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Is it time to BeReal again? In 2022, the photo-sharing app surged in popularity, won Apples App of the Year, and even earned its own SNL skit. Once a day, at a random time, users were prompted to post a picture of whatever they were doing. With a 2-minute timer and one shot to make it count, the apps premise was to capture real moments in real time. But like most viral sensations, the novelty wore off. Downloads dropped, usage stagnated, and in 2023, the app was sold to French gaming company Voodoo for 500 million. Now, BeReal wants a second chance. At Cannes Lions this year, Managing Director Ben Moore shared the companys comeback plan. We have people that are committed to building the next big thing with BeReal, Moore told Business Insider. We can make something that really answers the demands of Gen Z, who are sick and tired of the filters, of the lenses, of the social pressure of posting something thats not going to get them the level of views and likes they would want. Moore claims the app still has around 40 million active users, mainly in Japan, France, and the U.S. In 2023, worldwide downloads totaled an estimated 31.5 million, which dropped 60% year-over-year to 12.7 million in 2024. According to Sensor Tower, year-to-date downloads are down 50% compared to last year. For its relaunch, BeReal is trying to win back users by investing in advertising, primarily on other apps owned by Voodoo Games. The team is also hoping to generate buzz through micro ambassadors on college campuses and by sponsoring parties where entry requires downloading the app. They are giving the app a facelift too, with new features like nearby, which lets users discover others in their area, and suggestions for people who post similar kinds of pictures. We really want to bring back the social aspect of what social media was built for, Moore said. But BeReals magic wasnt in its features. It was in the cultural momenta collective pause from the algorithm for a fleeting sense of connection (even if it was just a selfie at your desk four days in a row). Can lightning strike twice?
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E-Commerce
Basketball fans will be keeping their eye on New York tonight for the first round of the 2025 NBA draft at Barclays Center, home of the Brooklyn Nets, with an 8 p.m. ET tip-off in Brooklyn. Round two takes place tomorrow, Thursday, June 26, at the same time and same place. There will be a total of 59 picks this year, and fans will be watching tonight to see if the Duke Blue Devils’ Cooper Flagg will be going to the Dallas Mavericks, who have the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft. The draft also has a number of excellent shooters, led by two freshmen: Tre Johnson of the Texas Longhorns and Duke’s Kon Knueppel. It also has some excellent “3 and D” prospects, or those who excel at both three-pointers and defense: Arizona Wildcats’ Carter Bryant, Saint Joseph’s Hawks’ Rasheer Fleming, and Washington State Cougars’ Cedric Coward. Here’s a look at the order of selections for tonight’s first round of the NBA draft. First Round Dallas Mavericks San Antonio Spurs Philadelphia 76ers Charlotte Hornets Utah Jazz Washington Wizards New Orleans Pelicans Brooklyn Nets Toronto Raptors Houston Rockets (Reportedly traded to Phoenix) Portland Trail Blazers Chicago Bulls Atlanta Hawks San Antonio Oklahoma City Thunder Memphis Grizzlies Minnesota Timberwolves Washington Brooklyn Miami Heat Utah Atlanta (Reportedly traded to Brooklyn) New Orleans Oklahoma City Orlando Magic Brooklyn Brooklyn Boston Celtics Phoenix Suns Los Angeles Clippers NBA Draft 2025: Why only 59 picks? Instead of the usual 60 picks, this year there are only 59. Why? Blame it on the New York Knicks, who were denied their second-round pick as a result of talking to Jalen Brunson before free agency discussions were allowed in 2022, The New York Times reported. (Brunson went on become the Knicks’ best player, averaging 26 points and 7.3 assists per game, according to ESPN.) How can I watch or stream the NBA Draft live? In the United States, the NBA draft 2025 will air live on ABC and ESPN. ABC is available for traditional cable viewers and free with an over-the-air antenna. Cable subscribers can also watch ABC live through the ABC website and via its mobile apps. Cord-cutters also have the option to stream ABC on a live-TV streaming service that offers the network as part of a bundle, including Fubo, YouTube TV, or Hulu + Live TV. The 2025 NBA draft can also be accessed on SiriusXM, ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes, and the ESPN app.
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E-Commerce
U.S. stocks are hanging near their all-time high on Wednesday as financial markets catch a breath following two big days bolstered by hopes that the Israel-Iran war will not disrupt the global flow of crude oil. The S&P 500 was mostly unchanged in afternoon trading and sitting just 0.9% below its all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 121 points, or 0.3%, as of 12:52 p.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.2% higher. In the oil market, which has been the center of much of this weeks action, crude prices stabilized after plunging by roughly $10 per barrel in the last two days. Benchmark U.S. crude rose 2.2% to $65.79 per barrel, though it still remains below where it was before the fighting between Israel and Iran broke out nearly two weeks ago. A fragile ceasefire between the two countries appears to be holding, at least for the moment. On Wall Street, companies involved in the cryptocurrency industry rose as the price of bitcoin continued to steam ahead with investors willing to take on more risk. Coinbase Global, the crypto exchange, climbed 1.2%, and Robinhood Markets gained 0.4% as bitcoin topped $107,000. QuantumScape jumped 31.5% after announcing a breakthrough in its process for making solid-state batteries. Solid state battery technology promises to improve electric vehicle range, decrease charging times and minimize the risk of battery fires. But they are expensive to research and difficult to manufacture at a large scale, giving them a reputation for being a Holy Grail for battery engineers all over the world. They helped offset a 2% drop for FedEx. It reported stronger profit and revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected, but it gave a forecast for profit in the current quarter that fell short of expectations. General Mills, the company behind Pillsbury and Progresso soups, fell 4.1% after reporting weaker revenue for the latest quarter than analysts expected, though its profit topped forecasts. It also said an underlying measure of profits could fall by 10% to 15% this upcoming fiscal year. In the bond market, Treasury yields were holding relatively steady, and the yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.31% from 4.30% late Tuesday. Yields had dropped a day before after the chair of the Federal Reserve said it is waiting for the right moment to resume cutting interest rates. By lowering rates, the Fed could help give the economy a boost, but it could also offer additional fuel for inflation. Fed Chair Jerome Powell told a House of Representatives committee on Tuesday that he wants to wait and see how President Donald Trumps tariffs affect the economy and inflation before committing to its next move. Powell echoed many of the same statements in testimony before a Senate committee on Wednesday and said, For the time being, we are well positioned to wait to learn more about the likely course of the economy before considering any adjustments to our policy stance. In stock markets abroad, indexes fell modestly in Europe after rising across much of Asia. Stocks jumped 1.2% in Hong Kong and 1% in Shanghai for two of the larger moves. The world can now move on to face other difficult choices like tariffs and things like that, said Frances Lun, CEO of GEO Securities in Hong Kong. So I think the market is well on its way to rebound and could again reach new levels. Stan Choe, AP business writer AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Elaine Kurtenbach contributed.
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E-Commerce
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