Meta is “formerly Facebook” for the purpose of making friends with an erstwhile media enemy by adding Torstar to the group of publishers being paid for a “news innovation test.” (Torstar also recently became part of Google News Showcase.) The new Meta corporate name was instantly adopted for official communication. But those dubious of these deals will keep calling it Facebook.
The snowbirds of free speech
Toronto-based video platform Rumble is being enthusiastically welcomed by Florida governor Ron DeSantis upon announcing its US headquarters will locate in his state. Glenn Greenwald, one of the loudest users to date who isn’t Donald Trump, has been defending Rumble’s free-expression policy as also being the best friend of leftists.
Netflix has hired its first Canadian content executive. Tara Woodbury was most recently an executive producer of CTV medical drama Transplant. The appointment coincides with Pablo Rodriguez returning as federal heritage minister, which means deciding how much the foreign streaming services should be forced to owe Canada.
#RaiseOurFlags tries to trend
Justin Trudeau is confident he can figure out how to raise government flags in a way that allows them to be lowered again on Remembrance Day. “As the flags are currently half-masted, no action is required,” the list of subsequent federal notices has read since May 30. So, energy sector analyst Melissa Mbarki started a hashtag for now:
Social media star “Debby” reportedly died in a Toronto shelter from a drug overdose. Alexis Matos was recognized via social media posts most prominently shared by 6ixBuzz. A clip from outside the Eaton Centre appeared on TikTok just before her death.
