The Israeli government reportedly commissioned a campaign in 2023 that included social media accounts targeting Black U.S. lawmakers. The New York Times reported that, in October 2023, Israel’s Ministry of Diaspora Affairs paid $2 million to Stoic, a Tel Aviv, Israel-based political marketing firm, to push pro-Israel content on social media at a time when many Americans were concerned for Palestinian civilians during the war in Gaza. The outlet details that Stoic created fake accounts in support of Israel across X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram that focused on over a dozen majority Black and Democrat U.S. lawmakers, including Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York and U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia. ChatGPT was mainly used to create the fake accounts’ posts, which asked for the politicians to fund Israel’s military, per the outlet. In addition to fake social media accounts, Stoic reportedly created fake websites and articles. In May 2024, NBC News reported...

A scheme led by an ex-Facebook employee has come to light. CNBC reports that on Dec. 11, Barbara Furlow-Smiles, a former Facebook global diversity strategist, pleaded guilty to wire fraud. Federal prosecutors detailed that Furlow-Smiles stole over $4 million from the company “to fund a lavish lifestyle in California and Georgia.”

Building a business empire off of just being yourself is a major flex. And Tabitha Brown is making it look easy, honey . Last year, when AfroTech spoke exclusively with the entrepreneur and vegan food influencer, she shared that her agent told her not to record anything for social media in order to be taken seriously in Hollywood. Thankfully, Brown made her own choice to follow the digital route. For those who may believe that her stardom started on TikTok, it actually started from her Faceboo k reaction video to Whole Foods’ TTLA sandwich. The video garnered a million views in a week on the social media giant and even led to her becoming the market’s plant-based ambassador. Ever since recording the viral sensation in her car, Brown has gone on to organically dominate across all social media platforms including her nearly five million followers on TikTok. Her likeness as the “world’s favorite mom” has transformed into a rapidly growing list of ventures that AfroTech continues to...

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategies are all the rave right now for the private sector and nonprofit organizations. And while everyone is seemingly treating DEI as the proverbial popular kid in school, many strategies that have been implemented are working to create more just and equitable cultures. Although there is evidence of intentional work being done to increase diversity at companies, the ever-evolving nature of the job market has created certain norms, pushing diversity to the forefront. For the folks at Facebook, implementing remote work increased their diversity metrics. According to The Washington Post, since Facebook implemented a more liberal remote policy, the company saw noticeable increases in employee representation. Between 2021 and 2022, the tech company grew among Black, Hispanic, Asian, and multiracial employees. Its number of white employees decreased by 1.5 percent. The increase in minority employment also applied to its leadership group. A...

Rooted in the audacity of hope, dreams and big ideas are often the catalysts to action and solutions. Some of the world’s most-noted movers and shakers have created platforms, programs and companies that all started as a dream. Meta began as an idea to see communities globally connect in one place. And now the metaverse is a virtual space where people can gather in real time no matter their location. Beyond the external-facing platforms, Meta has an internal company culture that supports innovative ideas, thought-provoking solutions and the drive to turn dreams into reality. Recently, AfroTech had the opportunity to learn how Brandon C. Dudley and Jahmeilah Roberson, two Meta employees on the virtual reality teams, are working to build a diverse and inclusive metaverse through the power of augmented and virtual reality.   Creativity Is at the Core As a Product Manager, Brandon Dudley had a personalized entry into tech because of his hometown roots in Detroit. Beginning his career...

TikTok continues to take it up a notch! The social media giant allowed users to capture 60-second video clips as of July 2021. Now, in 2022, it has announced users can expect to capture videos totaling 10 minutes, Variety reports. On average, TikTok users reportedly spend 52 minutes per day on the application, and 90 percent of TikTokers return to the application daily. Arguably one of the most addictive applications, the new feature will add to its list of reasons to keep users reeled in for more. “We’re always thinking about new ways to bring value to our community and enrich the TikTok experience,” a TikTok rep said in a statement, according to Variety. “Last year, we introduced longer videos, giving our community more time to create and be entertained on TikTok. Today, we’re excited to start rolling out the ability to upload videos that are up to 10 minutes, which we hope would unleash even more creative possibilities for our creators around the world.”

Pharrell Williams wants to see more wins for Black-owned businesses. Pharrell Williams presented the keynote speech at the Urban League of Hampton Roads’ (ULHR) annual Martin Luther King, Jr. awards program on Monday (Jan. 17). Here, Williams issued a call-to-action for businesses to pledge a higher commitment to Black entrepreneurs while also noting many businesses have already started their efforts. “There’s much more work to be done to achieve anything that resembles equality, business — thank God businesses are finally catching on,” Pharrell Williams said. “Corporations know that inclusive businesses are good businesses, right? Collectively big businesses are pouring billions of dollars into programs directed toward people of color — not all businesses, but the smart ones, the ones that will be here in 50 years.” Pharrell Williams goes on to highlight a few small wins that have arisen for the Black community in recent years. Historically Black Colleges & Universities are...

According to a report , Black business ownership rates declined by about 40 percent between February and April 2020, which was the sharpest decline of any racial group. In response, Meta — formerly Facebook — has big plans this holiday season that involve amplifying small Black-owned businesses. To kick it off, during the inaugural Forbes Next 1000 Summit, the company announced a partnership with Grammy award-winning artist Ciara, as they plan “to redistribute the energy of the biggest physical retail day” to spotlight Black-owned businesses impacted by COVID-19. “In the US, Black-owned businesses have been among the hardest hit by the pandemic, and this holiday season will be ‘make or break’ for many,” said Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg. “One way we can all make a difference is through conscious shopping, which is why I’m thrilled to partner with Ciara to support #BuyBlack and do what we can to help Black-owned small businesses.” Under the partnership, starting Nov. 22,...