1. Another Facebook Data Breach
Data from millions of Facebook users was exposed on Amazon’s public cloud servers. UpGuard security firm discovered data from two third-party Facebook app developers on the servers. The first data set was created by Mexico-based media company Cultura Colectiva and contained 540M records of Facebook IDs, account names, likes, reactions, and comments. The second data set was developed by a Facebook-integrated app called “At the Pool” and included Facebook users’ IDs, friends, likes, music, movies, photos, events, groups, check-ins, passwords, and more. Both data sets were available and downloadable to the public. How did this happen? The data was collected through a Facebook integration. Facebook lets third-party developers integrate apps so users can do things like sign in through Facebook. Sounds like Zuckerberg needs to take those new rules he announced a little more seriously.
(Source: Bloomberg, CNN Business)
2. Record-Breaking Royal Instagram
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle set a record on Instagram. Their account reached 1M followers in a record time of five hours and 45 minutes according to Guinness World Records. The @SussexRoyal account even caused Instagram to crash for a short time due to the number of followers it was attracting. The first post by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex was a gallery of images of their travels and a caption thanking followers for their support: “Welcome to our official Instagram; we look forward to sharing the work that drives us; the causes we support, important announcements, and the opportunity to shine a light on key issues. We thank you for your support, and welcome you to @sussexroyal.”— Harry & Meghan. What else? This is Meghan’s first presence on social media since deleting all of her personal accounts prior to marrying Harry in May 2018 and joining the royal family. Welcome back, Meghan!
(Source: Guinness World Records, ET)
3. Hotel Owner Roasts Influencers
The small business owner of White Banana Beach Club in Siargao, Philippines is fed up with Instagram influencers asking for free trips to his resort. The club offers a sunset bar with cocktails, food, luxury beds, and an obvious aesthetic appeal. Influencers have caught on, and the owner, Gianluca Casaccia, says he has received 100 messages from influencers since the business opened in May. He says many of these messages are from “wannabe” influencers who have less than 2K followers and read something like: “I’m coming from the 25th to the 27th. We need three beds, food, and accommodation.” Casaccia announced his attitude toward these requests in a controversial Facebook post:
What was the response? The post went viral, even though Casaccia’s intent was only to dissuade “fake” influencers. Many users commented to defend the entrepreneurial attitude of influencers, while others shared Casaccia’s frustration. Many hotels have expressed that influencer bargaining is getting out of hand, including Jashita Hotel in Tulum, Mexico. Abigail Villamonte, the front desk manager, says that the hotel has stopped working with influencers after an overwhelming amount of inquiries over the last six months. As valuable as social media influence is, there are some things that Instagram posts just can’t buy.
(Source: NYT)
