TRIPLEPOINTS OF INTEREST – WEEK OF MARCH 27

In the last week of March, we’ve been paying attention to stories about Nintendo Switch scam, YouTube’s continued tweaking of their advertising rules and features, and the return of Club Penguin! On to April!

Sneaky Scammers Take Advantage of Nintendo Switch Owners

Cybercriminals are taking advantage of unsuspecting victims by placing ads and videos on major websites such as YouTube and promising a “Nintendo Switch emulator”. According to The Independent, while some videos are generic and simply provide a download link, one video on YouTube demonstrates a user playing Breath Of The Wild, and it has already amassed over 75,000 views. If a user clicks on a link to download the emulator, they are actually receiving malicious software. Even more dangerous, Mirror reports that some of the videos direct users to a website where they fill out a survey or complete an offer, giving scammers access to personal information. Though it might be tempting, Tom’s Hardware warns that more than likely any emulator deal you encounter isn’t real and to always conduct research before downloading any kind of software or application.

Changes in Ad Revenue Hurting YouTube Creators

Last week, Google received backlash for YouTube ads appearing next to extremist and derogatory videos,  and it’s now trying to make amends by improving its ad policies and introducing more controls for advertisers. AdAge reports that Google has released new filter categories on YouTube, but this means that creators will face more scrutiny over their subject matter. Furthermore, Recode notes that several prominent YouTube creators have taken to Twitter to note that they aren’t seeing any ad revenue at all, or that they have lost ads even if they adhered to the guidelines. YouTube creators raising concerns over inconsistencies about the platform isn’t new, and Business Insider doesn’t even think it will have a huge impact on Google, considering the size of the company. For those affected by the decline in ad revenue, TheDrum reports that a YouTube community manager stated, “If you’re seeing fluctuations in your revenue over the next few weeks, it may be because we’re fine tuning our ads systems to address these concerns.”

Goodbye Club Penguin, Hello Penguin Island!

Acquired by Disney in 2007, the highly popular and kid friendly multiplayer online game Club Penguin has officially shut down as of March 29, 2017. With its closure comes a new world and sequel, Club Penguin Island. Variety states that Penguin Island will retain the core gameplay foundation of Club Penguin, but will now feature 3D graphics and allow players to make friends and interact with others, embark on quests, and earn special rewards. TechCrunch applauds the brand’s move to implement an updated and engaging environment, but predicts that due to the app being mobile-only, it could lead to a temporary drop in engagement. The target demographic may be young, but Polygon reports that even adults were devastated to hear of the news but are excited for the reboot and look forward to checking out the upgrades and new features.