fostering conversation can have its drawbacks — undermining even America's top infectious disease expert, and turning an nominally educational interview with him into an opportunity to disseminate falsehoods.

A Facebook spokesperson did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment on how it polices the comments on livestreams.

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Brian Chesky says Airbnb's IPO is back on track. Here's why it might want to go public soon – and why it might want to hold off. (BKNG, EXPE, MAR, HLT, LUV, AAL, LMND, VRM, NCNO)

July 16, 2020, 4:30 pm

≫ Next: Mark Zuckerberg called the Trump administration's response to COVID-19 'really disappointing' in a Facebook interview with Anthony Fauci (FB)

≪ Previous: While Mark Zuckerberg interviewed Anthony Fauci on Facebook, some users posted comments spreading vaccine misinformation and conspiracy theories (FB)

Airbnb has resumed preparations for an initial public offering, company CEO Brian Chesky told employees Wednesday.
After being hit hard by the coronavirus crisis, Airbnb's business has bounced back, Chesky and the company have said.
There are good reasons for the company to go through with its offering — the stock market has rebounded, recent tech-related IPOs have done well, and Airbnb employees run the risk that some of their options will expire and become worthless if the company doesn't debut this year.
But there are reasons why the company might want to push back the IPO, such as the fact that travel-related stocks haven't recovered from the crisis, it's unclear how investors will receive a company that got hit hard by the pandemic, and there's a risk that the uptick in cases in the US and other countries will harm Airbnb's businesses.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky wants everyone to know that his company could still go public this year.

Whether it should is another matter entirely.

Chesky told company employees Wednesday that Airbnb's business has rebounded from the severe hit it took from the coronavirus crisis, according to a report in the New York Times. As a result, its much-anticipated initial public offering is back on track, he said.

"We are resuming this work" of preparing for an IPO, Chesky said in an email to employees that was shared with Business Insider by a company representative. "We're not committing to going public this year, but we're not ruling it out. When the market is ready, we will be ready. We were down, but we're not out."

It's worth noting that Chesky did not actually provide a concrete timeframe for its IPO. Will it happen in 2020? or 2021? Airbnb isn't "ruling out" an IPO this year, but it's taking a pretty low-risk approach to declaring a "revival" in its home-sharing business.

In addition to sharing the email with Business Insider, Airbnb allowed a New York Times reporter to attend the employee event, so it seems pretty clear Chesky wanted the news of Airbnb's comeback to be broadcast widely.

Airbnb has rebounded from the crisis

There's little doubt that Airbnb is in much better shape than it was even just a few months ago. In response to the spreading COVID-19 pandemic, governments around the world restricted the movement of their citizens, essentially quashing the travel business worldwide.

Airbnb, like other travel companies, was hit hard. It cancelled numerous reservations, saw new bookings plunge, and Chesky warned that its revenue this year would be cut by more than half. To shore up its business, the online travel company cut 1,900 jobs, laid off hundred contract workers, and slashed its marketing budget. With the company in real danger of burning through its cash in a prolonged downturn, it raised $2 billion by selling debt at high interest rates.

But things started looking up for the company in May as US states and countries around the world began to lift their restrictions on travel and commercial activity. By mid-May, the number of global bookings made each week for short-term rentals — Airbnb's core business — had bounced back almost to the levels they were at before the pandemic.

Data the company released more recently indicates its business has only improved since then. On July 8, customers booked 1 million nights worth of reservations through Airbnb, the first time the company had seen that volume of bookings since March 3, the company said this week. And from June 1 to June 20, the number of US bookings on Airbnb for reservations that would accommodate at least one child was up 43% from the same period a year earlier, it said earlier this month.

With business picking up, with the additional funds in its coffers, and with its decreased expenses, Airbnb is almost certainly out of its near-term cash crisis.

Airbnb has good reasons to go public soon

And the fact is there are good reasons for it to go public sooner, rather than later. Like Airbnb's business, the stock market has rebounded from the beating it took this spring from the coronavirus crisis. The Nasdaq is well above its pre-pandemic peak and is trading near its all-time high and the S&P 500 is near its pre-pandemic highs.

Meanwhile, recent tech-related IPOs have been a hit with investors. NCino, a financial technology company, saw its share price nearly triple on its public market debut earlier this week. Online insurance company Lemonade's stock more than doubled on its first day of trading earlier this month. So too did online used vehicle trading site Vroom after it went public last month.

While none of those companies were likely as affected by the coronavirus crisis as Airbnb was, they were all losing money even before the crisis. Chesky and his investors have almost certainly been watching those developments closely and fantasizing about how their own company — one of the best known and most highly valued private firms — would fare with public investors.

Chesky has another reason to press forward with an IPO — employee pressure. Reportedly a significant portion of stock options awarded to some of the company's earliest employees are set to expire later this year. Much of the compensation that employees see at startups comes in the form of shares and options; many trade higher cash salaries for the chance that they'll see a big payoff when the startup goes public.

The easiest way for Airbnb employees to be able to realize the value of those soon-to-expire shares would be for the company to go public; if it doesn't go public, there's a risk that they'll lose the chance to cash them in.

But there are reasons why Airbnb should wait

All that said, as Chesky indicated, it's not a sure thing that Airbnb will go public this year. And there are some good reasons why it might want to delay its debut.

While investors have been hot for tech-related IPOs lately, the companies that hit the markets were not among those that were hardest hit by the coronavirus crisis. It's unclear what investors will make of the public debut of a company that was particularly affected by the pandemic — especially if it attempts to go out before it can show a decent track record of recovery and renewed growth.

One potentially ominous sign for Airbnb is that the market remains down on travel companies. The share prices of the major carriers such as American Airlines and Southwest Airlines; the hotel chains, such as Hilton and Marriott; and the online reservation companies such as Expedia and Booking Holdings, are all still well off the levels they were at pre-pandemic. While Airbnb might be seeing a speedier recovery than those companies, investors are likely going to value it in part on the worth of those and similar peer companies.

Another worry for Airbnb is that the pandemic hasn't gone away. While many countries have gotten the coronavirus under control, cases are exploding in the US, as well as in India, Brazil, and much of Latin America. In many of those Latin American countries, bookings have yet to bounce back after dropping off due to the pandemic, according to data from AirDNA, an industry research firm.

In the US, while bookings surged in May and early June, they've tailed off in more recent weeks, according to AirDNA's data. That's likely due mostly to a mix of a return to normalcy after many Americans scratched their itch to get out and a seasonal slowdown, said Scott Shatford, CEO of the industry research firm.

But the coronavirus could be playing a role too — and may play an even bigger one in coming months. Already, some states have started to reverse their reopening plans and reinstate restrictions on certain types of businesses. Further restrictions, including the re-imposition of shelter-in-place orders, are being debated or urged in some of the hardest hit areas.

There's a lot of uncertainty over what the "new normal" is going to look like in terms of people's lives and movements and what that's going to mean for the travel business, Shatford said.

"Nobody has a crystal ball right now to see what it looks like three months from now," he said.

And should Airbnb's business weaken again, that could undermine its effort to go public.

So, yes, things look better for the company right now. And Chesky is right to be relieved. But don't be surprised if Airbnb stays private a while longer.

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Mark Zuckerberg called the Trump administration's response to COVID-19 'really disappointing' in a Facebook interview with Anthony Fauci (FB)

July 16, 2020, 5:15 pm

≫ Next: SoulCycle poster child Soeuraya Wilson quit on Instagram saying she's tired of being 'used' by a company that only supports activism 'when it is convenient for their bottom line' — we spoke to 2 Black instructors who agree

≪ Previous: Brian Chesky says Airbnb's IPO is back on track. Here's why it might want to go public soon – and why it might want to hold off. (BKNG, EXPE, MAR, HLT, LUV, AAL, LMND, VRM, NCNO)

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the Trump administration's response to the pandemic is "very disappointing."
Zuckerberg called out the US's failure to ramp up COVID-19 testing, as well as the White House's attacks on its scientists.
He made the remarks in an interview with Dr. Anthony Fauci that was livestreamed on Facebook.
"Now that we're here in July, I just think it was avoidable, and it's really disappointing that we still don't have adequate testing," Zuckerberg said.

Mark Zuckerberg attacked President Donald Trump's response to the pandemic as "very disappointing."

In an interview with top US immunologist Anthony Fauci livestreamed on Facebook on Thursday, the 36-year-old chief executive criticized the White House for the slow pace of testing, as well as the recent attacks on Fauci by administration officials.

"I was certainly sympathetic early on when it was clear that there would be some outbreaks no matter how well we handle this," Zuckerberg said.

"But you know, now that we're here in July, I just think it was avoidable, and it's really disappointing that we still don't have adequate testing, and the credibility of our top scientists like yourself and the CDC is being undermined, and that until recently parts of the administration were calling into question whether people should even follow basic best practices like wearing masks."

The Facebook CEO did not name any administration officials as targets of his ire, but Trump has long been resistant to wearing masks in public, even as the science has grown ever-more clear that they play a key role in driving down infection rates of COVID-19.

Zuckerberg and Fauci also discussed the progress of vaccine research, as well as guidance for ordinary people (such as wearing a mask). During the interview, some users used the comments on the livestream to spread vaccine misinformation and conspiracy theories— highlighting how Facebook's platform can be hijacked to disseminate hoaxes even when the company is trying to direct users to sources of accurate information.

Facebook has faced intense scrutiny over its handling of Trump in recent weeks. Its decision not to take down a post by the president that critics said glorified violence sparking unprecedented protests among employees — and contributed to an ongoing advertiser boycott over its approach to hate speech.

Do you work at Facebook? Contact Business Insider reporter Rob Price via encrypted messaging app Signal (+1 650-636-6268), encrypted email (robaeprice@protonmail.com), standard email (rprice@businessinsider.com), Telegram/Wickr/WeChat (robaeprice), or Twitter DM (@robaeprice). We can keep sources anonymous. Use a non-work device to reach out. PR pitches by standard email only, please.

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SoulCycle poster child Soeuraya Wilson quit on Instagram saying she's tired of being 'used' by a company that only supports activism 'when it is convenient for their bottom line' — we spoke to 2 Black instructors who agree

July 16, 2020, 5:37 pm

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≪ Previous: Mark Zuckerberg called the Trump administration's response to COVID-19 'really disappointing' in a Facebook interview with Anthony Fauci (FB)

GettyImages 499442166

Soeuraya Wilson, a high-profile SoulCycle instructor since 2014 who appeared in promotions, quit in an Instagram post on Wednesday saying her image was being used by a company that "performs it's activism when it is convenient for their bottom line." Wilson declined to comment for this story.
Four SoulCycle instructors told Business Insider that Black team members were pressured by the company to host a fundraising event for civil rights causes during the George Floyd unrest, for which they were not paid extra.
Wilson and two-dozen other instructors rode in the event on June 11-12, raising money for the NAACP, Black Lives Matter, and the Okra Project.
SoulCycle responded, "There is no place for racism, bigotry, inequality or discrimination at SoulCycle," and said fundraising participants volunteered and were compensated.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

SoulCycle's poster-child instructor quit in an Instagram post on Wednesday, saying she can no longer allow the company to "use" her image to perform its activism when it's beneficial to its bottom line.

Soeuraya Wilson's public resignation seemed to come out of the blue. A SoulCycle instructor since 2014, Wilson appeared in several of the company's promotions, including its recent big push for in-home bike sales after studios across the country were forced to shut down due to COVID-19, employees were furloughed, and staff pay was cut.

SoulCycle is known for its cult-like following centered around its influential instructors, many of whom have their own massive social media followings. Multiple SoulCycle instructors and riders commended Wilson on her Instagram post. Wilson, who has more than 12,000 Instagram followers, declined to comment for this story.

"In these times I can no longer allow my image to be used by a company that performs it's activism when it is convenient for their bottom line or their seasonal campaign," Wilson wrote in her post. "I can no longer allow my body to be used by a company that ultimately stands alongside it's investors and individuals who continue to support racism and bigotry without true compassion for the health and wellness of the employees and riders."

Business Insider spoke with four other SoulCycle instructors, on the condition of anonymity out of fear for their jobs. They said Black instructors were pressured to put on a recent fundraiser, for which they have not been paid beyond their reduced wage.

It's not clear whether the fundraiser contributed to Wilson's decision to resign.

But instructors said the way the company handled the fundraiser brought up issues around whether the company's corporate actions back up its diverse marketing. SoulCycle, a brand known for supporting humanitarian causes such as Pride, previously faced widespread backlash when the chairman of its parent company Equinox held a major fund-raiser for President Trump.

'The people in power are gaslighting people'

In June, as protests related to the death of George Floyd rocked the country, SoulCycle management sent an email to Black instructors urging them to host a virtual ride to benefit civil rights causes, sources told Business Insider. If instructors did not respond, they said they were pressured to take part.

In addition to the pandemic and the emotional stress many felt after George Floyd's death, instructors say they were not given technical support or enough personnel for the event. Sources told Business Insider they were not paid beyond their reduced COVID-19 rate. The brand asked them to do more work at a difficult time with little support and no extra pay – after declining to put on such events for years, the instructors said.

One Black SoulCycle instructor told Business Insider, "The people in power are gaslighting people into thinking that they are really working for causes like Black Lives Matter and they just aren't. Promotions do not reflect the diversity they are asking us to show the world."

Another Black instructor said their reaction to Wilson's resignation post was, "They're getting called out, and they should be."

A Black former employee who wrote that he experienced racism at SoulCycle in a Medium essay told Business Insider in an interview that "Their woke persona is fake." Larry Stansbury, who worked as a studio staff member in New York, said, "It's just an image. They try to make people think they're diverse, and support diversity in all ways, but they're not."

Two non-Black instructors told Business Insider they were not approached about participating in the fundraiser, but knew their colleagues were upset about the extra work.

SoulCycle responded to Wilson's post with the statement: "There is no place for racism, bigotry, inequality or discrimination at SoulCycle. Our focus has, and always will be, about building a community centered on our values, not politics. Values such as diversity, inclusion, acceptance and love will always be core aspects of our brand and are what guide us forward."

The company also said of the fundraiser: "Everyone who participated in the event was an active employee, they volunteered and were compensated for their time."

Wilson's entire Instagram post is below:

"In these times I can no longer allow my image to be used by a company that performs it's activism when it is convenient for their bottom line or their seasonal campaign.

I can no longer allow my voice to be used by a company that does not respect that voice when it dissents. A company who chooses silence.

I can no longer allow my body to be used by a company that ultimately stands alongside it's investors and individuals who continue to support racism and bigotry without true compassion for the health and wellness of the employees and riders.

I know it must be difficult to lead a company through a pandemic and a revolution.

I know this because my company and it's leadership who I once respected have failed to lead.

Six years ago I started working for SoulCycle. A very different one than it is today.

I became who I am today because of the people I met and the work I did here and for that I will be forever thankful.

It is with a heart full of gratitude that I choose to leave this place."

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Scooter charging startup Charge is splashing $3.1 million on new charging stations as it banks on the summer scooter boom

July 16, 2020, 11:30 pm

≫ Next: Check out the pitch deck investing app Moneybox used to raise $38 million

≪ Previous: SoulCycle poster child Soeuraya Wilson quit on Instagram saying she's tired of being 'used' by a company that only supports activism 'when it is convenient for their bottom line' — we spoke to 2 Black instructors who agree

Paris Charge

Charge, a startup that provides charging docks for electric scooters, has signed a $3.1 million deal to roll out new stations in anticipation of a summer scooter boom.
Founded in 2019 by entrepreneurs Andrew Fox and Dan Waldman, the startup is ramping up capacity through a $3.1 million deal with Canadian manufacturer Poitras Industries, according to documentation seen by Business Insider.
The deal marks the growing maturity of the scooter market in Europe and North America as companies look to move away from the "juicer" model of recharging electric scooters and bikes.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Electric scooter and bike startups are hoping for a summer boom as people emerge from lockdown and seek alternative transport.

Major cities across the world have now allowed rented scooters onto their streets, with firms including Lime, Bird, Tier, and Dott fighting for share.

These startups like to push their environmental credentials but for the most part scooter recharging involves freelance contractors called "juicers" picking up scooters, driving them to a warehouse to be recharged, and then placing them back on the streets.

That reliance on gig economy labor can be inefficient, expensive, and difficult to scale.

French-American startup Charge is offering a solution, and hopes to piggyback off the anticipated summer rise in scooter use.

Charge offers a range of scooter charging products, such as docks that can charge up to 18 scooters at once. Docks can be rented through Charge's mobile app, and they're designed to be compatible with scooters from different companies.

The company, founded by serial entrepreneurs Andrew Fox and Dan Waldman, is about to scale up its operations over 2020, according to documentation seen by Business Insider.

Fox and Waldman were both early investors in mobility startup Lime. Charge's senior team counts two additional senior Lime veterans: Noa Khamallah as a senior vice president and Caen Contee.

Charge has signed a deal with Canadian manufacturer Poitras Industries to build and deliver 230 charging stations, according to a confirmation letter between the companies seen by Business Insider.

The deal is valued at €2.6 million ($3.1 million) and comes weeks after the company deployed scooter docking systems in Paris.

Charge confirmed the deal in written responses to Business Insider.

"Our industrial investment will enable us to finance our international development, initially in Europe and the United States, and to invest in R&D projects by strengthening our technological lead," Andrew Fox told Business Insider. "A great lever for development, only 16 months after the creation of our company."

Charge is currently funded entirely by friends, family, and existing founder capital. The company closed a $4.75 million funding round 12 months ago to fund the business, Business Insider understands.

Charge is also opening up 1% of its business to a crowdfunding campaign which it claims will help eco-conscious consumers invest in the future of mobility.

The company has smart charging hubs in Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Paris.

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Check out the pitch deck investing app Moneybox used to raise $38 million

July 16, 2020, 11:45 pm

≫ Next: 10 things in tech you need to know today

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BenandCharliecolour

Investing app Moneybox has raised a £30 million ($38 million) Series C funding round.
Moneybox lets investors put their cash into a variety of funds.
The startup's funding round was jointly led by Eight Roads and new investors CNP, alongside VC fund Breega.
"Saving and investing for the future is always somewhere on the to-do list for most of us, but the last few months have put this more front of mind than ever," Ben Stanway, Moneybox CEO and cofounder told Business Insider. "Speaking to customers, many of them have realised the importance of having a nest egg or emergency fund set aside for when the unexpected occurs."
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

London-based fintech startup Moneybox has raised a £30 million ($38 million) Series C funding round.

Moneybox, founded in 2016, allows users to invest in a variety of funds, lifetime ISAs, and pensions and has more than 450,000 customers.

The investment app's funding round was jointly led by Eight Roads and new investors CNP, alongside VC fund Breega.

Moneybox's raise was completed at double the valuation of its 2018 Series B funding round and takes its total funds raised to date to £51.3 million.

"Saving and investing for the future is always somewhere on the to-do list for most of us, but the last few months have put this more front of mind than ever," Ben Stanway, Moneybox CEO and cofounder told Business Insider. "Speaking to customers, many of them have realised the importance of having a nest egg or emergency fund set aside for when the unexpected occurs."

Moneybox said it now has over £1 billion in assets, and is growing at £100 million per month.

The company will also take part in its first equity crowdfunding, via Crowdcube, this month with a minimum target of £1 million.

Wealth management apps have seen a surge during the coronavirus, with trading and investing apps seeing an early download boom in the initial days of the UK's lockdown. Moneybox claims it grew its customers by 121% in the year since July 2019.

"Securing this funding enables us to continue to build the products, tools and technology to help people achieve their goals easily - whether it's buying a house, saving for retirement or just a rainy day," Stanway added. "In addition to scaling our amazing team of 120, the funding will be used to supercharge our growth and further execute our mission to help everyone save and invest for their future."

Check out Moneybox's (redacted) Series C pitch deck below:

Moneybox

↧

10 things in tech you need to know today

July 16, 2020, 11:55 pm

≫ Next: How to turn on Dark Mode on your Windows 10 computer to reduce eye strain and give everything a sleek look

≪ Previous: Check out the pitch deck investing app Moneybox used to raise $38 million

Good morning! This is the tech news you need to know this Friday.

The FBI is leading an inquiry into the colossal Twitter hack that impacted high-profile accounts on Wednesday. The hackers posted tweets through the hijacked accounts asking people to donate Bitcoin to cryptocurrency addresses.
Cybersecurity blogger Brian Krebs thinks the hack may have been carried out by a 21-year-old SIM-swapper who has ties to the hacking group that hijacked Jack Dorsey's account in August last year. The hacker is known as PlugWalkJoe, and a mobile industry security source told Krebs his real name is Joseph James Connor.
Russian hackers linked to the Kremlin targeted coronavirus vaccine research facilities in the US, the UK, and Canada, UK security officials announced on Thursday. The hacking group — known as APT29, Cozy Bear, or the Dukes — has previously been linked to various cyberattacks, including the hacking of the Democratic National Committee before the 2016 US presidential election.
Mark Zuckerberg called the Trump administration's response to COVID-19 "really disappointing" in a Facebook interview with Anthony Fauci. "Now that we're here in July, I just think it was avoidable, and it's really disappointing that we still don't have adequate testing," Zuckerberg said.
European venture capitalists have chosen startups including Benevolent AI, Deep Render, and Darktrace among their 15 AI startups to watch in 2020. AI could contribute a whopping $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030, according to PwC estimates.
Facebook is planning to bring its competitor to TikTok — called Reels — to Instagram users in the US in early August. Reels, which has already debuted in India and other select countries, will live inside of Instagram Stories as an option for sharing short-form video content similar to that on TikTok.
Facebook is adding an information label to all posts about voting from federal officials and political candidates, including the president. The labels point Facebook users to a voting information page, which is currently hosted on USA.gov.
Microsoft quietly cut under 1,000 jobs across its business this week, as it enters its new fiscal year. Earlier this week, Microsoft reportedly cut several roles at MSN.com, its online news portal, as it shifted to an AI-powered algorithmic feed.
Scooter charging startup Charge has signed a $3.1 million deal for new charging stations as it banks on the summer scooter boom. Charge offers a range of scooter charging options, and was founded by a number of senior executives from scooter unicorn Lime.
Michelle Obama is hosting a new podcast exclusively on Spotify, titled "The Michelle Obama Podcast." The podcast is scheduled to debut on July 29, and will feature "candid, human, and personal conversations" with a variety of familiar faces.

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How to turn on Dark Mode on your Windows 10 computer to reduce eye strain and give everything a sleek look

July 17, 2020, 1:32 pm

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To turn on dark mode in Windows 10, head to your computer's "Personalization" menu.
Turning on dark mode in Windows 10 will change the appearance of many programs, and can help reduce eye strain.
Although Windows 10 has its own dark mode settings, some programs like Microsoft Word have their own dark mode switch.
Visit Business Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories.

Android and iOS devices offer a dark mode that dims the on-screen color palette. It's commonly thought to look much more aesthetically pleasing, reduce eye strain, and even extend battery life.

If you like using dark mode on your mobile device, you might be surprised to learn that Windows 10 has had its own dark mode for several years. Here's how to turn it on.

Check out the products mentioned in the article:

Windows 10 (From $139.99 at Best Buy)

Acer Chromebook 15 (From $179.99 at Walmart)

How to turn on dark mode on Windows

1. Click the Start button and then click the Settings icon, which is shaped like a gear.

How to turn on dark mode on Windows 1

2. Click "Personalization."

3. In the pane on the left, click "Colors." There are two dark mode settings you can enable. You can choose either of both of them:

Under "Choose your default Windows mode," click "Dark." This will turn on dark mode for many basic parts of Windows — in particular, the task bar at the bottom of the desktop and the Start menu.
Under "Choose your default app mode," click "Dark." This has a much more widespread effect, and will automatically activate dark mode in many apps that have it.

How to turn on dark mode on Windows 2

How to turn on dark mode in specific Windows apps

If you turn on both dark modes and find that some specific apps still don't turn dark, those apps might have their own independent dark mode settings.

To find out, open the settings for the app in question and see if there's a settings menu you can enable dark mode in.

For example, here is how to turn on dark mode in Microsoft Office:

1. In any Microsoft Office app (such as Word, Excel, or Outlook), click "File" and then click "Options."

2. In the General tab, go to the section called "Personalize your copy of Microsoft Office."

3. Click the drop-down menu for "Office Theme" and choose either "Dark Gray" or "Black." Click "OK" and the dark mode will take effect.

How to turn on dark mode on Windows 3

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How to create a Yahoo account in 6 simple steps and gain access to Yahoo Mail, News, and more

July 17, 2020, 1:35 pm

≫ Next: NBC's new streaming service Peacock has its own original shows and movies — here's a breakdown of what's exclusive

≪ Previous: How to turn on Dark Mode on your Windows 10 computer to reduce eye strain and give everything a sleek look

When you create a Yahoo account, you get access to a free account with Yahoo Mail, Yahoo's email service.
Creating a Yahoo account also gives you access to a variety of services, including a personalized breaking news feed, address book, and more.
Visit Business Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories.

In addition to getting your own @yahoo.com email address, maintaining a Yahoo account is a great way to get a personalized feed of breaking news.

From a customizable home page, to web services like Yahoo Answers and Yahoo Notepad, a Yahoo account offers a streamlined ecosystem of features to get the most out of your time on the web.

If you're new to Yahoo's services and want to create a Yahoo account, here's how to get started, using any browser on your Mac or PC.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Apple Macbook Pro (From $1,299.00 at Apple)

Acer Chromebook 15 (From $179.99 at Walmart)

How to create a Yahoo account

1. Open up your browser of voice and visit the Yahoo homepage.

2. Click "Create an account," found beneath the sign-in credentials form.

2 How to create Yahoo account

3. Fill out all the required fields, including your first and last name, username, password, birthday, and mobile number for two-factor authentication.

3 How to create Yahoo account

4. Click "Continue."

5. Select whether to have Yahoo call or text your authentication code to the mobile number you provided.

6. Enter the 5-digit verification code when you've received it. Click "Verify" and then "Continue."

5 How to create Yahoo account

You're all set. When you click "Done," you'll navigate back to the Yahoo homepage, where you can access your email in the top-right corner. Alternatively, you can visit the Yahoo Mail login page directly.

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NBC's new streaming service Peacock has its own original shows and movies — here's a breakdown of what's exclusive

July 17, 2020, 1:42 pm

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NBCUniversal launched it's new streaming service, Peacock, on July 15 with thousands of hours worth of TV shows, movies, original series, live sports, and news programs.
While the basic version of Peacock is available for free, you'll need a Peacock Premium subscription to watch all of the platform's new exclusive shows and movies.
Peacock Premium costs $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year.
Below, we've included a brief synopsis for every Peacock original series and movie you can watch right now.

After months of anticipation and a three-month early access period, NBCUniversal's ad-supported streaming service, Peacock, is finally available nationwide. Peacock offers free, premium, and ad-free subscription tiers. The platform will compete with a growing field of on-demand services that includes the likes of Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and HBO Max.

Peacock's catalog includes a mix of new and classic NBC shows, like "Saturday Night Live" and "Parks and Recreation," along with movies from Universal films and live events broadcast by NBC Sports. Premium subscribers also have access to new shows that are exclusive to Peacock, including an adaptation of the classic novel "Brave New World," and the critically acclaimed British crime drama "The Capture."

Updated on 7/17/2020 by Steven Cohen: Updated language for timeliness. Added information about upcoming shows from Tina Fey and Kevin Hart, as well as a list of devices that support the Peacock app.

How do I watch Peacock original shows and movies?

While a few of the originals will be available for free, you'll need a Peacock Premium subscription to watch the full selection of original series and movies. Peacock Premium costs $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year.

However, Peacock Premium still has commercials. If you want to watch Peacock Premium without ads, you need to upgrade to the Peacock Premium ad-free plan for $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year.

The Peacock app is available on smart TVs, as well as iOS and Android mobile devices, Android TV, Xbox One, and Chromecast. The service is also available through the official Peacock website. You can see a full list of supported devices here. Peacock is not yet available on Roku or Amazon Fire TV devices.

Below, you can find every original show and movie available on Peacock:

"Brave New World"

"Brave New World" is a dystopian sci-fi series based on Aldous Huxley's book of the same name. "Brave New World" depicts an alternate future where the world has united under a single culture based on logic, forgoing common notions of race, religion, marriage, and national identity.

Though citizens of the World State believe they're living in a utopia, Huxley's characters rely on a drug called soma to maintain happiness and struggle to rise above their predetermined status in society. Their utopia is further called into question when World State citizen Bernard Marx encounters a young man raised in the outside world. The show stars Alden Ehrenreich, Jessica Brown Findlay, and Harry Lloyd.

"Cleopatra in Space"

A teenage version of the famous Egyptian queen is sent 30,000 years into the future to battle an alien space ruler in this kid-focused adaptation of the comic book series created by Mike Maihack.

"Curious George"

Peacock will be the exclusive home for new seasons of the "Curious George" TV show, which began on PBS Kids in 2006. The show follows the young ape on a series of adventures and teaches young kids how to safely explore the world around them.

"Where's Waldo"

"Where's Waldo" will launch its second season on Peacock after premiering on Universal Kids in 2019. The show brings viewers to a new city around the world in each episode with the intention of teaching kids about different cultures.

"Psych 2: Lassie Come Home"

"Psych" was a successful mystery-comedy series that ran for eight seasons on the USA Network from 2006 to 2014. James Roday plays Shawn Spencer, a psychic detective who fakes his abilities but still manages to solve mysteries with the help of his friend Gus (Dulé Hill) and police detective Carlton "Lassie" Lassiter (Timothy Omundson).

"Psych" returned in 2017 with a made-for-TV movie that continued the story three years after its conclusion. "Psyche 2: Lassie Come Home" will move the show from the USA Network for the very first time, and creator Steve Franks said he'd be willing to do up to six "Psych" movies.

"In Deep with Ryan Lochte"

After earning six gold medals over the course of his Olympic career, swimmer Ryan Lochte is working to repair an image that was tarnished after he was arrested in Brazil following the 2016 Olympics and suspended in 2018 for violating US anti-doping policies.

Now 35-years-old, the documentary will track Lochte's past and his efforts to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

"Lost Speedways"

Narrated and produced by NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr, "Lost Speedways" traces the history of America's car racing culture through the decades, unearthing forgotten tracks where the sport found its origin.

"The Capture"

In this British crime drama, a detective works to uncover if a military veteran is being framed for the murder of a judge after the accused is seemingly captured committing the crime on camera. The suspenseful six-episode drama has already received high praise in the UK after airing on BBC, and it will be available exclusively on Peacock in the US.

"Intelligence"

"Friends" actor David Schwimmer stars in this British sitcom about an NSA agent who finds himself in over his head while working as a liaison to the British government. The first season aired in the UK and a second has already been confirmed, but the series will be exclusive to Peacock in the United States.

More shows coming to Peacock in the future

Peacock has a long list of original series and movies planned for the future, including reboots of "Battlestar Galactica" and "Punky Brewster." A new Tina Fey-produced show, called "Girls5Eva," and an interview series from comedian Kevin Hart are also in the works for the service.

Peacock renewed the sitcom "A.P Bio" as an exclusive after two seasons on NBC. The third season will be exclusive to Peacock in September 2020.

Future international programming on Peacock includes the British comedy "Hitmen" releasing August 6, the Australian drama "Five Bedrooms" premiering on August 13, and the Canadian crime-drama "Departure" which will debut on Peacock on September 17.

We'll keep updating this list as new original shows are added, and you can find out what else comes with your Peacock subscription in our full breakdown.

↧

7 easy ways to speed up your Windows 10 computer, from disabling unneeded effects to upgrading your hardware

July 17, 2020, 1:51 pm

≫ Next: UFC Fight Island will deliver 4 events from a private 'bubble' in the United Arab Emirates — here's the full schedule and how to watch

≪ Previous: NBC's new streaming service Peacock has its own original shows and movies — here's a breakdown of what's exclusive

To speed up your Windows 10 computer, you should uninstall programs you don't want, turn off special effects, and change your startup settings.
The single most effective way to speed up Windows 10, however, is to use a Solid State Drive.
You should also make sure Windows 10 is up-to-date, and that your computer is running at full power.
Visit Business Insider's Tech Reference library for more stories.

People sometimes wonder how it was possible for the guidance computer in Apollo 11 — a computer with less memory than the cheapest Windows 10 PC in use today — to reach the moon.

The answer: It didn't waste any processing power on a fancy interface, or multi-tasking.

You can eke some extra performance out of your own Windows 10 computer by making it a little more minimalist, like that original Apollo 11 computer. You can also give it a straight upgrade.

Here are seven ways you can speed up your Windows 10 computer right now.

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Windows 10 (From $139.99 at Best Buy)

SanDisk Ultra 512 GB SSD (For $69.99 at Best Buy)

Reduce the amount of apps that open at startup

If your computer takes a long time to boot, the most likely culprit is that you have too many programs slowing down the startup process.

This means there may be a lot of unnecessary programs running in the background, which continue to slow things down even after Windows is fully booted. Here's how to fix it:

1. Right-click the Start button and choose "Task Manager."

2. In Task Manager, click the "Startup" tab.

3. If you see a program you don't want to run at startup, right-click it and choose "Disable."

Uninstall bloatware and other unwanted programs

There's a good chance your computer came with a number of unwanted programs that run in the background and slow things down. Often called "bloatware," they rarely serve a useful purpose.

You should take a few minutes to uninstall programs you don't want or need from your computer.

To do that, follow the steps in our article "How to properly uninstall programs on Windows 10, to protect your computer and free up space."

Disable Windows special effects

Windows 10 has a lot of special effects — some very obvious, others quite subtle. They make the experience of using your computer more fun and enjoyable, but they might also be slowing your PC down, especially if it's older or has a slow processor.

Here's how to turn off some of these special effects.

1. Click the Start button and start the Control Panel.

2. Click "System."

3. Click "Advanced system settings."

4. On the System Properties window, make sure you are on the Advanced tab and click "Settings."

5. Here you can manually turn off special effects or just click "Adjust for best performance."

Turn off window transparency

You might not have noticed, but there are some subtle transparency effects built into Windows. Open the Start menu, for example, and you should see a faint, blurred impression of whatever lies behind it.

If you don't want to sacrifice processing speed for such a small effect, you can turn it off entirely (and probably not notice the aesthetic difference).

1. Click the Start button and click the Settings icon, which is shaped like a gear and is right above the Power icon.

2. Click "Personalization."

3. Click "Colors."

4. Scroll down and turn off "Transparency effects" by sliding the switch to the left.

Run your computer at full power

Your computer might be running at less than full speed, depending upon how your power management controls are set.

Designed to make your laptop battery last longer, Windows offers several power plans that deliberately slow down your PC to save power. Here's how to choose a higher power plan:

1. Click the Start button and start the Control Panel.

2. Click "Power Options."

3. For the best overall processing speed, choose "High performance."

If you're not on a laptop, you probably won't see these options.

Keep Windows up to date

Make sure your computer stays up to date. Microsoft issues regular patches and updates for Windows, and while many of these are related to improving your computer's security (which is also important), some also improve performance.

To see if there are updates waiting to be installed:

1. Click the Start button and click the Settings icon, which is shaped like a gear and is right above the Power icon.

2. Click "Update & security."

3. You can check for updates or install and updates waiting to be installed.

Use an SSD or install additional memory

Finally, you can dramatically improve the performance of your computer by increasing its memory and storage.

If your computer has a traditional hard drive — one with spinning metal platters — replacing it with a solid-state drive (SSD) can make a world of difference. An SSD has the same kind of memory as a USB flash drive (though much, much faster) and it'll allow Windows to boot several times faster, and programs to start in a fraction of the time.

Adding an SSD is the single biggest improvement you can make to a PC, and it can even make a bigger difference than upgrading to a computer with a faster processor.

In addition, if you use your computer for a lot of resource-intensive tasks, like photo editing, video production, or gaming, adding additional memory can help as well.

You should have no less than 4GB of RAM in your computer for Windows to run efficiently, but adding additional memory can improve performance.

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UFC Fight Island will deliver 4 events from a private 'bubble' in the United Arab Emirates — here's the full schedule and how to watch

July 17, 2020, 2:02 pm

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≪ Previous: 7 easy ways to speed up your Windows 10 computer, from disabling unneeded effects to upgrading your hardware

UFC is running a series of four events at a private island campus in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, dubbed UFC Fight Island.
Holding the events at a private destination enables UFC to implement ideal safety measures against COVID-19 and allows international fighters to circumvent travel restrictions and visa issues.
The next Fight Island event will be UFC Fight Night: Figueiredo vs. Benavidez on July 18, and the month will continue with more than 30 fights scheduled through July 25.
You can stream all UFC Fight Island matches live on ESPN+, and some of the action will also be available on the ESPN cable channel.

UFC has set up shop on Yas Island, a tourist destination in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, for a month-long series of events dubbed UFC Fight Island.

While UFC has already held events in Las Vegas and Jacksonville since the COVID-19 pandemic reached the United States in March, moving the competition to a private island in Abu Dhabi will help international fighters circumvent travel and visa restrictions.

A total of four UFC events are scheduled to take place on Fight Island through July 25 before the league returns to the UFC Apex in Las Vegas in August. However, UFC President Dana White told the Associated Press that UFC could return to Yas Island for more events later this year.

The UFC campus spans six square miles and includes training and medical facilities for fighters and staff. Fans will not be in attendance for UFC 251 or any other UFC Fight Island events due to the pandemic. According to the AP, about 2,000 people are working under UFC's Fight Island quarantine bubble.

White shared a video showing a map of the facility and the precautions needed to get Fight Island up and running. UFC has implemented at least 18 different safety precautions during the pandemic, including advanced medical screenings, regular testing, temperature checks, and social distancing guidelines.

All four events will be streamed live on ESPN+, which costs $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year. The main event of UFC 251, which featured this month's highest profile matches, cost an additional $64.99 to watch.

You can access the ESPN+ app on all major mobile devices and smart TVs, including Amazon Fire, Apple, Android, Chromecast, PS4, Xbox One, Roku, Samsung products, and more.

Below, we've detailed all of the events happening on UFC Fight Island this month, and how you can watch.

Updated on 7/17/2020 by Kevin Webb: We've revised this article to include results for UFC 251 and UFC Fight Night: Kattar vs. Ige.

July 11 — UFC 251

Kamaru Usman successfully defended the welterweight championship against 2019 Fighter of the Year Jorge Masvidal; while featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski retained his belt after a controversial split-decision in his rematch against Max Holloway.

The night marked Usman's third title defense and marks a 16-fight win streak for the Nigerian fighter. Usman's next opponent is expected to be top-ranked welterweight contender Gilbert Burns. Masvidal replaced Burns in the main event of UFC 251 with just six days notice after Burns tested positive for COVID-19.

July 15 — UFC Fight Night: Kattar vs. Ige

Featherweight Calvin Kattar prevailed over Dan Ige in the main event of this UFC Fight Night event, with Kattar striking Ige more than 70 times in the face on his way to a win by decision.

Mounir Lazzez exchanged more than 160 blows while defeating Abdul Razak Alhassan in a three-round decision that included an impressive flying knee.

July 18 — UFC Fight Night: Figueiredo vs. Benavidez

Deiveson Figueiredo and Joseph Benavidez will fight for the vacant UFC Flyweight championship in a rematch of a February 29 fight. Figueiredo won that match via TKO, but he weighed in at 127.5lbs, making him ineligible to become the flyweight champion.

Figueiredo agreed to a rematch with Benavidez because he missed the agreed upon weight for their first fight. Now either fighter has another chance to win the vacant title, though the 18-1 Figueiredo remains the favorite.

The main event for this UFC Fight Night is set to stream exclusively on ESPN+ at 8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT. The prelims will be available on ESPN+ and the ESPN cable channel starting at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT.

July 25 — UFC Fight Night: Whittaker vs. Till

Top middleweight contender Robert Whittaker returns to the ring against fifth-ranked Darren Till in the most jam-packed fight card of the month. UFC currently has 14 fights scheduled for the evening, with the action kicking off at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. on ESPN and ESPN+.

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How to change the pitch of audio and music in Audacity in 2 ways

July 17, 2020, 2:07 pm

≫ Next: How to cancel your Sling TV subscription and end your digital channel packages

≪ Previous: UFC Fight Island will deliver 4 events from a private 'bubble' in the United Arab Emirates — here's the full schedule and how to watch

You can change the pitch of audio in Audacity using the "Effect" menu, which contains dozens of different tools for editing audio.
You can also change the pitch of an audio clip in Audacity by speeding up or slowing down the track, which will raise and lower the pitch respectively.
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In the simplest of terms, pitch can be thought of as how high or low a sound goes. Higher-pitched noises are squeaky and shrill, while lower-pitched noises are bassy and booming.

Changing pitches is an incredibly common tool in sound editing. In fact, there are some bands that have built their entire careers around pitch-changing — that is, if you count Alvin and the Chipmunks as a band.

If you're editing audio with Audacity, changing a track's pitch can be done in a few clicks. Here's how to do it on both Mac and PC.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Apple Macbook Pro (From $1,299.00 at Apple)

Acer Chromebook 15 (From $179.99 at Walmart)

How to change pitch in Audacity

1. Open the Audacity recording where you wish to change the pitch. Click and drag your mouse along the audio track to select the portion of audio you want to edit.

Change Pitch Audacity 1

2. Click the word "Effect" at the top of the screen, then select "Change Pitch…"

In this drop-down menu, you'll also find "Change Speed" and "Change Tempo." Both of these will alter how fast or slow the song is, and in the process, the pitch will be raised and lowered.

Change Pitch Audacity 2

3. Now use the slider in the popup window to raise the audio to a higher pitch (slide right), or a lower pitch (slide left). You can also manually choose your pitch change using the "From" and "To" options, which is great if you know the starting and target pitch.

Change Pitch Audacity 3

4. Hit "OK" when you're done, and Audacity will take a few moments to process the audio.

Once it's done, play the audio to make sure you're happy with the changes. If you are, save the project and be on your way. If you're not, undo the change (Ctrl + Z on a PC, or Command + Z on a Mac) and try again.

SEE ALSO: The best MacBooks you can buy

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How to cancel your Sling TV subscription and end your digital channel packages

July 17, 2020, 2:17 pm

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≪ Previous: How to change the pitch of audio and music in Audacity in 2 ways

You can cancel your Sling TV subscription by going to your Account Profile and selecting the blue "Cancel My Subscription" button.
You will need to cancel your Sling TV subscription online as deleting the app off your phone, tablet, or smart TV does not cancel your paid subscriptions.
Sling TV's two limited packages cost $30 per month and feature some of the channels available, while combining the two offerings to get all 53 channels is $45 monthly.
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Sling TV is a meeting of the old and the new: the digital television service offers many of the classic cable channels you love like Disney, CNN, and History but without a cable package. Instead, you stream your favorite channels and shows using your internet connection.

Like cable packages, you can also record hours of shows without breaking out the old VCR. But the cost of a monthly Sling TV membership, especially if you've got a small entertainment budget, is slightly pricier than many streaming platforms.

Cancel Sling TV 1

A standard Netflix subscription costs $13 a month, Hulu only $11.99, and Disney+ just $6.99. However, Sling TV costs between $30 and $45 a month depending on your package.

You can easily cancel your service through your account profile. If you have a regular membership, you can keep using Sling TV until the end of the current pay cycle. But if you were in a free trial period, your Sling service will end immediately.

If you've purchased a Sling membership and now want to cancel it for a cheaper streaming option, here's how to do it.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

Apple Macbook Pro (From $1,299.00 at Apple)

Acer Chromebook 15 (From $179.99 at Walmart)

How to cancel your Sling TV subscription

1. Go to Sling TV's account page and log in to your account.

2. On your Account page, click the blue Cancel Subscription link.

Cancel Sling TV 3

3. In the pop-up window, select Cancel Subscription to confirm.

4. Click the green toggle next to your package type and its cost. If you have any add-ons, repeat this process.

Cancel Sling TV 4

5. Once it turns blue, choose Cancel All.

6. Select your reason for canceling. If you choose "I'm not watching television enough to pay for service" or "I'm trying to save money" may get you a discount offer if you stay with the service.

7. Select Confirm My Cancellation.

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How to add a 'Challenge' on Instagram stories and use the sticker feature to join trending hashtag challenges

July 17, 2020, 2:24 pm

≫ Next: The FTC is reportedly considering deposing Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg in its antitrust investigation into Facebook (FB)

≪ Previous: How to cancel your Sling TV subscription and end your digital channel packages

You can add a Challenge sticker on an Instagram story to create a challenge or participate in a viral challenge.
Challenges let you participate in Instagram-wide trending tags, get creative, and put your photos in front of more eyes.
If you don't see the Challenge sticker, first try updating your Instagram app.
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One of Instagram stories newest interactive features is the challenges sticker.

Challenges let users participate in group trends by attaching a sticker to their Instagram post and getting in on hashtag-based actions, such as #StayAtHome. You can also create your own challenges around fashion, workout, bingo, food, and more, before encouraging your friends to join and seeing how popular your challenge becomes.

Keep in mind that when you do a challenge through the Instagram mobile app, anyone who can see your story will be able to tap the username of the person you've tagged and navigate to their profile.

If you want to get involved, or you want to use the feature to create your own challenges, here's how to do it.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPhone 11 (From $699.99 at Apple)

Samsung Galaxy S10 (From $699.99 at Walmart)

How to add a challenge on Instagram stories

1. Open the Instagram app.

2. Tap the camera icon to access the "Stories" section.

How to add a challenge on Instagram 1

3. Take your photo, or select or create the post.

4. Tap the "Stickers" icon located toward the top-right corner of the screen

How to add a challenge on Instagram 2

5. Scroll down and then select "Challenge."

How to add a challenge on Instagram 3

6. Select an existing challenge from the ribbon of options that appears above your keyboard or search for existing ones using a keyword.

How to add a challenge on Instagram 4

7. Nominate someone by typing their username into the area below the challenge name text box.

8. Tap "Done" when you're ready to post.

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The FTC is reportedly considering deposing Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg in its antitrust investigation into Facebook (FB)

July 17, 2020, 2:26 pm

≫ Next: How to share passwords with family using the Dashlane password manager, and give up to six people access to your logins

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The FTC is considering deposing Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg in its Facebook antitrust probe.
The federal agency is looking at whether Facebook has acted anti-competitively.
The WSJ reports that the FTC is now mulling demanding sworn testimony from Facebook's top two leaders.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and COO Sheryl Sandberg may be directly grilled by federal investigators looking at whether the social media giant has acted anticompetitively.

According to a new report from The Wall Street Journal on Friday, the Federal Trade Commission is considering deposing the two top Facebook executives in its antitrust probe into the company.

Facebook dominates the social media landscape in the United States, and the FTC has been investigating since mid-2019 whether its practices fall foul of anti-monopoly laws. The company is known for aggressively buying up competitors — key business units Instagram, WhatsApp, and Oculus all started life as independent companies — and the FTC is looking at its past acquisitions as part of its investigation.

It's not immediately clear what the timeframe might be for Zuckerberg and Sandberg to give sworn testimony, if the FTC does decide to push ahead with this approach, or if Facebook might attempt to prevent it.

Reached for comment by Business Insider about The WSJ's report, a Facebook spokesperson said the company was looking forward to an upcoming congressional hearing where Zuckerberg is scheduled to appear to discuss antitrust issues.

"We look forward to sharing our views about the competitive landscape, along with other technology leaders, during this month's Congressional hearing, while also demonstrating for enforcement agencies that our innovation provides more choices for consumers," they said in a statement.

An FTC spokesperson declined to comment.

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How to share passwords with family using the Dashlane password manager, and give up to six people access to your logins

July 17, 2020, 2:27 pm

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Family working on laptops in the kitchen

To share your passwords with your family using Dashlane, you'll need to connect your account to one of two membership tiers.
Once you're part of a Dashlane family plan, you can use the share feature to grant access to a single login or an entire category of passwords using a member's email.
Each member of the Dashlane family plan will need to have their account with Dashlane to share passwords utilizing the service.
Before you can share passwords with family members, you'll need to purchase and add up to six people to a Dashlane Premium Family and Premium Family Plus plan.
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Password-security app Dashlane now has two group plans, Premium Family and Premium Family Plus plans. Each allows up to six users to share passwords and login information quickly with an approved group.

One of the great things about Dashlane Premium Family and Premium Family Plus plans is that while each family member has their own Dashlane account, all passwords and login information can be shared. This way, you don't have to chase anyone down for a Netflix password or credit card number.

For this to work, each member of your family plan will need to create an individual Dashlane account if they do not already have one.

Here's how to set up your Dashlane Premium Family plan and share passwords among users.

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How to set up Dashlane Premium Family

1. Create an account with Dashlane if you have not already done so.

2. Go to www.dashlane.com/plans, click on "Family," and click on the plan you wish to purchase.

3. On the next page, click "Next."

4. Type in the email address affiliated with your Dashlane account in the blank field before clicking "Submit."

5. You will then be prompted to type in your credit card information and complete your purchase.

How to share login info with family using Dashlane 1

6. On the next page, you will see a link that allows you to invite others to your family plan. Click "Copy link" and send it to up to five family members or friends via email or a messaging app.

How to share login info with family using Dashlane 2

7. Once you have sent out the invitation link, your family members will need to click on the link to join your family plan.

8. Your family members should type in their email address — not yours — in the blank field and click "Join Premium Family."

How to share login info with family using Dashlane 3

How to share passwords and login information with family using Dashlane Premium Family

1. On your Dashlane account, open the section labeled "Passwords."

2. To share a specific login credential, right-click on it, and then select "Share."

3. To share an entire category of credentials at once, click on the category you want to share, then choose "More" in the upper right corner of the category.

4. From the drop-down menu that appears, select "Share."

5. Type in the email addresses of the users with whom you wish to share the credentials. You will also have the ability to set permission settings for each user.

6. Once you are finished, click "Send."

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How to easily zip and unzip any file on your Chromebook, to keep your files small and organized

July 17, 2020, 2:29 pm

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≪ Previous: How to share passwords with family using the Dashlane password manager, and give up to six people access to your logins

To unzip files on a Chromebook, you'll need to find the .Zip file using the "Files" app.
You can use this same app to zip files on your Chromebook as well.
Once you've unzipped a file on your Chromebook, you can copy and paste its contents to any other folder on the computer.
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Zipping files is helpful for sending and storing documents — and it's easy to do so on your Chromebook.

And once you've zipped a file or received one that's been zipped by someone else, unzipping it only takes a few clicks.

Here's how to do both.

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How to zip files on your Chromebook

1. Open the Files app on your Chromebook. It's the icon that looks like a blue circle with a white folder inside of it in your bottom taskbar.

2. In Files, find the document or folder that you want to zip and right-click.

You can also select multiple documents by holding the Shift key on your keyboard while you click the files. A blue check mark will appear next to each selected file.

3. Right-click the selected files, and then click "Zip selection."

How to unzip files on Chromebook

4. A zip file will appear directly above your selection.

5. Click the file to view its content. You can also right-click it to rename it.

How to unzip files on Chromebook

How to unzip files on your Chromebook

To unzip files, you'll have to copy and paste the desired files to their new location on your Chromebook.

1. Click the zipped file to open it.

2. Select the file (or files using the Shift key) that you'd like to unzip.

3. Right-click and select "Copy" to copy the document or documents, or press Ctrl + C on your keyboard.

4. Right-click again, or use the Ctrl + P on your keyboard, to paste your file in its new folder. A pop-up will appear confirming that the file was successfully pasted.

How to unzip files on Chromebook

5. You can also simply click and drag files to another location to extract them from the zipped file. For example, click and drag the file into "Downloads" or another folder in the left-hand menu.

6. Once you're done, click the eject button next to "Archive.zip" in the left hand menu to complete the process.

How to unzip files on Chromebook

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How to add a Flipboard widget to your iPhone or Android device screen

July 17, 2020, 2:29 pm

≫ Next: Anyone can buy the same military-style gear worn by federal officers making secretive arrests in Portland

≪ Previous: How to easily zip and unzip any file on your Chromebook, to keep your files small and organized

When you add a Flipboard widget to your phone, you can see the latest news stories on your home or lock screen.
The process of adding a Flipboard widget is different for Android and iOS users, but both platforms can easily add a widget.
To add the Flipboard widget, you'll already need to have an account, and the app downloaded on your phone.
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Flipboard is an online news and culture delivery platform that you can curate the news to your interests.

You can customize your Flipboard experience by identifying the types of stories you want to be delivered to your phone across various news categories, including politics, arts, and health.

While you can access all of this through the Flipboard app, setting up a Flipboard widget on your phone's screen means you can see the latest stories without ever opening it.

The Flipboard widget works on both Android or iOS devices. The first step to getting it is to make sure you have downloaded the app and set up an account. If you don't already have a Flipboard account, you can sign up for Flipboard with email, Facebook, Google, and more to get the day's top headlines delivered straight to your phone.

Once you've done that, here's how to add the widget to your phone.

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How to add a Flipboard widget on Android

1. Tap a space on your home screen and hold down.

2. Tap "Widget" from the options that appear on the screen.

How to add Flipboard widget Android 1

3. Search until you find the Flipboard widget. Select it.

4. Decide if you want the larger or smaller widget.

5. Now tap and hold the Flipboard widget you want and drag it to a free spot on the screen.

How to add Flipboard widget for Android 2

6. Once you've placed the widget, tap it to open Flipboard.

How to add a Flipboard widget on iOS

1. On the iPhone (or iPad) home screen, swipe down to open Notifications.

2. Swipe left on your notifications screen until you see the screen with a Search Bar on top.

How to add Flipboard widget iPhone 1

3. Scroll down, then press "Edit."

How to add Flipboard widget iPhone 2

4. Tap the plus (+) symbol beside it.

How to add Flipboard widget to iPhone 3

5. Press "Done."

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Anyone can buy the same military-style gear worn by federal officers making secretive arrests in Portland

July 17, 2020, 2:34 pm

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Screen Shot 2020 07 17 at 1.08.10 PM

Videos filmed in Portland, Oregon, in recent days show protesters being detained and whisked into unmarked cars by what appear to be law-enforcement officers wearing military camouflage.
The officers' entire ensemble, down to their minivans, is readily available online, making it exceedingly difficult to discern legitimate authorities from provocateurs masquerading as them.
The officers' conduct and apparel highlight a glaring issue that military officials and civilian authorities have warned about.
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Federal law-enforcement officers detaining protesters and others in Portland, Oregon, and whisking them into unmarked cars on Wednesday did so while wearing military camouflage uniforms and other military-style gear.

Much of what the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents were wearing, or apparel like it, is available to the public online, making it easier to impersonate law-enforcement agents — an issue that military officials and civilian authorities have warned about, particularly amid nationwide protests over the police killing of George Floyd.

The nature of the arrests led observers to question their legality, including Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who described it as "unmarked federal agents ... pulling protesters off the street and jailing them without charge."

Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf, who was in Portland overseeing the effort, characterized the protesters as "violent criminals attempting to tear down federal property" and alleged some assaulted officers with lasers and frozen water bottles.

Screen Shot 2020 07 17 at 11.28.01 AM

On his social-media accounts, Wolf posted pictures of himself with Homeland Security personnel wearing military fatigues and DHS patches. Though it was not clear who the officers in the videos were, members of the Border Patrol Tactical Unit— an immediate-response force that operates under CBP, which is part of DHS — often wear military uniforms with CBP patches.

CBP Commissioner Mark Morgan said in a statement on Twitter that his officers were "clearly marked as federal LEOs & have unique identifiers."

"You will not see names on their uniforms because these same violent criminals use this information to target them and their families, putting both at risk," Morgan said.

But the personnel in Portland had few identifiable patches or markings, which are normally worn by members of the armed forces and law-enforcement agencies. At least one officer had what appeared to be a nondescript Velcro patch on his left shoulder, standard for the military and some firearm enthusiasts, and a single "POLICE" patch on his tactical vest.

A variety of such patches are sold online, including ones marked "POLICE" and a near replica of the Department of Homeland Security's patch. Patches of law-enforcement agencies and specific military units are also available on the internet, often sold under the pretense of catering to enthusiasts and veterans.

One of the videos circulating online shows two people wearing the US Army's uniform, the Operational Camouflage Pattern, while detaining a protester and escorting them to a minivan. The OCP is the Army's latest variant of the workday uniform and readily available online and in military-surplus stores.

Other US military gear worn by the federal officers, or close replicas of it, is also sold online, such as the military's combat helmet. Some military-surplus stores also sell previous versions of the helmet, some of which are still in use by military units and law-enforcement groups.

The entire ensemble seen in the videos, down to the minivan, is readily available to consumers, making it exceedingly difficult to discern between a legitimate authority and a provocateur masquerading as one.

Several people were arrested after they were accused of posing as members of the military and law enforcement in June during protests.

In Los Angeles, Gregory Wong was taken into custody after he wore similar attire to a National Guard member, ABC7 reported, citing sources. Wong, who was armed with an AR-15-type rifle and a pistol, was spotted by actual National Guard members after he fell into formation with them, the outlet said.

At a protest in Las Vegas, Zachary Sanns was charged with false impersonation of a federal officer, 8 News Now reported. Prosecutors said he stood on alongside police officers while armed with an AR-15-type rifle and wearing tactical gear, the outlet reported.

Both Wong and Sanns are veterans.

Army Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has highlighted concerns about members of law enforcement dressing like members of the military while responding to protests, saying there needs to be clear "visual distinction" between the two organizations.

"You want a clear definition between that which is military and that which is police, in my view," Milley said during a congressional hearing on July 9. "Because when you start introducing the military, you're talking about a different level of effort there."

But civil-rights groups are sounding the alarm about federal officers patrolling Portland while in military gear, most of which is available online.

"What is happening now in Portland should concern everyone in the United States," Jann Carson, the interim executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Oregon, said in a statement.

"Usually when we see people in unmarked cars forcibly grab someone off the street we call it kidnapping," Carson added. "The actions of the militarized federal officers are flat-out unconstitutional and will not go unanswered."

Ryan Pickrell contributed reporting.

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