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The Intercept
01-07-2025
- Politics
- The Intercept
State Department Wants to Know Student Visa Applicants' Myspace Accounts
New State Department guidance released this month instructs student visa applicants to 'adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to 'public,'' a task which will be difficult to accomplish as several social media services listed in the online visa application form haven't been operational in years. The student visa form requires applicants to provide the usernames for 'each social media platform you have used within the last five years' from a list of 20 specified services, some of them obsolete. This means applicants could find themselves in the awkward position of being required to make public their profiles on the short-form video service Vine, which closed in 2017; the short-lived social media platform Google+, which shut down in 2019; or the dating site Twoo, which ceased operations in 2021. Most U.S. visa applicants have been required to disclose their profile names on social media accounts since 2019. The Trump administration rolled out new requirements for those seeking student visas under an 'expanded screening and vetting' process. The expanded scrutiny applies to F (academic students), M (vocational students), and J (exchange visitor) visa applicants. According to a State Department cable, obtained by the Free Press and Politico, the provided social media accounts will subsequently be checked for 'any indications of hostility towards the citizens, culture, government, institutions or founding principles of the United States.' The DS-160: Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application form doesn't appear to have been updated to reflect State's recent guidance, as it doesn't presently make any mention of the accounts needing to be made public. The social media section of the DS-160 visa application form. U.S. State Department 'Government social media surveillance invades privacy and chills freedom of speech, and it is prone to errors and misinterpretation without ever having been proven effective at assessing security threats,' warned Sophia Cope, a senior staff attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation. She said that by requiring social media accounts be made public, 'the U.S. government is endorsing the violation of a fundamental principle of privacy hygiene.' The online visa application lists a dropdown menu with 20 social media accounts to choose from. Douban Facebook Flickr Google+ Instagram LinkedIn Myspace Pinterest Qzone (QQ) Reddit Sina Weibo Tencent Weibo Tumblr Twitter Twoo Vine VKontakte (VK) Youku YouTube The list is mishmash of popular social media providers, regional services (predominantly those used in China), and a bevy of outdated and defunct platforms, such as Myspace, which has been a digital ghost town for years. A quarter of the sites listed no longer exist at all, with some already being defunct when the visa application form first started requiring the disclosure of social media usernames in 2019. That includes a Latvian service where users could ask questions that closed last year, and Tencent Weibo, a Chinese microblogging service that shut down in 2020. 'Those who wanted to study in the U.S. to flee authoritarian governments abroad will have to make their social media public to those same governments to study here.' Among the included services are Douban, Qzone, Sina Weibo, and Youku — all active Chinese social network sites. Despite listing five different Chinese social media sites, the form leaves off Tencent's WeChat, China's most popular social media app. VKontakte is the only Russian social media service appearing on the list. No other popular regional social media sites are included. Other modern social media platforms, such as TikTok or Trump's own Truth Social, are missing from the list as well, though the visa form does allow applicants to specify additional accounts. Asked for comment on how this list of social media platforms was compiled, or whether there are plans to update the online form, a State Department spokesperson provided a statement summarizing the new guidance and said that 'the Trump Administration is focused on protecting our nation and our citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety through our visa process.' Albert Fox Cahn, founder and executive director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, described the policy as 'antithetical to everything our First Amendment should protect,' pointing out that 'not only will these shortsighted efforts fail to protect the public, they'll put countless students at risk. Now those who wanted to study in the U.S. to flee authoritarian governments abroad will have to make their social media public to those same governments to study here.'
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Wedbush Drops Alphabet (GOOGL) From Top Picks Over AI Concerns
May 13 - Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) is no longer on Wedbush's Best Ideas List, as the firm sees rising uncertainty around how artificial intelligence could reshape the company's core business. Analysts still see long-term value in the stock. But in the near term, they expect more ups and downs, especially as AI continues to disrupt digital advertising and search, two of Alphabet's biggest revenue drivers. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 4 Warning Signs with TSX:NOA. The timing follows Alphabet's agreement to a $350 million settlement tied to past security issues from its discontinued Google+ platform. That case, filed in the Northern District of California, focused on data exposure concerns going back several years. While the stock climbed nearly 4% on Monday, Wedbush's move suggests the firm is leaning more cautiously, at least for now. It hasn't downgraded Alphabet but is favoring other tech names it sees as having a steadier outlook in the short run. AI may open up big opportunities, but for Alphabet, it's also bringing fresh challenges, and investors are watching closely to see how it all plays out. Based on the one year price targets offered by 18 analysts, the average target price for Alphabet Inc is $201.56 with a high estimate of $225.00 and a low estimate of $185.00. The average target implies a upside of +26.30% from the current price of $159.58. Based on GuruFocus estimates, the estimated GF Value for Alphabet Inc in one year is $198.28, suggesting a upside of +24.25% from the current price of $159.58. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Sign in to access your portfolio
Scottish Sun
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Watch YouTube's first-ever video as bizarre 19-second clip with 355MILLION views uploaded 20 years ago today
YOUTUBE'S first-ever video was uploaded 20 years ago today: a 19-second clip with more than 355 million views. The snippet of footage dates back to YouTube's April 23, 2005 launch. 4 YouTube's first-ever clip is now 20 years old – and takes place at San Diego Zoo in California Credit: YouTube/Jawed 4 The clip has earned over 335 million views, and was posted by one of YouTube's three co-founders Credit: YouTube/Jawed It's called "Me at the zoo" and it was uploaded by YouTube co-founder Jawed Karim. This early clip is a now seen as an iconic part of the internet's history – and marks the beginning of one of the most popular websites of all time. These days, YouTube is a household name, and is owned by tech giant Google. But in 2005, it was just a hopeful project dreamed up by three former PayPal employees Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Karim (who uploaded that first clip). Read more on Google CYBER 'ATTACK' Gmail users given 'red alert' warning over new phishing scam stealing data In the video, we see Karim posing in front of a pair of elephants. He's being recorded by his high school pal Kayov Lapitsky at California's San Diego Zoo. TUBE GOOD TO BE TRUE? Karim worked with YouTube as an informal adviser, and retained a small share in the site. When it was snapped up by Google in 2006, Karim is believed to have received around $64 million in share value. He went on to launch a venture fund in 2008, which became an early investor in Airbnb in 2009. In 2013, Karim used his "Me at the zoo" video to criticise Google publicly. Meta's top VR boss predicts AI-powered future with no phones, brain-controlled ovens and virtual TVs that only cost $1 It was in response to a policy change that forced YouTube users to create a Google+ account if they wanted to post comments on videos. Karim changed the video description on the clip to: "I can't comment here anymore, since I don't want a Google+ account." Google eventually backed down on the decision, and ultimately killed off Google+ in 2019. In November 2021, Karim updated his video description again with the note: "When every YouTuber agrees that removing dislikes is a stupid idea, it probably is. Try again, YouTube." 4 YouTube was set up by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim in 2005 Credit: Alamy As of today, Karim's video description includes a warning about how "microplastics are accumulating in human brains at an alarming rate". That change was made back in February 2025. VIEW-TIFUL! Today, YouTube is ranked as the second-most-visited site in the world behind Google's main search engine. It attracts billions of users every single month – with over a billion hours of videos watched per day. YOUTUBE'S EARLIEST FEATURES Here's when some of YouTube's first features arrived... April 2005 – First video uploaded July 2005 – Top videos page August 2005 – Five-star rating system October 2005 – Playlists October 2005 – Full-screen view October 2005 – Subscriptions Januyar 2006 – Groups February 2006 – Personalised profiles March 2006 – 10 minute video limit May 2006 – Cell phone uploading June 2006 – Viewing history Picture Credit: Google / YouTube 4 Early versions of YouTube looked very different from the slick website and app of today Credit: YouTube Google bought up the site all the way back in 2006 for $1.65 billion. It's almost certainly worth far more today – with 2024 advertising and subscription revenue alone exceeding $50 billion. YouTube started life as a website usually viewed in the web browser of a computer. But now it's widely accessible, including on iPhones and Androids, smart TVs, games consoles, and even VR headsets.
The Irish Sun
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Watch YouTube's first-ever video as bizarre 19-second clip with 355MILLION views uploaded 20 years ago today
YOUTUBE'S first-ever video was uploaded 20 years ago today: a 19-second clip with more than 355 million views. The snippet of footage dates back to YouTube's April 23, 2005 launch. 4 YouTube's first-ever clip is now 20 years old – and takes place at San Diego Zoo in California Credit: YouTube/Jawed 4 The clip has earned over 335 million views, and was posted by one of YouTube's three co-founders Credit: YouTube/Jawed It's called "Me at the zoo" and it was uploaded by YouTube co-founder Jawed Karim. This early clip is a now seen as an iconic part of the internet's history – and marks the beginning of one of the most popular websites of all time. These days, YouTube is a household name, and is owned by tech giant Google. But in 2005, it was just a hopeful project dreamed up by three former PayPal employees Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Karim (who uploaded that first clip). Read more on Google In the video, we see Karim posing in front of a pair of elephants. He's being recorded by his high school pal Kayov Lapitsky at California's San Diego Zoo. TUBE GOOD TO BE TRUE? Karim worked with YouTube as an informal adviser, and retained a small share in the site. When it was snapped up by Google in 2006, Karim is believed to have received around $64 million in share value. Most read in Tech He went on to launch a venture fund in 2008, which became an early investor in Airbnb in 2009. In 2013, Karim used his "Me at the zoo" video to criticise Google publicly. Meta's top VR boss predicts AI-powered future with no phones, brain-controlled ovens and virtual TVs that only cost $1 It was in response to a policy change that forced YouTube users to create a Google+ account if they wanted to post comments on videos. Karim changed the video description on the clip to: "I can't comment here anymore, since I don't want a Google+ account." Google eventually backed down on the decision, and ultimately killed off Google+ in 2019. In November 2021, Karim updated his video description again with the note: "When every YouTuber agrees that removing dislikes is a stupid idea, it probably is. Try again, YouTube." 4 YouTube was set up by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim in 2005 Credit: Alamy As of today, Karim's video description includes a warning about how "microplastics are accumulating in human brains at an alarming rate". That change was made back in February 2025. VIEW-TIFUL! Today, YouTube is ranked as the second-most-visited site in the world behind Google's main search engine. It attracts billions of users every single month – with over a billion hours of videos watched per day. YOUTUBE'S EARLIEST FEATURES Here's when some of YouTube's first features arrived... April 2005 – First video uploaded July 2005 – Top videos page August 2005 – Five-star rating system October 2005 – Playlists October 2005 – Full-screen view October 2005 – Subscriptions Januyar 2006 – Groups February 2006 – Personalised profiles March 2006 – 10 minute video limit May 2006 – Cell phone uploading June 2006 – Viewing history Picture Credit: Google / YouTube 4 Early versions of YouTube looked very different from the slick website and app of today Credit: YouTube Google bought up the site all the way back in 2006 for $1.65 billion. It's almost certainly worth far more today – with 2024 advertising and subscription revenue alone exceeding $50 billion. YouTube started life as a website usually viewed in the web browser of a computer. But now it's widely accessible, including on
The Sun
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Watch YouTube's first-ever video as bizarre 19-second clip with 355MILLION views uploaded 20 years ago today
YOUTUBE'S first-ever video was uploaded 20 years ago today: a 19-second clip with more than 355 million views. The snippet of footage dates back to YouTube 's April 23, 2005 launch. 4 4 It's called "Me at the zoo" and it was uploaded by YouTube co-founder Jawed Karim. This early clip is a now seen as an iconic part of the internet's history – and marks the beginning of one of the most popular websites of all time. These days, YouTube is a household name, and is owned by tech giant Google. But in 2005, it was just a hopeful project dreamed up by three former PayPal employees Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Karim (who uploaded that first clip). In the video, we see Karim posing in front of a pair of elephants. He's being recorded by his high school pal Kayov Lapitsky at California 's San Diego Zoo. TUBE GOOD TO BE TRUE? Karim worked with YouTube as an informal adviser, and retained a small share in the site. When it was snapped up by Google in 2006, Karim is believed to have received around $64 million in share value. He went on to launch a venture fund in 2008, which became an early investor in Airbnb in 2009. In 2013, Karim used his "Me at the zoo" video to criticise Google publicly. Meta's top VR boss predicts AI-powered future with no phones, brain-controlled ovens and virtual TVs that only cost $1 It was in response to a policy change that forced YouTube users to create a Google+ account if they wanted to post comments on videos. Karim changed the video description on the clip to: "I can't comment here anymore, since I don't want a Google+ account." Google eventually backed down on the decision, and ultimately killed off Google+ in 2019. In November 2021, Karim updated his video description again with the note: "When every YouTuber agrees that removing dislikes is a stupid idea, it probably is. Try again, YouTube." 4 As of today, Karim's video description includes a warning about how "microplastics are accumulating in human brains at an alarming rate". That change was made back in February 2025. VIEW-TIFUL! Today, YouTube is ranked as the second-most-visited site in the world behind Google's main search engine. It attracts billions of users every single month – with over a billion hours of videos watched per day. 4 Google bought up the site all the way back in 2006 for $1.65 billion. It's almost certainly worth far more today – with 2024 advertising and subscription revenue alone exceeding $50 billion. YouTube started life as a website usually viewed in the web browser of a computer. But now it's widely accessible, including on iPhones and Androids, smart TVs, games consoles, and even VR headsets.
