<p>Meta, more colloquially known as Facebook has been ordered by the UK&nbsp;antitrust watchdog&nbsp;Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to sell GIPHY Inc. This is the second instance when Meta has been ordered to sell the popular gif library.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Meta conceded the defeat and said it was disappointed by the decision.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We are disappointed by the CMA’s decision but accept today’s ruling as the final word on the matter.&nbsp;We are grateful to the Giphy team during this uncertain time for their business, and wish them every success,” said a Meta spokesperson.</p>

<p>Meanwhile,&nbsp;Stuart McIntosh, chair of the independent inquiry into the buyout said,&nbsp;“This deal would significantly reduce competition in two markets. It has already resulted in the removal of a potential challenger in the UK display ad market, while also giving Meta the ability to further increase its substantial market power in social media."</p>

<p>“The only way this can be addressed is by the sale of Giphy. This will promote innovation in digital advertising, and also ensure UK social media users continue to benefit from access to Giphy.”</p>

<p>As reported by WION, the watchdog, in November last year issued the first order to Meta citing the deal could harm the competitors. Reportedly, Meta bought GIPHY in 2020 for an estimated $400 million to integrate it with its other platforms viz. Instagram and WhatsApp.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/facebook-owner-meta-asked-to-sell-giphy-by-british-regulator-432991"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;Facebook-owner Meta asked to sell Giphy by British regulator</strong></a></p>

<p>However, CMA feared that the deal could limit other social media platforms' access to GIFs, which, in turn, would have made those sites less attractive to users.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Without action, it will also allow Facebook to increase its significant market power in social media even further, through controlling competitors' access to Giphy GIFs," said Stuart McIntosh, who headed an inquiry into the buyout.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, after the order, Meta decided to appeal the decision and went to&nbsp;Competition Appeal Tribunal in January, earlier this year.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/meta-appeals-british-regulators-ruling-that-asked-facebook-to-sell-giphy-442512"><strong>Read more:&nbsp;Meta appeals British regulator's ruling that asked Facebook to sell Giphy</strong></a></p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
<br />
<strong>WATCH&nbsp;WION LIVE HERE:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" loading="”lazy”" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Meta, more colloquially known as Facebook has been ordered by the UK antitrust watchdog Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to sell GIPHY Inc. This is the second instance when Meta has been ordered to sell the popular gif library.

Meta, more colloquially known as Facebook has been ordered by the UK antitrust watchdog Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to sell GIPHY Inc. This is the second instance when Meta has been ordered to sell the popular gif library. Meta conceded the defeat and said it was disappointed by the decision. “We are disappointed by the CMA’s decision but accept today’s ruling as the final word on the matter. We are grateful to the Giphy team during this uncertain time for their business, and wish them every success,” said a Meta spokesperson. Meanwhile, Stuart McIntosh, chair of the independent inquiry into the buyout said, “This deal would significantly reduce competition in two markets. It has already resulted in the removal of a potential challenger in the UK display ad market, while also giving Meta the ability to further increase its substantial market power in social media." “The only way this can be addressed is by the sale of Giphy. This will promote innovation in digital advertising, and also ensure UK social media users continue to benefit from access to Giphy.” As reported by WION, the watchdog, in November last year issued the first order to Meta citing the deal could harm the competitors. Reportedly, Meta bought GIPHY in 2020 for an estimated $400 million to integrate it with its other platforms viz. Instagram and WhatsApp. Read more: Facebook-owner Meta asked to sell Giphy by British regulator However, CMA feared that the deal could limit other social media platforms' access to GIFs, which, in turn, would have made those sites less attractive to users. "Without action, it will also allow Facebook to increase its significant market power in social media even further, through controlling competitors' access to Giphy GIFs," said Stuart McIntosh, who headed an inquiry into the buyout. However, after the order, Meta decided to appeal the decision and went to Competition Appeal Tribunal in January, earlier this year. Read more: Meta appeals British regulator's ruling that asked Facebook to sell Giphy (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Meta ordered to sell GIPHY for the second time by UK antitrust watchdog

<p>Social networking giant Facebook has launched its latest feature "Avatars"&nbsp;in India which allows users to make graphic images of themselves, the new tool has characteristics of Bitmoji stickers used in Snapchat.</p>

<p>Facebook said Avatars supports faces, hairstyles and outfits that are customized for users in India. The launch comes just a day after&nbsp;the Indian government banned 59 Chinese apps over national security concerns with Tik Tok facing the government's ire even as its followers swelled in India.</p>

<p>Alibaba, Bytedance, Baidu and Tencent who had launched apps in India have come under the government's spotlight.</p>

<p>The new Facebook feature allows uses to create a digital persona that’s uniquely representative enabling them&nbsp;to share a range of emotions and expressions. Facebook is looking to personalise the user experience as it looks to drive its user base in India and&nbsp;seeks to move away from simple GIFs and stickers.</p>

<p>Avatars posts can also be shared on WhatsApp chats including as Facebook's profile picture with users now allowed to set specific hair and facial features according to their preference. The users can in fact also create avatars from another user's cartoon-like representation.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">These Facebook avatars are so cute!<br />
Look at mine. 🤭 <a href="https://t.co/M8VP83MLcW">pic.twitter.com/M8VP83MLcW</a></p>
— Parul ⁷⟭⟬ (@parul__1997) <a href="https://twitter.com/parul__1997/status/1278184524510199808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>The users in India were quick to lap up the new feature as they posted their ‘Avatars’ to show off to their friends as Facebook hopes it becomes another addictive feature for its fanbase in India.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Facebook trend it is 😂<br />
I am this type of Avatar .. what is yours ?🤔<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Trending?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Trending</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Facebook?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Facebook</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/facebookapp?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@facebookapp</a> <a href="https://t.co/moQK73yfNF">pic.twitter.com/moQK73yfNF</a></p>
— Soumili Deb (@DebSoumili) <a href="https://twitter.com/DebSoumili/status/1278207112229695488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p><br />
The feature allows a user to change skin tone, put on new makeup and clothes with everything available on Android, iOS devices where users can use their Facebook account.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Social networking giant Facebook has launched its latest feature "Avatars" in India which allows users to make graphic images of themselves, the new tool has characteristics of Bitmoji stickers used in Snapchat.

Social networking giant Facebook has launched its latest feature "Avatars" in India which allows users to make graphic images of themselves, the new tool has characteristics of Bitmoji stickers used in Snapchat. Facebook said Avatars supports faces, hairstyles and outfits that are customized for users in India. The launch comes just a day after the Indian government banned 59 Chinese apps over national security concerns with Tik Tok facing the government's ire even as its followers swelled in India. Alibaba, Bytedance, Baidu and Tencent who had launched apps in India have come under the government's spotlight. The new Facebook feature allows uses to create a digital persona that’s uniquely representative enabling them to share a range of emotions and expressions. Facebook is looking to personalise the user experience as it looks to drive its user base in India and seeks to move away from simple GIFs and stickers. Avatars posts can also be shared on WhatsApp chats including as Facebook's profile picture with users now allowed to set specific hair and facial features according to their preference. The users can in fact also create avatars from another user's cartoon-like representation. These Facebook avatars are so cute! Look at mine. 🤭 pic.twitter.com/M8VP83MLcW — Parul ⁷⟭⟬ (@parul__1997) July 1, 2020 × The users in India were quick to lap up the new feature as they posted their ‘Avatars’ to show off to their friends as Facebook hopes it becomes another addictive feature for its fanbase in India. Facebook trend it is 😂 I am this type of Avatar .. what is yours ?🤔#Trending @Facebook @facebookapp pic.twitter.com/moQK73yfNF — Soumili Deb (@DebSoumili) July 1, 2020 × The feature allows a user to change skin tone, put on new makeup and clothes with everything available on Android, iOS devices where users can use their Facebook account.

Facebook's Avatars allows users in India to create own digital profile

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