Technology

Reddit Acquires Dubsmash, TikTok's Fast-Growing Alternative

4:22pm December 30, 2020

by Bobby Allyn

Message board Reddit has acquired video-sharing app Dubsmash, a fast-growing rival to TikTok. A major part of its appeal is showcasing mostly Black creators who say it's more welcoming than TikTok.

After Shopping And Shipping Crush Come Record Returns

10:38am December 30, 2020

by Alina Selyukh

Online purchases drove this year's sales, and they are much more likely to get returned than items bought in person. Plus, people are shopping like Goldilocks.

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The Federal Aviation Administration announced new rules Monday that would ease restrictions on the use of drones and will likely expand commercial uses of the technology down the road.

National

U.S. Announces New Rules For Drones And Their Operators

3:54am December 29, 2020

by Jaclyn Diaz

Drones represent the fastest-growing segment in the entire transportation sector. Companies such as Amazon, Walmart, and UPS have started testing drones to deliver goods to customers.

In 2020, Willy Solis became a voice for thousands of gig workers at Target-owned Shipt, leading calls for better treatment and pay during the pandemic and beyond.

How The Pandemic Turned An Introvert Into A Voice For Gig Workers

5:00pm December 27, 2020

by Shannon Bond

As the pandemic forced society to acknowledge just how essential low-wage gig workers are, Willy Solis, who delivers groceries for the app Shipt, seized the moment to advocate for better conditions.

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Politics & Government

Politicians Turn To TikTok To Appeal To Younger Voters

7:31am December 25, 2020

by Aviva Okeson-Haberman

TikTok is helping shape a new generation's political identity. And while most politicians aren't using the app, some younger lawmakers are embracing it to try to connect with younger voters.

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This is not a representation of what 2020 felt like — it's a screen shot from Dead Cells.

Arts

In 2020, Indie Games Were A Well-Deserved Distraction

11:31am December 24, 2020

by Keller Gordon

2020 is almost over — and if you're anything like us, you spent a lot of time this year escaping into video games. Here are five favorite independent games that helped us get through the year.

China's market regulator announced Thursday that it had opened an investigation into the e-commerce giant, Alibaba, for alleged anticompetitive activities.

World News

Chinese Regulators Open Investigation Into E-Commerce Giant Alibaba

5:08am December 24, 2020

by Jaclyn Diaz

China's State Administration for Market Regulation is focusing on allegations that Alibaba forces merchants on its website to sell only on its platform.

The far-reaching SolarWinds hack has hit not only federal agencies such as the Department of the Treasury, but computer systems for local U.S. governments as well.

National

U.S. Cyber Agency: SolarWinds Attack Hitting Local Governments

3:54am December 24, 2020

by Jaclyn Diaz

The malware-infused SolarWinds software update, blamed on Russian state actors, appears to have infected computers more broadly than previously acknowledged.

COVID-19 ads that Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl planned to run on Facebook got caught in the social network's ban on political advertising.

Mask Up! How Public Health Messages Collide With Facebook's Political Ads Ban

6:23pm December 23, 2020

by Shannon Bond

Nearly two months after Election Day, Facebook still prohibits political ads. The ban is frustrating some elected leaders who say it makes it harder to get out information about the pandemic.

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President-elect Joe Biden is poised to take over the White House's Twitter accounts.

Politics & Government

Twitter Will Reset @POTUS Account To 0 Followers After Biden Transition

5:28pm December 23, 2020

by Reese Oxner

The president-elect's transition team is pushing back against Twitter's decision, which is a reversal from the last presidential transition.