Latest news with #socialnetworking
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Your Daily Singles Horoscope for May 28, 2025
Though the peace of single life can't be beat, it's always nice to have someone to curl up with at the end of the day. The path to your next cuddle buddy is only a click away with our singles horoscope. There's a very fine line between social networking and social climbing or otherwise using people to your own advantage. You've got plenty of ambition. Just be careful where you aim it! A piece of your personal romantic puzzle snaps into place right about now, and the person who's holding it isn't someone you expected. Be ready for enlightenment from an unusual source. Someone may seem dreamy, but if your core values don't match up, it could involve a major wake-up call at some point. Ask serious questions that reveal their real heart and the real you. The balance you bring to your life is starting to pay off big time, so plan your agenda accordingly. Work, self-care, fun with friends, and romantic exploration should add up to a day well spent! Give your romantic karma a big boost by setting aside your own desires and directing your energy elsewhere. Play Cupid. Your aim is true! Tell someone why they're great. Are you meant to be? Find out with our Love Compatibility Report! Your creative juices are flowing, and romance is definitely favored. That's a potent combination! Spice up your dating profile, or let somebody know you're interested in an unusual way. What can you do to shake the blues? Plan a preemptive strike, as your energy reserves may be low. Make a lunch date with a friend, take a walk to get the blood flowing, and pat yourself on the back. You've got some serious charm now, even if you're flirting through messages. Give someone new a quirky, specific compliment, exercise your sense of humor, and try to be slightly shocking. You don't usually hold back much, and your communication now is almost sure to be of the extra-frank variety. Directness is great, but try not to offer too much direction. Open-ended is best. Someone surprising shows some serious appreciation for your charms, so be ready to take a compliment. Also be ready to flirt in unexpected circumstances. You're certainly hot stuff now! Conserve your energy when it comes to your love life. Try a mysterious smile instead of a long, rambling monologue. Even better, exercise your power of intrigue rather than telling all at once. A friend offers a valuable assist when it comes to a matter of the heart, or maybe you're giving them some help or support. In any case, some great give-and-take is on the way! Need guidance? Your Numerology Reading is a mystic cheat-sheet to living your full potential.
Zawya
20-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
UAE: Yalla Group reports revenue of $83.9mln in Q1 2025
Yalla Group Limited, the largest Middle East and North Africa (MENA)-based online social networking and gaming company, today announced its unaudited financial results for the first quarter of the fiscal year 2025, ending on 31st March. The company reported quarterly revenue of AED308.2 million (US$83.9 million), a 6.5 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Net income for the quarter rose to AED133.7 million (US$36.4 million), marking a 17 percent year-over-year increase. On a non-GAAP basis, net income reached AED143.6 million (US$39.1 million), up 10.9 percent from the same quarter in 2024, with a non-GAAP net margin of 46.6 percent. Average Monthly Active Users (MAUs) grew to 44.6 million, a 17.9 percent increase from 37.8 million in the corresponding period last year, underscoring the continued expansion and engagement of Yalla's user base across the region. Speaking on the occasion, Yang Tao, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Yalla, said, 'We kicked off 2025 with a strong and promising first quarter. Despite seasonal factors such as Ramadan, we outperformed expectations, reflecting the resilience of our business model and the effectiveness of our long-term growth strategy. "Our steadfast commitment to enhancing user experience, improving operational efficiency, and deepening engagement across our platforms has contributed to healthy momentum. The improvements we've made to user acquisition and gamification are driving higher retention and increasing the value we deliver to our user base.' Tao highlighted that expanding the application of artificial intelligence technologies to analyse user behavior and manage data has significantly enhanced decision-making efficiency. He concluded, 'Building on the continued success of our platforms and the company's ongoing development, we are leveraging this growth momentum to increase the value we deliver. We are committed to achieving sustainable returns for our shareholders and strengthening our leadership in the regional digital communication and entertainment sector.' For his part, Saifi Ismail, Group President at Yalla Group, said, 'We are very pleased with the strong operational results achieved this quarter, especially given the seasonal impact of Ramadan. The impressive growth in monthly active users, driven organically and without additional marketing spend, highlights the effectiveness of our product strategy and the growing strength of our brand across the region. This performance validates our focus on scalable, efficient growth and reinforces the solid foundation we've built for continued expansion.' "As the global economy adjusts to shifting macroeconomic dynamics, the MENA region stands out for its digital readiness, something which aligns well with our long-term strategy. We are particularly proud of the progress we've made in AI deployment, notably in our proprietary content moderation platform, which now leads the region in recognition speed and accuracy." He added, "As we look to the future, we are committed to driving sustainable, high-quality growth through product innovation, operational excellence, and enhanced user experience. Our continued investment in AI and data analytics is enabling smarter decision-making and greater agility in responding to market trends. These capabilities, combined with our strong regional positioning and scalable platform, put us in an excellent position to continue delivering value to both our users and shareholders.'
Zawya
20-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Yalla Group announces strong financial results for Q1, 2025 reporting steady growth in revenues
Yalla's net income increases to 133.7 million Average Monthly Active Users (MAUs) grows by 17.9% to 44.6 million UAE, Dubai: Yalla Group Limited ("Yalla" or the "Company") (NYSE: YALA), the largest Middle East and North Africa (MENA)-based online social networking and gaming company, today announced its unaudited financial results for the first quarter of the fiscal year 2025, ending on March 31. The company reported quarterly revenue of AED 308.2 million (USD 83.9 million), a 6.5 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Net income for the quarter rose to AED 133.7 million (USD 36.4 million), marking a 17 percent year-over-year increase. On a non-GAAP basis, net income reached AED 143.6 million (USD 39.1 million), up 10.9 percent from the same quarter in 2024, with a non-GAAP net margin of 46.6 percent. Average Monthly Active Users (MAUs) grew to 44.6 million, a 17.9 percent increase from 37.8 million in the corresponding period last year, underscoring the continued expansion and engagement of Yalla's user base across the region. Outperformed expectations Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Yang Tao, Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Yalla said: 'We kicked off 2025 with a strong and promising first quarter. Despite seasonal factors such as Ramadan, we outperformed expectations, reflecting the resilience of our business model and the effectiveness of our long-term growth strategy. "Our steadfast commitment to enhancing user experience, improving operational efficiency, and deepening engagement across our platforms has contributed to healthy momentum. The improvements we've made to user acquisition and gamification are driving higher retention and increasing the value we deliver to our user base.' Tao highlighted that expanding the application of artificial intelligence technologies to analyze user behavior and manage data has significantly enhanced decision-making efficiency. He concluded: "Building on the continued success of our platforms and the company's ongoing development, we are leveraging this growth momentum to increase the value we deliver. We are committed to achieving sustainable returns for our shareholders and strengthening our leadership in the regional digital communication and entertainment sector." Sustainable growth For his part, Saifi Ismail, Group President at Yalla Group, said: 'We are very pleased with the strong operational results achieved this quarter, especially given the seasonal impact of Ramadan. The impressive growth in monthly active users, driven organically and without additional marketing spend, highlights the effectiveness of our product strategy and the growing strength of our brand across the region. This performance validates our focus on scalable, efficient growth and reinforces the solid foundation we've built for continued expansion.' "As the global economy adjusts to shifting macroeconomic dynamics, the MENA region stands out for its digital readiness, something which aligns well with our long-term strategy. We are particularly proud of the progress we've made in AI deployment, notably in our proprietary content moderation platform, which now leads the region in recognition speed and accuracy." He added: "As we look to the future, we are committed to driving sustainable, high-quality growth through product innovation, operational excellence, and enhanced user experience. Our continued investment in AI and data analytics is enabling smarter decision-making and greater agility in responding to market trends. These capabilities, combined with our strong regional positioning and scalable platform, put us in an excellent position to continue delivering value to both our users and shareholders.' About Yalla Group Limited Yalla Group Limited is the largest MENA-based online social networking and gaming company, in terms of revenue in 2022. The Company operates two flagship mobile applications, Yalla, a voice-centric group chat platform, and Yalla Ludo, a casual gaming application featuring online versions of board games, popular in MENA, with in-game voice chat and localized Majlis functionality. Building on the success of Yalla and Yalla Ludo, the Company continues to add engaging new content, creating a regionally focused, integrated ecosystem dedicated to fulfilling MENA users' evolving online social networking and gaming needs. Through its holding subsidiary, Yalla Game Limited, the Company has expanded its capabilities in mid-core and hard-core game in the MENA region, leveraging its local expertise to bring innovative gaming content to its users. In addition, the growing Yalla ecosystem includes YallaChat, an IM product tailored for Arabic users, WeMuslim, a product that supports Arabic users in observing their customs, and casual games such as Yalla Baloot and 101 Okey Yalla, developed to sustain vibrant local gaming communities in MENA. Yalla is also actively exploring outside of MENA with Yalla Parchis, a Ludo game designed for the South American markets. Yalla's mobile applications deliver a seamless experience that fosters a sense of loyalty and belonging, establishing highly devoted and engaged user communities through close attention to detail and localized appeal that profoundly resonates with users.
New York Times
15-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Does Meta Have a Social Media Monopoly? Here's What the U.S. Has Argued.
For five weeks, the Federal Trade Commission has questioned 30 witnesses as it has tried to prove that Meta illegally monopolized social networking through killer acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. On Thursday, the government wrapped up its side in the case — Federal Trade Commission v. Meta Platforms — setting the stage for the social media giant formerly known as Facebook to mount its defense. During the first half of the trial in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the government grilled Mark Zuckerberg, Meta's chief executive, alongside executives from apps including TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest and LinkedIn. F.T.C. lawyers tried to prove that Meta had overpaid for rival apps more than a decade ago in a 'buy or bury' strategy. Here are the F.T.C.'s main arguments. That Meta Was Nervous About Rivals The F.T.C. spent much of its time arguing that Meta had bought Instagram for $1 billion in 2012 and WhatsApp for $19 billion two years later because Mr. Zuckerberg and other executives viewed those apps as competitive threats. Government lawyers pointed to hundreds of emails, board documents and instant messages that showed Meta executives' near-constant paranoia about new competition. In 2012, Mr. Zuckerberg expressed his desire in emails to lieutenants to 'neutralize' Instagram, a rising competitor that had a better smartphone camera app than Facebook. Soon after, Meta executives discussed the fear that messaging apps would take on social networking features, making them competitors. As the F.T.C.'s first witness, Mr. Zuckerberg defended the messages, saying it was his job to be nervous about competition. He added that it was normal for any business executive to think about acquisitions as a strategy to stay ahead. That Instagram Languished Under Meta The F.T.C. argued that Instagram could have thrived and created more competition in social networking if Meta hadn't acquired it. Government lawyers accused Mr. Zuckerberg of starving Instagram of resources in favor of supporting his own app, Facebook. To make their case, they brought in a key witness: Kevin Systrom, a founder of Instagram. Under questioning from the government, Mr. Systrom, who left Meta in 2018, described how Mr. Zuckerberg had broken promises of turning Instagram into a thriving, but separate, business within Meta. Instagram received support from Meta, but not to the degree Mr. Zuckerberg was giving his own app, Facebook, Mr. Systrom testified. By the time he left Meta, Mr. Systrom said, Instagram was growing rapidly, but he added that Mr. Zuckerberg had denied many of his requests for more staff to work on content moderation and engineering. 'Mark was not investing in Instagram because he believed we were a threat to their growth,' Mr. Systrom said. But when questioned by Meta's lawyers, he conceded that Instagram had benefited from its new parent company's resources. That Meta Secured a Monopoly The F.T.C. argued that Meta monopolized what the government calls the 'personal social networking' market, which connects friends and family. Under that narrow definition, the government said, Meta really competes only with Snap, the maker of Snapchat, which Meta dwarfs in size and users. As part of its case, the government pointed to a September 2006 company post in which Mr. Zuckerberg said, 'Facebook is about real connections to actual friends.' Meta defended itself, saying it began as a network primarily for friends and family but had evolved into a broader entertainment platform that competed with all social media companies, especially TikTok and YouTube. Mr. Zuckerberg testified that only about 20 percent of the content on Facebook, and about 10 percent of the content on Instagram, was from friends. How Has the Judge Responded? Before the trial began, the presiding judge, James E. Boasberg, said he had never really used Facebook or Instagram. The government has spent some of its time calling expert witnesses to explain the ins and outs of the technology to the judge. The government intended the tech tutorials to differentiate the various apps and underscore Meta's monopoly. But more than a decade has elapsed since the acquisitions, and the judge has acknowledged that technology markets have evolved. Judge Boasberg asked an F.T.C. expert witness about the natural change of interests and motivations of users of technology. And he noted that many of the other social media app executives had testified that they offered similar features, including options to share things with friends and family. The F.T.C. argued that there was a 'difference in kind' between Meta and other social media apps that didn't have friends and sharing at their core. 'Why aren't the way these are used now just a difference in degree?' Judge Boasberg asked.
CNA
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
The Internet & Us - Singapore's Journey From Dial-Up Dinosaur To Tech Powerhouse
46:17 Min From dial-up days when the internet sounded like a cat stuck in a vacuum, to today's smart nation where dogs have Insta, The Internet & Us tracks Singapore's journey from tech noob to tech powerhouse. The Internet & Us About the show: The Internet & Us is a playful and sometimes sarcastic look at how Singapore went from tech wallflower to the life of the digital party. Wind back to the late 80s and early 90s, when connecting to the internet sounded like a robot choking on a fishball, and "social networking" meant squeezing into sweaty internet cafes to battle pixelated monsters with strangers who became friends. Remember those messaging platforms that had us typing faster than aunties rushing for CNY sales? Back when keyboards sounded like tap-dancing competitions and "streaming" was what happened to your face in the equatorial heat. Fast forward to today, where we've graduated from "cannot lah" to "can A.I." with machines that never sleep and robots performing surgery with more precision than your mom cutting your fruit into perfect cubes. Peek into tomorrow, where the only thing evolving faster than our technology is the number of ways we can avoid human interaction. The internet is our destiny–this is that story.
