Uncategorized

First Look: ViewStats – a Powerful Analytics Platform Launched in Beta by MrBeast

Mrbeastburger
The top YouTuber in the U.S., MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) co-founded the new analytics platform ViewStats, which is now available in beta. Similar to tools like Socialblade, ViewStats uses the YouTube API to unveil detailed stats about channels that both creators and their fans can see. So, if he thinks certain metrics are a must-have for an analytics platform, they’re probably important. Founded alongside Chucky Appleby, a creator who works with MrBeast, ViewStats is differentiating itself with this star power. Appleby said that the platform will add more tools in the future, including thumbnail analytics tools.

Holiday Season Continues Unfazed by Crypto Hacks and Chaos

Hacking Surveillance1
To get a roundup of TechCrunch’s biggest and most important crypto stories delivered to your inbox every Thursday at 12 p.m. PT, subscribe here. If you’re feeling the holiday spirit this month, you probably align with millions of people out there spreading joy, love, warmth, maybe even some generosity. ZachXBT, a well-known independent crypto researcher, wrote on X that one victim had more than $600,000 in crypto drained from their account. What’s happening in web3The latest podFor this week’s episode, Jacquelyn interviewed Johann Kerbrat, the general manager of crypto at Robinhood. Johann is leading the application’s effort to expand its crypto exchange business and make digital assets more accessible to retail investors.

BoxGroup Secures $425M Funding for Investment in Early-Stage Startups

Gettyimages 1357842858
The new funds come two years after BoxGroup raised $255 million for its fifth early-stage fund and second opportunity fund. The sixth early-stage fund is almost double the fifth one, Tisch notes. “For our early-stage fund, we grew, which in this environment, is of note,” Tisch said. “In fact, it’s a pretty significant growth of the early-stage fund. Similar to previous funds, Tisch expects to inject capital from the new funds into 40 to 50 new startups, writing check sizes between $500,000 and $1 million.

Threads is now accessible to EU citizens

Threads Gettyimages 1514559220
Threads is finally available to users in the EUFive months after its launch in July, Meta’s social network Threads is now finally available to people living in the European Union. At launch, the company restricted access to the new social network in the EU to become compliant with various rules of the bloc. In July, days after Threads’ launch, Meta had to take “additional” steps to prevent EU-based users from using a VPN to access the social network. The official launch comes after the Wall Street Journal’s report last month indicated that Meta planned to launch Threads in the EU in December. The social network’s launch in the EU will help the company cross that mark.

Gen-AI Background Editing Tool Now Available on Instagram

Alexander Shatov 71qk8odibko Unsplash
Instagram introduced its generative AI-powered background editing tool to U.S.-based users Wednesday. Meta’s lead for generative AI Ahmad Al-Dahle posted on Threads saying that the tool will let users change the background to their images through prompts for Stories. Earlier this week, Snapchat released a new tool for its paying users that let them create and send AI-generated images. Earlier this year, the social network rolled out the ability for Snapchat+ users to populate prompt-based backgrounds. At the same time, the company also launched a standalone AI-image generator called Imagine with Meta, powered by its own model called Emu.

EU Advertisements Targeting Sensitive Data Draw Privacy Complaint Against Musk’s X

X And Threads Gettyimages 1763609384
Elon Musk’s X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, is facing a new privacy complaint in Europe related to its ad targeting tools. The complaint, which is being lodged with the Dutch data protection authority by privacy rights not-for-profit noyb, accuses X of failing to enforce its own its advertising guidelines. “After we filed our first complaint in this matter, the EU Commission has already confirmed to stop advertising on X. “In November, this unlawful use of micro-targeting already prompted noyb to file a complaint against the EU Commission itself. “It remains to be seen if the Commission may take action against X itself under the DSA,” noyb further added.

Twitch’s Third Policy Unmasks Inked Nips, Excludes Human Unders

Twitch Coin Warp
Twitch announced sweeping updates to its sexual content policy and content classification system, which now allows previously prohibited content like illustrated nipples and “erotic dances,” in addition to clarifying what nudity is and isn’t allowed on the platform. The framing implied nudity, but never actually showed content that explicitly violated Twitch’s sexual content policies. Other streamers, who were predominantly male, were enraged by Morgpie’s content and called for Twitch to crack down on the apparent nudity. The new policy is meticulously detailed and accounts for various situations, but also appears to contradict itself. By clarifying what is and isn’t allowed, Twitch believes that it’ll be easier for streamers to comply with its policies.

Leader cruise expelled after preliminary inquiry into robotaxi crisis

Cruise Trouble 4
Cruise spokesperson Erik Moser confirmed the departures and shared a statement, but declined to comment on whether these employees were fired. “Today, following an initial analysis of the October 2 incident and Cruise’s response to it, nine individuals departed Cruise. A video, which TechCrunch viewed a day after the incident, showed the robotaxi braking aggressively and coming to a stop over the woman. Morale at Cruise has been low since the October 2 incident, with employees pointing the finger at poor management that didn’t prioritize safety at the company. Initial layoffs affected contract workers who had jobs cleaning, charging and maintaining the vehicles as well as answering customer support inquiries.

Initial safety investigation results in dismissal of robotaxi accident leadership

Cruise Trouble 3
Cruise spokesperson Erik Moser confirmed the departures and shared a statement, but declined to comment on whether these employees were fired. “Today, following an initial analysis of the October 2 incident and Cruise’s response to it, nine individuals departed Cruise. A video, which TechCrunch viewed a day after the incident, showed the robotaxi braking aggressively and coming to a stop over the woman. Morale at Cruise has been low since the October 2 incident, with employees pointing the finger at poor management that didn’t prioritize safety at the company. Initial layoffs affected contract workers who had jobs cleaning, charging and maintaining the vehicles as well as answering customer support inquiries.

Robotaxi Accident Prompts Removal of Cruise Executives

Cruise Trouble 2
Cruise spokesperson Erik Moser confirmed the departures and shared a statement, but declined to comment on whether these employees were fired. “Today, following an initial analysis of the October 2 incident and Cruise’s response to it, nine individuals departed Cruise. A video, which TechCrunch viewed a day after the incident, showed the robotaxi braking aggressively and coming to a stop over the woman. Morale at Cruise has been low since the October 2 incident, with employees pointing the finger at poor management that didn’t prioritize safety at the company. Initial layoffs affected contract workers who had jobs cleaning, charging and maintaining the vehicles as well as answering customer support inquiries.