Here Are the Biggest Social Media Trends in 2022

Social media platforms have been undergoing a massive shift in the status quo that has been brought about by numerous shakeups including the launch and huge success of TikTok as well as Elon Musk’s recent acquisition of Twitter. This impacts a wide range of things, not the least of which is the world of social media marketing with all things having been considered and taken into account. Emplifi recently put out the latest iteration of their Social Media Report, and it revealed some useful insights about the state of social media.

One of the biggest revelations in this report was that social media ad spends has seen a 16% increase year over year. Last year, brands spent an average of $4,827 on social media marketing, and this has gone up by 16% to reach $5,622 in the second quarter of 2022. However, the only major sector that has consistently been upping its social media marketing spend is the retail sector, which means that other niches are less enthused about social media marketing these days.

It will be interesting to see if the growth rate continues over the holiday season because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up revealing whether or not the effects of inflation would be strongly felt. Another recession may be on the cards, and that might prevent a lot of brands from investing in social media marketing.

The showdown between Instagram and TikTok was also front and center in this report. Instagram is winning out in the post interaction category, with the median range of interactions on Instagram superseding that of TikTok and the gap is only continuing to grow. The second quarter of 2022 saw TikTok outperforming Instagram in this metric, so Instagram’s reversal of its fortunes is definitely a signal that the battle has not quite ended yet.

TikTok is still managing to hold its own, though. Median engagement rate is still in TikTok’s favor, so while Instagram provides more views and reach, brands might be able to get much more user engagement from TikTok even though the view count might be somewhat lower than might have been the case otherwise.

TikTok is also doing a great job at growing the follower counts of its participating brands. With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that TikTok is currently seeing a massive growth rate in the number of followers that it can provide, with a 200% increase being the most concrete sign that we can provide. Instagram, meanwhile, is seeing next to no follower growth which suggests that it has reached a saturation point that TikTok is also hurtling towards.

The click through rate that most brands are receiving from their ad campaigns have been seeing an unfortunate decline, however. The downward trend is noticeable in almost every single region and across most industries. Africa was the worst effected, with the click through rate in this region plummeting 30% YoY. It now sits at 12.9% which is a far cry from the 18.4% that ads targeting this region managed to receive back in the third quarter of 2021.

Brands would also do well to look into their response times. While Twitter was the platform where brands were the best at responding quickly, they were more likely to respond to comments that they received on Instagram posts. The median response time on Twitter is twice as fast as that on Facebook. However, Facebook Messenger is an excellent resource for responding to customer complaints and queries with an average response rate of 70% which is far better than the 40% that was seen for Twitter. Finding a balance between the two may be the key that helps brands maximize their social advertising benefits.

Take a look at the infographic below for more insights:

Read next: New Study Shows the Thoughts of Consumers When Advertisement of A Brand Is Next To A Piece Of Misinformation
by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

Giphy Crowns Zendaya As The Top GIF For 2022

The popularity surrounding Zendaya is definitely a point worth pondering.

Recently, Giphy was quick to announce how the popular celeb was crowned as the top Gif for this year. She reportedly would now need to move these Emmy Awards that she got for her work on the famous HBO channel called Euphoria to make space for today’s new accolade which shouldn’t be taken lightly.

via GIPHY

But others who were similarly honored included the likes of SpongeBob Square Pants with great emphasis on the Giphy Clip outlining the lead character’s great bond with Patrick Star. He was this year’s top Clip and was seen on the famous GIF discovery platform too.

Next, we saw Facebook reaching an agreement to take on the Giphy for a startling $315 million in May 2020. But that’s when the Competition and Markets Authority from the UK forced Meta to sell off Giphy in the month of October.

They felt the combination of these firms would go on to limit the choices linked to social media and even cause a dramatic fall in innovation when it came down to display advertising on a national level.

The methodology behind this entire list was then explained in detail via a blog post that arose on Tuesday. Giphy was seen chronicling top content on the site for a number of years. And since cultural trends may end up shifting with celebs changing with the passing of time, the list always turns out to be super emotional in that part of the world or in that particular year.

So data calculations for the most popular GIF began last year. There were plenty of metrics that needed to be calculated to consider the content reigning supreme in 2022. Moreover, a lot of the emphasis was even put upon the likes of daily searches.

As a whole, it paved the way for the most insightful content overviews that derived popularity through the likes of cultural and emotional spikes. This was in comparison to those terms constantly used when carrying out a search and hence it didn’t need to be trending.

With this method in the works, they’re super confident that it’s not only giving a diverse array of content but the best representation of GIFs that could be used in the year.

The company’s most viewed partner was the National Football League. On the other hand, the app’s Personality of the Year award went to Drew Barrymore.

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by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Google And YouTube Announce $13 Million Grant For International Fact-Checking Network

The term fact-checking is not a minor issue in the world of publishing. Today’s day and age call for stricter measures to be imposed considering the great number of imposters out there and the huge rates of fake news being published each second.

It’s almost as if users are distrusting the media because you never know who is right and who is not.

Both social media giants Google and YouTube have set out a $13 million grant that is directed to the International Fact-Checking Network. The goal is to launch a non-profit initiative in the name of the Global Fact Check Fund. Therefore, it would benefit the network as it entails 135 fact-checking firms arising from 65 different nations. And that covers nearly 80 different languages. The fund would be functional by next year.

The tech giants claim the entire goal here is to allow fact-checkers to understand more about scaling operations that currently exist or even launch a series of new ones that uplift information. They even uplift various sources and reduce the great harms linked to both misinformation and disinformation seen around the globe.

As mentioned previously, there are a number of benefits that publishers may end up benefiting from. For starters, this includes fact-checks conducted via independent firms on the Google Search Results page.

Next up, there are fact checks conducted on YouTube’s panels that would appear at the topmost region of search results for all sorts of questions on a particular claim. Lastly, you’re dealing with fact-check explorer searches seen among 150,000 different reliable publishers.

In addition to that, we saw the authors mention that after a certain news story breaks, a panel would appear on the results page for YouTube where certain questions can be asked and that shows which stories are developing via news sources that follow content policies linked to Google News.

Critics hope this effort should assist with periodicals and stop spreading embarrassing errors because this isn’t required. Similarly, defamatory mistakes are also being called out as having no room on these platforms.

In addition to that, we may soon witness grantees utilizing funds to add new types of technologies that expand or develop various digital footprints. It can optimize tools used for verification too and even build up the capacity to allow for better audience engagement through different means. This includes audio, podcasts, and even video.

Read next: A New Study Shows the Thoughts of Consumers When Advertisement of A Brand Is Next To A Piece Of Misinformation
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

UK Makes Major Changes To Its Online Safety Bill That Could Penalize Tech Giants Who Fail To Block Controversial Content

So many apps on social media may soon be paying the price if they fail to oblige to the pledge made in relation to the Online Safety Bill.

The news comes as plenty of changes are carried forward in the bill that demand big tech platforms block all sorts of content that’s racist and sexist. Moreover, it’s like seeing a huge number of fines being outlined thanks to the British Government that opted to make such changes on Monday.

With this new approach kickstarting, many companies like Twitter and even Facebook might give users a chance to avoid displaying content that’s harmful but isn't actually committing a crime or an offense of some sort. This includes topics arising in the field of racism, eating disorders, or even misogyny.

The regulator overlooking such endeavors has been outlined as Ofcom, which would now be given the authority to penalize huge firms for breaches made in the act. Just last year, we saw Meta put up revenues worth $118 billion.

Thankfully, the act did drop off one offense linked to harmful communication after getting plenty of criticism from conservative members about how it was hurting feelings.

So many ministers have ended up scrapping such provisions linked to legal material that’s also harmful at the same time. Such content is controversial but is not committing any major crime. Instead, it’s allowing apps to force the right terms on its users.

In case the content being put forward by apps fails to align with the guidelines mentioned like the theme of abuse, then Ofcom can adequately deal with them through hefty fines.

On the other hand, another major change seen in this bill has to do with digital platforms offering people various ways through which they can avoid the promotion of harmful content on the app. Despite it being legal, content moderation needs to be given attention and users need to be provided with warning screens.

Content that comes under this includes the likes of abuse, racism, disability, intimacy, gender reassignment, and even sexual orientation.

If a firm wishes to remove content or ban users, it would need to clearly pen down in writing a justification for the act, and then users would be given the chance to appeal such a decision made against them.

The bill is all set to return to the UK Parliament by December 5 after it received a temporary pause.

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by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Civil Society Groups Say Passing The Kids Online Safety Act May Do More Harm Than Good

A new letter has urged lawmakers in the country to think twice before passing the Online Safety Act for Kids.

Dozens of groups linked to civil society mentioned that such bills end up doing more harm than good. They also spoke about how such a bill would pose to be a danger to the younger generation and therefore there appeared to be no point in its existence.

Therefore, now, such groups are raising their voice against the matter and hence feel it’s time to unite and oppose such bills before it gets too late.

The bipartisan bill which is headed by the likes of Senator Richard Blumenthal would end up creating more responsibilities for those webpages that are accessed by the younger lot and also help to protect those below the age of 16.

In this way, so many digital platforms would end up warding off the risk associated with harm being done to younger users. This includes strategies that prevent the promotion of self-harm, addictions, bullying, or explicit and graphic imagery.

The bill is going to require several different websites to change default settings to an option that’s more private. It would put a limit on contacts that may associate people with others. Similarly, it would be passing out the idea of tools that parents may use to track their little ones and monitor what they’re seeing on the web. These websites would be letting the users know that their tools are in effect.

A letter speaking about the growing concerns of the civil society members also entailed such groups that would end up advocating for rights belonging to the transgender community. They mentioned how such a bill and associated tools might end up backfiring.

A lot of criticism was put forward against the bill as many feared it would over-moderate when it came down to determining which data was appropriate and which was not. They also felt that the youth would be vulnerable as a crucial path of gaining access to data would now be eliminated or restricted to a great extent.

In such a short span of time, this particular bill has really gained a lot of momentum regarding debates and how such bills relate to topics that are a little controversial like gender identity and even a person’s sexual orientation. Then there was a discussion of how such bills even prevent victims of child abuse from gaining help. There was another argument of how it’s in turn jeopardizing the access that young kids get to technology that’s private and secure like end-end encryption.

Read next: A New Study Shows the Thoughts of Consumers When Advertisement of A Brand Is Next To A Piece Of Misinformation
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Apple Cuts Back On Twitter Advertising Despite Being One Of The App’s Leading Tech Advertisers In 2022

More drama is taking center stage on Twitter and this time around, it’s linked to leading iPhone maker Apple.

Elon Musk has published a new tweet that speaks about how Apple has almost discontinued all ads on the Twitter app. He called out the tech giant and asked if the reason had to do with how opposed they were to free speech.

Right after that, we saw Musk put out a poll that asked people if Apple would be publishing all actions made in the name of censorship. This includes those related to the impact their decisions have had on users.

After that, Musk started to retweet all sorts of content coming forward from firms that the iPhone maker had discussions with regarding the subject of moderation. He similarly retweeted a parody video from 1984 that suggested how Apple’s App Store was nothing more than a monopoly.

Ever since the billionaire has taken over power at Twitter, advertisers were seen pulling back and now, it appears that Apple might be the latest one in this regard to pull back.

In case you’re wondering why, well, it’s no surprise here that Elon Musk has a lot to do with it. His erratic behavior, firing sprees, and decision-making are just beyond a lot of people. And now, he seems to be on some sort of a mission to reinstate banned accounts on the platform, right after he did the same with former US President Donald Trump.

Since the past few weeks, we saw the workforce reduce further and today, the app’s policy creation and moderation team is empty because most of those handling it are gone. So it wouldn’t be wrong to say there is absolute chaos on the app.

Let’s not forget that questionable $8 Blue subscription by Twitter Blue that entailed account verification. Soon, users started to take advantage of that and even began impersonating others leading to absolute disaster.

Then we saw advertisers pulling back like it’s no one’s business and that leaves Twitter in the most vulnerable situation imaginable because a huge chunk of revenue generation comes through advertising.

Despite the billionaire’s great efforts to try and persuade advertisers to stay on the app, he’s having great difficulty as many fear the downfall of the app is near because of Musk’s decisions. The persuasion by Musk is not working and it’s actually backfiring.

Musk knows that and that’s why he has a plan B in store if Google and Apple choose to boycott the app and remove it from the Play and App Stores. This may mean we may have another competitor in the world of phones that are better than iPhones and Android.

Despite so much talk about Apple taking a back seat in terms of advertising on Twitter, a recent analysis report is shedding light on how Apple and its fellow subsidiaries are actually one of the biggest advertising partners for the app.

These figures share a very important aspect. So far in 2022, Apple has actually ended up spending nearly $39 million on Twitter’s ads. Moreover, another expert from Apple says that this figure is actually representing the greatest amount of social media ad spending that Apple has made in 2022.

Still, the problem here is very obvious. Twitter is upset because leading names that have worked with the app over the years are now pausing advertising and Musk thinks they’re on a mission to kill Twitter.

There are a lot of concerns that some advertisers have regarding brand safety and even content moderation on Twitter and until Musk doesn’t provide them with reassurance, it’s going to be so hard.

Read next: A New Study Shows the Thoughts of Consumers When Advertisement of A Brand Is Next To A Piece Of Misinformation
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

A New Study Shows the Thoughts of Consumers When Advertisement of A Brand Is Next To A Piece Of Misinformation

According to a new study conducted by Magna and Zefr, brands should be extra cautious about the platforms they are running their ads because if there's any misinformation on that channel, customers are likely to blame the brand. The IPG Agency, Magna, and the data and technology company, Zefr, collaborated on this study because it was a major concern between brands and customers. Around 93% of consumers are directly exposed to misinformation on different places online. Customers do know that the spread of misinformation is out of anyone's control. Most misinformation is available on social media and right after it, television is the source.

The survey was conducted among the customers and they were asked about who they blamed for misinformation on the social media sites. Most of the people blamed the publishers and platform, and some were brave enough to say that it was the fault of the brands. Many people on the survey agreed that if the misinformation is right next to a brand, many will believe that it is the brand that is supporting that piece of misinformation. It proves that brands aren't cautious enough to look for a good place to advertise their stuff.

Brands are also worried about this problem because the spread of misinformation next to their brand is going on for so long. Nowadays, Twitter is becoming a victim of this after the take of Elon Musk on the app. Many Twitter users fell victim to the impersonators who spread misinformation on Twitter. Recently, many Twitter users believed that free insulin will be available just because an account with a blue tick tweeted this piece of false news.

Many brands are worried that if they advertise themselves on Twitter, there is a high chance that they will fall prey to misinformation. Just during the election in the US, TikTok couldn't catch 90% of the accounts that were spreading misinformation regarding the elections. When users see misinformation next to a brand, 23% of users said that their first instinct isn't to contact the brand and ask them to take some action. 37% said that they completely boycott a brand if they see any misinformation it's spreading because of its advertisements. 31% believe that sharing this to social media as awareness can help a lot of people and that's how some brands can also pay attention to it.

• Also read: The State of the VPN Market in 2022

If a brand is perceiving misinformation, 50% of consumers said that they won't purchase from that brand and 51% said that they would never search for that brand ever. If a brand finds itself next to misinformation, 87% said that they take immediate action. Many consumers are also coming up with ways to prevent misinformation next to brands. 84% of consumers said that brands should do everything in their power to not appear next to a brand and 84% said that brands should have a strict policy. 79% of consumers say that they want the brands to speak up about their thoughts on that piece of misinformation they appear next to.

Read next: 76% of US Consumers Prefer Smartphones for Online Shopping
by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

Windows is Bringing a New Feature in the Latest Update to Let Users Easily Monitor VPN Connections

Windows is adding a new feature in the latest update to let users easily monitor VPN connections. It will be available in the taskbar for Windows 11 desktop operating systems.

Windows needs VPNs more than ever, and Windows users who do not know how to use a VPN may delay adopting the tool. With a system tray icon, you can quickly and easily reach your VPN connection status.

Based on the hottest trends and security threats, it’s not just what you do online that can put you at risk. This Windows 11 guide will help keep your privacy safe while you surf the website.

Many people now utilize Virtual Private Networking assistance to disguise their individualism while surfing the site, watching videos, or installing data since their online data is considered a property.

You'll be able to know in real time if you are connected to a VPN server, and your home IP address will be obfuscated via the linked site or digital services. Please note that this feature does not support Wifi when using a public network connection.

Unfortunately, many people who are using a VPN for privacy purposes may not be aware that their IP address is still leaking. You might access a blocked website (or download an illegal file) without realizing that the device you’re using is still revealing your location and accessing other websites on your behalf.

A small feature in the new Windows 11 developed by the "Dev" will automatically display a VPN, you may click on the shield symbol in the System security tray.

The new Windows Defender icon in the lower-right corner of your taskbar will provide you with a quick and easy way to see whether or not you're protected. To get started, click the security symbol. It will take you directly to the status screen. You can then click on any of the tabs to quickly view how secure your system is and how long it would take for someone to crack your password if they took control of it.

If you have a desktop computer, you have the option to set up a VPN. This can provide security to your data and make it much more challenging to be accessed by unauthorized users. If this is put into production, we should anticipate the symbol to be more noticeable because the photos above have been blown up and the shield is rather modest.

Unfortunately, the new functionality has certain restrictions because Internet access is not supported and it can only be used to connect to a Virtual Private Networking set up to use its established Windows eleven program.

It appears that the rapid configuration or the Networking & Net greater than Virtual Private Networking tab in Options will be the only places from which you may link to VPNs.

• Also read: Big Tech Received 68% of Ad Revenue in 2022

Additionally, utilizing their programs to associate with professional Virtual Private Networking providers disrupts the functionality.

The Virtual Private Networking arrow in Windows is an indicator that shows when your system is linked to a VPN linkage. The arrow presently does not operate with NordVPN or ProtonVPN.

Even though this is a highly helpful tool, Ms has already acknowledged that some functionality identified in WI versions might never be included in the final versions.

You require to enable Virtual Private Networking in Windows Eleven if you want to see which apps are using your Web connection through a Virtual Private Networking link. You must sign up for the WI program and inaugurate the newest form to activate the VPN login in Windows 11. Dev Channel is a resource you may utilize if you need assistance. Once you've done that, proceed as follows:

To allow the Virtual Private Networking symbol in Windows 10/11, first, you'll need to download and install ViveTool (this is a free tool that makes Windows's secret developer tools available.). Once installed, drag the zip file and open an advanced control prompt. On the menu bar of your command prompt, go to "Run as Administrator" and document separately these controls one at a juncture.

ViveTool choice will answer with "done" once you issue the command. By executing the next tool instructions from an authorized prompt when an inspection is completed, you may turn off the concealed functionality.

H/T: Neowin.

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by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

41 Percent of Consumers Exclusively Use Mobile Apps for Banking, But Is It Safe?

There used to be a time when people had to go all the way to their bank branch in order to access their money, but mobile banking apps are starting to change all that. Around 62% of consumers now use mobile banking apps because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up making their finances easier to manage. In spite of the fact that this is the case, there are some security concerns that are raising the alarm in certain quarters.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that 42% of consumers said that they do not use their mobile banking apps due to security concerns. 46% are concerned about having their accounts hacked, and 38% are worried about what would happen if they lose their phone or if it were to get stolen.

Still, 41% of consumers who responded to this survey claimed that they don’t even go to physical bank branches anymore since simply opening the banking app makes it easier for them to access their funds than might have been the case otherwise. There are a bunch of other benefits at play here as well, such as 24/7 access and the lack of wait times while transferring money.

47% of users said that they simply don’t feel the need to use any kind of mobile banking app. This indicates that there is still a lot of room for this industry to grow in. Banks have been opting for apps a lot more frequently, but unless security concerns are addressed the growth of their usage may end up being quite limited with all things having been considered and taken into account.

Out of all mobile banking app users, 74% said that security was a major concern. Such concerns need to be alleviated if banking is to be brought into the 21st century. Financial security needs to be optimized to assuage the worries of consumers and they will subsequently be able to make transactions with a high degree of ease.

H/T: Nerdwallet
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by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

Meta Hit With Huge Penalty Fine For Breaching European Data Protection Law

Meta is in deep trouble as the tech giant recently received a huge penalty for breaking the data protection law of Europe.

The fine worth $275 million (or €265 million) was recently announced by the DPC in Ireland where the tech giant’s regulator for GDPR operates and oversees such situations.

Today, the DPC confirmed how such decisions would end up recording findings related to the infringement of various articles linked to data protection.

The DPC claims it’s imposing a long list of measures that would allow for compliance and bring forward so many remedial actions situated during a certain timeframe.

This penalty was related to one inquiry that had been put forward by this regulating body in the previous year. This had to do with media reports comprising 530 million Facebook users’ data and it spoke about their email IDs and mobile numbers getting leaked publicly.

At this time, Facebook tried to act smart and play down such accusations with claims that the data wasn’t floating online and was old. They even mentioned how the news was old and the matter had already been fixed. Therefore, they confirmed that no such data was now getting exposed.

This firm then followed this with another statement that mentioned how the data was being breached through the acts of malicious actors that used contract importers.

On the other hand, the DPC mentioned how its inquiry saw a number of different contact searches and tools for importing that the firm offered between both the date of the GDPR and the date at which changes were taking place.

There were a lot of things worth considering regarding how comprehensive this entire inquiry process is in the European Union. The supervisory authorities did agree with this decision and a lot of spotlights was put on poor decision-making on Meta’s part. They were given a deadline of three months to comply with such issues.

Meta was soon contacted to see their response on the matter. And while one spokesperson failed to confirm if the tech would be seeking an appeal or not, it’s clear that Meta is going to be taking its time for a decision review.

Meta did release a statement in this regard. They feel that protecting the privacy as well as the security of its users is super important. This is why they’ve really worked hard and cooperated with the DPC of Ireland on this critical matter.

They’ve made plenty of changes in this system and that entails removing this ability to erase features through phone numbers. While data scraping through unauthorized means is not correct, they do add it’s against their policy too and that’s why they’re hoping to work alongside others to have it done.

Similarly, Meta spoke about adding an exclusive range of changes that would assist in combating matters related to data scraping. From technical tools to rate limits too, the firm hopes to bring change for the better so such issues never arise in the first place.

One year back, Meta was slammed with another fine for breaching its own transparency policy. And then even after that, we saw it getting a fine worth $18 million regarding data breaches.

But it’s not only this matter that has the DPC worried about Meta. They mentioned that a number of other inquiries will soon arise regarding different aspects of Meta’s organization. A huge probe regarding Meta’s legal basis through which it can process data belonging to users was a point worth mentioning. This particular complaint dates back to 4 and a half years ago.

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by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Twitter All Set To Enhance Text Security With Signal Protocol And Replace Views With ‘Verified Views’

Twitter is on a mission to make some more changes that will act in favor of the platform.

The company recently spotted playing with the code that shows how it would be enhancing the security of its texting feature through the addition of Signal Protocol. This would be coupled with end-to-end encryption on the app’s messaging.

The news comes to us thanks to a security researcher who was able to outline lines of code that align with what Musk mentioned earlier about the app moving in this direction.

During this past month, Twitter’s CEO added that he was on a mission to implement end-end encryption for all messages sent privately through the app. And with more evidence coming forward that showcases just that, thanks to researcher Jane Manchun Wong, this is definitely one thing to celebrate. She says that it’s already being tested for iOS devices via the Twitter code.

Similarly, Wong was seen explaining how such a signal protocol library was getting linked in a statistical manner into this Twitter app after her recent finding. Right now, it appears like the feature is to make people aware of how important of a factor security and privacy is because spying in today’s day and age is so common and dangerous.

Having DMs encrypted would give that relief to users that no one is creeping on them or reading their texts. But we can’t help but wonder why such a developed and famous app has been devoid of this feature for years.

It’s more or less like saying Twitter made zero effort to have its users protected. Nevertheless, better late than never.

Next up, we’re hearing more news about how Twitter is altering its Views to Verified Views. For those who may not be aware, Views was another name reserved for impressions of a particular tweet.

Now, Twitter is on a mission to have the view counts for tweets visible on the app. For now, the news has not been verified but it comes thanks to researcher Jane Manchun Wong who is not sure if it’s going to be visible to people like the author or everyone.

People were happy with the news and they felt it would be a decision taken in favor of the app’s users. Hence, there is a strong likelihood that it’s going to be visible for all, similar to the likes of TikTok.

Read next: Elon Musk Compliments Writer Stephen King In Recent Tweet Despite Him Bashing Musk For Being A Misfit For Twitter
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Elon Musk Compliments Writer Stephen King In Recent Tweet Despite Him Bashing Musk For Being A Misfit For Twitter

Elon Musk is making heads turn in the world of tweeting and he’s taking the time out to mention more about Stephen King.

The news comes as the billionaire referred to King as one of the most talented and creative individuals on the planet. But remember, King does not seem to reciprocate similar thoughts about him.

Instead, the best-selling writer called him an absolute misfit for the Twitter company that has literally caused so much downfall. But wait, that’s not all. We have seen the duo feuding over mega issues like the new verification process.

When Musk first mentioned that the $20-a-month plan was in the works, the writer says he lost his cool. It was just a bizarre feeling. Now, the conversation tone has really taken a nosedive.

Elon Musk has been dubbed a visionary by the famous writer and also a man that changes the way people think. King says he adores how Musk alters the way people think about cars, thanks to his Tesla invention. How’s that for a 180-degree flip?

Yes, they might not be the best of friends but the constant tweets about one another are taking place now more than ever. Being called a misfit for a huge digital platform and then saying Musk makes up things as he goes along is so important to realize the significance between the lines. But it’s even more interesting to see Musk claim he welcomed the suggestions by the writer and was taking it all so positively.

Just one day later, Graham Allen says he spoke to Musk over the Twitter app to ignore all that negativity coming through King via a podcast. And on Sunday, another tweet came forward by Musk that stated how he just might not be agreeing with what King says, but he likes to hear it.

Musk is now going as far as inviting the author to pay a visit to Twitter’s HQ in San Francisco so they can sit down and have a chat.

One major controversy is definitely linked to the blue tick that popped up as Musk took up complete ownership of the firm. The prominence has arisen due to several fears that may end up driving huge names like Stephen King far off the platform while allowing for fake accounts that impersonate officials from the government, celebs, and even journalists.

A few other celebs like comedian Kathy Griffin were a part of those that tried to prove an important point by copying this billionaire We saw her profile receive the status of suspension.

In other news, former US President Trump had his account reinstated through a poll and then there is news about the rest of the accounts getting reinstated by next week.

For now, there is no definite news on if that’s going to happen or not, but we do know that Musk has great plans. For now, Twitter is not responding to any requests for comments.

Read next: Elon Musk Personally Calls Advertising CEOs To Complain As Twitter’s New User Signups Reach All-Time High
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

The State of the VPN Market in 2022

VPNs have been around for about 3 decades by this point, and they are becoming way more popular than ever before. They provide a wide range of benefits, including protecting people from third party tracking, allowing consumers to access content from around the globe and perhaps most importantly enabling individuals living under autocratic regimes to circumvent restrictions placed on their internet access.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that around 88% of Americans now know what a VPN is, as per Security.Org's 2022 Annual VPN Market Report. This is a big uptick from the 72% that said the same in 2020, and it suggests that VPNs are attaining a level of usage or at the very least awareness that had been hard to come by in decades prior.

In spite of the fact that this is the case, the usage rate for VPNs has been stagnating. Even though a lot more people are aware about what they are and what they can do, the percentage of Americans that use VPNs seems to be stuck at around 39%. That is an indication that VPNs may not provide features that the average person is looking for, or at least Americans don’t feel much need for them thanks to their unrestricted internet access.

Interestingly, the number of survey respondents who stated that they do not use VPNs has gone up. Back in 2021, 59% of people said that they don’t use VPNs, and this number increased to 61% in 2022. The slight increase in 2021 had a lot of people assuming that VPNs were on the rise, but 2022 has erased all of that progress to bring VPN usage back to 39% from the high of 42% that was seen in 2021.

There is also a bit of a stagnation that can be seen in the number of people who are paying for VPNs. Around half of VPN users currently use free VPNs, and that is despite nearly two thirds of them saying that they face problems with the free versions. Google is an especially unreliable VPN provider, with most users stating that they simply don’t trust the VPN that they have built into their new flagship Pixel phones.

People also seem to be finding fewer reasons for using VPNs with all things having been considered and taken into account. General security is still a huge usage case because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up helping users to keep themselves safe online. 55% of consumer cited general security as one of their reasons for using VPNs, and this number has stayed the same over the course of the year.

Most of the other reasons for using VPNs are seeing diminished citing, though. General privacy has dropped to 50% from 54%, and only 34% are using it as a job requirement as compared to 38% last year. Corporations are clearly placing much less emphasis on the use of VPNs, because the number of respondents who said they used VPNs to log on to secure corporate servers has dropped ten points from 41% in 2021 to 31% in 2022, and this trend can be seen across the board. Take a look at below charts and graphics for more insights:

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by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

76% of US Consumers Prefer Smartphones for Online Shopping

In person shopping is still the norm among most US based consumers, but in spite of the fact that this is the case it seems that online shopping is starting to pick up a fair bit. A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in America showed that online shopping is turning into a veritable trend because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up allowing people to purchase things without having to go outside.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that smartphones are the most popular devices on which online shopping can be done. 69% of survey respondents said that they used either laptop or desktop computers for their online shopping, but 76% said the same for smartphones which means they are more likely to use mobile devices than might have been the case otherwise.

There is also a much higher level of frequency in terms of online shopping when it comes to smartphones. Around 33% of Americans user smartphones for online shopping every week, and the numbers for desktop and laptop computers were much lower at just 21% with all things having been considered and taken into account.

The cohort that is responsible for the most online shopping through smartphones is the 30 to 49 age bracket. 49% of consumers in this group said they make at least one weekly purchase through their smartphones. The 18 to 29 cohort was less enthused, with just 38% saying the same. That might be due to more purchasing power among older consumers, since most consumers will have more spending money thanks to their years of experience under their belt.

However, 57% of consumers living in the US said that they prefer online shopping which is much higher than the 38% that said they preferred online shopping. That indicates that in person shopping is still the consumption method of choice for a majority of shoppers in America, and that will definitely influence brand marketing spends for the holiday shopping season that is right around the corner.

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by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

93 Percent of US Adults Rely on Small Businesses

Small businesses have been seeing a resurgence these past few years, and it turns out that around 93% of US consumers rely on them for various events that are coming up. This comes from a survey of around 2,000 people, conducted by OnePoll on behalf of AT&T, and it also revealed that around 88% of survey respondents personally know someone that works at a local small business.

People rely on these small businesses for a variety of services, with 72% stating that they like the food better at local restaurants than they do at national or international chains. 74% of survey respondents also said that small businesses often have products that are rare or hard to find in other stores, with 43% relying on them for all of their grocery needs with all things having been considered and taken into account.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that being able to physically interact with products before selling them is a major reason why consumers are turning to them more and more frequently. 57% said that they liked this feature of nearby small businesses, and 52% also enjoyed the fact that they can walk to the stores more easily than might have been the case otherwise.

As for how consumers hear about small businesses, the mechanisms at play here are largely organic. 59% said that they heard about a small business from a family member who recommended it, and 56% cited their neighbors as the source of this information.

Social media is also a large driver of small business. 48% of consumers heard about small businesses from social media, or alternatively from small scale community oriented apps. Around 73% of consumers may be negatively impacted by the absence of small businesses because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up making many of their favorite products hard to find. This indicates that there is still a lot of life left in these enterprises, and they might be able to hold the line against large corporations.



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by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

Big Tech Received 68% of Ad Revenue in 2022

Advertising revenue has been skyrocketing as of late, reaching around half a trillion dollars in 2022 so far. Most of this revenue, or around 68% to be precise, has ended up going to the Big Four tech companies. These companies are Apple, Alphabet, Amazon and Meta. While China has established itself as an entirely separate market, outside of the Chinese mainland it’s these four companies that are earning the highest revenues from this industry.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that much of the growth in ad revenue in 2022 has been a direct result of the rise of video streaming. Ad agencies and brands have been pouring ever more cash into ads that are viewed next to video based content, and it is estimated that video ads will outstrip text ads in terms of investment by 2025.

Video based ads have long been a mainstay of the advertising industry, but in spite of the fact that this is the case things are still changing quite dramatically in that arena. Broadcast TV companies are seeing a lower proportion of ad revenue coming their way, since streaming services are proving to be better options than might have been the case otherwise.

Small businesses are benefiting from the shift to IPTV and streaming services. They no longer have to deal with middle men but can instead put their ads up by getting directly in touch with the platforms that they want the ads to be displayed on.

However, a major seismic shift that is occurring in the world of digital ads has to do with recent privacy regulations. GDPR regulations in the EU along with Apple’s new policies that prevent third party tracking are forcing companies like Meta to retool their platforms in order to stay relevant. We are living in a time of rapid change, and there is no telling who will end up coming out on top. Big tech has a huge role to play here, and it is unlikely that their role will dimmish in the coming decade.

H/T: FT

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by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

Repeat Customers Drive 97% of the In-App Revenue for Games

Gaming apps are generally far more profitable than other types of apps, and in game purchases are a huge driver of this trend with all things having been considered and taken into account. It turns out that the vast majority of revenue that goes to gaming apps comes from repeat purchases. As much as 97% of in app revenue for games comes from such repeated buys, which suggests that once a user has made a purchase they are more likely to make another one.

A study by Adikteev showed that only 36% of gamers will make only one purchase within the app. In contrast, 64% said that they are likely to make purchases repeatedly. With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that game app developers are using several methods to drive increased sales of in app products. These includes push notifications that can raise awareness about premium or paid features than might have been the case otherwise.

This is not to say that gaming apps can obtain consistent revenue without doing some precise targeting. Gamers are far more likely to make a repeat purchase during the first two weeks of playing the game. 51% make a purchase on the first day, a further 25% in the first week and just 9% more in the subsequent week.

Targeting gamers soon after they have made a purchase can really drive up revenues for gaming apps because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up enticing gamers to spend more. There is a 77% chance that a gamer will repeat a purchase within the first week, and it drops to 54% in the second week. By focusing on the right demographics, gaming apps can eke out ever more efficiency from their revenue streams.

A combination of email marketing and push notifications is critical here, since not all users will allow notifications to come through. Studies have consistently shown that the best methods need to be multifaceted lest some users slip through the cracks and avoid purchasing anything.

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by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

New Report By Google Says Nearly 60% Of The Internet Features Duplicate Content

We happen to live in a very unique world today. And as days go by, we’re seeing more shocking stances coming forward in the world of tech.

A recently published report by Google has gone on to highlight how duplicate content is slowly but surely turning into a major concern for obvious reasons. A while ago, Google’s Gary Illyes posted the slide at the Google Search Central Live in Singapore the other day.

This particular slide was grabbed from a tweet that was shared by Kenichi Suzuki who happened to be at the same event where such a shocking disclosure was put forward. Many began to even wonder what search engine giant Google felt was duplicated.

About 60% of the Internet is duplicate. @methode
#SearchCentralLive pic.twitter.com/jcuu1qrSKQ

— Kenichi Suzuki🇺🇦鈴木謙一 (@suzukik) November 24, 2022

Some questioned if it means 100% replica or an exact match for the content, a similar match, a similar topic, HTML, or perhaps, something else. Remember, the possibilities are limitless.

The search engine giant has mentioned how there is an abundant amount of information and hence, it has got so many options on what to rank and what not to. The mega 60% figure goes on to show how Google has so much to choose from. Hence, you really need to put out something that’s unique and helpful as compared to what’s located on the web today.

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by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World