4.7.2015
Good to Know: For the next time you play trivia, the iPad turned five on Monday, April 6. Just FYI.
THE SKINNY.
Not Allowed.
The Turkish government is back at it. It recently placed a ban on social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.
Why?
An Istanbul court issued a decision to place a ban on these platforms after photos of a prosecutor, Mehmet Selim Kiraz, being held at gunpoint by members of a terrorist organization surfaced.
What Were the Reactions?
Google, Twitter and Facebook ultimately complied with court orders and removed the images from their platforms; however, talks with YouTube are ongoing. As for these platforms’ users, they acknowledged the ban while some just went around the block. On Monday, Turkish users leveraged virtual private network (VPN) services to get around the block in order to access those platforms anyways. The hashtag, #TwitterisblockedinTurkey, started quickly trending worldwide.
Will This Happen Again?
It’s unclear, but the Turkish government previously blocked these platforms back in March 2014 amidst an outpour from users of alleged government corruption leading up to local elections. Though Twitter and FB both complied with court orders, both companies plan to fight back.
What Else is Going On This Week?
It’s Not Official Until It’s On FB…
Or, the Federal Register if you’re talking net neutrality rules. The rules will go in effect 60 days after it’s published assuming courts don’t intervene. Just a couple of weeks ago, we told you that some telecoms preempted the official publication and filed lawsuits regarding the rules. Reports anticipate that these telecoms will re-file their suits and others against the rules are likely to jump on the bandwagon as well.
Speaking Of Making Things FB Official …
The online social platform is no longer for announcing your happy relationship to the world. Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Matthew Cooper recently issued a ruling permitting a Brooklyn woman to serve her husband with divorce papers via Facebook private messages. According to Cooper, “[The message] shall be repeated by plaintiff’s attorney to defendant (the currently AWOL hubby) once a week for three consecutive weeks or until acknowledged.” Justification for FB being a viable option stems from the hubby only communicating with his soon to be ex-wife via phone or Facebook. So far, one message has been sent, but no response from the guy. The verdict is out on whether this decision will be the new normal.
The Streets Are Talkin’
Snapchat is now using emojis to let its users know where they stand with their “snap” partners. Rather than displaying pictures of your “best friends” on the app, the company is using emojis to indicate varying levels of “snapping relationships.”
Uber faces more competition from a new app called Ride, which offers carpooling services for colleagues at the same company.