“Why is this trending?” was tweeted more than half a million times in the last year. Twitter users clearly want to understand why something is popular, and the company took note.
On Tuesday, Twitter announced that it would elaborate on trends via pinned tweets and descriptions on trending topics.
Providing context around trends happens through a combination of algorithms and human review. The algorithms pick out tweets that aren’t abusive, spam or posted through fraudulent accounts. A representative tweet is then pinned to a trend to show why users are talking about the topic. This feature has already been implemented on Twitter for iOS and Android, and the company plans to bring it to Twitter.com as well.
Descriptions haven’t rolled out yet, but they’ll be written by Twitter’s curation team, which will abide by certain guidelines.
Here’s what pinned tweets and descriptions could look like:
The additional context on trends will be available in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Egypt, France, India, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.
“To bring more clarity to the conversation, we hope to add more context to more trends over time,” says product trust partner Liz Lee and product manager Frank Oppong reads. “We need to make trends better and we will.”
Performing an initial investigation to follow the funds related to the Twitter TWTR hack that happened on July 15 to Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Kanye West, Bill Gates and numerous other celebrities and executives of large technology companies, it is evident the many of those funds already hit reputable exchanges that might freeze the funds.
As different celebrities were sharing and resharing those posts that turned out to be fraudulent, some of their followers decided to open up their own wallets and pay as well. More than $130,000 later, most of the posts had been removed, the website of CryptoForHealth shut down. Twitter stepped in to forbid some users to tweet, but it is high time to recover the funds to the victims or at least specify to which exchanges they have been sent.
Despite a common misperception as Bitcoin represents a pseudo-anonymous network, transactions performed on it are both visible to the general public and traceable. Addresses can be directly connected to particular exchanges.
As scammers are still moving funds between cryptocurrency wallets, investigators from all over the world have stepped in with the goal to identify types of exchanges and freeze the funds on different accounts.
From the initial review, it is evident that much of the funds have been transferred to Binance. In a recent statement to TechCrunch, Binance Security Team informed that they have been aware of the situation and launched an investigation, which is visible to the crypto community as their team marked several cryptocurrency wallets as fraudulent.
Earlier today, an article released by Cointelegraph revealed that addresses used by the hackers had previously been linked to Coinbase and BitPay, common names in the cryptocurrency exchange and merchant sphere.
“According to our initial analysis the funds have reached many exchanges, but the core of the funds originated from the main Binance address. It is now clear that scammers were sending funds back and forth between different cryptocurrency addresses in an attempt to confuse law enforcement agents, wash them. Once completed fraudsters have sent a large parts of the funds to an address belonging to Binance yet again, which has been rather quickly discovered and flagged by the exchange.
Secondary besides Binance, it seems though that multiple exchanges like Bittrex, as well as MercadoBitcoin in Brazil have received funds from this scam already,” said Sven Martinsson, the Founder & CEO of VALEGA Chain Analytics – a Blockchain Investigations and analytics firm working out of Finland.
Even though the investigation remains novel, due to the transparency of the open blockchain of Bitcoin, it is possible to follow different transactions to a different account at cryptocurrency exchange platforms. Being personally engaged in one such ‘crypto exchange platform,’ competent and motivated compliance team members have a portfolio of tools and processes to stop such transactions in case they are being spotted. The fraudsters seem to know that so that there is a race for the fraudsters to try to exchange the funds to fiat currencies as soon as possible and Blockchain investigators to mark as many wallets as quickly as possible to freeze those funds.
Even though the identity of the scammers remains yet unknown, there are tools in place which allow for visualizing transactions between different accounts and exchanges that use the publicly available data and connect wallets to crypto exchanges.
Here are a couple of examples of how the fraudsters anticipated to hide their tracks. Everything starts on the left side in the middle of the graph, which represents the first address to which the scammers asked users to pay. Each additional connected line of dots represents their effort to hide their tracks and mix funds between different wallets and exchanges.
A more comprehensive description has been placed below each picture which represents a print screen out of a Blockchain Analytics Software.
Even though if this initial graph might not be the easiest to read, it represents the initial … [+]
ValegaChainAnalytics
Zooming in closer to different dots allows us to directly view the cryptocurrency wallet address which has been used. It is connected to a particular wallet provider or a platform (with strong but not utmost certainty). In order to review where funds were directed and how much was sent.
Expanding further, one of the addresses gives an immediate hit on another Binance address (This … [+]
ValegaChainAnalytics
It is visible that scammers used some of the addresses multiple times (the split the funds to … [+]
ValegaChainAnalytics
Investigations performed by compliance teams take time as they are most likely performed by individuals who are working for different exchange platforms or geographies, so sometimes the funds are able to be transferred to an account before they are being flagged as fraudulent. Red accounts have been already marked as fraudulent.
By the time Binance, when this chart has been recorded most certainly the team behind Binance has … [+]
ValegaChainAnalytics
The fraudsters didn’t stop at one platform there. Within hours, one of the cryptocurrency wallets in … [+]
ValegaChainAnalytics
Following each transaction and the connected spiderweb of transfers between cryptocurrency addresses helps to spot a time period in which fraudsters will try to wash funds with a legitimate exchange. As stated below, fraudsters launched a transfer to MercadoBitcoin in Brazil as well as Bittrex.com already.
The more paths have been explored the more exchange have been listed to which funds have been … [+]
ValegaChainAnalytics
This review is just a snapshot of the current stage of transfers performed by the fraudsters as of the afternoon of July 17th. It does not display traces in full to avoid obstructing justice or investigations. Even though it has been a Twitter hack and not a Bitcoin hack, the pseudo-anonymity of bitcoin and visibility of each transaction with tools like the wallet explorer does prove that the Crypto community is not helpless and knows more and more with each transaction the fraudsters perform. It is important to underline that it was not Bitcoin that got hacked, it was Twitter. Bitcoin was just the chosen means of payment.
Sven will release a collected investigation free of charge to anyone who can identify themself as an investigator in the process.
Disclaimer:
The transaction investigation remains ongoing. For security reasons and not to interfere with investigations, this is just a teaser to provide insights into different tactics of criminal networks. Exchanges in question have the appropriate means to stay compliant and do their reporting accordingly. This is NOT an attempt to defame or point any fingers and the statements are assumptions, not yet evidence. It remains a visualization of investigation that affected many users and the account holders on Twitter.
For transparency purposes – The contributor of this post is a Head of Compliance in one of the leading Cryptocurrency Exchanges in the Nordics called ‘Safello’.
He serves as a board advisor to Valega Chain whose team has launched an investigation to follow the stolen funds on his request. Statements about how Blockchain Analytics Tools work have been performed on the example of Valega Chain Analytics and should not be generalized to other Blockchain Analytics Tools as all of them have their own criteria, tools, and internal processes.
I’m a freelance technology, video game, and entertainment journalist. I’ve been writing about the world of technology, video games, and entertainment for the last decade. If you’ve seen my work around the Web, you’ve probably found me analyzing and reviewing your favorite smartphones, televisions, and video games. And if you’re on Twitter, you probably see me asking for movie recommendations and complaining about the tech in my life not working the way it should. In my free time, I’m usually tinkering with tech, improving my surround sound setup, and insatiably consuming all the world of tech, games, and geek culture has to offer. I write for Forbes Finds. If you buy something using a link on my posts, Forbes Finds may receive a small share of that sale.
On Friday (May 15), when a slightly drunk J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series of fantasy novels, asked (on Twitter) for an explanation of Bitcoin, she probably did not expect the huge number of replies she got bombarded with.
It all started when Rowling asked Coindesk reporter Leigh Cuen to explain Bitcoin to her:
I don’t understand bitcoin. Please explain it to me.
Bitcoin is digital money that both Muggles and Wizards can use. It’s not minted by Gringotts or HM Treasury, but secured by digital guardians across the world.
Instead of Galleons, Sickles, and Knuts, the units are bitcoin and satoshi. One bitcoin represents 100m satoshi.
Imagine if there wasn’t a Gringotts bank anymore and all wizards, muggles and everyone else regardless of where they were born could #beyourownbank#bitcoin@blockchain
Imagine everyone’s money on an excel sheet. You need your password to spend. 2% annual inflation paid to secure the sheet. That’s it.#Bitcoin#BTC
— Richard Heart: HEX.win did 116x price!🚀M⬣⬣N (@RichardHeartWin) May 15, 2020
The Offers of Free Bitcoin
Hey @jk_rowling , @block_one_ would be happy to have a Zoom call with you to tell you more about #Bitcoin and would be ready to donate 5 #BTC to a charity of your choice. Blockchain’s impact on everything from finance to collaborative content creation will be profound!
Rowling Still Confused and Convinced She Will Never Understand Bitcoin
People are now explaining Bitcoin to me, and honestly, it’s blah blah blah collectibles (My Little Pony?) blah blah blah computers (got one of those) blah blah blah crypto (sounds creepy) blah blah blah understand the risk (I don’t, though.)
I know you mean to help, but full disclosure: I’m only allowing myself alcohol at weekends during this lockdown and I’m on my fourth very strong Old Fashioned and honestly, you might as well send me a scroll written in Sanskrit. pic.twitter.com/baMCaB1mEW
God bless every single one of you now earnestly explaining bitcoin to me as though I’ll grasp it if you break it down properly. Things like this are white noise to me. I cannot and will not ever understand Bitcoin, but I love you for thinking that I can or will.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk agrees that an explanation of the technology behind Bitcoin can sound like Greek to most people, but points out that it still looks more “solid” than fiat currency, especially in the current “money printing gone crazy” climate:
Pretty much, although massive currency issuance by govt central banks is making Bitcoin Internet 👻 money look solid by comparison
Rowling’s Admission That Her Initial Inquiry Was a Joke
This started as a joke, but now I’m afraid I’ll never be able to log in to Twitter again without someone getting angry I don’t own Bitcoin. One day you’ll see a wizened old woman in the street, trying to trade a Harry Potter book for a potato. Be kind. She did try to understand.
What Does This Whole Episode Tell Us About Mainstream Adoption of Crypto?
In the aftermath of Crypto Twitter’s overwhelming response to Rowling’s apparent interest in learning about Bitcoin and Rowling’s subsequent admission that her initial inquiry did indeed start as a joke after she had had four “Old Fashioned” cocktails in her UK home, there was some small amount of anger/disappointment in the crypto community over being trolled by Rowling (a few people event went as far as calling her “J.K. Trolling”).
However, there were also those who found Rowling spending a good portion of her weekend engaging with the crypto community and reading their explanations of Bitcoin as a bullish sign that eventual mainstream adoption of Bitcoin is inevitable:
CZ Binance
✔@cz_binance
The fact J.K. Rowling is tweeting about #bitcoin show the inevitability of it.
God bless every single one of you now earnestly explaining bitcoin to me as though I’ll grasp it if you break it down properly. Things like this are white noise to me. I cannot and will not ever understand Bitcoin, but I love you for thinking that I can or will.
Harry Potter author, J. K. Rowling, recently asked for an explanation of Bitcoin ( BTC ) on Twitter, bringing an onslaught of commentary from the crypto community.”This started as a joke, but now I’m afraid I’ll never be able to log in to Twitter again without someone getting angry I don’t own Bitcoin,” Rowling tweeted on May 15, adding:Responding to a May 15 tweet from journalist Leigh Cuen, Rowling asked for an explanation of Bitcoin. Folks from far and wide flooded the social media platform thereafter. Among the turnout, Ethereum creator Vitalik Buterin attempted a brief explanation, crypto author Saifedean Ammous offered up a copy of his book, and former Forbes staffer turned podcaster Laura Shin pointed toward an episode of her show. Crypto YouTuber and programmer, Ivan on Tech, commented that Rowling might simply be jealous that she did not buy into the asset early enough to make tons of loot. Tech mogul Elon Musk even chimed in, positing Bitcoin as potentially attractive against government money printing, although he still only possesses 0.25 BTC. After several explanatory attempts from crypto Twitter muggles, the famed author said it all still sounded like confusing babble, admitting she also consumed several alcoholic beverages during her Bitcoin-related commentary. Rowling noted many times that she did not comprehend Bitcoin. Amid the frantic and swirling explanations, Rowling said:In a May 16 tweet, noting the crypto community’s antics, Rowling said:As the crypto space still shows its youth, industry participants often exude excitement whenever a mainstream person of high status comments on crypto , revealing the industry still has much room to grow in terms of participation. Cointelegraph offered up its own in-depth explanation of Bitcoin to the Harry Potter author on May 15, complete with analogies from the popular book series. All data is taken from the source: https://cointelegraph.com/
Twitter wants to make following a topic as easy as following an account.
On Tuesday, the company said it’s trying out a way for users to follow sports topics such as the New England Patriots, cricket or wrestling. It’s testing this feature for Android users and will curate topics users could be interested in following.
Twitter will also let you “mute” topics so you don’t see these tweets all the time, and it’s exploring a way for you to create a separate timeline that includes certain accounts and topics you follow.
Twitter plans to release the ability to follow topics globally by the end of the year. As the social network tries to attract and retain new users, Twitter has been trying to take more risks with product changes. Earlier this year, Twitter released a prototype app so users could test new features such as adding color to replies, with the goal of making it easier to follow conversations.
“Our desire is to be a little bit more ambitious about the level of change that we introduce into the product,” Twitter product lead Kayvon Beykpour said during a press event at the company’s San Francisco headquarters.
The company is also exploring other features such as a search tool for your direct messages and the ability to reorder photos after you attached them to a tweet.
As for an edit button, don’t expect it anytime soon. Beykpour said he thinks that there’s a way for the company to let users correct typos. The risk, though, is some people might use the feature to change a controversial statement they tweeted on the site.
“It’s a feature I think that we should build at some point,” Beykpour said. “It’s not anywhere near the top of our priority list.”
As we all know, there are lots of ways that social media can make you less productive and more unhappy. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Used thoughtfully, the likes of Twitter and Facebook can also be a source of meaningful connection to smart people who can support your efforts to be more successful.
That includes your personal connections, but also experts who use Twitter to spread their ideas and help followers get more done. The blog of team productivity tool I Done This recently sifted through the self-promoters and time wasters to identify “the best productivity coaches and experts–people who are actually worth your hard-earned time.”
The complete list, including detailed information on each coach, is well worth a look, but here’s a sampling for you to check out to see whether any of these folks can help you reach your goals.
1. Tim Ferriss
No surprise here. The 4-Hour Workweek author “is likely the first person you thought of when you saw the title of this post,” concedes I Done This, but Tim Ferriss is popular for a reason. His advice actually helps and inspires people. His podcast is great too. Follow him at @tferriss.
2. Craig Jarrow
Craig Jarrow, founder of Time Management Ninja, gets the thumbs up from I Done This because “unlike many other productivity gurus, Jarrow’s goal isn’t to entrap you in complex strategies that only he can help you implement. Instead, he focuses on building a set of empowering skills and habits that grant you more control over how you spend your time.” Follow him at @TMNinja.
Pierrette Abeel’s unique approach focuses “not only on internal habits but also external spaces. She writes articles about organizing your office and cleaning up your inbox, as well as how to build good, productive behaviors,” notes I Done This. “She offers a five-day productivity challenge you can sign up for on her homepage to get started.” Follow her at @ProductivityDC.
5. Grace Marshall
If you’re naturally disorganized, Grace Marshall might be the productivity guru for you. Not only do her own messy tendencies inform her approach, but “she’s a neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) practitioner and a DiSC-certified trainer,” I Done This points out. Follow her at @GraceMarshall.
6. Brittany Berger
Looking for a productivity coach who doesn’t paper over the dark side of ambition? Try Brittany Berger. “Productivity coaches so often call on us to work harder or smarter, but few acknowledge the realities of fatigue, depression, and anxiety,” says I Done This. “Her pitch is to instead focus on working ‘brighter,’ meaning that you define productivity in a way that works for you.” Follow her at @thatbberg.
7. Alexandra Cavoulacos
“Alexandra Cavoulacos is the co-founder of the Muse and co-author of The New Rules of Work. She writes about careers, management, productivity, and entrepreneurship,” says I Done This. Follow her at @acav.
8. Phoebe Gavin
“Gavin’s audience is primarily Millennial women, and her content focuses on getting people through the doldrums of their mid- to late-20s,” says I Done This, so check her out if you’re looking for tips on conquering your quarter-life crisis. Follow her at @betterwphoebe.
9. Laura Vanderkam
A big advocate of logging your time, Laura Vanderkam has written a host of helpful books and also given a TED Talk that’s been viewed by millions. “You can find more resources on her website, where she also blogs regularly,” notes I Done This. Follow her at @lvanderkam.
