Social Media

New York Times buys viral word game Wordle

Published

February 2, 2022

Luigi Leonardo

You might have noticed a grid of colored squares peppered around your social media feeds as of late. Likewise, you might have also seen a strange influx of interest for word games. Though they don’t seem connected, both trends revolve around the sudden astronomical rise of a viral word game called Wordle. If you’ve been wondering about the game yourself, you might hear a lot more about it in the coming months. Taking it from its social media roots, the New York Times has acquired Wordle.

How to play Wordle

So, what exactly is Wordle? The popular word game doesn’t differ a lot from traditional word-guessing games. Every day, players get a five-letter word to guess and six tries to do it. You don’t get any hints as to what the word might be. Instead, the game tells you which letters belong to the word. A yellow square means that the letter is in the word but in the wrong position. Green means it’s the right letter in the right position. Meanwhile, black means that the letter isn’t part of the solution.

Now, you’re likely getting a clearer idea of what those colored squares on Twitter mean. That grid, composed of yellow, green, and black squares, represent the user’s tries. It’s a badge of honor, as if to say, “Yeah, I just took this many tries to guess the word.”

Getting into the game is easy, too. Instead of fancy apps or pay-to-play systems, Wordle is free to play on any browser with this link. It’s a completely web-based game. Besides making it easy for players to get into the game, having a web-based platform means that any Wordle alternatives you might see on the App Store or on the Play Store aren’t part of the authentic Wordle experience. In fact, Apple already started purging any copycats from the App Store in January.

An astronomical rise

Created by software engineer Josh Wardle, the game was originally meant only for his partner, Palak Shah, who loves word games. The Brooklyn-based engineer created the simple game with no need for any account creation. The game doesn’t even have ads.

In fact, the original iteration didn’t even have a way to share your progress on social media. Apparently, Wardle only decided to introduce the feature when a New Zealand player used emojis to represent their progress on the word of the day.

Despite the simplicity of it, Wordle has exploded from its original one-person target audience. Because of good, old-fashioned word-of-mouth, millions of players now post their word grids every single day. And, according to an early interview with The Guardian, Wardle is now challenged to maintain the game’s operation every day.

“It going viral doesn’t feel great to be honest. I feel a sense of responsibility for the players. I feel I really owe it to them to keep things running and make sure everything’s working correctly,” the developer said.

Image source: New York Times

NYT buys Wordle

On Monday, The New York Times purchased the popular word game for “an undisclosed price in the low seven figures,” taking the game off Wardle’s hands. Though the acquisition might seem like a blow to the indie dream, the developer believes that the company are the right stewards for the game, citing that their values follow Wardle’s.

For the Times’ part, acquiring the hit word game can only mean opportunity for the publication’s growing games library. Like any newspaper, the Times maintains a games section to keep everyone’s minds calm amid the growing dread from today’s news. With most publication already in the digital realm, it’s easier to keep a game library. In fact, even before their acquisition of Wordle, the publication already had a similar game called Spelling Bee.

However, despite the acquisition’s promise for both Wardle and the Times, the latter has not explained whether the game will change direction in any way. Though the Times offers some gameplay for free, most are locked behind a subscriber wall.

Certainly, the Times does have a lot of precedent for keeping the games as is. Now, more than a day after the acquisition was made public, Wordle is still the same game as it has always been.

Colored squares will keep littering your feeds for the foreseeable future. Underlying all this talk of acquisition, Wordle offers one of the simplest ways to keep connected over the internet: a daily five-letter word to bond over.

Her GadgetMatch

Maris Racal’s lewd messages are a treasure trove for thirst trap captions

She’s now etched as a meme material for generations

Published

December 4, 2024

MJ Jucutan

After an accidental wine night, I almost drunk-texted my long-term, long-distance, low-commitment casual boyfriend — until I saw Jam Villanueva’s screenshots splashed all over Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and everywhere else.

In case you’re out of the loop, Villanueva is now the ex-girlfriend of Filipino actor Anthony Jennings, who’s allegedly caught in a sizzling affair with his co-star Maris Racal. The drama allegedly unfolded while Jennings and Racal filmed Incognito.

This tea is extra spicy because Racal, months ago, split with long-term boyfriend Rico Blanco, who insisted Jennings wasn’t involved. But as they say, time tells all — and honestly, the math isn’t mathing.

Cue me, waking up with wine-stained teeth and fresh eyes (still a little red from the wine).

Suddenly, the Racal-Jennings affair felt less like a scandal and more like a masterclass in thirst trap captions. Because honestly, those lewd texts? They’re a treasure trove for Instagram, TikTok, and maybe even Bumble.

So, to save you the trouble of scrolling through messy screenshots, I’ve rounded up the best lines and how to use them — because you deserve captions as hot as you are.

“can we delete msgs?”

Best used for: smokin’ hot mirror selfies with an air of mystery. Bonus points if you’re holding the hand of someone — but don’t hard-launch them just yet.

P.S. Let it actually be your man. We don’t condone home-wrecking here.

“come be my pillow”

This one’s for those sultry bedtime selfies where your makeup or skincare glow is fire. A literal thirst trap, no explanation needed.

“you look so tired i wanna baby u”

Perfect for an irresistible photo meant to elicit a DM from your crush. Just make sure they’re single, because you’re better than a messy love triangle.

“not ready for ‘I love yous'”

For my commitment-free girlies. Use this when you’re traveling solo or just out here thriving, reminding the world you’re too fabulous to settle but still worth worshipping.

“that was so hot”

Post this after a fiery gym session, a post-run selfie, or a beach pic in that new swimsuit that has you feeling yourself.

“smoke then f*ck”

For your night-out pics in that dress — the one you wear when you’re ready to dominate the club (or the smoking area).

“really wanna smoke tonight”

Best paired with a sultry balcony shot overlooking a city skyline. Bathrobes optional but recommended.

“you’re sexy in person”

Mysterious but bold, this line shines with photos where you’re giving just enough. Think: covered face, fine body. Let them wonder.

“wish this night was longer”

For those cozy-yet-sexy bedtime shots in lingerie or silk. Keep it ambiguous: are you pining for someone, or just enjoying your own glow?

“but i like being held by you”

The ultimate flirt caption. Post with a smokin’ hot selfie, and trust me, the right person will slide into your DMs. And maybe, sliding something else soon.

“i’ll touch myself”

For the queens who know their worth and take pride in self-love. Celebrate you and your right to the Big O.

“you forgot your sweater”

An iconic caption for pics with no clothes on (or strategically placed blankets). Your crush should leave their sweater behind for you to sniff like a rom-com heroine.

“u miss my body?”

An iconic caption for when your photo is that good — so good, even you’re turning yourself on.

“i want baby kisses”

For the flirty queens who love a little harmless attention. Best paired with mirror selfies that focus on your glowing face and just enough of your upper body to keep them hooked. You’re not looking for love; you’re just reminding them who’s the moment.

With all these fire captions, remember: they’re for you

These captions are for self-love, not stolen love. Validate your glow, hype your body, and own your moment — but never send them to someone else’s boyfriend. We’ve all been Jam Villanueva, and trust me, you don’t want to be on the receiving end of that kind of heartbreak.

So, channel your inner diva and let them wish they had a chance. Stay confident, stay hot, and keep it classy. You’re better than a messy affair.

Apps

YouTube enables gifts, expands Shopping affiliate program to SEA

More ways to earn via social media content creation

Published

September 20, 2024

Manila Connoisseur

YouTube is introducing more ways to earn for content creators. In the latest MadeOn YouTube roundup, the video streaming platform bared that it will now enable gifts for creators.

If this sounds all too familiar, it’s because YouTube’s counterpart, TikTok, already has this feature. Facebook, meanwhile, has Stars to help pages monetize their video content as well.

While it’s more voluntary for Facebook, on TikTok, various creators go on livestreams to do all kinds of entertaining, funny, and sometimes even embarrassing things so viewers can send them gifts in real-time.

Now, YouTube is offering the same. Viewers simply have to purchase Jewels, which becomes the credit to send gifts to streamers to show their appreciation and support.

YouTube Shopping affiliate program expands

Moreover, aside from gifts, YouTube is expanding its YouTube Shopping Affiliate Program, making it available in Indonesia.

It is another way for users to earn money through product commissions. Qualified YouTube accounts will have the ability to tag products from various sellers on the videos they upload on YouTube.

Users may tag products both on uploaded videos via the YouTube Studio or during livestreams via Live Studio.

It is quite a development in the region, considering major ecommerce players like Shopee and Lazada have both integrated livestreams on their apps to let affiliates earn for every product they sell through their stream.

Hype videos

Furthermore, YouTube is giving new users the chance to find their niche on the platform. That’s through Hyped Videos.

Every week, YouTube will compile the Top 100 hyped videos of the week from creators who have just 500 to 500,000 subscribers — or what YouTube considers “small creators.”

Each week, these creators have the opportunity to hype up to three videos for a chance to be on the leaderboard. It is separate from YouTube’s main trending videos, and can be found on the Explore.

It is currently in an experimental phase for small creators in Brazil, Turkey, and Taiwan. YouTube mentioned it will announce when the test group expands to more people.

For relevance?

YouTube remains one of the most popular video streaming platforms in the world. That’s in spite of the birth of younger counterparts.

And as it is no secret that we are well into the visual age of social media where everyone can be a content creator, it looks like YouTube is doing everything at its disposal to remain a relevant video streaming platform in the years to come.

As the line between ecommerce and social media continues to become blurred as it stands, there’s no harm in taking these calculated risks if you’re the OG video streaming website.

YouTube gifts and the expansion of its Shopping affiliate program are just two of the major updates YouTube introduced in its latest MadeOn roundup.

Social Media

Yusuf Dikec: AI can’t do what I did at the Olympics

Called out Elon on his own platform

Published

August 5, 2024

Luigi Leonardo

Image source: Olympics

Yusuf Dikec is one of the world’s most popular athletes now. Last week, the silver medalist wowed audiences by shooting his pistol without special equipment and with a hand in his pocket. After his newfound fame, Dikec is now using his platform to call out AI.

Recently, the Turkish athlete created a new account on X. After a brief “hello, world” to X, he asked an important question addressed to X’s Elon Musk. “Hi Elon, do you think future robots can win medals at the Olympics with their hands in their pockets?” he asks.

Hi Elon, do you think future robots can win medals at the Olympics with their hands in their pockets?😎🇹🇷 How about discussing this in Istanbul, the cultural capital that unites continents? @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/BR5iJmNOHD

— Yusuf Dikec (@yusufdikec) August 4, 2024

As evidenced by Tesla and Grok, Musk is one of the biggest proponents for AI. The billionaire staunchly advocates for the technology through X, the platform he owns.

Going on Musk’s own platform to call him out on a technology he believes in is a ballsy move. However, given the image he’s shared so far, is it any surprise Dikec posted that?

Besides asking about robots, Dikec also invited Elon for a one-on-one discussion in Istanbul, “the cultural capital that unites continents.” While that invite is still open, Musk has responded to the tweet by saying “robots will hit the center of the bullseye every time.”

Without a doubt, a robot can certainly hit targets accurately every time. However, they probably won’t do it with the same swagger as the Turkish shooter.