TikTok has become the breakout media platform during this year's Olympic Games, boosted by its heavy use by young athletes.
Why it matters: Unlike the social media apps that came before it, TikTok's algorithm is built so that almost any person can go viral overnight. No other medium has ever given athletes, particularly ones that weren't famous before, that same level of instant exposure.
Simone Biles was a singular presence on social media during the Olympics, with her Instagram account generating more interactions than the next six Americans combined, according to data from CrowdTangle.
Why it matters: Already a premier name on the U.S. Olympic roster, Biles' struggles in Tokyo shifted the focus from athletics to human interest as she dealt with her mental and emotional health.
Technology may not have made up for the impact of COVID-19, but its presence was felt at the Tokyo Games, from advances in timing to giant displays that brought the sailing action from sea to shore.
Even the venerable Olympic pin got a digital upgrade, with sponsor Alibaba distributing an electronic button, complete with a small display and pedometer built in.
COVID-19 vaccines are about as effective as a single technological solution to a major threat can be — and our struggles to adopt and distribute the shots demonstrate their limits.
Why it matters: The pandemic is just one of many global challenges we'll face in the years ahead, but technofixes alone can't save us without a supportive social and political structure.
Dotdash, the digital media company that houses brands like Verywell and Investopedia, is growing revenue faster than any other brand within the IAC, the publicly traded internet company that also owns Angi, The Daily Beast, and others.
Why it matters: IAC is known for growing digital brands and spinning them out once they are big enough to stand alone. Now that IAC has spun out Match Group and Vimeo, Dotdash is its fastest-growing brand in terms of revenue.
One of the many challenges for indie game developers is being pigeonholed into a specific genre, making it important for some developers to subvert expectations by tackling surprising projects.
Why it matters: For developer Ben Esposito, establishing that his new game, "Neon White," is a sharp turn from his previous work has been at the forefront of how he's presented his game.
TOKYO — One of the most beloved Olympic traditions is the collecting and trading of pins emblazoned with Olympic mascots, sponsors and media. This year, Alibaba offered attendees of the Games a modern take with its digital pin.
Why it matters: The NFT craze is one indication of a broad move by the collectibles world to digital. One of the big challenges, though, is creating a physical object that can still be enjoyed.
TOKYO — With each new sport added to the Olympics comes a new challenge: how to time and score the event. For 89 years, that responsibility has fallen to Swiss watchmaker Omega.
The big picture: What was once a job done by hand is an increasingly automated task, handled entirely, or aided by, technology.
The Federal Communications Commission released a new set of maps Friday showing mobile service coverage and availability as reported by the major wireless providers.
Why it matters: Billions of dollars are about to be spent on boosting broadband access for underserved Americans. The better the data that directs that spending is, the more effective the dollars will be.
Engineering job seekers wait an average of 49 days to get hired after submitting job applications, per a new LinkedIn analysis.
The big picture: Employers are desperate to fill a record number of open positions across industries, but the hiring process is still taking a long time for some types of jobs.
CNN president Jeff Zucker told staff Thursday that the network fired three staff members who came to work without getting vaccinated against COVID-19, according to a memo first obtained by the New York Times.
Driving the news: Zucker said in the memo also shared with Axios that CNN had a "zero-tolerance policy" on coronavirus vaccinations and noted that employees showing proof of having had the vaccine may soon become part of the process of entering network buildings.
