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Month: October 2021

Cybercrime / Privacy

Instagram account takeover hacks on the rise, ID theft organization says

October 28, 2021 Bob Sullivan 1

Consumers are reporting a recent rise in Instagram account hack attempts, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC). Victims find they are locked out of their accounts, and criminals are using these stolen Instas to set other digital traps. A hijacked account can be used to message followers and [Keep reading]

Bob Sullivan's podcast projects

Facebook solutions: There’s plenty to discuss

October 7, 2021 Bob Sullivan 3

It’s been a busy week in Facebook-must-answer-to-someone land.  I really do feel like the conversation has been elevated by whistleblower Frances Haugen’s testimony before the Senate on Tuesday. I feel strongly that Facebook should be forced to offer an algorithm-free version of its product, as I argued earlier this week. [Keep reading]

Gotchas / Consumer

Fix Facebook now: Let users opt-out of its addictive algorithm

October 5, 2021 Bob Sullivan 0

It’s the news feed, stupid. The algorithm. You’re probably going to read 1,000 things about Tuesday’s Facebook whistleblower hearing, so I won’t belabor the discussion. I have just one point I’d like to drive home. But first– I will say I’m sad that, after all this time, journalists from all [Keep reading]

Bob Sullivan's podcast projects

Facebook faces yet another grilling by Congress. Will anything change?

October 3, 2021 Bob Sullivan 0

Facebook was again hauled before Congress this week, this time to answer for a set of stories published in the Wall Steet Journal saying the company has internal research showing its tools hurt kids — Instagram exacerbates body image issues for teen girls, for example — but it hasn’t really [Keep reading]

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About me

BOB SULLIVAN is a veteran journalist and the author of four books, including the 2008 New York Times Best-Seller, Gotcha Capitalism, and the 2010 New York Times Best Seller, Stop Getting Ripped Off! His latest, The Plateau Effect, was published in 2013, and as a paperback, called Getting Unstuck in 2014. He has won the Society of Professional Journalists prestigious Public Service award, a Peabody award, and The Consumer Federation of America Betty Furness award, and been given Consumer Action’s Consumer Excellence Award.

Bob Sullivan