New Data Reveals Twitter’s Diminishing Role as a Source of News

When Elon Musk first took control of Twitter, he claimed that he was going to make it the number one source of news in the world. In spite of the fact that this is the case, it seems like his actions after acquiring the company have had the exact opposite effect. According to data that was recently published by Chartbeat, the traffic that Twitter sends to news publishers has seen a startling decline which does not bode well for the company’s future.

Back in 2018, 1.9% of all of the traffic to went to news publishing sites came from Twitter. With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that this now sits at just 1.3%. While the proportion was not all that high in 2018, Twitter’s goal was to improve the metric rather than to send it into a downward spiral.

Medium sized publishers saw referrals fall from just under 7 million in 2018 to around 3.7 million in 2023. This represents a 40% decline, which can be disastrous to publishers who may have been relying on these views to keep themselves afloat.

Smaller publishers have it even worse, with hardly any traffic coming in from Twitter. In 2018, small news publishers saw 10 million referrals from Twitter, but this number saw a drastic decline of a whopping 98% over the next five years.

However, in 2023, just 186,930 referrals went to these smaller scale sites from Twitter, thereby suggesting that it is no longer a viable place for them to get more eyes on their content. This is a huge difference from five years earlier, when small publishers got far more referrals than publishers that were larger in size.

Conversely, larger publishers appear to be doing just as well as ever, since they have only seen referrals dip by 4%. The preference for larger publishers may be a sign that Twitter is no longer a hospitable environment for smaller organizations to grow in with all things having been considered and taken into account.

While it can be easy to attribute this negative trajectory to Elon Musk, it bears mentioning that things were going in the wrong direction long before he took the helm. However, it would be fair to state that he has not done much to make things better, but has rather made things worse.

The continued decline in referrals following his acquisition is a clear sign that he is alienating new sites. This is potentially even contributing to the spread of fake news and misinformation on the platform.

This trend is fairly similar to what is being seen on Meta, with the Facebook owning company eschewing sending traffic to publishers in favor of keeping users on its own platform. Twitter might be using this approach since referrals could lead to decreased ad revenue down the line, although it remains to be seen if it is according to Musk’s plans or an unfortunate accident.

Indeed, referral traffic seems to be down across the board, with everyone from Meta to Google trying to keep users on their own sites because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up increasing their revenue.

H/T: Pressgazette

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by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

34% of App Developers Are Now Using AI

AI has the potential to change the landscape of virtually every industry in the world, and that goes for app development as well with all things having been considered and taken into account. Back in 2020, just 3% of companies that were involved in the development of apps stated that they used AI in their day to day practices, but this jumped to as much as 34% by the first quarter of 2023.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that AI powered apps saw a massive uptick in downloads as well as revenues due to this increase usage. Apps that leveraged AI in their designs managed to earn $20 million in total across the first quarter of 2023. This suggests a revenue increase of 396% quarter over quarter which is impressive to say the least.

App downloads in general were also on the rise, seeing a similar uptick of 375%. They totalled over 45 million installs in the first quarter of 2023, thereby indicating that AI powered apps can become more successful than might have been the case otherwise.

Unsurprisingly, the leading market for these apps turned out to be US. With revenues of over 8.3 million, over 40% of the total, apps that targeted American consumers found an enormous amount of success. They also received ten million downloads from the US alone, which comes up to a whopping increase of 550%.

India came in second, with around 6% of the total number of downloads for AI powered apps, followed by Brazil in second place. In spite of the fact that this is the case, these countries did not top the rankings in terms of revenue, since this list was mostly dominated by the US as well as the UK.

In the UK, a 5% increase in revenue led to the numbers reaching $958,000, and it won’t be long before they cross the coveted one million dollar mark. China came in third with $882,000, followed by Japan with $836,000, and Canada rounded off the top five list with $702,000. China and the UK both registered 5% increases in gross revenue, with Japan and Canada seeing a growth rate of 4%.

One thing that became clear is that AI chatbots are leading the charge because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up helping users get tasks completed more efficiently. An app simply named AI Chatbot which was released by Vulcan Labs performed exceptionally well, generating 9.5 million downloads and receiving over $3.3 million in gross revenue.

Microsoft is also doing quite well in this space, with its Bing chatbot getting installed 7.3 million times to secure its second place ranking. However, most of the other chatbots that saw a lot of downloads came from smaller companies like AppNation in third place, Social Media Apps in fourth place and finally ELSA in fifth place.

All in all, the presence of AI among app developers is hard to deny. It will be interesting to see how things go from here on out as more and more developers begin to utilize AI in their design and development phases.

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by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

Global drug-resistant infections threaten millions: UN Report

A sobering report released by the United Nations (UN) warns of an impending global crisis as deaths from drug-resistant infections are projected to high from the sky. The report, "Bracing for Superbugs: Strengthening environmental action in the One Health response to antimicrobial resistance," highlights the urgent need for strong action to combat this growing threat.

According to the reports, the UN research estimates that 1.27 million fatalities globally in 2019 alone were directly attributable to drug-resistant infections, surpassing the mortality toll from major illnesses like HIV/AIDS and malaria. Sadly, 4.95 million dead were associated with bacterial antimicrobial resistance (AMR), giving a bleak picture of the current state of circumstances.

Antibiotic-resistant illnesses might kill up to 10 million people within three decades if they are not controlled; emulate the death toll from cancer in 2020. Although the crisis will have an impact everywhere, it is anticipated that Low-Income Countries (LICs) and Lower-Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) would be most hit in 2050 , with Asia (4,730,000) and Africa (4,150,000)estimated to have the greatest rate of AMR-related fatalities per population.

However, the paper also emphasizes the possible economic repercussions, thus the effects go beyond the loss of human life. Within the next ten years, failure to solve this problem could lead to a startling $3.4 trillion yearly GDP gap. Additionally, an extra 24 million people may fall into extreme poverty, escalating social disparities.

Hence, Women, children, migrants, and refugees, those working in the health department or farming industries, and people living in poverty are all vulnerable populations that will be more likely to contract diseases that are resistant to treatment. The study emphasizes the urgent need for all-encompassing action on several fronts, including bolstering environmental regulations and putting into practice a One Health strategy that takes into account human, animal, and environmental health.

Experts from UN, highlight that in order to solve this international health concern, rapid action is essential. The improvement and implementation of successful antimicrobial resistance management programs need cooperation between governments, international organizations, and the corporate sector.

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by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

Privacy Matters: WhatsApp users will soon be allowed to set up their own unique usernames to hide their phone numbers

According to the latest article posted by WABetainfo, the popular texting application, WhatsApp is planning to introduce on a new update that will allow users to set up a unique WhatsApp username. This latest addition is believed to roll out in a future update of the app, making communication even more private and convenient.

Right now, the platform identifies anyone based on their phone numbers. While this has been the norm for years, the upcoming feature will allow the people create a distinctive username that reflects their personality or identity. It’s like having their own digital signature!

Imagine having a simple and memorable username that users can easily share with their friends, family, and colleagues. No more struggling to remember or exchange long phone numbers! With this update, Audience can simplify the process of connecting with others on WhatsApp.

Moreover, having a WhatsApp username also adds an extra layer of privacy. Instead of revealing the phone number to everyone, people can now provide their username, keeping the personal information more secure. It’s a great way to protect one’s privacy while still staying connected.

Setting up the WhatsApp username is a simple procedure. Users can go to their account settings, navigate to the “Profile” section, and there they will find the option to create their own unique username. Choose wisely, as this will be the name by which people can search and identify others on WhatsApp.

Once users set up their username, they can share it with other contacts either via text, email, or even in person. It’s a simple way to ensure that people can easily find and connect with others on the platform.

With this upcoming feature, WhatsApp is taking an other initiative in the direction to ensure a safe experience for the audience. The introduction of feature will make it easier to find and stay connected with friends, family, and even new acquaintances.

So far no official release date has been given by the officials, however it can be expected that the feature will be available soon. It’s an exciting change that will add a personal touch to the messaging experience.

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by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

Media Consumption Trends In Focus: How Are Consumer Consumption Patterns Evolving

Today’s media industry is clearly not what it used to be, years ago. As we speak, it continues to evolve and that’s all thanks to the way we witness a change in the pattern of consumers taking on different trends.

This includes the way different models alter with time and how some practices in the world of business go from classic to elevated in no time. Today, media leaders are at the top of their game and they’re trying to cater to the needs of the masses in the best way possible.

Therefore, to ensure leaders in the entertainment industry are at the top of their game, here’s a new survey by Morning Consult that’s tracking some key trends as far as media consumption is concerned.

All responses came from American adults who took part in online interviews where data had been approximated against samples of others depending on education, region, gender, age, as well as race. And below, we’ve listed down some key findings worth your while.

For starters, video streaming does not appear to be affected by things like pressure from the macroenvironment. Moreover, shares of American adults spending at least $15 on this had declined when compared to figures from the previous year.

Next, the survey questioned respondents about theaters and if they would prefer a newly launched film in the cinema or not. And it’s interesting to note how the figure for this year and the previous one stood flat at 33%. This just goes to show how those that own theaters need to promote wide releases as that could really bring in more profit.

Last but not least, we saw how there was constant resilience seen in terms of cable news platforms. The trust factor remained and in fact grew, despite seeing negativity in terms of headlines. So many leading networks were involved in this and we saw a huge proportion of adults claiming cable is their go-to and reliable source for news. The figures for this stood flat between this year and that observed in the past.

For news, most Americans felt broadcast did it for them in terms of trustworthiness. This was followed up by cable, social media, and then news posts seen across websites too. After that, it was news from print, radio, and podcasts that started to take the lead.

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by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Google Will Look Very Different In 2033 As Search Would Be Replaced By Conversation, DeepMind Co-Founder Claims

The rise of AI has seen a lot of new developments take center stage in the tech world. And while some may have been appreciated, others are raising eyebrows.

Today, another shocking prediction was seen coming forward from the co-founder of DeepMind. He claims that the classic search box that Google is famous for would cease to exist, in a decade’s time. Instead, the focus would be on engaging in conversations.

The statement came from Mustafa Suleyman today who says the world needs to brace itself for some major change. But the question is why do we care so much or why should we care so much?

Well, the answer is simple. Google’s AI search is a major signal to us all that big things are coming soon and the shift is one that cannot be avoided. Yes, things will take time but it’s happening and it would really alter the way we’re seeing the search engine shape the online world and several byproducts like PPC and SEO.

There is a very clear cup search dialogue in store here and it’s so painful how chats are taking place at this moment in time. Google mentioned how it keeps on learning through the responses that people click on and how much time they’re spending on websites. This would include details on whether or not it would be coming back toward search to refine things or not.

Remember, the search engine giant is known for rewarding the likes of engagement and not just answers. Moreover, Google continues to alter content production in a manner that provides ad optimization and gives out benefits to content creators that continue to ensure users stay on a page for a longer time duration.

Google is able to give its users exactly what they need in the shortest time span. They’re trying to make the world of Search simpler with snippets that feature the solution of their query. However, most occasions prove to us that it’s all just high-quality things on Google that are getting the right engagement.

The co-founder of DeepMind says the point time is near when we will not be thinking about how to alter a particular query. It’s all going to be about talking to computers directly as that’s a new type of interface. And it’s worrisome that we won’t be having the same Google ten years from now that we have at this point in time.

The change won’t be something we see taking place overnight but it would happen in its due time. Now the topic of discussion is one that we’ve seen Google’s CEO engage in the past too. When asked about his thoughts on a search that’s based on links coming to an end, he failed to agree. He said the entire experience would alter with time in the next ten years but it’s important to meet the needs of users and get them what they’re in search of or else they’ll be leaving the platform soon.



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by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Elon Musk Makes A Series Of Striking Changes On Twitter And Here’s What Users Can Expect

It’s never a boring day at Twitter with Elon Musk in charge and now, we’re seeing the tech billionaire make a series of changes on the platform.

The company has first opted to enhance the utility section for stock watchers through a new collaboration initiative with eToro. This would end up feeding more contextual data alongside a series of cashtag listings for the app.

As can be seen in this particular example whenever users click on cashtags that have the hashtag replaced with a dollar sign, they’ll be seeing stock movements on display and some more alerts by the system.

This particular movement of stock was up for grabs for a small number of firms since the month of December began last year but we can see how it’s opting to grow more.

In the past, a small fraction of users witnessed pricing charts that entailed several financial assets when it was searched through cashtags. Today, the app takes immense pride in supporting a staggering number of cashtag searches and we’re talking nearly 4.6 million.

A lot of users are informed about what’s going on in the industry and how that may affect any portfolio’s value. And that’s great news for Twitter as even youngsters are relying on this website to get the latest details on this front.

Next up. Elon Musk has stayed true to his promise of including two more video updates on the app. And they’re rolling out today.

The first feature is very unique and much needed, called PIP Playback. So that means users of the platform can keep on viewing clips while scrolling through the app. As you can imagine, it’s going to be a breeze now to multitask for users as they can continue to read tweets on the app while a video is being played in the background.

NEWS: Twitter launches faster Playback and Mini Player on all platforms (including iOS) pic.twitter.com/lsGXewcXwu

— T(w)itter Daily News  (@TitterDaily) May 25, 2023

It might be the first variation of its kind that introduces this platform as a single source for both entertainments as well as information. And Twitter has been working hard to try and make its mark in that regard for a while now.

You can better understand it as an offering that’s called second screening and it’s a key trend that many users cannot get enough of. But over the years, we’ve seen Twitter struggle with this endeavor and not make the most of such behaviour where several inputs are involved.

The second experiment that Twitter is doing is related to a new native feature for video downloads on the app. It’s all very new but a feature that many users have been requesting for quite some time now.

We are certainly seeing this as some kind of value addition in terms of display and production.

Last but not least, Musk is putting out the idea that he may not be interested in carrying forward Twitter Circles. A possible shutdown might be on the cards soon as he agreed with one user that it was the epitome of bad chat groups.

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by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World