Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced a big shift in the company's approach to moderation and speech. Meta will be suspending its fact-checking program and will move to an X-style Community Notes model on Facebook, Instagram and Threads.In a video, Zuckerberg said that Meta has "built a lot of complex systems to moderate content" in recent years. ""But the problem with complex systems is they make mistakes," he said. "Even if they accidentally censor one percent of posts, that's millions of people." He went on to say that we're now at the point where there have been "too many mistakes and too much censorship."To that end, he said, "we're gonna get back to our roots and focus on reducing mistakes, simplifying our policies and restoring free expression on our platforms." That's going to start with a switch to "Community Notes, similar to X, starting in the US."The company plans to phase in Community Notes in the US over the next few months and iterate on them over this year, all the while removing its fact checkers and ending the demotion of fact-checked content. Meta will also make certain content warning labels less prominent.Meta's new Chief Global Affairs Officer and Nick Clegg's replacement Joel Kaplan wrote in a blog post that the company has seen the Community Notes "approach work on X where they empower their community to decide when posts are potentially misleading and need more context, and people across a diverse range of perspectives decide what sort of context is helpful for other users to see."Meta says it will be up to contributing users to write Community Notes and to decide which ones are applied to posts on Facebook, Instagram and Threads. "Just like they do on X, Community Notes will require agreement between people with a range of perspectives to help prevent biased ratings," Kaplan wrote. "We intend to be transparent about how different viewpoints inform the Notes displayed in our apps, and are working on the right way to share this information."The Community Notes model hasn't entirely been without issue for X, however. Studies have shown that Community Notes have failed to prevent misinformation from spreading there. Elon Musk has championed the Community Notes approach but some have been applied to his own posts to correct falsehoods that he has posted. After one such incident, Musk accused "state actors" of manipulating the system. YouTube has also tested a Community Notes model.ASSOCIATED PRESSMeanwhile, Zuckerberg had some other announcements to make, including a simplification of certain content policies and ditching "a bunch of restrictions on topics like immigration and gender that are just out of touch with mainstream discourse. What started as a movement to be more inclusive has increasingly been used to shut down opinions and shut out people with different ideas, and it's gone too far. I wanna make sure that people can share their experiences and their beliefs on our platforms."When asked to provide more details about these policy changes, Meta directed Engadget to Kaplan's blog post.In addition, the filters that Meta had used to search for any policy violations across its platforms will be focused on "illegal and high-severity violations." These include terrorism, child sexual exploitation, drugs, fraud and scams. For other, less-severe types of policy violations, Meta will rely more on users making manual reports, but the bar for removing content will be higher."Were going to tune our systems to require a much higher degree of confidence before a piece of content is taken down," Kaplan wrote. In some cases, that will mean multiple reviewers looking at a certain piece of content before reaching a decision on whether to take it down. Along with that, Meta is "working on ways to make recovering accounts more straightforward and testing facial recognition technology, and weve started using AI large language models (LLMs) to provide a second opinion on some content before we take enforcement actions."Last but not least, Meta says it's taking a more personalized approach to political content across its platforms after attempting to make its platforms politically agnostic for the past few years. So, if you want to see more political stuff in your Facebook, Instagram and Threads feeds, you'll have the choice to do so.As with donating to Donald Trump's inauguration fund, replacing longtime policy chief Nick Clegg with a former George W. Bush aide and appointing Trump's buddy (and UFC CEO) Dana White to its board, it's very difficult to see these moves as anything other than Meta currying favor with the incoming administration.Many Republicans have long railed against social media platforms, accusing them of censoring conservative voices. Meta itself blocked Trump from using his accounts on his platforms for years after he stoked the flames of the attempted coup of January 6, 2021. "His decision to use his platform to condone rather than condemn the actions of his supporters at the Capitol building has rightly disturbed people in the US and around the world," Zuckerberg said at the time. "We believe the risks of allowing the President to continue to use our service during this period are simply too great." Meta removed its restrictions on Trump's Facebook and Instagram accounts last year.Zuckerberg explicitly said that Trump's election win is part of the reasoning behind Meta's policy shift, calling it "a cultural tipping point" on free speech. He said that the company will work with Trump to push back against other governments, such as the Chinese government and some in Latin America, that are "pushing to censor more."He claimed that "Europe has an ever-increasing number of laws institutionalizing censorship and making it difficult to build anything innovative there." Zuckerberg also took shots at the outgoing administration (over an alleged push for censorship) and third-party fact checkers, who he claimed were "too politically biased and have destroyed more trust than they created."These are all significant changes for Meta's platforms. On one hand, allowing more types of speech could increase engagement without having to rely on, say, garbage AI bots. But the company may end up driving away many folks who don't want to deal with the type of speech that could become more prevalent on Instagram, Facebook and Threads now that Meta is taking the shackles off."Now we have an opportunity to restore free expression and I am excited to take it," Zuckerberg said. While he noted that "it'll take time to get this right and these are complex systems that are never gonna be perfect," and that the company will still need to work hard to remove illegal content, "the bottom line is that after years of having our content moderation work focused primarily on removing content, it is time to focus on reducing mistakes, simplifying our systems and getting back to our roots about giving people voice."Update January 7, 2:58PM ET: Noting that Meta responded to our request for comment.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/meta-is-ditching-third-party-fact-checkers-on-facebook-instagram-142330246.html?src=rss

Metas Instagram has been blocking LGBTQ-related hashtags for months, according to reporting by User Mag. This was done under the companys sensitive content policy as an attempt to restrict sexually suggestive content. The blocked hashtags included stuff like #lesbian, #gay, #bisexualpride, #transwomen and dozens more. Those hashtags dont seem that sexually suggestive to me but, hey, what do I know.The terms were hidden from both search and discovery for any users who had their sensitive content filter turned on. Teenage users have that filter turned on by default. When teens attempted to search these terms, they were directed to a blank page and a prompt from Meta to review the companys sensitive content restrictions that hide sexually explicit posts.User Mags reporting caused Meta to reverse course on these restrictions, after having been in place for months. The company called it a simple mistake and said that its important to us that all communities feel safe and welcome on Meta apps, and we do not consider LGBTQ+ terms to be sensitive under our policies.The restrictions occurred after the company started hiding topics from teens as part of a larger youth and well-being privacy update. This was advertised as an effort to keep kids away from content that promoted self-harm. Its worth noting that heterosexual content, even stuff that showed couples engaged in romantic activities, werent restricted in any way, according to User Mag.A responsible and inclusive company would not build an algorithm that classifies some LGBTQ hashtags as sensitive content, hiding helpful and age-appropriate content from young people by default, a spokesperson for GLAAD said. LGBTQ creators have long suffered under Instagrams content policies, often experiencing shadow bans and having their content labeled as non-recommendable.While Meta says it was all a big misunderstanding, promising to get to the bottom of things, this is only one example of the company throwing marginalized communities under the bus. The company just changed its Hateful Content policy, adding language that seemingly allows folks to brazenly attack gay and trans people. The company says that it's now fine to post allegations of mental illness or abnormality when based on gender or sexual orientation, given political and religious discourse about transgenderism and homosexuality. It's worth noting that the word "transgenderism" has long been used by bad actors to purposely misrepresent trans identities as an ideology.This is part of a larger effort by Meta to become more like the notoriously-thriving social media empire X. Meta just got rid of its fact checkers, in favor of community guidelines, and removed a mention in its Hateful Conduct policy that suggested online rhetoric could promote offline violence.WATCH: Were gonna get rid of fact-checkersIn what looks almost like a hostage video, Zuckerberg bends the knee to Trump entirely doing away with Facebook fact-checkers and moving the process to Texas under the guise of protecting free expression. pic.twitter.com/Ox0jeqBDBZ The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) January 7, 2025 CEO Mark Zuckerberg has also been cozying up to Donald Trump. Hes been busy pumping money into Trumps inauguration fund, flying down to Mar-a-Lago for chats, replacing Metas longtime policy chief Nick Clegg with a former George W. Bush aide and appointing UFC CEO (and Trump booster) Dana White to the companys board.Zuckerberg went as far as to explicitly indicate that many of the above changes were made because Donald Trump won the presidential election, calling it a cultural tipping point. He also called third-party fact checkers too politically biased and suggested that many of Europes laws against hate speech promoted censorship and make it difficult to build anything innovative there. Remember when he was going to fight Elon Musk? It looks like Zuckerberg just lost via submission to our new First Buddy without ever entering the ring.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/instagram-blocked-lgbtq-hashtags-and-treated-them-as-sexually-suggestive-content-200808209.html?src=rss

At a surprisingly star-studded event this morning, BMW showed off the final form of its long-awaited and long-teased Panoramic iDrive system. It's a combination of an oddly angular touchscreen, a windshield-spanning heads-up display, and an LLM-powered AI assistant. The big news? It's coming to every future BMW.Comedians Tim Meadows and Ken Jeong welcomed the assembled crowd into a studio designed to look like an oversized interior of the company's upcoming Neue Klasse. They did their best to goad BMW's Bavarian executives into a series of jokes and bits that mostly fell as flat as the central touchscreen that now dominates the iDrive experience.Thankfully, it's not comedy that brought us to Las Vegas this week, and the good news for BMW is that the interface looks good. The software behind the scenes is called BMW Operating System X, and it powers a new iDrive that combines screens and voice commands to create a familiar but far more comprehensive interface than anything we've seen in a BMW before.It all starts with that central touchscreen, but even that is different. Rather than being square or curved like in other BMWs, the new panel is rhomboid-shaped, a slanted polygon whose leaning posture doesn't seem to really augment the experience but does at least look distinctive.The panel is also tilted slightly towards the driver and is running software that is at least familiar to anyone who's used the current iDrive interface. A static bar along the bottom provides quick access to the most important things, like controls for the heating system. Above that, a stylized, 3D view of the world makes sure you're always situated.Things get more interesting when you move up the dashboard. Running along the base of the windshield is what BMW calls Panoramic Vision. It spans the width of the car, with the left-most portion handling typical gauge cluster duties like displaying current speed, active safety controls, and even warnings.Tim Stevens for EngadgetThe rest of the Panoramic Vision display is customizable, with six widgets that you can drag up from the central touchscreen covering things like outside temperature, navigation ETA, and even another widget showing you turn-by-turn information. It's much that we've seen in demos from BMW before, but now nearly ready for prime-time with the cars shipping at the end of this year.Given the Panoramic Vision's importance in the overall in-car experience, I asked the guy who oversaw the development of all this, BMW's SVP of connected company technical operations Stephan Durach, whether there were any visibility issues in the bright sunlight."This technology is a little bit different than a traditional heads-up display... we're using black print on the bottom. In bright sunlight, it's even performing a little bit better," he said. "You'll not have any issues at all."If that's not enough displays for you, there's another HUD situated on the left, up above the Panoramic Vision, which gives 3D navigation information for the driver. Yes, between the touchscreen, the Panoramic Vision display, and the HUD, you can get three separate feeds of turn-by-turn directions.In other words, if you miss a turn in this thing, you have nobody to blame but yourself.BMWBMW also quickly demonstrated a new in-car LLM that, for now at least, is only for navigation. It was all pre-recorded, so it's anyone's guess how well this will work in reality, but in the demo, at least, it quickly found "the best beach" and navigated there. When our pretend driver left the city, the car even asked whether to automatically engage Sport Mode, which was a nice touch.BMW's Durach confirmed that Android Auto and Apple CarPlay will still be supported. He also teased that there are some more fun tricks to come that will get passengers more involved in the experience.BMW ended the presentation by confirming that Panoramic iDrive will not only be coming to the Neue Klasse when it finally hits the market at the end of this year but will be the standard interface for all new BMWs that launch after that. That means the days of the rotary iDrive controller are now officially numbered.I asked Durach if he had any parting words for this once-revolutionary vehicular interface."We take a look at all of our data and usage... you can really see that the usage of our rotary controller is declining dramatically," he said. "People don't even touch it."It's a harsh send-off, but these days you just can't cry over progress.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/ces-2025-bmws-vision-spanning-panoramic-idrive-will-make-sure-you-never-miss-another-navigation-prompt-192022046.html?src=rss

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A new behind the scenes featurette breaks down the work by Tippett Studio.The post Stop-motion! How Mama Crab was made in Skeleton Crew appeared first on befores & afters.

Prepare for heartbreak, survival, and unforgettable moments as The Last of Us returns with its highly anticipated second season this April on HBO. Based on the critically acclaimed video game series, Season 2 delves deeper into the harrowing journey of Ellie and Joel, exploring themes of vengeance, love, and the cost of survival in a post-apocalyptic world. The newly released trailer promises gripping performances, breathtaking landscapes, and intense action that fans have come to expect from this groundbreaking adaptation.Bringing the desolate world to life, the VFX team, headed by Production VFX Supervisor Alex Wang and Production VFX Producer Fiona Campbell Westgate, will deliver some eye-popping effects that combine in a seamless fusion of practical with cutting-edge digital artistry from decayed cityscapes to hauntingly realistic infected creatures-the visual effects are sure to amplify the series while drawing audiences in further into emotional and visceral storytelling that has mesmerized millions of viewers around the world.The post The Last Of Us Season 2 April 2025 appeared first on Vfxexpress.

The biographical drama Bob Marley: One Love brings the iconic reggae legends story to life with remarkable authenticity, thanks to the seamless visual effects crafted by Outpost VFX. Known for their expertise in invisible effects, the studio skillfully recreated immersive environments and vibrant crowd scenes, ensuring every frame honors Bob Marleys legacy. From bustling concert sequences to the detailed recreation of historical settings, the VFX work enhances the films authenticity while remaining beautifully understated, allowing the narrative to take center stage.Outpost VFXs artistry shines in how they balanced realism with storytelling, blending live-action footage with meticulously designed digital elements. Their efforts captured the energy and soul of Marleys world, transporting audiences into his life and music. This exceptional VFX work not only pays tribute to Marleys legacy but also underscores the role of visual effects in bringing heartfelt stories to the screen.The post Bob Marley One Love: VFX Breakdown by Outpost VFX appeared first on Vfxexpress.

The no-buy trend isnt anything new, but it gains fresh momentum every January, right on the heels of the holiday splurge.If youre new to the trend, the concept is simple. While theres no strict rule book for the monthlong no-spend challenge, most participants stick to the basics, limiting their spending to nondiscretionary items like groceries and transportation. Some take it a step further by sharing detailed lists of whats allowed and whats off-limits in their budgetno more impulse-shopping hauls or indulgent brunch dates, at least for the month.I know that #nospendjanuary seems like the absolute worst thing ever, admits one TikTok user. But honestly I have seen so many videos where it has absolutely been a game changer in peoples finances and how much they saved in one month is truly crazy. @jadebjohnson our no spend january rules ! #nospendmonth #nospendjanuary #nospendjanuaryrules #2025 original sound jade johnson Her realistic and attainable guidelines include no spending on eating out or extraneous purchases like clothes, home decor, Amazon shopping or impulse buys from the Aldi middle aisle. Some people have even set weekly spending caps to keep themselves accountable and track progress. My goal is to spend under $1,000 this month, another creator shared alongside her rules and exceptions for her no-spend month. Wish me luck.Shopping bans and other financial detox programs have been around for a while; still, its easy to see why January is an attractive month to practice financial restraint. I feel like we are all spent out anyway with the holidays, says one creator. Its time to take a break. For many, the challenge is less about restriction and more about redefining their relationship with money for the year ahead, prioritizing intentional purchases over impulse buys. My only New Years resolution is to be more thoughtful about the things Im purchasing, she adds. @jacklyn._anne Anyone want to join me? This is my first time doing a dedicated no spend wish me luck#newyearresolution #nospendchallenge #nobuy #nobuychallenge #january2025 #underconsumption #underconsumptioncore original sound Noah Kahan But before cutting up your credit cards, its important to consider why youre undertaking the challenge. Is it simply to save money, or is there something specific youre looking to reduce your spending on? Once clear on your financial goals, set yourself up for success. Delete shopping apps, unsubscribe from marketing emails, and even take a break from social media if endless scrolling fuels your urge to shop. Every time youre tempted to buy something, jot it down in your phones Notes app. At the end of the month, revisit the list and see if you still want the items youve noted.Whether or not theyre committing to a no-spend or low-spend challenge, it seems that for the most part, Americans are feeling optimistic about their financial resolutions for 2025, a Motley Fool Money survey reveals. While 69% plan to set money goals, 74% are confident theyll achieve them. If the habit starts to feel good, why stop at January?