Snapchat’s Advertising API, Snapchat Versus Facebook, Offline Tracking

The biggest news of the week was likely Snapchat’s announcement of an advertising API: how was it introduced, what is it, and how will it affect Facebook? Plus, Snapchat joins Facebook and Google in tracking brick-and-mortar visits.

Peter Thiel, Comic Book Hero

What Gawker did to Peter Thiel is inexcusable, but Thiel’s response is threatening to the industry that made him rich in the first place.

Defending Facebook, Amazon Video Direct

The actual details of the Facebook Trending News scandal probably don’t warrant the outrage; what is more interesting is how Facebook found itself in hot water. Then, Amazon Video Direct is very interesting, but not because it’s going to be a YouTube competitor anytime soon.

The Real Problem With Facebook and the News

Facebook is receiving a lot of criticism for allegedly interfering with conservative topics when it comes to “Trending News”. In fact, though, the polarization reinforced by an engagement-driven feed is a much bigger concern.

The Problem with Facebook’s Ten-Year Plan, Is BuzzFeed Struggling?

Facebook’s (in my opinion) misguided attempt to own both public and private social was not the only thing that concerned me about the F8 keynote; I am also skeptical of the 10-year plan. Then, BuzzFeed may have some concerning numbers, but I think there is a good reason: the company is changing its business model.