Twitter Doubles Down on Videos With New Sidebar Section

It seems like Elon Musk’s big solution to all of Twitter’s woes is to turn it into a video streaming platform as opposed to a pure social media platform. We have already seen this with Facebook and Instagram, but in spite of the fact that this is the case, Twitter’s case is rather different. It’s never been a hub for content like some of its competitors, and that might make the streaming angle a harder sell than might have been the case otherwise.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that Twitter is still proceeding undeterred with a brand new section that is being added to the sidebar. Dubbed “videos for you”, this experimental section that Twitter is working on will recommend some of the videos that are trending on the platform.

Visually speaking it seems quite similar to Snapchat’s content hub, although Twitter will work differently by offering long form content with all things having been considered and taken into account. The recent firing of Tucker Carlson and his ensuing decision to start a brand new web series that is based solely on Twitter lends credence to the notion that the platform could cater to a whole new wave of content creators.

What’s more, incoming CEO Linda Yaccarino has considerable experience with starting new streaming platforms as can be seen with the success of Peacock for NBC. Coming up with creative solutions is important for Twitter because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up making up for the loss of advertising revenue that came after Elon Musk’s controversial decisions that altered the landscape of its user base.

Whether or not this move will prove fruitful remains to be seen, and this new section is still in the testing phase. We will have to wait until it gets a wider release to come to any firm conclusions, but from the looks of things, Twitter may very well become a viable alternative to TikTok and YouTube although its content may have a distinct right wing slant to it.

H/T: Nima Owji

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by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

Locked iPhones to Become Smart Home Displays with iOS 17

Technology giant Apple is currently thinking of rolling out the latest update for iPhone users. The company wants to roll out a feature that will allow iPhones to showcase a smart home display with the latest software version. The news was reported by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in their latest article.

As per the source, the upcoming feature will carry an updated display for the device and will show information including reminders, weather conditions, and any much more. However, it will only be displayed when the device is in locked state. According to Gurman, the update will somewhat be the same as the feature available on identical devices from Amazon. The main objective of rolling this update is to make the ideal phone of any use. To make it easy to read, the company plans to use a dark theme against which light-coloured text will be used.

The update will be part of the widgets. At the time of the iOS 16 release, widgets were introduced as a way of offering chunks of additional information to users, which will always be available on screen.

Currently, only the iPhone is being considered to receive the update, as the widgets are only present on these devices, and iPads still have not received their widgets from the company. In addition to this, other areas, such as the Wallet application and Share Play, are also receiving new updates.

The company aims to update the location service for the Wallet App as well as introduce a journal in which users can type in the thoughts they are having in mind. Similarly, SharePlay, a feature that allows users to watch different entertaining web series while being on FaceTime, will also be receiving a few modifications.

In a previous report from the news company, the tech giant was also working to track the emotional state of their audience with their technology. iPads are currently in line to receive the Health app, which is available for iPhone users.

It is believed that the latest smart display will officially be revealed at the upcoming tech conference to be held in the first week of June 2023.

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by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

Is Instagram Replacing Twitter? The Data Says Yes

Instagram has been an absolutely behemoth of the social media industry for years now, and Twitter has slowly but surely seen its influence slip away from its grasp. Recent actions taken by Elon Musk after acquiring the company led to the mass exodus of countless users, and it turns out that Instagram is benefiting greatly from this trend.

Twitter saw a 7.9% year over year decline in its Android audience back in April, and with all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that Instagram’s numbers stayed relatively stable. This is widening the gap between the two social media platforms, and if the distance becomes greater it will be more difficult for Twitter to stay in the game than might have been the case otherwise.

If we take the data from April alone, Instagram had about 889 million monthly active users for its Android app. The numbers for Twitter were a meager 213 million. This just goes to show that Instagram is already four times the size of Twitter in terms of its app’s user base, but the platforms see relatively similar success rates on web browsers.

Both Instagram as well as Twitter received around six billion visits apiece on web, but Twitter was in the lead not too long ago. As Twitter’s site visits drop, Instagram might surpass the platform in the one metric where it seemed to be doing well.

Twitter’s web traffic saw a 4.5% decline in 2023 so far, while its app saw 6.5% fewer users. Instagram, on the other hand, only saw a 2.15% dip in web traffic and a 1.9% decrease in users who have downloaded the app.

Mastodon is also throwing its hat into the ring, seeing a massive 1,700% growth rate year over year back in November. While its current growth rate for April sits at just 166%, this still shows that people are exiting Twitter in favor of other platforms, and this could mean the end of Elon Musk’s experiment and the rise of many other sites and apps that would take its place in the future.

Read next: TikTok’s Era of Rapid Growth for Creators Might Be at An End
by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

Tesla Now Has the Second Worst Reputation Among US Car Brands

There was a time when Tesla was considered the future of the entire automotive industry, but in spite of the fact that this is the case, it seems like CEO Elon Musk has blown his head start. According to a recent survey that polled consumers about which brands they trust, Tesla seen an astonishing fall from grace. A year ago, Tesla was the twelfth most reputable brand, but it has now fallen a whopping 50 places to number 62.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that only Chrysler received a lower ranking than Tesla among US based car manufacturers and brands. Volkswagen came in at number 56, General Motors in 34th place, Ford at 32nd, BMW at 24th and Subaru at number 16. Japanese car makers Honda and Toyota got to thirteenth place and sixth place respectively. Ford managed to improve its ranking by nine places, which just goes to show that Tesla only has itself to blame.

The negative attention that Musk generated after acquiring Twitter has clearly made consumers trust him less than might have been the case otherwise. Twitter has fallen to 97th place on the list as well.

One thing to note here is that Musk might be at the heart of the problem with all things having been considered and taken into account. Tesla continues to get great scores in innovation and services metrics, but its trust and character scores, previously in the excellent category, have now been downgraded to fair.

This seems to suggest that the CEO’s antics are rubbing consumers the wrong way, and it will be essential for Tesla to recover some of its lost favor among customers. Tesla’s recent decision to cut car prices has also been controversial because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up making older customers feel like they have been cheated. All in all, Musk’s companies appear to be in a precarious position, and it will be interesting to see how he manages to restore them to their former glory.

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by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

Survey Finds Majority of Parents Concerned About Negative Impact of Social Media Image Editing Apps and Filters on Children’s Body Image

With the young generation getting addicted to social media platforms, parents are worried about the negative impact it can have on their children as new filters and trends related to looks keep showing up. To highlight the concern, an online survey was conducted by the On Our Sleeves Movement, an organisation dedicated to the mental health of children.

The results showed that sixty-nine percent of the parents whose kids were not above eighteen years old believed that these platforms could have a bad influence on one’s body image. Furthermore, sixty-five percent of them agreed that such body trends can have a strong negative influence on the body image of their kids.

The organisation encouraged caretakers, guardians, and parents to check up on their children and discuss with them why body positivity is important. Doctor Erin McTiernan, a paediatric psychologist and part of the research organisation, said that parents can have brief sessions with their children aimed at boosting their self-esteem. According to the doctor, questions include asking about the things children like about themselves. She added that children should be monitored by their parents over the content they come across on social sites.

According to Dr. Erin, body image can influence mental health. Social sites can put children under bad influence, which may change their perspective on beauty. Since these young users are exposed to a lot of content that usually highlights the dos and don’ts of how to look, having such discussions with their kids is not an easy task for parents. In order to help these parents, the organisation suggested that they should not label the food but instead focus more on healthy and nourishing foods.

The study was based on the data collected from over 2000 participants. More than 700 participants were parents of children under the age of 18. Once the survey was conducted, the results were shared with Nationwide Children’s Hospital to involve paediatric psychologists in the study. The hospital is also known for forming the organisation behind the survey. Since 2018, more than six million individuals have already reached out to the organisation to understand the mental health of children.

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by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

Microsoft Edge is Elevating User Experience by Embracing Copilot and ChatGPT Extensions

Microsoft's flagship browser, Edge, took center stage at the reputable Microsoft Build developer conference, garnering significant attention and becoming the focal point of the event. Excitingly, Edge is poised to accept a multitude of new and innovative functionalities, solidifying its standing as a cutting-edge browsing forum.

The highly anticipated Microsoft Build developer conference is in full swing, showcasing a wide range of groundbreaking innovations. Among the star attractions is the Microsoft Edge web browser, which is receiving extraordinary emphasis at the occasion. Notably, Edge is experiencing an entire redesign, attended by a host of business-centric functionalities that are to intrigue users. One such great expansion is the introduction of the hard Microsoft 365 Artificial Intelligence Copilot, seamlessly blended within the sidebar, assigning users to breeze through work-related tasks with unparalleled efficiency. What's more, this creative feature will even incorporate a Chat GPT extension, revolutionizing the way users interact with the browser and further enhancing productivity.

Microsoft has gone the extra mile by introducing a specialized work environment within Edge, aptly named Microsoft Edge for Business. This innovative feature aims to effectively segregate work-related browsing from personal web activities, ensuring a seamless and organized experience. Additionally, software developers and IT administrators have much to rejoice about, as Edge brings forth an array of new functionalities tailored to their needs.

Notably, Progressive Website Applications now find their home in the sidebar, providing convenient access for users. Moreover, JS capabilities receive a significant boost with V8 advancement, enhancing the performance of JavaScript functions. For those who may have missed the conference, worry not, as we've got you covered with all the essential highlights.

During the Build 2023 occasion, Microsoft took the opportunity to revisit the redesign of Edge, which had formerly been undergoing testing in the Microsoft Edge Canary channel. This particular feature holds great significance for everyday users and consumers alike. The browser's aesthetics now align with the sleek design of Windows 11, incorporating the same elements. Additionally, Microsoft has made user account management more convenient by relocating the profile icon to the left side of the screen, allowing for effortless account switching. Under the hood, a robust container system has been implemented, facilitating seamless multitasking for enhanced productivity.

Furthermore, to the noteworthy redesign, Microsoft has unveiled its plans to merge Microsoft 365 Copilot into Edge, expanding its reach beyond Teams, Microsoft365.com, and Bing. This exciting addition is specifically designed to cater to business users, making it a valuable asset for those who rely on Edge in their workplace. Housed within the browser's sidebar, Microsoft 365 Copilot leverages data from various Microsoft 365 sources, such as emails, calendars, and documents, providing a chat-based interface to help with work-related tasks. From generating status updates to offering concise document summaries, the Copilot streamlines productivity. Moreover, the support for plugins, including Chat GPT, Bing, and Teams, further enhances its versatility, while developers have the opportunity to create their own extensions for an even more tailored experience.

Edge's AI-driven updates encompass the integration of Microsoft Search, bringing contextually relevant files and SharePoint sites to the forefront in the Edge bar. The Find on Page feature receives a boost with Smart Find, rectifying errors when searching within a page's context. Additionally, text prediction functionality enhances writing speed for an optimized user experience. These smaller yet impactful AI enhancements further solidify Edge's commitment to productivity and user satisfaction.

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by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

Social Media is a Serious Risk to Children’s Mental Health According to US Surgeon General

The general consensus on the use of social media by children is that it can have a harmful impact on their mental health, but in spite of the fact that this is the case, calls to action have only started being made recently. The latest condemnation of social media and the impact it has on minors came from the US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, who said that it simply can’t be considered safe.

More specifically, Murthy called for more research to be done on social media because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up revealing how it affects children. Around 95% of kids between the ages of thirteen and seventeen currently use social media in the US, and 40% reportedly use it on a constant basis.

There are certain rules that restrict young kids from setting up accounts on these platforms, but in spite of the fact that this is the case, many children are able to circumvent them quite easily. With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that 40% of children between the ages of eight and twelve reportedly use social media, so these rules are clearly not having the desired effect.

The rise in social media use among children has coincided with a 30% uptick in adolescents and children who are experiencing some form of depression or anxiety. Social media is clearly making it harder for children to adopt a positive mindset than might have been the case otherwise, and the Surgeon General’s 25 page advisory comments on much of this.

Facebook has already been exposed by a whistleblower for actively targeting children under 13, despite them being unable to use the platform based on its own rules. This seems to suggest that Facebook and other platforms like it are not serious about keeping children away, but rather they only put these rules in place as stopgap measures. The eager targeting of young children is an obvious indication that Facebook is willing to let kids circumvent minimum age rules for accounts.

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by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World