Meta Episodes

Facebook news and rumors, including updates on Instagram, WhatsApp, and Oculus.
Sept. 28, 2018

Fri. 09/28 - Facebook Breached, Musk Faces A Ban

A new Facebook scandal—but this time it’s different, Slack is preparing for an IPO, an exciting new episode of Today in Elon Musk, and, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Links: Slack Actively Preparing for Earl...
Sept. 26, 2018

Wed. 09/26 - Facebook Dirty Laundry

More fallout from the Instagram departures and some pretty dirty laundry aired from inside Facebook, Google reverses course on Chrome, Coinbase opens its doors to alts, and maybe I was right about Amazon Homes! Links: Exclu...
Sept. 25, 2018

Tue. 09/25 - The Instagram Founders Ghost Facebook

Instagram’s founders turn in their two weeks notice, Samsung accuses Apple of stealing, lots of changes coming to Google Search, and a “Netflix for open source.” Links: Why Instagram's founders are resigning: independence ...
Sept. 21, 2018

Fri. 09/21 - Instagram Fighting #hashtagoverload

More fallout from that monster Alexa event yesterday, Facebook is gonna take another swing at Portal, Instagram wants to cut down on #hashtagoverload, Gmail was too willing to say “I love you,” and the Weekend Longreads Sugge...
July 31, 2018

Tue. 7/31 - Facebook Finds More Election "Bad Actors"

Facebook reveals fresh election meddling, Galaxy 9s might not be selling well, but Nintendo Switches sure are, and Playstation 4s still are, Uber stops truckin’ and Google Maps will predict which restaurant you’ll like. Stor...
July 25, 2018

Wed. 7/25 - China to Facebook: Not So Fast!

Another internal Facebook memo leaks, China tells Facebook “not so fast,” Steam battles Discord, why the iPhone can’t compete in China, and a Y2K bug for the new millennium. Links:Departing Facebook Security Officer's Memo: "...
June 20, 2018

Wednesday, June 20, 2018 - Instagram Debuts IGTV

The immigration controversy comes to Silicon Valley, Instagram debuts IGTV, Disney ups its bid for Fox, and a new phone finds a new way around “the notch.” Links:Facebook launches gameshows platform with interactive video (Te...
June 6, 2018

Wednesday, June 6, 2018 - Hour-long Instagram Videos?

A whole slew of product announcements. New Sonos speakers. A new Motorola smartphone. A new AMD chip. Instagram may soon allow you to post hour-long videos. Plus: why Microsoft sunk a data center off the Scottish coast and wh...
May 29, 2018

Tuesday, May 29, 2018 - Uber Gets a Panic Button and Facebook Gets Paused

Uber adds a panic button, Apple updates HomePod, the Chinese trade war is back on, Facebook gets a month-long timeout, another EU privacy regulation, and less-desirable dogs get better PR. Tweets from from @lcmoser, @heldavid...
May 11, 2018

Friday, May 11, 2018 - A Facebook Cryptocurrency?

Is a Facebook cryptocurrency really possible? Can Snapchat redesign its way back into users' hearts? What's going on at Symantec? Klout strikes out. And the Weekend Longreads. Stories from: @alexeheath, @mekosoff Tweets: @om,...
May 9, 2018

Wednesday, May 9, 2018 - Facebook's Executive Shuffle

A major Facebook executive shakeup, Walmart beats Amazon to Flipkart, Glassdoor gets acquired, one more chance to fight for net neutrality, and a deeper look at how Google’s Duplex technology works. Stories from: @brianstelte...
May 4, 2018

Friday, May 4, 2018 - Would You Pay For Facebook?

Would you pay for a Facebook subscription? Would you pay for Facebook satellite internet? Instagram adds native payments, Warren Buffett doubles down on Apple, the weekend longreads suggestions and plenty more. Stories from: ...
May 2, 2018

Wednesday, May 2, 2018 - AI Announcements at F8

Facebook’s AI announcements from F8, LG announces G7 ThinQ, Apple earnings analysis, Snap earnings analysis, the Pentagon blocks the sale of Chinese phones, and can AI predict the next Avengers: Infinity War? Stories from: @a...
May 1, 2018

Tuesday, May 1, 2018 - Apple Earnings and Facebook's F8

Apple's earnings numbers, all of the announcements from Facebook's F8 conference, a WhatsApp co-founder leaves, publishers criticize Google over GDPR, and will Comcast only give you faster internet speeds if you subscribe to ...
April 13, 2018

Friday, Apr. 13, 2018 - Instagram Saves Poetry?

Is Telegram the new refuge for pirated content, more police departments buy a device to unlock iPhones, Chinese cops use facial recognition to pick criminals out of crowds, more leaks of upcoming Gmail features, the long read...
April 10, 2018

Tuesday, Apr. 10, 2018 - Mr. Zuckerberg Goes to Washington

Mr. Zuckerberg goes to Washington, taking the temperature of Facebook employees, a fake Black Lives Matter page, YouTube videos vandalized, an Instagram portrait mode, and a museum of lost sounds. Stories from: @georgia_wells...
April 6, 2018

Friday, Apr. 6, 2018 - Facebook Labels Political Ads

Facebook labels political ads, cryptocurrencies might run afoul of GDPR, SpaceX can’t post videos from space, bots help you beat parking tickets, the weekend longreads and what’s the story behind Fortnite? Stories and Longrea...
April 5, 2018

Thursday, Apr. 5, 2018 - Zuckerberg's PR Offensive

Zuckerberg’s Q&A with reporters, possible social media regulations, Trump may hate Amazon but Uncle Sam seems to love ‘em, a dreaded 51% attack in crypto, and a new home for Moviefone. Stories:How the Government Could Fix Fac...
March 30, 2018

Friday, Mar. 30, 2018 - The Facebook Memo Controversy

An internal Facebook memo causes controversy, Under Armour was hacked, SpaceX gets FCC approval for satellite internet, utility companies dream of electric sheep cars, and the weekend long read suggestions. Stories from: @om...
March 28, 2018

Wednesday, Mar. 28, 2018 - Facebook Privacy Shortcuts

Facebook introduces Privacy Shortcuts, Trump is “obsessed” with Amazon, Waze launches local ads, Shyp shuts down, video streaming will get faster and there’s more music now than ever! Stories from: @harrymccracken, @NeilShah...
March 22, 2018

Thursday, Mar. 22, 2018 - The Zuckerberg Interviews

Zuckerberg's interviews analyzed, Instagram updates the feed, IBM accused of age discrimination, early Oculus Go reviews and a wi-fi wine bottle bites the dust. Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme staff Music by ...
March 21, 2018

Wednesday, Mar. 21, 2018 - Zuckerberg Responds

Zuckerberg speaks out about the Cambridge Analytica scandal, Siri will read your hidden messages, Travis Kalanick's new gig, Facebook Messenger's new features, YouTube's increased ad load, Google gobbles Lytro, and everyone w...
March 19, 2018

Monday, Mar. 19, 2018 - The Facebook Bombshell Fallout

The fallout from the Facebook/Cambridge Analytica story summarized, Facebook launches a Patreon, a self-driving car kills a pedestrian and Apple might be making its own screens. Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmem...