Why app stores are problematic

Tom Maxwell for Input Mag: It was just last month that Kosta Eleftheriou, the developer of FlickType, announced that his swipe-based keyboard for the blind would be pulled off the App Store over objections by Apple. Its reasoning was unclear, with Eleftheriou saying that Apple had begun rejecting updates for the app because it required full system … Continue reading Why app stores are problematic

Facebook: Some users are more equal than others

Jeff Horwitz for Wall Street Journal: The program, known as “cross check” or “XCheck,” was initially intended as a quality-control measure for actions taken against high-profile accounts, including celebrities, politicians and journalists. Today, it shields millions of VIP users from the company’s normal enforcement process, the documents show. Some users are “whitelisted”—rendered immune from enforcement … Continue reading Facebook: Some users are more equal than others

More Facebook perfidy

Filippo Menczer for Nieman Lab blog post: The heart of the matter is the distinction between provoking a response and providing content people want. Social media algorithms — the rules their computers follow in deciding the content that you see — rely heavily on people’s behavior to make these decisions. In particular, they watch for … Continue reading More Facebook perfidy