A decade of record-breaking emoji popularity throughout the course of 10 years

Emojipedia, the world's leading emoji reference and resource platform, has highlighted the upcoming celebration of two remarkable milestones.

Emojipedia, the premier online repository for all things emoji, will commemorate two significant occasions on this day next week. The 10th World Emoji Day will be celebrated by Emojipedia on July 17, 2023, which also marks the 10th anniversary of the launch of the website. The dual celebration honors emojis' continuing influence on international communication as well as a decade of unparalleled prosperity.

But first, let's take a trip down memory lane to July 2013, when Emojipedia was originally founded, before we get into the intriguing facts. Since then, emoji usage has advanced significantly around the world. Emojipediafounder Jeremy Burge sent that first tweet, and the landscape of digital communication was forever transformed.

It's fascinating to learn which emojis captivated the world's attention back then as we look back on the early years of Emojipedia. The most often used emojis in July 2013 were very unlike from those that are most frequently used in discussions now. They represented a glimpse into the emerging language of emotion and expression. Through Emojipedia, people gained a new way to communicate and connect on a global scale.

Emoji usage has increased dramatically as of 2023. Emojis have had an unheard-of rise in popularity over the past ten years on a variety of social media sites. Emojipedia has been at the forefront of documenting and embracing this cultural phenomenon.

To kick off its 10th anniversary celebrations, Emojipedia has delved into Twitter's vast emoji data to uncover intriguing insights. The findings showcase the enduring impact and evolution of emojis since Emojipedia's inception. Most notably, 2023 has witnessed a new global peak in emoji usage. It is clear that emojis have assimilated into contemporary communication, bridging linguistic divides and promoting global connectedness.

Data from March 2023 indicates that almost 26.7% of tweets now contain at least one of the 3,664 emoji characters recommended by Unicode as of September 2022 (Emoji 15.0 recommendations). This marks a significant increase in emoji usage and represents the highest recorded rate of emoji usage on Twitter.

Since July 2022, every month has set a new record for emoji usage on Twitter. When comparing January 2013 to March 2023, there has been an overall increase in emoji use of approximately 724%, as depicted in the chart.

In the year Emojipedia was founded, there were just over 700 emojis recommended by Unicode for inclusion on emoji keyboards. However, today there are 3,664 emojis recommended for general interchange (RGI). The graph below illustrates the increase in the number of emojis recommended by Unicode from Unicode 6.0 in October 2010 to Emoji 15.0 in September 2022.

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Twitter Issues Request To Federal Court For The End Of FTC’s Privacy Settlement

Twitter has requested the Federal Court to intervene and put an end to the FTC’s privacy settlement involving the company.

The tech giant says the FTC’s probe on how the firm stores and makes use of user’s data has really gotten out of hand and now, it wants the world to know that this behavior is not okay as the issue is spiraling out of control.

In 2011, we saw a document come forward that spoke about how the app failed to keep its users as a top priority and how it failed to delineate what it was doing with their information. The order made the firm go through a series of assessments related to its security program over a decade and it also banned the firm from misleading users related to its doubtful security practices.

But Elon Musk says it’s just been too long and now it wants Twitter to be free from this order by the FTC from 2011. The firm added during a recent investigation how it’s all just so biased and very misfitting for the company to go through something of this sort. Hence, it will no longer serve any major purpose and therefore should be removed without further due.

The popular microblogging website put out a new statement about how the FTC is putting out unnecessary demands against it. Twitter has referred to this behavior as one that’s linked to stepping over the line and overreaching.

Before Elon Musk had taken over the firm, we saw it reach a massive $150 million agreement, alongside the FTC, that spoke about how the company did violate orders and didn’t let users know how data that belonged to them was being used for ad targeting purposes.

A few days after we saw Elon Musk take charge of the firm, we saw the regulatory body announce how it was on a mission to keep the same orders in place, despite major names leaving the organization. They issued bold statements about how it was silently watching the organization and keeping track of its daily activities.

The FTC said that no organization was going to be ruling above the law and all firms need to follow consent orders. They even put out revised orders of consent that would give them more means to ensure Twitter was in line with its policies. And if required, they would not hesitate one bit in terms of making use of it.

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by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

OpenAI Under Fire As FTC Begins Probe For False Information Allegations Against ChatGPT

American regulators are not happy with OpenAI after striking allegations arose against the company regarding its ChatGPT tool.

This was linked to a high risk of the program giving out false information. Therefore, a letter was sent to the company that spoke about relevant data and how the company poses certain risks such as these that really put an individual’s reputation at stake.

The probe is a clear indication of how many AI platforms will no longer be given the benefit of the doubt or be spared when such allegations come forward. But the firm’s CEO Sam Altman says it’s working side by side with the FTC to make sure it gets all the necessary answers it needs to complete its investigation.

ChatGPT is famous for producing replies that are very real as if it was generated from a human and not an AI chatbot. But that comes with its fair share of risks including misinformation and without people even knowing, they’re tricked into believing something of the sort in a matter of seconds. The same thing would take you minutes or more when using traditional aspects linked to search.

This is why experts fear the world of AI is going to change the way we all attain data when carrying out online searches. Moreover, this is another reason why one firm’s downfall could be another great opportunity for a new startup to fill in the loops offered by ChatGPT. And so far, no one has come too close to make it feel threatened but you never know.

There is a huge debate that surrounds whether or not the information being put out is real and if yes, how accurate is it? Similarly, other aspects worth a mention include whether or not the firm is going against its own policy and training its AI model using data that belongs to others. If yes, that’s another matter altogether.

In the letter that was sent over to OpenAI, we are seeing how the company was also quizzed about how much potential it has to produce replies about real people that are actually fake, damaging, and harmful.

For now, the FTC says it is also keen on seeing which measures OpenAI takes in terms of protecting data and ensuring it remains private. Similarly, how it uses data to train its models is another keen area under observation.

But the company’s CEO says it’s got nothing to hide. For years, they claim to be spending more and more time and funds to ensure the system is safe and that all research carried out is in line with its rules and regulations. They also vow to keep their users as a top priority, as confirmed through a recently published tweet on the Twitter app.

Another post generated by the firm added how confident it felt that it was behaving in line with the laws of the country and that is why they are open to all investigations and scrutiny by anyone including the FTC.

During the start of this year, we saw the OpenAI CEO delineate further in front of Congress how AI technology, including that of ChatGPT, was prone to errors. Therefore, he requested more laws in place to ensure such an industry could better regulate what’s taking place as that would be in everyone’s best interest.

Altman similarly spoke about how the AI sector can have profound effects on so many things including people’s future and career prospects and since there is a lot at stake, he was vocal about how better regulations must be added. And that’s why we’re seeing this new probe take place right now.

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by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Twitter's Cash Splash: Top Tweeters Raking in Thousands of Dollars

Once again, Twitter has made heads turn around towards it. Twitter has officially made its creator ad share payouts public, and the results are nothing short of spectacular. While the admission requirements were demanding, the gradual rollout plan now makes perfect sense. Top tweeters are already counting their green, with rewards reaching hundreds of dollars, in a move that has many Twitter users rejoicing.

For our readers context, Elon Musk, the eccentric Twitter owner, said earlier this year that Twitter would split ad income with Twitter Blue users to empower artists. The program's mechanics remained unknown until yesterday when Musk said that the first creator payments would be issued for advertising presented in answers to verified users only.

More information on the qualification requirements for creators was revealed this week. To be eligible for the program, authors must have earned at least 5 million monthly tweet impressions over the previous three months. That is no easy task, but the benefits have shown to be well worth the effort.

The first round of payments arrived on Twitter this week, and they did not disappoint. Some fortunate Twitter users have claimed to get payouts of $25k, $30k, and even more. These are stunning stats that are sure to pique the interest of other prominent Twitter users. Everyone will soon be clamouring for a piece of the revenue pie.

It's worth noting that these payouts have been backdated to Musk's original February statement. As a result, the funds collected cover a hefty five-month ad income split. As a result, these figures are likely to be larger than most creators can expect.

Twitter's strategy, which was first perceived as a result of internal issues, is pretty intelligent. Twitter has made the quoted statistics appear extremely appealing by delivering five months' worth of revenue share in one go and restricting rewards to the most engaged users. Naturally, this has created a surge of interest in the initiative, with a slew of ardent tweeters hoping for similar rewards.

The possibility of such significant revenues will definitely encourage artists to tweet more frequently. Everyone wants to increase their interaction and include more advertisements in their responses. However, This rise in participation may raise concerns about the sorts of content the program unwittingly encourages.

Twitter must strike a delicate balance as it navigates the obstacles of its new revenue-sharing venture. The program's success depends on recruiting and rewarding top tweeters while ensuring that the information provided stays valuable and diversified. Let's see how well and long it goes.

Wrapping up the story with this thought, Twitter's creator ad share rewards have created a frenzy on the network. Others are ready to board, with top tweeters earning thousands of dollars. However, to minimise possible content generation complications, Twitter must carefully supervise the program. Only time will tell how this daring decision will affect the social media giant and its creators' future.

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by Rubah Usman via Digital Information World

Twitter's Hide and Seek: Disappearing Checkmarks and Secret Likes

Are you sick of being judged because you have a nice blue checkmark next to your Twitter username? Prepare to conceal it, along with your tweet likes and in-app subscriptions, very soon. Twitter has some exciting news for you!

Twitter is working on alternatives to allow users to hide their blue checkmarks in what appears to be a subtle self-criticism. If you have a Twitter Blue subscription, you will soon have access to a toggle that magically removes your blue tick, as spotted by Alessandro Paluzzi. However, some behaviors, including publishing lengthier tweets or using text editing tools, may reveal your Twitter Blue status. As a result, if you opt to go anonymous, you may have to give up some features.

Wasn't the blue checkmark the ultimate status sign, denoting the chosen few? Wasn't it a symbol of power, democratized by Elon Musk when he cried excitedly, "Power to the people"? Apparently, the flawed view of the checkmark drove the development of this new function. You may now donate money to Twitter 2.0 without fear of being tagged as an Elon Musk supporter.

To be honest, it's a little perplexing. Elon's original idea was to make people want the blue checkmark so much that they would pay $8 monthly. And now Twitter wants people who have it to be able to hide it? Since it's in development, there must be a market for it, and based on the most recent data, Twitter appears to be one of them.

But wait, there's more! Twitter is also empowering individuals to manage what others view. Consider the ability to conceal your likes and subscriptions from inquisitive eyes. These new toggles, as demonstrated in an image posted by T(w)itter Daily News, will allow you to hide your likes tab and even prohibit Twitter's API feed from accessing that data. You may also keep your subscriptions private, following whatever interests you without fear of criticism.

This has the potential to be a game changer for adult entertainers and anyone looking to share NSFW content with the public. It might pave the way for new growth opportunities and position Twitter as a rival to companies like OnlyFans for creative monetization.

Prepare to play hide and seek on Twitter! Soon, you can remove that blue tick, keep your preferences hidden, and pursue your passions without fear of judgment. Twitter's new features may add mystery and intrigue to your social media experience.

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by Rubah Usman via Digital Information World

E-Commerce’s Top Trio: Electronics, Toys, and Fashion Dominate Sales

According to the latest data shared by Statista, electronic appliances, toys, and do-it-yourself items, including clothing and fashion, are currently the top 3 areas hosting most of the purchases made online. The report says that these areas account for almost 2/3 of the online sales made worldwide.

The report further added that even though e-commerce runs throughout the year, the purchases reach their peak during three mega sale events, including Amazon Prime Day, which recently came to an end on July 12th, followed by the Black Friday sale, which starts the day after Thanksgiving and is considered the official start of the holiday shopping season. Black Friday is followed by Cyber Week, which starts on the first Monday after Thanksgiving.

These three mega campaigns are crucial for the e-commerce industry because they generate a significant portion of the total online shopping revenue. People look forward to these events to find discounts and grab the products they want at lower prices.

It’s not surprising that electric appliances are at the top of the list because they are usually expensive things that people buy, like smartphones, laptops, and others such as washing machines. These items are important for many people and can be quite costly, so it makes sense that they are popular during online shopping campaigns. People are often looking for deals and discounts on these products to save money while getting the things they need for their homes or personal use.

Fashion taking up almost twenty percent of global e-commerce revenue is quite impressive when anyone thinks about it. Even though individual fashion items may not be as expensive as electronic devices, fashion makes up for that by selling a large quantity of items. So, while each fashion item may not have a high price, many people buy lots of fashion items, which adds up to a significant amount of money. People love to shop for clothes, shoes, and accessories online, and the fashion industry is able to make a lot of revenue by selling a large volume of these items.

The experts at Statista believe that buying food online has the potential to grow a lot. They predict that the revenue from online food shopping could increase from over $300 billion in 2023 to more than $600 billion in 2027. That’s a big jump in just a few years. However, even with this growth, the revenue from online food shopping won’t reach the same level as the three big segments mentioned earlier. So, while online food shopping is expected to grow significantly, it won’t surpass the revenue generated by those popular shopping periods anytime soon. It is forecast that in the upcoming 4 years, sales in tech will enter the trillion-dollar zone.

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by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

Bill Gates’ Blog About AI Risks: Emphasizing Employee Retraining and Support in the Evolving Workplace

By now, we are all familiar with the breakthrough of Artificial Intelligence that has revolutionized industries and reshaped our lives innovatively. Yet, as excitement surged with its transformative impact, a corresponding rise in hysteria and unease was observed, primarily impacting workers and learners.

Bill Gates, an avid supporter of AI, published a blog post on Tuesday discussing AI and its risks. In it, he challenges this fear, the drawbacks of AI, by leaving behind an optimistic overview regarding the efficient use of AI technology and society having to adapt accordingly. Gates states that AI will impact the workplace and that workers require retraining.

The Microsoft cofounder considers that the future of AI is not as promising as it appears to be, nor is it as bleak as it seems. He states that the stakes may be high, but he has a positive outlook on managing AI tech. He compares the introduction of AI with revolutionary advancements that people were first uncertain about but later learned the usefulness of inventions like computers, cars, and calculators.

Highlighting teachers' concerns regarding computers and calculators decades ago and how they stressed over those technologies stifling their students' learning skills, Gates establishes parallels between those worries about using AI in essay writing. He references a teacher, Cherie Shields, who uses AI in her classrooms. She suggested adapting to the new tech, relating AI to how teachers first taught students how to use search engines for their studies, and recommending lesson plans based on using ChatGPT to assist with essay writing and learning.

Gates also discusses workers’ worry about AI replacing their roles and possibly leaving them unemployed. Even people in executive posts fear they risk unemployment due to AI. The findings from a survey commissioned by Checkr, an employee screening service, revealed that 79% of workers feared that AI threatened their job and income. But on the other hand, 86% of the respondents would accept salary reductions in exchange for reduced working hours. Gates further emphasizes the importance of workers receiving support and retraining to successfully adapt to the progression to an AI-powered workplace, leaving it up to the governments and businesses to ensure that they're not neglecting workers.

Gates claims that AI’s impact will not be like the Industrial Revolution but will be as drastic as the introduction of personal computers. A Goldman Sachs research announced that Generative AI like ChatGPT could impact 300 million jobs. But that finding doesn’t imply that 300 million people would become unemployed, but instead reveals the potential automation of some elements of their professions.

Additionally, Gates asserts that word processing applications didn't eliminate office work but permanently altered it. If employers and employees evolved and adapted to it, they can manage in an AI-powered world. AI will impact White-collar professions, such as the legal, administrative, and finance fields, the most when compared to blue-collar industries, which would be least affected.

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by Ahmed Naeem via Digital Information World