Balancing Privacy and Advertising Efficiency: A Framework for Mobile Location Data

Mobile technologies, like smartphones, collect and analyse data about where people are located. This has created a big business where consumers can share their location data for economic benefits. However, there are privacy risks involved. When people use their smartphones, companies track their location to deliver personalised ads and services. This system is worth billions of dollars and benefits both consumers and businesses. But it also raises concerns about privacy. The large-scale collection and analysis of location data can reveal sensitive information about routines and personal lives. This data can be misused or accessed by unauthorized people, leading to risks like stalking or identity theft.

In a recent study, researchers used machine learning to develop a framework that measures and reduces personalised privacy risks. It also protects data privacy and considers different levels of risks and benefits. Compared to previous models, this framework performed better by reducing privacy threats for consumers while still benefiting advertising companies.

The research was carried out by researchers from different universities. According to Beibei Li, one of the core research members, it is believed that by 2027, the advertising market will make more than twenty-five billion dollars. The report revealed that certain applications that work on the basis of location, such as booking rides or ordering food, are actually contributing to sharing users data with advertisers. Based on the information collected, advertisers can learn about consumers’ likes and dislikes when it comes to food, restaurants, or online shopping. The system has become so advanced that now they can even foretell what place the user will be visiting and at what time they will reach their destination.

While it may benefit advertisers, on the other hand, users become vulnerable as their personal data, including their full name and residential address, gets leaked. The information can be misused if it falls into the wrong hands.

In order to analyse the framework, the researchers collaborated with a well-known data collector that gathers location data from popular mobile apps used by a large portion of the United States population. The collected data, which followed privacy regulations, represented a significant sample of the American population and focused on a major city. The researchers tested their framework using one million movement patterns from forty thousand individuals in that particular area.

According to Meghanath Macha, the lead researcher, location-based marketing is quickly becoming a key method for planning marketing campaigns and reaching consumers. This approach enhances both traditional and digital marketing strategies. Mobiletechnology has revolutionised with time, but it’s essential to be mindful of the potential privacy risks that come with it. By understanding how data is collected, securing personal information, and staying informed about privacy-focused practises, users can take control of their privacy in the digital age.

Read next: Striking the Perfect Work-Life Equilibrium: Global Cities that Prioritize Well-being

by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

Good News For Threads Users As Meta Will Soon Give Option For Profile Deletion

If you happen to be using Threads and regret being an active user on it and having your own account, you must have had trouble getting rid of it too.

But that is no longer going to be an issue because Meta says that it is searching for ways to delete profiles but still, there is an option to deactivate them without nuking accounts on the Instagram app.

The head of the Instagram app says that the possibility of this change coming forward would be very soon. It’s important that Meta solves this issue as soon as possible because users complained that they could not delete the account on the new app until and unless they remove the account on the Instagram app.

Adam Mosseri says Threads is run by Meta’s Instagram platform. At the moment, it only happens to be a single account but they are trying their best to get rid of the Threads account in a separate manner, he added.

As of right now, no serious details were provided in terms of the timeframe related to when we might be seeing the change taking place. But if you are really keen on deleting the account, Adam Mosseri claims that users need to keep on seeing the option for deactivation. For that, press on the opinion of profile that’s located on the bottom left and then click on the settings menu, after which you press account again.

After deactivation, you can disguise Threads and the content. Similarly, you can change the profile’s settings to private and then get rid of separate posts and threads. And this too, you can benefit from without any form of Instagram account deletion.

After deactivation of the profile, you can remove the account from appearing on the app. Hence, those making efforts to visit profiles after this change would notice the error pop up with the statement that says, Such a Page is not Available.

The only catch in this situation is that options for getting rid of a profile would simply hide all of the activity. But in all reality, the firm continues to save posts, likes, and then the responses seen across Meta’s database.

If you make the decision for account reactivation, there is a benefit because Threads would easily be able to get the data back. However, if you want to delete all the Threads activity, then that would be an issue. And that’s because you would be required to get rid of activity on your Instagram app.

Not being able to delete accounts is one of the many reasons why the tech giant is staying hush in terms of not allowing the launch of its Threads app to take place in the EU.

The region has some very strict laws in place in terms of giving users the freedom to delete their activity on platforms. Nevertheless, the popularity is still soaring as today, registrations reached up to 30 million for the app.

Read next: Twitter Threatens Meta With Lawsuit Over Its Threads App Amid Accusations Of Copying And Poaching Ex-Employees For Trade Secrets
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Twitter Threatens Meta With Lawsuit Over Its Threads App Amid Accusations Of Copying And Poaching Ex-Employees For Trade Secrets

Elon Musk is not happy with Meta’s launch of its rival app called Threads.

The platform has seen a huge amount of success in less than 24 hours. We’re talking about more than 30 million people signing up to use Threads, which surpassed the company’s own expectations regarding the response it would generate.

But now, it seems that Musk is on a mission to create a tense environment after threatening to file a lawsuit against Facebook’s parent firm. The news comes amid allegations put out by the world’s richest person that Meta not only copied Twitter but also poached its former employees into sharing trade secrets.

And when Musk was called out for being jealous and threatened by the new Threads platform, he rubbished the news and says that competition of all kinds is welcomed but cheating is not going to be tolerated.

Without a doubt, Threads is definitely similar to Twitter in so many aspects including how the posts are very similar to how Tweets are put out. Moreover, it’s all based on text and linked to users’ Instagram too but to use it, you’ll need to first download it through the Play Store or App Store.

The lawsuit was generated during the evening hours of yesterday and that’s when a top lawyer from Twitter sent the letter to Meta’s CEO over the allegations and how Twitter would now be pursuing legal action.

Both copying and unlawful misappropriation were boldly delineated as the main reasons for taking on this behavior as Twitter says both its secrets and intellectual property should never be shared as it’s a clear violation.

The company hopes Meta would take the necessary measures required to prevent some behavior from taking place now and in the future and would also stop the exchange of confidential data from being made public.

It says that the app has the right to all of its data and property and this sort of behavior has no room, the letter went on to add. In the same way, the company accused Meta of taking on board dozens of employees that used to work at Twitter, and hence the main purpose was to share the firm’s own secrets and other kinds of sensitive data.

The letter further continues to mention how Meta’s main goal was to copy Twitter’s platform and this was a clear violation of the country as well as the state’s law.

Meta has decided to provide a response to Twitter’s allegations and threat of a lawsuit. The firm’s communications director mentioned in a new letter how no employee from Twitter was ever a part or is a part of the current team working on Threads so this was absolutely baseless.

Threads have really picked up in terms of popularity as a top competitor for the famous microblogging platform, ever since we saw Musk take on the responsibility of leading the firm. But when you compare all others, Threads is definitely being called out as the most notable competitor that is a serious threat to Twitter’s downfall.

Up until now, Elon Musk has chosen to remain hush on the matter linked to the rollout of the Threads app. The CEO of Tesla has chosen to reiterate their comments on how he has zero issues linked to competition but in terms of cheating, there would be no acceptance of this behavior.

If that was not enough drama for today, we know that the company’s CEO is also not happy with the launch of Threads and was seen throwing shade at those who try to imitate the app.

H/T: Semafor

Read next: New Alert Issued Against Screen Reader Malware That Steals User’s Sensitive Data On Finance Apps
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Inside the App Stores Exclusive Million-Dollar Monthly Club

Appfigures, a leading app analytics platform, recently released a report shedding light on the top-grossing apps on the Apple's App Store. The study revealed that a select group of app developers has managed to generate over a million dollars in revenue every month.

Ariel Michaeli, the man behind the research revealed that more than 500 apps available on the App Store were making more than one million dollars every single month. YouTube lead the table shortly followed by TikTok. Surprisingly, the famous dating app, Tinder, was also on the list.

Gaming apps such as Call of Duty, PUBG, were also present. While these games were in the top 50, others apps such as Street Fighter was on 496th spot. Apart from Minecraft, all other top 500 apps were free with in the app purchase. Though Google Play was not covered in the analysis, Ariel did clear that Google Play was on another level.

What makes this club particularly interesting is the diversity of apps within it. It’s not just limited to games or social media giants. The club includes a variety of genres, such as productivity tools, photo editing apps, streaming services, and more. This demonstrates that there are numerous avenues to success in the app industry.

User acquisition and retention play a crucial role in the success of these apps. Building a loyal user base is essential for consistent revenue growth. The million-dollar app developers invest in marketing campaigns, user acquisition channels, and retention strategies to attract new users and keep existing ones engaged. They frequently update their apps, fix bugs, and introduce new features to provide value and maintain user interest.

The competition among app developers in the App Store is fierce. With millions of apps available, breaking into the million-dollar monthly club is no easy feat. It requires dedication, innovation, and continuous improvement. Developers must adapt to evolving user needs, leverage data-driven insights, and stay ahead of trends to retain their competitive edge.

Continuous innovation and adaptation are crucial for sustained success. The app market is dynamic and constantly evolving. The apps in the Million-Dollar Monthly Club have managed to stay relevant by introducing new features, improving user experience, and adapting to changing trends.

Read next: New Study Raises Alarm As Most People Admit To Using Dangerous VPN Services

by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

STEM Hashtags See 30% Uptick After TikToks New Feed

TikTok has long been trying to position itself as the single most popular hub for content in the world. It has certainly given YouTube a run for its money, and the Chinese social media app is trying to make an even bigger push into the content industry with its brand new STEM feed.

Launched just 3 months ago, this feed is meant to provide viewers with more educational content than might have been the case otherwise. True to the name, much of the content that can be seen in the feed is related to STEM topics, which is to say Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that 96% of the viewers that ended up seeing this feed said that they liked what they saw. Furthermore, the release of this feed has led to a 30% increase in hashtags related to STEM topics. 25% of STEM feed viewers even returned to the feed the next day.

This reveals that there is a growing demand for heady content, one that TikTok is only too happy to fulfil with all things having been considered and taken into account. The influx of educational content on the platform is potentially useful because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up changing its image as a place for mindless entertainment.

TikTok needs the narrative to shift, and educational content creators stand to gain a lot from this as well. In spite of the fact that this is the case, TikTok is facing a potential ban in the US. If this ban were to go through, TikTok might no longer be able to cater to some of the most voluminous consumers of this type of educational content. It will be interesting to see what happens from here on out, since TikTok is clearly showing no signs of stopping. The platform will only want to grow its STEM Feed and potentially branch out into other educational topics as well such as the humanities which are often underserved.

Read next: New Study Raises Alarm As Most People Admit To Using Dangerous VPN Services
by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

AI language model GPT-3 can generate more persuasive disinformation than humans

In a groundbreaking study, researchers keep uncovered that OpenAI's language prototype, GPT-3, maintains exceptional informative mastery that surpasses human capabilities. This divulgence flares up new opportunities for the fate of AI and NLC.

GPT 3, has gained considerable lookout since its acquittance past three years. With a staggering one hundred and seventy-five billion parameters, it is nowadays the biggest prototype ever made. It is immense size and training data authorize it to induce remarkably legible and contextually appropriate comebacks, constructing it as an invaluable instrument for the tremendous scope of apps.

The study, conducted by a team of researchers at a leading AI research institute, aimed to evaluate GPT-3's performance in providing informative responses. To accomplish this, they conceived a series of tests where chat GPT was compared to human specialists in diverse fields, including science, history, and tech.

The consequences existed nobody unexpectedly astonishing. ChatGPT, unfailingly outperformed mortal experts in providing accurate and comprehensive information. In fact, its responses were deemed to live not solely on par but often superior to those of human specialists.

A fundamental characteristic contributing to GPT-3's exceptional performance is its power to process and synthesize vast portions of information. While human experts lean on their recollection and limited cognitive capacity, Generative Pretrained Transformer 3 can approach an extensive repository of knowledge that goes beyond what any particular person can possess. It allows GPT-3 to equip detailed and precise answers to a broad spectrum of inquiries, regardless of the complexity or obscurity of the subject concern.

Furthermore, GPT-3's responses were not limited to regurgitating existing information. The language prototype demonstrated a remarkable aptitude for critical thinking and problem-solving. It could evaluate and interpret complex scenarios, provide insightful explanations, and even offer creative suggestions that human experts may not have considered. This versatility positions Chat GPT-3 asunder from additional artificial prototypes and highlights its prospect for contributing to scientific research and innovation.

While the analysis highlights Generative Pretrained Transformer 3 exceptional informative abilities, it also raises important ethical considerations. The growing reliance on AI and device understanding in decision-making procedures necessitates a careful examination of the imaginable biases and limitations of these models. Despite its remarkable performance, GPT-3 is no more infallible. It can still produce incorrect or misleading information, especially when faced with ambiguous or incomplete input. Therefore, it is crucial to approach GPT-3's outputs with critical thinking and human oversight.

The study's findings have significant implications for numerous industries. In healthcare, GPT-3's ability to process vast amounts of medical literature could assist in diagnosing complex conditions and suggesting personalized treatment plans. In education, it could serve as a valuable resource for students, providing instant and accurate information on various subjects. In research and development, GPT-3's analytical capabilities could accelerate scientific discoveries and innovation.

However, the integration of Chat GPT-3 into real-world applications will require careful consideration of solitude and protection concerns. As an AI language prototype, Chat GPT-3 relies on access to vast portions of information, which raises questions about info safeguarding and potential misuse. Safeguarding consumer solitude and guaranteeing responsible details practices will be critical in harnessing the full possibility of it.

The analysis highlights GPT-3's exceptional informative commands that outperform mortal capabilities in providing accurate and comprehensive information. Its vast knowledge repository, critical thinking skills, and problem-solving abilities create it a potent mechanism with broad implications for various industries. However, the honorable and practical challenges linked with its use must be carefully addressed to guarantee responsible deployment and to boost its opportunity for the betterment of humankind. As AI continues to advance, Chat GPT-3 perch as a testament to the remarkable capabilities that lie within the domain of virtual intelligence and NLP.

Read next: Big Tech Giants Admit Their Machine Learning Algorithms Can Instigate Discrimination Amid Calls For Improvements
by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

Social Media Usage Hits 48.3% of Global Population

Social media is one of the largest industries in the world because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up helping people to stay connected with each other. There have been numerous roadblocks such as questions surrounding privacy that threatened to make the growth rate of this industry slower than might have been the case otherwise. In spite of the fact that this is the case, it is estimated that there will be around 3.86 billion social media users this year.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that this represents just under half of the global population, or 48.3% to be precise. Unsurprisingly, 60% of the total internet users around the world hail from the Asia Pacific region.

All of the five countries that will show the highest volume of social media penetration are from this locale, including China, Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand. The Philippines is a particularly prevalent success story for the industry, since 98.6% of its internet users are on social media with all things having been considered and taken into account.

As for the growth rate for social media users, India is expected to see its numbers rise by a whopping 6.9% in 2023 alone. This growth rate makes the rest of the region pale in comparison. India is shaping up to be an enormous player in this arena which will see an increasing level of prevalence in terms of the level of importance it is given by the companies offering these services. The MENA region is also predicted to see a 5.4% growth rate.

The growth rate in the West is not really reaching these levels. For example, in North America, the number of social media users is projected to increase by 1.9%. Western Europe is faring even worse, with just a 1.8% uptick on the cards.

As influence in social media moves further eastward, the industry may need to pivot in order to cater to its new consumer base. These new consumers will have a different set of requirements.

H/T: Insider Intelligence / eMarketer

Read next: New Survey Shows People Are More Likely to Ask for Financial Advice than Relationship Advice
by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World