| ‘Facebook Jail’ – When You Are Cancelled Off Facebook or Instagram The act of having your business kicked off Facebook or Instagram now has a name – Facebook Jail. I am contacted weekly by people across the community regarding the loss of their Facebook or Instagram service. For consumers, its usually when they have been ‘hacked’ and lost their service. For business its when they have had their service shutdown for failing to adhere to Meta’s ‘Community Guidelines’. The message to me is usually the same, ‘help’. There is little I can do but email Meta, who never respond directly. Sometimes the Meta service is reinstated, most times it is not. Lets remember the people at Meta who I am emailing, that are not replying, I know them. I have worked with them when they were employed at a previous employer. They are the people who once reached out for promotion help for the business they worked for. A new service, a new product, a boss needing to get exposure for their business in the media, are just some of the reasons why I would be emailed or called, with a request for help. Now though, they have moved on to a new employer, one where they don’t need help or don’t care, or there is some other reason why they don’t respond to my communication. No problem – this is their decision. I find it lame. Now we see there is a business that has decided to take Meta to court. The courts will decide the outcome, but I have always taken issue with the practice of Meta taking advertising from a business on one hand and then shutting down the service that business was paying to promote with the other. No warning. No opportunity to protest. No human being to talk to answer ‘what did I do wrong?’. For me it was an issue best explored by the ACCC, but the Supreme court will decide if a penalty is due on this matter. Experience Squid Game at Luna Park! I went to Luna Park Sydney last weekend. I took my GoPro and attached it to some of the rides to capture the event. All over the park there were promotions for their current initiative, bringing the thrill of Netflix’s Squid Game to life with an immersive experience starting December 16, 2024. Hosted in the park’s Big Top, “Squid Game: The Experience” allows participants to take on iconic challenges from the show, such as Red Light, Green Light and marbles, as well as new games inspired by the series. Unlike the TV series, players can continue competing even after elimination and earn points throughout the experience. The event accommodates solo participants or groups of up to 25, making it ideal for team-building activities. Click here to register. |
| G-mee Play Pro – a safe kids ‘non-phone’ (review) We talked with a listener in Perth today about a device to play their music tracks now their iPod has been sent the great e-waste bin in the sky. The G-mee Play Pro is the fourth generation of this kids’ safe phone, although it is not a phone. Its perfect for playing your digital content and it includes plenty of kid safe tech. Play Pro is an Android 12 kids’ audio/video content player that integrates the G-mee App to help kids safely use smart technology. The G-mee Play Pro is the most fully featured yet. It uses full 64-bit Android 12 and is built to take the knocks, as we can attest from our now four-year-old grandson. G-Mee has saved his dad’s expensive phone from an early demise. One thing we want to make clear upfront is that this is not a smartphone review. The design decisions are based on getting the maximum bang for buck from an Android glass slab. Continue reading review… G-mee Play Pro is currently on sale for Black Friday sales for $109 plus shipping. |
| Guests and Topics on the Show |
| Earlier, we spoke with Tim Falinski, Vice President of Consumer Business at Trend Micro, a global leader in cybersecurity solutions. As Black Friday sales are still ongoing, Australians are preparing for big sales, but so are scammers. Tim discussed the most common Black Friday scams targeting shoppers and shared practical advice on how to shop online safely, ensuring people could protect themselves from cybercriminals during the busy shopping period. Tim talked about a recently launched product from Trend Micro called ‘Check’, and all in one defense against scams in the age of AI. |
| We also spoke with Michael Tran, Director of Global Marketing and Brand Strategy at Oppo Australia. Michael shared insights into the OPPO Find X8 Pro, highlighting its cutting-edge features, innovative design, and what sets it apart in the competitive smartphone market. He also discussed how the device caters to Australian consumers’ needs, showcasing Oppo’s commitment to pushing boundaries in mobile technology. |
