Politics
What's up? Millions flee WhatsApp amid updated terms
A poorly communicated update from secure messaging service WhatsApp sees millions abandon the service in favour of competitors.
Business
Everyone looks ridiculous in the Australian media bargaining code fight
Big media, big tech, and big politics. Everyone is trying to look like the biggest tool in the name of winning a fight about the wrong thing.
Politics
US Govt speaks up on Australia's proposal to force Google and Facebook to pay up
Australia's developing media laws continue to get spicy, with US officials the latest detractors alongside Facebook and Google.
Big Ideas
Facebook helps boost NYU research project monitoring its ads – by suing it
Facebook goes after an NYU research plugin designed to give greater transparency to political adverts.
New Realities
Facebook continues Oculus woes, account deletion wipes purchases
When your delightful virtual reality headset conflicts with your desire to stop being trapped in the big bad social network.
Technology
Facebook-owned Oculus Quest 2 bans users for logging into Facebook
The requirement to create a Facebook login to use Oculus hardware meets its latest layer of stupid, with new accounts banned for... reasons?
Culture
The end of FarmVille
As Facebook gets set to shut down its support for Flash Player, the original addictive Zynga game has announced it's time to say goodbye.
Media
Facebook only took most of a week to deal with its latest misinformation crisis
Facebook is finally removing false claims about Oregon wildfires, half a week after ridiculous claims spread on the social network.
Jetpacks Are Overrated
The dark value of uninformed consent
The Australian news media bargaining code is trying to solve the wrong problem. It's a Band-aid on an ulcer.
Byteside Podcast
Australia vs Facebook & Google
This week, Nic and Seamus talk about the battle over digital ad revenues and the effort to demand Facebook and Google give money to the media industry.
Picking Your Battles
Facebook can be a place for good. It has those pockets all over its swampy landscape. Demanding it be better is more important when it’s urgent it gets on with the job of fixing runaway racism, conspiracies, and anti-scientific bloviation.
It's over before it begins
No time for a column today, but I do want to say I’m admitting defeat in my quest to truly delete myself from Facebook. I’ve had multiple occasions over the past week where I have had professional reasons to use the service. To not be able to report