Apps

Facebook now allows you to call others “ugly”

Or refer to transgenders as “it” and women as property

Published

January 8, 2025

Luigi Leonardo

Despite how old Facebook is, content moderation remains a thorny topic for those constantly online on the platform. Formerly just a place to share memes and connect with one another, the social media platforms is now a host to belligerent misinformation and conflict making. As the world of information evolves, Meta has updated its content policies going forward… but it might not be for the better.

No more fact-checking

Through a brief video message, Mark Zuckerberg enumerated a few changes coming to the popular platform. Citing the effects of the recently concluded U.S. presidential elections, Meta is loosening its policies regarding what you can and can’t post on Facebook.

Most importantly, Facebook will stop employing a fact-checking team. Instead, the platform will use Community Notes, identical to X’s new approach to censorship. For the uninitiated, X’s Community Notes system relies on user contributions to spot inconsistencies and errors. Think crowdsourced like Wikipedia.

For the most part, the system does work. Some even lead to humorous notes pointing out glaring mistakes easily rectified by a Google search. However, it almost feels like Facebook (and X, for that matter) washing their hands clean of any responsibility for misinformation on the platform.

As Zuckerberg says, “fact-checkers have just been too politically biased.” He claims that the old system caused more harm than good. Similar to X’s own statements, Zuckerberg refuses to become an “arbiter of truth,” instead choosing to democratize free speech. One has to wonder how Zuckerberg decided that the general populace is less politically biased than a fact-checking team he can personally vet for biases.

Free speech over censorship

Coinciding with the new Community Notes system, Zuckerberg also announced new content policies to moderate the platform. The generalities are the same: hateful conduct is still a no-no. However, the definition of what constitutes hateful conduct are less specific.

For example, while the policy continues to prohibit comparing minorities to animals, the changed form curiously deletes certain rules about comparing them to inanimate objects. Under the new policy, users can technically treat women as property or refer to transgender people as “it.”

Though one can argue that the general rule still covers these examples as hateful conduct, a recent addition to the policy is more damning. It reads:

‘We do allow allegations of mental illness or abnormality when based on gender or sexual orientation, given political and religious discourse about transgenderism and homosexuality and common non-serious usage of words like “weird.”’

The platform also allows discussions on whether military, law enforcement, and school applications should be limited based on gender. In the United States, gender-based discussions remain rampant with some states debating the legality of barring transgender people from institutions. Facebook’s latest additions are suspiciously contiguous with the new administration.

To be fair, some changes do make some sort of sense. The policy, for example, deletes a dedicated clause dealing specifically with COVID-19. More humorously, it also allows users to call each other ugly or hideous.

Apps

Disney+ launches a TikTok-coded vertical feed called Verts

Published

March 13, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

TikTok has changed how we consume media. Everything is now vertical. Even the most established streaming services, often a bastion for traditionally horizontal content, is adopting the different format. Now, Disney+ is getting a vertical feed called Verts.

Like its contemporaries, Verts presents a continuous feed of content but tailored to show the plethora of titles from the Disney+ library. This might include the first scenes of shows or notable highlights. The hope, of course, is to direct users to the longform content.

Directly from the Verts feed, users can easily add the respective title to their watchlist or go straight to the title’s page. In turn, the feed is accessible from the homepage since it has its own tab.

According to Disney, early experiments with the feature have driven engagement to available content. Right now, the feed is mostly for clipping enticing content from shows. However, the platform will experiment further with the format for new ways to tell stories.

Though Verts surely stands for “verticals” in this case, “adverts” might fit better as its full government name. Still, it might be a useful tool if you’re figuring out what to watch for the night.

Currently, Verts is available for Disney+ subscribers in the United States. Disney also has plans to expand the feature to ESPN for sports-related content.

Apps

Google Maps is finally getting a 3D mode

The app will also have a Gemini chatbot baked inside.

Published

March 13, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Some of today’s navigation apps are living in the future. Instead of a two-dimensional map, these apps render the user’s surroundings in 3D. It’s a nifty upgrade that helps drivers more accurately visualize directions on the fly. Finally, Google Maps is getting a much-needed upgrade and will take navigation to the third dimension.

In a new update rolling out today, the new Immersive Navigation feature will bring your surroundings to life. The 3D view creates a render of the surrounding buildings, overpasses, and terrain around the car. It takes the guesswork out of navigation by showing precisely where to turn and what landmarks to look out for.

In the same vein, you can now use Street View to preview your destination before you arrive. Google Maps will also highlight your destination’s entrance, side of the street, and nearby parking.

Outside of how the map is visualized, Google Maps is also infusing its service with Gemini. The new Ask Maps feature will let you engage with the app in a conversational manner. For example, if you’re in the middle of a long drive, you can now ask Maps where the best place is to stop over and have a coffee break. Ask Maps will provide directions, a potential itinerary, and even helpful links to book a reservation ahead of time.

Now, availability for both of these features is still a bit limited. Immersive View is rolling out today to compatible devices and vehicles in the United States. Further, availability will expand over the coming months.

Meanwhile, Ask Maps is available now in the United States and India for Android and iOS. A desktop version is coming soon.

Apps

Apple Music, TikTok launch Play Full Song, a new music discovery experience

Rolling out worldwide exclusively through Apple Music

Published

March 12, 2026

GadgetMatch

Ever came across a viral 15 or 30-second music snippet on TikTok that instantly became your jam on repeat?

For years, TikTok has been a regular source of songs that have become part of our playlists. And together with Apple Music, listening to the music you discover has just gotten even easier.

That’s through Play Full Song, a new music discovery experience, which launches exclusively though Apple Music.

With the new feature, Apple Music subscribers can now enjoy full-length tracks that they discover on TikTok. That’s without ever leaving that popular streaming app.

Fans who discover a song that they love on their For You or Sound Detail page can simply tap the Play Full Song button to open up an Apple Music player and enjoy the song in its entirety.

From there, subscribers can continue listening to a personalized stream of recommended songs. That means no more need to switch apps and search separately.

The new Play Full Song experience helps music fans move seamlessly from the moment of discovery to deeper listening. It’s also designed to be instant and all within the same environment.

Moreover, users can also save their favorite songs to Your Music and add them directly to their Apple Music playlists.

Built using Apple’s MusicKit, full-length song playback takes place on Apple Music. This way, streams are paid within the Apple Music service, supporting artists and rights holders while giving fans a smooth, uninterrupted experience.

Listening Party also launched

The feature builds on the success of TikTok’s Add to Music App. This was previously launched to help artists and fans convert discovery on TikTok to a playlist save in Apple Music and other streaming services.

To cap the announcement, TikTok and Apple Music are also introducing Listening Party. This new feature is designed to bring artists and fans together around music.

It creates a shared environment where fans can listen to songs from their favorite artists in real time, interact with each her, and engage directly with the artist during the session.