Issue 2285 - Thursday 6 March, 2025

Hello! Sorry for the late Sizzle. I was held up publishing a trove of federal ministerial diaries which you should check out (Crikey, $). And a special shout-out to Laura who emailed me eager to know where it is. It’s here now!

In Today’s Issue

The News

Facebook, YouTube problems limit Cyclone Alfred information

Meta blocked Facebook searches for Cyclone Alfred, sending people to a “Climate Science Centre” or telling them that the posts go against “our Community Standards” (ABC News). The company said it was an error, which makes sense but doesn’t really exonerate them for allowing it to happen. There’s a broader context about how local journalism has been eviscerated by Meta, leading people to turn to community Facebook groups instead, but there’s another tech-related problem here. People like Bluesky user Miles McBain found themselves locked out of BOM’s YouTube updates unless they signed in (Bluesky). Not necessarily a huge impediment, but an unnecessary barrier during a moment of emergency because it was more important for Google to avoid bot traffic than to ensure that anyone could get this information.

I know it’s easy to default to private, seemingly ubiquitous, platforms that might even be better than what governments offer. But governments need to invest in creating and running the platforms — preferably open platforms! — because they can’t leave serving the public to the goodwill of private companies. You shouldn’t build your emergency broadcast systems in other people’s kingdoms.

Mobile World Congress isn’t what it once was

It doesn’t have the sheen it once did but Mobile World Congress was on this week. I linked to Nothing’s new phone yesterday but other than that, the most high profile release was Xiaomi’s 15 series which includes a MASSIVE camera on its Ultra (Android Police). But really there’s not a crazy amount happening in the mobile game at the moment since it feels like we’ve arrived at Peak Phone: a 6-inch thin glass box. Anyway, here’s a good wrap-up of the event (ZDNet) and some of the more fun, outside-of-the-box gadgets that were previewed and announced (WIRED, $). The official position of the Sizzle is: more weird gizmos.

The return of Digg

Digg is back! Well, it will be soon according to an email sign-up page (Digg). Its old founder Kevin Rose, not to be confused with NYT tech writer Kevin Roose, and Reddit co-founder Alex Ohanian are relaunching the platform (The Verge). Their twist? Why it’s the same as every other tech bro’s: they’re going to introduce AI. “Everything from AI agent that converts your entire sub-community into Klingon, to another one where you don’t allow a certain type of profanity and that’s automatically auto-moderated,” Rose said. Digg was one of my first internet loves. I don’t really care about AI being used (it’s pretty common in content moderation) but I do wonder what its place will be in the modern internet since Reddit ate Digg’s lunch and never looked back. Anyway, I’ve signed up.

Leftovers

Oh, Also

Could Trump kill physical media?

Is anyone here a physical media fan? I wouldn’t define myself that way, mostly because pretty much everything I use is cloud. But I understand the impulse: owning your stuff physically means that you really own it. No DRM, no disappearing content. Well, apparently another victim of Trump’s tariffs might be physical media (Ars Technica). Apparently most video game discs are made in Mexico and, rather than moving production, the publishers might just decide it’s too hard and pull the plug, analysts speculate. It would be a real shame, especially since physical media was occasionally creative. I know it’s a million years ago but I loved the way Pokémon Yellow Game Boy Colour cartridge stood out.

Bargains

Electrical & Electronics

Computing

Mobile

The End

😎 The Sizzle is written by Cam Wilson and emailed every weekday afternoon. It was created by Anthony “decryption” Agius.

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Always Was, Always Will Be Aboriginal Land

The Sizzle is created on Gadigal land and acknowledges the traditional owners of country throughout Australia, recognising their continuing connection to land, water and community. I pay my respect to them and their cultures and to elders both past and present.