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Weird Wide Web: the week in online oddities

The internet’s best offerings in social media, tech, science and weird news.

WELCOME TO THE Weird Wide Web – where we take a look at some of the internet’s best offerings in social media, tech, science and weird news.

Year on Twitter

It’s been quite a year and, unbelievably, it’s nearly over.

Twitter has this handy guide to the last 12 months, breaking down the golden tweets (take a bow, Mr Obama), trends (Game of Thrones, how we love you) and high-profile new voices (coo-ee Ewan McGregor).

How families interact on Facebook

Last week Facebook released the results of a study into how families interact on the site – and the results are a little bit lovely. Basically, parents are very proud of their children – who are grateful to their parents, with lots of words of thanks, praise and love being batted about.

As for how familial relationships are formed on Facebook, the study shows most are initiated by the child when they were aged between 13-17, with more than 65 per cent of friendships between 13-year-olds and their parents are initiated by the child. Unsurprisingly, the older the child is, the less likely she is to send a friend request.

Image: Facebook

New look YouTube

You may have noticed that YouTube looks different now - with the video at the top of the page, the subscribe button, social actions and video information all combined directly below the player, and playlists to the right of the video.

But everything is fine. Do not fear change. Do not freak out.

Alternatively, if you do fear change and have freaked out, you can give your feedback at a Google+ Hangout on Air and a Reddit IAmA in the coming weeks. Check here for details or, if you upload videos, on the YouTube creator blog.

Image: Google

The NYT gets Pinterested

Yes, we know ‘Pinterested’ is not a real word. Even so, it describes the Compendium service by the New York Times pretty well – which invites readers to use articles, imagery, videos, and quotations to tell your own stories using New York Times content.

Get started here

Image: New York Times

Twitter v Instagram

Last week, Instagram removed the ability for users to preview photos on the service itself – forcing them to instead use its app or website to view pictures.

So, Twitter did this…

Uploaded by Twitter

Main Image: winui via Shutterstock

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    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Daniel Parnell
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    May 28th 2017, 10:17 PM

    Something, which will affect all us, at some point in our lives. A curse that is upon some of us, which we try and ignore and think “it would never happen to me” unfortunately it will. Best of luck to the author, anybody that faces this curse of an illness, are warriors. I wish you the best, in your battle.

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    Mute Mary Murphy
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    May 29th 2017, 12:22 AM

    Tried several times to get into the services in ARC. Even told a lady from ARC at the Irish Cancer society annual conference and she swore she would get me an answer as to how I could join…….that was three years ago and like the first call awaiting an ARC answer is still awaiting a reply. I hear they. Provide great services but alas I’m still hanging on for a call

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    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jun Stone
    Favourite Jun Stone
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    May 29th 2017, 5:57 AM

    @Mary Murphy: why wait, you give them a call maybe.

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