Why content goes viral

Pop star Halsey says her label will not release her new music unless she goes viral on the Chinese-owned app TikTok, adding, “They are doing this to basically every artist.” “Basically, I have a song that I love that I want to release ASAP, but my record label won’t let me,” Halsey said in a now-viral TikTok video. “I’ve been in this industry for eight years, and I’ve sold over 165 million records.” “And my record company is saying I can’t release it unless they can fake a viral moment on TikTok,” the singer added. Halsey went on to say that “Everything is marketing. And they are doing this to basically every artist these days.” “I just want to release music, man, and I deserve better,” she added. “I’m tired.” Halsey is not the only artist to claim their label will not release their new music unless they produce a viral TikTok video. Other artists — such as FKA Twigs, Charli XCX, and Florence And The Machine — have reportedly complained about their labels forcing them … [Read more...] about Pop Star Halsey Says Label Won’t Release Her Music Unless She Goes Viral on TikTok

As bear season looms, a tweet from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation has captured viral attention as they warn of the differences between bear spray and bug spray. The department's official Twitter account shared a tweet Monday that read: "Listen, bear spray DOES NOT work like bug spray. We would like to not have to say that again." With more than 218,000 likes and thousands of retweets, the tweet has left the internet in stitches—even making its way over to Reddit where it was shared on the popular subreddit r/facepalm and has received more than 75,000 upvotes. A spokesperson for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation told Newsweek : "The tweet is part of our ongoing 'bear aware' messaging and not related to a specific incident. The tweet was meant to use humor as a way to remind people there are bears in Oklahoma. Many people are not aware encountering a bear in Oklahoma's eastern half of the state is a real possibility. "As far as we know, in … [Read more...] about Wildlife department’s joke bear-spray warning goes viral: “Must have burnt”

Patrick Lee (AFP) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia   ● Wed, May 25, 2022 2022-05-25 11:40 0 02c2f042c5018a82e8094ec752d09237 2 Science & Tech Malaysia,sensors,technology,durian,agriculture,China,export Free Drones spraying pesticide, sensors taking soil readings, sprinklers that squirt fertiliser at the touch of a button -- a Malaysian plantation is using high-tech methods to boost its crop of pungent durians. Grown across Southeast Asia, fans hail the spiky durian as the "king of fruit" due to its bittersweet flavours and creamy golden flesh, and it is particularly popular in China. But to its detractors it is the world's smelliest fruit, with an overpowering stench like rotting food that has seen it banned in hotels and on public transport across the region. In a competitive market, Malaysian grower Top Fruits Plantations has turned to high-tech methods to lift its output. "It's a much faster way to get more consistent results," managing director Tan … [Read more...] about From drones to sensors, Malaysian durian grower goes high-tech

Whether it's their basketball skills or Queen Elizabeth's influence (she's owned 30 over her lifetime), Corgis are one of the internet's most beloved breeds. Which is why many of us are willing to overlook any jerk-like behavior, because who can be mad at those little faces ? And one Corgi has gone viral for taking his brutal bragging too far. U/EssentialLillie shared a snap of her Corgi pup munching a treat in front of the other dogs at the office where his mom works, which Reddit described as "evil." Posting to the r/AnimalsBeingJerks thread, EssentialLillie wrote: "He intentionally brought his chew to the gate so that he can eat it in front other dogs lmao." In the photo, the Corgi can be seen nibbling on a chew behind a baby gate, while two other dogs look on in desperation. In an update in the comments, EssentialLillie explained that although her employer allows staff to bring their dogs to work, her puppy is currently confined by a baby gate as they are not … [Read more...] about Corgi eating treat in front of dogs behind baby gate branded “evil”

There has been a shift in the world of weed gummies. Until recently, most full spectrum CBD gummies had only minimal amounts of THC, the compound in weed that makes people high. But today, CBD gummies with 5mg (or more) of THC are hitting the market and are increasingly popular. These gummies are among the best edibles out there. They are available in different flavors and strengths. Whether you’re looking for gummies that “lift” you slightly or edibles that make you moderately high, you have options with THC gummies. To help you choose the right gummies, we’ve compiled a detailed guide on the best THC gummies. We’ve categorized them as follows: ●      CBD + THC gummies ●      Delta-9 THC gummies ●      Delta-8 THC gummies Let’s dive deeper into each category to help you choose what works best for you. The Best CBD + THC Gummies Cannabidiol (CBD) is a component of marijuana that doesn’t have a psychoactive effect. For this reason, CBD products cannot make you high. … [Read more...] about Top 9 THC Gummies: The Complete Guide

Click here to read the full article. The relationship between artist and label is often perceived as being between art and commerce, but it’s rarely that simple — and that ongoing push-pull has broken into the open with Halsey ’s recent social media posts about her label apparently declining to release a new song until there was a viral TikTok “moment” to help promote it. No question: It’s crass when an artist’s creation is reduced to being marketed like a soft drink. On the other hand, the label’s job is to promote the music in the most effective and creative way they can — and in subsequent posts and replies, Halsey wrote, “I value the expertise and work of all the amazing people at my label. There are so many talented professionals there,” before taking exception to the manner in which the message was apparently delivered. “But surely we can have an opinion on the entry point of consumption they’re trying to enforce?! A suggestion is great, an ultimatum?” More from … [Read more...] about Artists and Fans Rally Around Halsey as TikTok-Label Debate Continues

With over 150 percent growth in daily active users (DAUs), photo-messaging app Snapchat has seen its user base cross the 60 million-mark in the country, a top company executive said. Speaking to PTI, Snap Inc Managing Director (International Markets) Nana Murugesan said the company aims to continue building on the growth momentum across product development, partnerships and the augmented reality experience. Snap is the parent company of Snapchat . The app allows users to share photos and videos with friends for a specific time period after which the content gets deleted. It offers filters and lenses, many of which are augmented reality-enabled. Globally, Snapchat had 265 million daily active users in the December 2020 quarter. Over 5 billion ‘snaps’ were created daily on average by users on the platform. “2020 was a really strong year for us and we are thrilled with the momentum we’re seeing. We reached more than 60 million users in India in Q4 20, with strengthening growth … [Read more...] about Snapchat Clocks 150% Growth in Daily Active Users, Crosses 60 Million User Mark Milestone in India

While tank movements, drone strikes, and conventional warfare have been key aspects of Ukraine's war against a Russian invasion, the online battle against disinformation and propaganda has been a hallmark of what many consider the first war of the digital age. Mike Madrid and Ron Steslow, known stateside as co-founders of the influential Lincoln Project, which they exited before it was hit by allegations and infighting, are among those who see the Ukraine-Russia war as part of a broader struggle between democracy and authoritarian forces. That's why the two men planned an under-the-radar 10-day trip to Ukraine in the beginning of May, aided by a Russian information specialist, to meet with three officials in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky 's administration to discuss the work they've done and how they can be of help. "We believe there needs to be a global coalition of activists engaged in the fight for democracy," Madrid, now back in California, told Newsweek. He … [Read more...] about Ukraine May Use Lincoln Project’s Anti-Trump Tactics Against Putin

Ma Huateng, the billionaire co-founder of the Chinese company Tencent Holdings Ltd, reportedly shared and endorsed an essay privately on a Chinese social media network condemning the Chinese Communist Party’s “Zero-Covid” policy this week. The founder and CEO of Tencent, more commonly known as Pony Ma, reportedly shared the post on his WeChat account, writing that it was a “really vivid” description of the economic disaster the Communist Party created by insisting on locking down its largest city and financial hub, Shanghai, and several of its largest industrial centers. WeChat is a heavily censored social media outlet akin to the Western application Whatsapp. Tencent owns WeChat. According to the South China Morning Post , Ma shared the post privately, but a screenshot of his message began circulating widely on the network. The essay, now disappeared from Chinese social media, was titled “Nobody Cares About the Economy Except Hu Xijin” and written by Zhang Mingyang, who … [Read more...] about China: Tencent Kingpin Pony Ma Shares Censored Anti-Lockdown Rant

Downing Street has denied that Boris Johnson suggested Sue Gray could just drop plans to publish her Partygate report - but refused to publicise the minutes of their secretive meeting. The Prime Minister - who is the Whitehall investigator's boss - met her at the start of this month after No10 officials said talks "may be something that she might want to consider." No10 are refusing to release any minutes. But it's now emerged Boris Johnson asked if there was "much point" in publishing her final verdict on lockdown parties after a police probe, the Times and Sky News reported. The PM's official spokesman said he "wouldn't recognise the characterisation that the PM asked her to drop or scrap the report or not proceed with it" after being repeatedly grilled on what took place. The spokesman said: "This was a legitimate meeting about the process rather than the contents of the report. "The Prime Minister did not ask her to drop the report or not proceed with the report. The … [Read more...] about No10 denies PM suggested Sue Gray drop report – but won’t publish notes of secret meeting