Parler, a social media app popular among conservative users, went offline on Sunday night after Amazon joined Apple and Google in suspending the app in Amazon's web hosting service due to its poor moderation of content. Parler CEO John Matze says the move by the tech giants may result in service interruptions for up to a week as the company rebuilds the site from the start.

Entain and Verizon Media are working on a sports betting platform that uses virtual reality technology. The product, which is still in the proof-of-concept stage, would also allow fans to socialize and look up data.

Beauty app Brandefy is responding to consumer demand for less expensive beauty brands that are similar to their higher-priced counterparts. "Beauty dupes" is a popular search phrase among consumers younger than 35 and Brandefy has about 30,000 monthly users.

Marketers experimenting with Instagram's Reels format can boost their engagement by delivering authentic, original content and tapping into current cultural trends and topics, according to the social platform. Other best practices include "having a WOW factor" and a "fun surprise or twist" and adhering to community guidelines.

Snapchat has relaunched its Global Partner Solutions program, which is split into strategic and certified partners tiers. The program is designed to help advertisers connect with leading firms that provide creative execution, campaign optimization and other support services.

Microsoft is testing a new Windows taskbar widget to provide access to dynamic content, including news and weather. The company said this optional add-on will be ad-free once formally released.

Customers of mobile and online banking app Simple were told Thursday that their accounts will be transfered to BBVA USA, the bank that owns the app. The move comes two months after the bank announced it will merge with PNC.

Leading brands overcame the void of in-person events during the holidays through custom apps and other mobile connections to deliver everything from augmented reality experiences to live concerts and video games. First Tube Media CEO Andrew Beranbom notes, "Every smart brand in the world now understands that being in front of people is really valuable. You can provide an amazing experience for 500 people, and then 5 million people get to watch it."

The areas of application development security, cloud security and risk management will create the most cybersecurity jobs in the next five years, Atlas VPN reports. Overall, the demand for new employees in the field still numbers in the millions.

In one of the most attended webinars of 2020, last year's report predicted that 2020 was the year that would shatter all mobile records. The pandemic supercharged and accelerated many mobile behaviors, transforming businesses in the process. In this much anticipated 2021 State of Mobile for Marketers report, Amir Ghodrati, Director, Market Insights at App Annie, will share surprising insights from this year's survey, including how Covid-19 has transformed consumer behaviors across mature and emerging markets, and share tips and trends you need to know to be successful in 2021 and beyond. Thursday, February 25 2:00pm - 2:30. Register Now!

This session will be hosted by EY, which will summarize the six marketing growth frameworks presented so far and provide strategic guidance regarding the pros, cons and considerations of each. There will also be a panel conversation featuring Joanna O'Connell from Forrester, Marc Vermut from Neustar, and Dr. Andrew Stephen from The University of Oxford, each sharing their perspectives from analyst, technologist, and academic points of view. Sign Up Now - It's Free

In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the US, XXX SmartBrief will not publish Monday, Jan. 18. Publication will resume XXX.