Phil, Phil Connors, is that you? I kid, but the days do have a decidedly "Groundhog Day" feel to them.
Today's Login is all-new, I assure you. It's 1,405 words, a 5-minute read.
Phil, Phil Connors, is that you? I kid, but the days do have a decidedly "Groundhog Day" feel to them.
Today's Login is all-new, I assure you. It's 1,405 words, a 5-minute read.
Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios
A slew of old-line industries that once hesitated to embrace digital technologies are now being forced to do so for the sake of survival, as Axios' Sara Fischer and Kim Hart report.
Why it matters: Once consumers get used to accessing services digitally — from older restaurants finally embracing online ordering, or newspapers finally going all-digital — these industries may find it hard to go back to traditional operations.
Media and entertainment: Venerable mediums like television, newspapers and movies are all quickly moving their content over to digital formats and online delivery as they struggle to adapt.
Retail: Brick-and-mortar shops that never sold goods online are shifting to that mode at a moment when stores nationwide have shut their doors and customers aren't leaving their homes.
Food and beverage: Restaurants that previously chose not to adopt online ordering or delivery services are suddenly finding that to be their lifeline now that many parts of the country have banned on-location dining.
Workouts and fitness: Everything from ballet lessons and karate classes to physical therapy sessions and yoga instruction has gone virtual.
The bottom line: Going virtual may open up new markets and new channels for engaging with consumers. But consumers will also likely rush to take part in out-of-home experiences once the pandemic eases.
Some Instacart shoppers are planning a nationwide strike today to protest what they say are unacceptable work conditions during the coronavirus crisis, Axios' Kia Kokalitcheva reports.
Details: The four demands from the activists are:
Since Friday, Instacart has announced some changes, meeting some of the activists' demands in part or in full, though the organization announced on Sunday evening that it would still go forward with the strike. "Aside from simply not being enough, this is insulting," the organization wrote in a Medium post on Sunday, arguing the changes were insufficient and done too late.
Separately: Amazon workers at a Long Island fulfillment center are planning a strike today, according to CNBC. The workers want the facility closed after an employee tested positive for the virus, CNBC said.
It's notable that Twitter, like other social networks, has announced stricter rules on virus-related misinformation than other types of false posts. Even more notable, though, is that Twitter has actually enforced its rules against prominent accounts in recent days.
Why it matters: Twitter has been criticized for being lax to enforce its rules, particularly against well-known politicians and celebrities.
Driving the news:
Twitter has made several adjustments to its rules specifically targeting misinformation about COVID-19, including how it is spread and transmitted as well as cures and treatments not backed up by medical authorities.
Yes, but: There are plenty of examples of Twitter failing to act, even regarding the coronavirus. The company allowed to stand a tweet from Elon Musk that said that children were immune from COVID-19 (they aren't) as well as other tweets of dubious veracity.
Photo Illustration: Budrul Chukrut/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Facebook said Monday that it will spend $100 million to support news outlets around the world that have been affected by the coronavirus, Axios' Sara Fischer reports.
Why it matters: Whatever Facebook's motivation, this is a much-needed cash infusion at a critical time for the local news industry.
What they're saying: "We know that a lot of journalists are working really hard under very difficult conditions, when getting accurate information is incredibly important," CEO Mark Zuckerberg told Axios' Mike Allen in a phone interview.
Details: Of the total, $25 million will be given to local news organizations in the U.S. as grants, while the other $75 million is being spent to buy ads in outlets around the world.
Sara has more here.
Microsoft said Friday that it has seen cloud usage grow by a massive 775% in locations where there are shelter-in-place or social distancing rules.
Why it matters: The increased cloud demand adds to the strain on the internet, but companies whose key apps are in the cloud are far more easily able to accommodate a remote workforce than those that rely on their own servers.
The company has also seen Windows Virtual Desktop usage more than triple and a 42% increase in government use of Microsoft's Power BI as entities look to share COVID-19 dashboards.
Microsoft said it will continue to prioritize first responders, medical supply chains, chatbots for health screening, and other health-related web sites. The company said it has seen stronger demand in a number of geographies, but said "despite the significant increase in demand, we have not had any significant service disruptions."
Meanwhile, in other coronavirus-related tech news:
On Tap
Trading Places
ICYMI
Screenshot: Axios
I just love this "new job" status update from Sara Sperling, who runs her own management/HR advisory consultancy, when she's not in her sweats teaching homeschool (and even when she is).