You never know when social media algorithms will change

March 28, 2024

You never know when social media algorithms will change: If you have a biz, you need a direct connection to your customers. Constant Contact and HubSpot are high-powered, and Intuit Mailchimp offers good free and low-cost options. Don’t forget the signup form on your site. Ta-da! Signed (up), sealed and delivered — your customers’ contact info is yours, not Meta’s.

Tags: Meta, social media

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Block ads to protect your privacy

I wanted to get something nice for Barry’s birthday, so I splurged on a gorgeous watch. Well, wouldn’t ya know it, like clockwork, my online ads changed. Suddenly, I was seeing fancy espresso machines, expensive face cream and cashmere sweaters all over social and the web.

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Smart tips for enjoying the sun's total eclipse safely

Turn around, bright eyes — a total eclipse of the sun is coming on April 8 (they played that song at my high school prom! 💃). This is your last chance to see a full eclipse from the lower 48 states until 2044.

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Search warning: Google’s new AI-generated answers can lead to sketchy sites that trick you into subscribing to browser notifications. Seeing these annoying pop-ups? In Chrome, go to Settings > Content > Notifications, and under Allowed to send notifications, click Remove next to any site you don’t want to hear from.

15 years later you can finally personalize your iPhone grid

iOS 18 includes a feature Android users have long enjoyed. The ability to create blank rows and open spaces on your home screen. Can’t wait to waste 15 minutes fiddling with mine.

Talk to an actual person at Amazon

For confusing situations, skip the forms and bots. An Amazon customer service rep will call you if you know this trick.

While logged into your Amazon account, go to the Contact us page.
Choose the issue that most closely matches your problem, then go through the form. At the end, choose Request a phone call.
Click that, enter your phone number, and you’ll see an estimated time before you receive the call. I’ve never waited more than three minutes. Have your order number handy!

📲 If you do need a phone number for Amazon Customer Service, it’s 1-888-280-4331. You might want to save that in your contacts. I don’t want you to get scammed by Googling support numbers that turn out fake.

✅ Quick security boost: Check to see that no one else is poking around your account.

We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.

Shop safer online with virtual cards

Scammers love to dupe you with fake deals, get you to pay for subscriptions you don’t need, or grab your payment info on a spoof checkout page that looks just like the real deal.

On the other hand, I want to keep you safe and save you money. One of my go-to tricks for secure online shopping might be one you’ve never even heard of.

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Is Apple’s new Journal app a major privacy nightmare?

Apple’s new Journal feature is all about capturing those little moments in life right on your iPhone. But posts started blowing up on social media that (oh no!) because of it, anyone can find your full name and location as well as read your deepest thoughts. Yikes.

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41% of managers want to replace employees with AI this year

Another 45% see AI as an opportunity to lower the salaries of employees on their payroll. I think AI has huge potential to optimize our work … but yet again, greedy humans are ruining it for the rest of us. Pretty bleak.

Be AI aware: Facebook’s new algorithm is filling people’s feeds with AI-generated images, and older adults are falling hard for their tricks. Quick crash course: Look for unnaturally smooth textures, gibberish text, and unusual teeth and fingers. I do a deep dive in tomorrow’s newsletter about spotting election fakes online, so be sure you don’t miss it.

7 Mac and Windows tricks only the pros know

Think of all your good habits. You brush your teeth twice daily (and maybe even floss, right). Perhaps you make it a point to get in your steps every day or at least get some Vitamin D.

What about a little bit of tech hygiene to keep your computer happy? When you’re done browsing a webpage, press Ctrl + W on Windows or Cmd + W on Mac to close the tab you’re in.

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