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Editorial Note: Opinions and thoughts are the author’s own and not those of AFROTECH™. Last week, the Chinese social app RedNote grew in popularity as a potential TikTok replacement . As TikTok users waited for the Supreme Court to rule on the ban, they quickly migrated to the platform. The app became number one in the Apple App Store, with thousands of American users joining. Users have mistakenly referred to RedNote as the Chinese version of TikTok, but the platform is more akin to Instagram. RedNote, also known as Xiaohongshu in China, launched in 2013 as a shopping platform. Like many apps, it serves as a default search engine for content on makeup, fashion, travel, and lifestyle tips. Users can post photos and videos in a similar fashion to Instagram Reels and TikTok. The migration from TikTok to RedNote has become a protest statement in the wake of the U.S. government’s ban on TikTok. Initially, calls to ban the app began with President Donald Trump in 2020 before being passed...
As American social media users brace for the Jan. 19 TikTok ban , thousands have begun searching for alternative apps to satiate their doom scrolling fix. While many American-based tech CEO’s such as Mark Zuckerberg had hoped that the TikTok ban would encourage users to flock to other short-form video players such as Instagram or YouTube Shorts, it seems that the masses have stumbled onto an unknown gem called Xiaohongshu instead. The app, which translates to RedNote in English, is owned by a Shanghai-based company known as Xingyin Information Technology, and touts itself as a lifestyle, social networking and e-commerce service . Given that RedNote primarily serves a Chinese audience, it defaults to Mandarin upon download, and exposes new users to an audience of hundreds of millions of overseas subscribers. The sudden influx of so-called “TikTok refugees” has caused RedNote to skyrocket in popularity, taking it to the number one position among the free apps chart on both the Apple...
Once upon a time, people who spent all day on their computers or playing video games were told that they were wasting their time and would not amount to much. These days, gaming has become a big industry with worldwide championships and conferences dedicated to the genre. With the advent of s treaming content, gamer streams have risen in popularity thus, it is not uncommon to see gamers. Even casual ones that use a split-screen format to interact with their audience, amass large followings on platforms like Twitch or YouTube. One such personality is Darren Watkins Jr., popularly known as IShowSpeed or Speed, is an American YouTuber and social media personality, an internet sensation that beyond gaming, has also built a reputation as a rapper. He has been an active influencer since 2017 and has even earned a Streamy Award. So, how much is IShowSpeed worth? IShowSpeed’s Early Life Unsurprisingly, IShowSpeed wasn’t always named that. Before adopting the handle, he was born Darren Jason...
Prakazrel “Pras” Michel claims that the usage of artificial intelligence (AI) caused him to not have a fair shot in court. In April 2023, the Fugees rapper went on trial after being accused of “conspiring to make and conceal foreign campaign contributions and witness tampering,” as previously shared by AFROTECH. Among the accusations, he allegedly accepted millions of dollars from Jho Low, a Malaysian businessman and fugitive who allegedly stole more than $4 billion in an international fraud scheme. Michel attempted to cover up his payments by reportedly using straw donors to contribute the money to former President Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign.
June marks Black Music Month, and The Roots kickstarted the celebration with quite a bang. On June 3 and June 4, 2023 , the legendary hip-hop group held its annual Roots Picnic in Philadelphia, PA. The festival featured special moments such as Ms. Lauryn Hill celebrating the 25th anniversary of “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,” the Fugees reuniting, and fellow headliner Usher bringing out some of Philly’s biggest stars, Jazmine Sullivan and Eve. Photo Credit: Taylor Hill/Getty Images for Live Nation Urban
Ever gone to try on clothes while shopping and had to go through several iterations before you got it right? And all of a sudden, you find the perfect fit that meets all of your needs. This trial and error process, which sometimes can be tedious, led you to be confident that you made the right decision. Although finding and landing a job is not as trivial as finding the perfect outfit for a night out, the principle of staying persistent and not settling for less than the best is the same. Day after day, people are scrolling through many job search sites to land what they believe is their dream job. Companies are just as consistent as they seek to recruit talented people that can help them grow. This marriage between talent and organizations is quite nuanced, but one that the people at TIAA believe they have a good grasp on. TIAA is an over 100-year-old financial services organization that started with the aim to ensure educators have dignity in the retirement process and has now...
If there’s one thing Lauryn Hill is going to do, it’s a living legend. From her time in the Fugees to her acting career (remember “Sister Act 2”?), to the release of her seminal debut album, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,” the New Jersey native has cemented her place in the pop culture zeitgeist . And even if she never releases another album again, her voice and her music will live forever. If that’s not a legacy, nothing is. But more than just the voice of a generation, she’s a mother. Her six children — five of whom are the product of her long-time relationship with Rohan Marley, son of the legendary Bob Marley — are not only the heirs to the Marley family’s $500 million overall legacy. According to Money, Inc., Lauryn Hill earned more than $25 million at the peak of her career between touring and record sales (both with the Fugees and as a solo artist). And despite her past financial issues — including a stint in jail for tax evasion and a $5 million settlement with her...
With hands in everything from online shopping to web services, online retail giant Amazon counts on the people behind the scenes to get the job done on a daily basis. Much of the company’s success is due, in part, to its ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Through its #BlackHistoryMakers series, Amazon celebrated Black creatives inside and outside of the company. In fact, we recently got real with a few Black women leading the way at Amazon. Now AfroTech is speaking with seven men creating change and impact for those around them. They share their professional journeys, offer encouragement for aspiring Black professionals and discuss how they’re changing the game at Amazon. The Black Men Making Waves at Amazon Mark Hatcher, Global Sales Account Manager As an industry leader and professional, this Detroit native found success through progressive responsibility at companies like Cintas, Coca-Cola, Harley-Davidson Motor Company and the Seattle Seahawks. Since joining...
G lobal professional services company Accenture is exploring and applying blockchain technology to help its clients build more trusted ecosystems and enable new business models. Thanks to tech leaders within the company, like Britney Crooks, Accenture’s Blockchain and Multiparty Systems practice is reimagining the future of money, redesigning more resilient supply chains and enabling digital identities. Britney started at Accenture three years ago as a Segment Consultant in the company’s Open Innovation group within Accenture Ventures . She progressed rapidly and is now the Global Blockchain and Multiparty Systems Alliance Lead. In her role, she is responsible for their portfolio of blockchain technology partnerships. In an interview with AfroTech, she spoke about her career journey, her ability to help Accenture’s clients and partners, and her efforts to get more underrepresented groups exposed to emerging technologies. As someone who has been fortunate enough to explore different...
Alphonso “Fonz” Morris is a senior product designer at Coursera, one of the world’s largest EdTech platforms. We sat down to talk to him about his journey and his vision for the company and himself. The Beginning Hailing from Brooklyn, NY, Fonz made his way to the south in search of higher education at the historically Black Morehouse College. As a self-described “engineering-minded kind of kid,” his childhood dream was to become an architect. However, when he got to college, a computer science career seemed to have more potential than an architectural one. While at Morehouse, he also participated in a study-abroad program at Oxford University, where he studied art history and visited some of the world’s most iconic museums and galleries. Although he began his computer science degree at Morehouse, he later transferred to Georgia State after two years because he could no longer afford tuition. While he made this move purely out of financial necessity, he believes everything worked...
This article was originally published on 07/22/2019 Over the past decade, the world’s biggest tech companies have infiltrated every part of our lives, so much so, that it can be nearly impossible to boycott a company when they do things we don’t agree with. For example, Amazon is no longer just an online retail store, its servers also run popular sites like Reddit and Netflix. Meanwhile, Google — a site most people use just about every day — is more than just a search engine, it owns Youtube, Nest, and a host of other companies. When looking at everything tech companies are involved in, organizing to force change can seem hopeless. After all, it’s hard to boycott any one company completely because they seem to have their hands in everything, making tech giants seem like an unstoppable force. But over the past few years, we’ve seen a new, unexpected player arise in the fight to hold tech companies accountable — their employees. Over the past few years, there’s been an increase in...
The situation at the border is steadily growing worse. Children are separated from their families and people are being denied basic needs. Over the last year alone, seven children have died in federal immigration custody . There is no way to describe what’s happening at the border outside of cruelty, but the dehumanization of immigrants carries over online as well. On Monday, a ProPublica report exposed a private Facebook group for Border Patrol officers full of jokes about migrant’s deaths and sexist memes, often featuring Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The group — called “I’m 10-15” Border Patrol code for “aliens in custody” — was created in August 2016. So far, it has roughly 9,500 members from across the United States. One exchange that ProPublica accessed involved group members making jokes beneath the post of a news story about a 16-year-old Guatemalan migrant who died while in federal immigration custody. One person posted an Elmo Gif with the quote, “Oh well.”...
In 2017, Airbnb launched an Open Homes initiative encouraging hosts to open up their homes to displaced people — including immigrants, refugees, and those escaping climate disasters. However, not everybody can afford to open up their homes for free. Now, Airbnb has introduced a tool to help people who are in need of temporary housing. “Introducing Donations, a new feature where hosts can donate a percentage of their earnings to nonprofits that connect people with free housing during times of need,” Airbnb tweeted. Nonprofits will receive 100 percent of the donations gathered through the new initiative. Airbnb has partnered with organizations like the International Rescue Committee, All Hands and Hearts, Make A Wish Foundation, and more. All donors have to do is select a percentage of their earnings that they want to give. Donors get regular updates letting them know how their contributions have helped people. Introducing Donations, a new feature where hosts can donate a percentage...
Today, DoorDash officially launched Kitchens Without Borders , its new initiative aimed at promoting the businesses of immigrants and refugees. In a blog post introducing the program , CEO Tony Xu wrote: “DoorDash’s mission has always been to connect people with possibility by creating valuable opportunities for entrepreneurs to reach new audiences. For immigrant communities facing heightened barriers to success, that goal has become even more important — and for me, it’s at the heart of the company’s story.” According to the initiative’s website, it aims to spotlight the “human stories of immigrant and refugee business owners, fostering deeper connections to the people making the food we enjoy every day.” The way DoorDash has decided to do that is pretty creative. The website hosts a series of vignettes, where each San Francisco Bay Area business owner can discuss their own experiences. Plus, each restaurant will actually be promoted on DoorDash’s app, and get free delivery for up...