THEGAYUK

Category: Tech

  • There’s now an app to help you find a gay sugar daddy

    A new app has launched which aims to help older and younger gay men meet.

    CREDIT: Pixabay / bykst

    GDaddy is set to match sugar daddies with guys looking for wealthy older guys. According to its marketing department, it’s taken 6 months of serious research and the owners promise a clean design and feature rich app.

    Speaking about the app, Marketing Manager Lawrence Young said,

    “There is no lack of gay dating sites and apps online. But the fact is that none of them are especially designed for gay sugar daddies and gay sugar babies. Now, you can put your problems to rest as we have come up with the first gay sugar daddy dating app online – GDaddy. Our purpose of creating GDaddy is trying to offer a private and comfortable all-male dating platform for successful & wealthy men and attractive & ambitious boys to get connected with each others.”

    Available on iTunes and Google

  • YouTube no longer blocks LGBT content

    YouTube no longer blocks LGBT content

    Google-owned YouTube has fixed the problem which meant that thousands of LGBT creators had their content effectively restricted.

    Following criticism, YouTube has issued a fix which means that content from LGBT content creators is no longer restricted.

    In March  YouTube has found itself in the centre of a Twitterstorm and a heavy online backlash after many LGBT content creators found that their videos were no longer open for the general public to view. Instead, in order to watch the videos users had to log into the service, using a Google account, as a way of verifying age, before content would be played.

    Following the discovery, the hashtag #YouTubeIsOverParty trended worldwide as users and audiences blasted the move by the world’s biggest video platform.

    The world’s biggest video platform apologised and now a fix has been remedied.

    In a statement on the platform’s blog, Johanna Wright, YouTube’s vice president of product management said,

    “After a thorough investigation, we started making several improvements to Restricted Mode. On the engineering side, we fixed an issue that was incorrectly filtering videos for this feature, and now 12 million additional videos of all types — including hundreds of thousands featuring LGBTQ+ content — are available in Restricted Mode.”

    The restricted mode was a way in order to keep certain types of content, such as adult or violent footage, filtered from general view.

  • Did you know that every search you do on the internet could plant a new tree?

    These are wonderful times we live in… besides all the shiz that’s happening…

    tree planted for every search
    web img
    Now, people, you can plant a tree for every internet search that you do… That Tom Daley bulge search you just did could have planted a brand spanking new tree. Yep. Feel good about yourself before the self-loathing from that search kicks in.

    So far, here in the editorial department, we’ve planted 108 trees. Not bad going, considering we’ve not left our desks for 14 days.

    Search company behind the tree planting, Escosia, are vowing to plant a tree for every search that you do with their company. According to their stats, Ecosia funds the planting of a new tree roughly every 11 to 16 seconds. They funded the planting of over seven million trees already.

    You even get a little counter at the top of your browser showing how many trees you’ve helped to plant.

    So why are they doing this? Well, they have this to say about trees:

    “In short: Trees are the superheroes of the planet. The positive effects they can have on their environment and the people living in it are as versatile as the different shapes they come in.

    “Of course planting trees is excellent for the environment. After all, trees are the most efficient CO2 absorbers on the planet. Trees help mitigate climate change, restart water cycles, keep deserts from spreading and turn barren grounds back into fertile woods and farmland.

    “So by planting a tree, you can fight climate change, restore landscapes, protect wildlife, provide nutrition, employment, education, medical assistance and political as well as economic stability. Mind-boggling, isn’t it?”

    Fair enough.

    Get planting /searching….

  • Pride In London “concerned” over YouTube LGBT video restrictions

    YouTube has been blasted by Pride In London as “concerning” over the restriction of its videos, including a speech given by Prime Minister David Cameron.

    CREDIT: (C) Joffe Walters

    Videos including a speech by then Prime Minister David Cameron to the LGBT+ community have been restricted by the Google-owned video platform, YouTube.

    The video service has been criticised after it was revealed that it had restricted 1000s of LGBT+ content creators’ videos, meaning that only people who had opted into unrestricted viewing would be able to see content.

    Videos which have been restricted on the Pride In London YouTube channel include performances from X Factor‘s Seann Miley Moore and that of the Pride In London talent winner 2016, Jack Feureisen.

    Commenting on YouTube’s ‘Restricted Mode’ filtering out some LGBTQ+ video content, Matthew Hemes, Senior Social Media Manager for Pride in London said,

    “YouTube is an incredible space giving LGBTQ+ contributors around the world a platform to be heard. We are concerned that around 25 per cent of Pride in London’s video content is hidden when using YouTube’s ‘Restricted Mode’. Videos not shown include Prime Minister David Cameron’s message to those taking part in 2014, various videos from recent #NoFilter and #FreedomTo campaigns plus many performances on stage in Trafalgar Square. YouTube has been a fantastic supporter of Pride in London and we hope this is rectified soon.”

    Last night the Hashtag #YouTubeIsOverParty trended worldwide as users and audiences blasted the move by the world’s biggest video platform.

    In a full explanation of the YouTube explained that they were looking into the concerns of its users and reiterated that it had a “passion” for making its platform inclusive, diverse and vibrant.

  • 55 of Pride In London’s YouTube videos have been restricted

    55 of Pride In London’s YouTube videos have been restricted

    Fifty-five of Pride In London’s videos on the Google-owned platform, YouTube have been restricted.

    London Pride and YouTube ban
    CREDIT: Pride In London/Twitter

    YouTube has been under fire since it came to light that it had restricted many viewers from watching content from LGBT+ content creators on its platform.

    Pride In London, the UK’s biggest pride festival, has had 55 of its 225 videos restricted.

    https://twitter.com/MattHemes/status/843809384102842368

    Last night the Hashtag #YouTubeIsOverParty trended worldwide as users and audiences blasted the move by the world’s biggest video platform.

    Taking to their official Twitter account, Pride In London displayed how their playlist had been affected by turning on and off a restricted and non-restricted view of their account. Fifty-five of their videos from their public playlist were restricted.

    Pride In London’s video content has no adult content on its channel.

    Restricted mode is turned off by default, but some users have found restriction has been automatically turned on, effectively making the video impossible to watch unless the viewer is logged on if the content is deemed “potentially inappropriate”.

    YouTube apologised for the action saying, but only hours after the hashtag had started trending,

    “LGBTQ+ voices … [were] a key part of what YouTube is all about”, it said that only “mature content” was supposed to be restricted.

    “The intention of Restricted Mode is to filter out mature content for the tiny subset of users who want a more limited experience. LGBTQ+ videos are available in Restricted Mode, but videos that discuss more sensitive issues may not be.”

    In a full explanation of the YouTube explained that they were looking into the concerns of its users and reiterated that it had a “passion” for making its platform inclusive, diverse and vibrant.

  • YouTube heavily criticised after it makes some LGBT videos invisible

    YouTube heavily criticised after it makes some LGBT videos invisible

    YouTube has come under heavy criticism from its users after many LGBT content creators found that their uploads had become “invisible”.

    what videos did YouTube ban from LGBT people

     

    Google-owned YouTube has found itself in the centre of a Twitterstorm and a heavy online backlash after many LGBT content creators found that their videos were no longer open for the general public to view. Instead, in order to watch the videos users had to log into the service, using a Google account, as a way of verifying age, before content would be played.

    Last night the Hashtag #YouTubeIsOverParty trended worldwide as users and audiences blasted the move by the world’s biggest video platform.

    Restricted mode is turned off by default, but some users have found restriction has been automatically turned on, effectively making the video impossible to watch unless the viewer is logged on if the content is deemed “potentially inappropriate”.

    YouTube apologised for the action saying, but only hours after the hashtag had started trending,

    “LGBTQ+ voices … [were] a key part of what YouTube is all about”, it said that only “mature content” was supposed to be restricted.

    “The intention of Restricted Mode is to filter out mature content for the tiny subset of users who want a more limited experience. LGBTQ+ videos are available in Restricted Mode, but videos that discuss more sensitive issues may not be.”

    One of the platforms best-known Vloggers, Tyler Oakley, who has 8 million subscribers was caught by the block took to Twitter to explain his frustration at YouTuber saying,

     

    In a full explanation of the YouTube explained that they were looking into the concerns of its users and reiterated that it had a “passion” for making its platform inclusive, diverse and vibrant.

    YouTube’s CEO stated that she had ordered a full investigation into the issue and was pushing her team for answers.

     

     

     

  • Here’s why you should never charge your phone in public

    Here’s why you should never charge your phone in public

    You could be opening yourself up to a hacking of a lifetime if you charge your phone in a public place.

    CREDIT: FreePhonesART / Pixabay

    Apparently, hackers are now able to compromise plugs in public spaces, meaning if you need to charge your phone from an electrical outline which has been tampered with, your phone and all its personal information could be stolen.

    Speaking to CNN Drew Paik of security firm Authentic8 told CNN.

    “Just by plugging your phone into a [compromised] power strip or charger, your device is now infected, and that compromises all your data”.

    The compromised outlet could leech your personal data via the phone’s USB cable, stealing your contacts, photos and possibly even your banking details, if you have them stored on your phone.

    There’s no way to tell if a plug, in a public space, has been tampered with – so it might just be safer to have a dead battery or buy yourself a battery pack. We loved the Solar powered one from G:roove

  • Twitter has Christmas emojis and they are super camp

    Twitter has Christmas emojis and they are super camp

    and they said let there be Christmas campery abound.

    We’ve got Mariah on repeat and Wham!’s “Last Christmas” has us misty eyed so when Twitter released it’s Christmas emojis obvs our excitement levels went to the next level.

    So to see the new emojis just start using the hashtags

    #MerryChristmas, #HappyChristmas, #Christmas, #HappyHanukkah, #HanukkahSameach, #Hanukkah, #Chanukah, #HappyChanukah, #HappyKwanzaa, #HabariGani, #Kwanzaa, #JoyousKwanzaa.

    BTW if you’re looking for the gayest Christmas playlist/album look no further than our very own Spotify playlist. We’ve managed to find and compile the 31 campest Christmas songs together in one place.

  • Uber is rating you

    Yikes. Uber is rating you… and judging you.

    And guess what you could now be barred from using the Uber service if you break one of their community guidelines. The guidelines say US only at this point. So you could find your Uber account blocked if you break one of the rules.

    So you could find your Uber account blocked if you break one of the rules.

    So what are Uber’s rules?

    No fighting,

    No flirting

    No swearing

    No personal questions

    No sex – with a driver or another passenger,

    No discrimination

    No stalking

    No being sick

    No breaking the law

    No guns

     

    And while we agree with many of those – we’re wondering how Uber is going to deal with its own drivers when they break the law (using mobile phones whilst driving – don’t think we don’t see you!) or discriminating against someone because of their sexuality.

     

    https://twitter.com/wehatemarc/status/805301793571958784

     

    Just saying.

    In other news you know when you rate your Uber journey, you get rated back by your driver! You can actually find out what your Uber star rating is.

     

     

  • YouTube apparently banned Mykki Blanco’s videos because of “balls”

    YouTube apparently banned Mykki Blanco’s videos because of “balls”

    Singer Mykki Blanco has had his latest music video, “Loner” removed (and reinstated) after he called their decision to censor his video as a “homophobic double standard”.

    By Imnotcmjames (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
    By Imnotcmjames (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
    The musician slammed the video platform for what he called a “homophobic double standard” when his video for “Loner” was apparently removed and then reinstated, but censored with users having to sign in to confirm their age, after YouTube said the video breached their community guidelines.

    The star took to Twitter to slam the Google-owned platform,

    https://twitter.com/MykkiBlanco/status/804724831396757505?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

    https://twitter.com/MykkiBlanco/status/804725088247541764?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

     

    https://twitter.com/MykkiBlanco/status/804726682464768000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

     

    The problem seemed to lie in the fact that someone at YouTube thought the video contained a real life man’s scrotum, which was actually a man’s knee. Heaven forbid!

    Heaven forbid!

    https://twitter.com/MykkiBlanco/status/804727727366479872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

     

    The video was later reinstated by YouTube, but now viewers must sign in to view the video. Speaking to MIC Mykko said that as an artist he’s experienced homophobia in the entertainment industry.

    “It is exhausting that as a queer artist not only do I experience homophobia in the entertainment industry but also censorship for the unapologetically queer imagery I promote,” Blanco told Mic, noting that “topless women with bare buttocks is acceptable, [yet] suggestive queer imagery is banned.”

    YouTube has allowed videos with much more sexually suggestive imagery without censorship. Videos such as Eric Prydz’s “Call On Me” and Miley Cyrus’s “Wrecking Ball”  are not blocked.

  • There are now 48 organisations that have full access to your ENTIRE online browsing history

    It almost passed without notice, but the Investigatory Powers Bill, also known as the Snooper’s charter, was passed by the House Of Lords last week and now 48 organisations will have access to your entire browsing history, even if you’ve deleted it.

    © belchonock Depositphotos

    • 48 Departments will be able to view your entire internet history if the bill passes Royal Assent to become law.

    • Deleting your history doesn’t mean your history has been deleted.

    • Internet providers (ISP) have to keep your records for one year.

    A staggering 48 Governmental departments will now have access to your online browsing data according to a list published by a blogger who wanted to know who exactly would have access to our Internet history.

    Thanks to blogger Chris Yui we are able to bring you a list of 48 departments that will be able to snoop on your every online move now that the Investigatory Powers Bill, AKA the Snooper’s Charter has passed through the House Of Lords. The bill has been described as “the most extreme surveillance law in our history”, according to advocacy group, Don’t Spy On Us.

    Snoopers will be able to see your entire history regardless of whether you’ve cleared your internet history or not as ISP will now legally have to keep records for one year and will have to hand over those records regardless of permission granted.

    The charter has been criticised by technology companies, academics and civil liberties groups, however, the Government has said that it believes the charter is necessary to combat terrorism and organised crime.

    The Governmental departments that will have access are set on in Schedule 4 of the act and include GCHQ, the Metropolitan police force and even the tax man.

    Worryingly departments which seem to have no connection to terror detection such as the Food Standards Agency and the Department of Health will have unfettered access according to Mr Yui’s list.

    • Metropolitan police force
    • City of London police force
    • Police forces maintained under section 2 of the Police Act 1996
    • Police Service of Scotland
    • Police Service of Northern Ireland
    • British Transport Police
    • Ministry of Defence Police
    • Royal Navy Police
    • Royal Military Police
    • Royal Air Force Police
    • Security Service
    • Secret Intelligence Service
    • GCHQ
    • Ministry of Defence
    • Department of Health
    • Home Office
    • Ministry of Justice
    • National Crime Agency
    • HM Revenue & Customs
    • Department for Transport
    • Department for Work and Pensions
    • NHS trusts and foundation trusts in England that provide ambulance services
    • Common Services Agency for the Scottish Health Service
    • Competition and Markets Authority
    • Criminal Cases Review Commission
    • Department for Communities in Northern Ireland
    • Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland
    • Department of Justice in Northern Ireland
    • Financial Conduct Authority
    • Fire and rescue authorities under the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004
    • Food Standards Agency
    • Food Standards Scotland
    • Gambling Commission
    • Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority
    • Health and Safety Executive
    • Independent Police Complaints Commissioner
    • Information Commissioner
    • NHS Business Services Authority
    • Northern Ireland Ambulance Service Health and Social Care Trust
    • Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service Board
    • Northern Ireland Health and Social Care Regional Business Services Organisation
    • Office of Communications
    • Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland
    • Police Investigations and Review Commissioner
    • Scottish Ambulance Service Board
    • Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission
    • Serious Fraud Office
    • Welsh Ambulance Services National Health Service Trust

    Mr Yiu noted at the end of his list,

    “I always wondered what it would feel like to be suffocated by the sort of state intrusion that citizens are subjected to in places like China, Russia and Iran. I guess we’re all about to find out.”

    In July Lord Paddick gave a stark warning that the bill could have dire consequences for the LGBT community. He said,

    “Homophobia has been encountered in the police service, as has unauthorised disclosure of confidential information. ‘If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear’ is not the same as ‘If you have done nothing wrong, you have nothing to worry about.

    “Even if the police were to be trusted completely, massive pools — oceans — of data in the custody of private companies such as TalkTalk, one of the internet service providers that will be asked to store such data, would be sitting ducks for hackers, criminals, blackmailers and hostile foreign powers.