Excess Social Media Consumption Is Giving Rise To The Phubbing Trend And It’s Hurting Relationships, New Study Proves

While the benefit of using social media and technology, in general, are plenty, the disadvantages can never be ignored.

A new study is highlighting the damaging effects that arise with using too many social networking apps and that includes a ridiculous concerning trend called phubbing.

It’s simple to understand that when you’re out with your partner for dinner, the biggest turn-off would be to engage in your smartphone, instead of giving the person in front of you attention. Now the act of giving your phone more attention than the person seated right in front of you is designated as phubbing. And as you can imagine, people are feeling snubbed by technology while those engaging in the act aren’t even aware of what’s taking place.

It’s not only about romantic dates but corporate gatherings or family reunions. The practice is really taking a negative toll on relationships and it has actually turned into a trend that’s baffling, to say the least.

And in case you’re still wondering where the term phubbing came from. Well, it arises from snubbing, which is the feeling of being left out. Hence, when you merge a phone with snubbing, it’s phubbing!

The arrival of the trend made us search online to gain further insights about the subject. And it’s amazing how many people have issued complaints on this front. It’s like they’re fed up with the act to such a major extent that it’s not even funny anymore.

People have added a new hashtag that makes it easier for others to search for posts linked to the act on TikTok, for instance. And people are not happy with how things are taking center stage, especially considering the fact that the trend is on the rise with no hope of slowing down.

New publications are even including the term as a part of their titles. They’re diving down deep to research more about how it can drastically take a toll on relationships and communication skills linked to it.

Recent research took 712 married people into evaluation from different cities in Turkey. And that’s where they were subject to questionnaires that enlisted close to 10 mobile-based activities. Each of those was linked to using mobile phones and how they disturbed the entire mode of communication online. It also put into the spotlight how some individuals were super obsessed with technology. And as you can imagine, the greater the score, the more the individuals were phubbed.

But the real finding was linked to higher phubbing scores being linked to lower figures for marriage satisfaction. Clearly, it’s not shocking, to say the least. But amongst all the negative findings, there was one once of positivity worth a mention. And that’s linked to those people who had better communication skills scored less in phubbing and had higher marriage satisfaction figures.

Of course, phubbing is a major deterrent to healthy relationships. Why would anyone appreciate you texting, putting out emojis, or simply choosing technology over direct communication? We’re not the least bit surprised. What about you?

So, what’s the solution? Well, experts feel it’s high time the matter was discussed in public. And more studies are needed to figure out the right way to combat the issue. But common sense tells us to put the phone away when you’ve got a loved one or a colleague or a boss standing in front of you. It’s just logical to give one to one attention than dig your head into your phone.

No matter how important things may be, stop scrolling and leave it for later when you’re alone. It’s amazing how far small tips like these can go.

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by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Teens More Likely To Fall Into The Trap Of Believing Online Conspiracies Than Adults, New Study Reveals

A new study that’s based in the US is highlighting some alarming facts regarding online conspiracies affecting the younger lot more than adults.

The findings were attained from CCDH which spoke about older generations not falling into the trap of such ordeals but those who were between the age bracket of 13 to 17 were four times as likely of doing so.

This just goes to reveal how teenagers have a stronger bond with the world of social media than others in terms of believing everything they read online.

The CCDH who is known for fighting matters linked to misinformation added how 60% of such teens in the US that were surveyed were likely to believe such posts while only 49% of adults were found guilty of doing so.

Meanwhile, teenagers that spend close to 4 hours each day on social media apps were also more likely of falling into the trap where the figure rose to a whopping 69%. There also seems to be some kind of prejudice arising in terms of the teenagers of today saving society from the ill content that was made by those older than them. But in terms of misinformation, there’s just not enough people to save the world from the great damage that continues to arise, the CEO adds.

The head of the CCDH added how the matter is alarming because that undermines all the right information up for grabs as this is the future generation of tomorrow that will lead the world. And they’re not going to take the values of today’s society seriously if such actions continue to arise.

This particular research was seen polling close to 1000 adults as well as the same figure of teens on what their beliefs were regarding social media and its effects today. Similarly, it spoke about requesting respondents to mention if they agreed about all the conflicting statements that stemmed from misinformation data like those denying climate change and speaking ill of vaccines.

The report happens to be the newest source of data that highlights how negative of an effect social media has on the minds of youngsters. And as time passes, the implications get more serious.

Whatever the case may be, one thing is for sure. This CCDH research is making it very obvious how the effects of social media go beyond those linked to mental health while producing concerns linked to public health for the community today. After all, hate speech, violence, and misinformation is growing today.

The news comes at a time when we see the younger lot putting greater reliance on social media apps for information and for carrying out online searches. Moreover, recent stats also proved how tech giant Google showed 40% of youngsters rely on TikTok and apps like Instagram as compared to the classic search engines out there. And with only 5% of Gen Z reading newspapers, it’s alarming to see what’s being fed into their minds.

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by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

This Freelance Writing Job Lets You Earn $250 an Hour Remotely Without a Degree

Freelancing has the potential to give you financial freedom, but in spite of the fact that this is the case, not all freelancing jobs are created equal. While many would consider graphic design and coding to be the best jobs for freelancers around the world, it turns out that writing is perhaps the most valuable skill of all with all things having been considered and taken into account. According to research conducted by Freelancer, creative writing saw the highest level of demand of all.

With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that AI has not done much to blunt the competitive edge of creative writing. The main advantage of freelance writing is that it does not require you to have any kind of degree, and it also enables you to work remotely thereby facilitating a greater balance between your work life and home life than might have been the case otherwise.

On the upper end of the spectrum, countless experienced freelance writers are earning as much as $250 on an hourly basis. When viewed in aggregate, a full time job that pays this hourly rate can earn a freelance writer around $400,000 annually, which is about as much as the US president’s salary. For information on freelance writing rates take a look at the charts and graphics below, from Ashley R. Cummings, that shed lights on how much freelance writers charge.

While AI can definitely offer some limited types of writing services, it is not yet advanced enough to provide any degree of creativity. As a result, the field of writing is flourishing in ways that no one had been able to predict in the past. It will be interesting to see where this career path goes from here on out, since freelancers are easily earning six figures a year and they have nowhere to go but up.

Leveraging AI can make the job of a freelance writer even easier. By using AI for research and proof reading, freelance writers can take their careers to the next level by automating certain processes. AI might not replace these writers, but it is certainly allowing them to optimize the services that they are providing as of right now.

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by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

Vanishing Act: Twitter's Mysterious Photo Purge of 2011-2014

Have you ever lost your phone memory? Do you miss all the childhood photos of your baby that are now gone with the memory? This can be one of the biggest regrets; you would do anything to get all the photos back, wouldn't you? But why are we talking about that? Hold onto your tweets, folks, because a digital enigma is unfolding. The social media platform formerly known as Twitter, now called X, seems to have pulled off a magic trick that would leave Houdini bewildered. It's vanished all images posted between 2011 and 2014, leaving users scratching their heads and scrambling to decipher the puzzle.

This digital disappearance made headlines after user Tom Coates raised the alarm. Tweets about the missing photographs spread like wildfire, causing a frenzy of alarm among individuals who had been devoted users of the network for well over a decade.

By the way - in 2014 Ellen Degeneres posted a selfie from the Oscars and it became the most retweeted photo of all time. That photo is now gone from Twitter. https://t.co/fbH11wzbDV

— Tom Coates (@tomcoates) August 19, 2023

A brief search proved the truth: photos from 2011 to 2014 were actually gone. Links that were formerly the connecting threads between the virtual and actual worlds are now broken and go nowhere.

So, what's the story? Was this a massive purge engineered by X to clear up its servers, or a cunning little bug wreaking havoc? The answer isn't as simple as an emoji-filled tweet.

Here's what we know: back in the early days of Twitter, image uploads were about as rare as a unicorn sighting. It wasn't until the summer of 2011 that Twitter bestowed upon us the gift of native image uploads. Before that, if you wanted to share an image, you'd have to rely on external image-hosting services like TwitPic.

TwitPic, the original Twitter picture-sharing app. Even that, though, sank into digital obscurity in 2014. As the dust settled, we found that many early photographs had vanished into cyberspace.

Let's go down the technical rabbit hole now. The new URL Twitter creates due to its link-shortening wizardry is the villain behind this vanishing performance. Images no longer appear on our displays, and connections lead to dead ends, perplexing us.

But here's where things become complicated. Those photographs you gleefully and enthusiastically put straight on Twitter's platform from 2011 to 2014? They may have also joined the digital disappearing act. That's true; they're also not showing up.

Before we embark on a virtual treasure hunt, it's crucial to remember that Twitter didn't become the image powerhouse it is today overnight. It took time for those pixels to find their place in the Twitterverse, and the road wasn't without its potholes.

So, what comes next? Are those photographs doomed to remain in the digital Bermuda Triangle in perpetuity? Is there a mystical spell that can resurrect them? As the curtain lowers on this vanishing performance, we wonder if this was a huge theatrical play by X or simply an unanticipated digital blip.

Whatever the situation, one thing is sure: Twitter, now X, will remain a stage for the unexpected, where tweets might vanish into the air and links can lead nowhere. It's a digital journey full of twists, turns, and disappearing images.

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by Rubah Usman via Digital Information World

Only 17% of Digital Marketers Are Investing in X in 2023

The acquisition of Twitter by Elon Musk has led to the platform completely transforming. The latest in a series of controversial decisions made by the new CEO involved rebranding Twitter to X, a moniker that he has long been passionate about with all things having been considered and taken into account. In spite of the fact that this is the case, it seems like Twitter is suffering greatly under his management, as can be seen in the declining number of marketers looking to set up campaigns on X.

81% of marketers say that they plan to invest in Google and its properties in the coming year, and 57% said the same about Meta. With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that 23% said that they have any plans to use X to any degree whatsoever. This is lower than LinkedIn, Microsoft and TikTok, which received 40%, 31% and 32% respectively.

We are already seeing a dramatic decrease in the third quarter of 2023. In Q1, 27% of marketers said that they have invested in X, which was still known as Twitter at the time. By the second quarter this had dipped to 22%, and as of Q3 2023, just 17% of marketers are still eager to invest in X.

X is still performing better than some other platforms such as Pinterest with 22%, Apple with 17% and Spotify with 16%. Reddit is also preferred by just 15% of marketers, so this might not be the end for X if Musk is able to steer the ship into safer waters. Snap also got selected by just 13% of marketers, thereby suggesting that X might not be as successful as Google or Meta, but it is still not the least successful social media ad platform out there.

However, the massive decline still shows that X is not as popular as Twitter used to be. It will be interesting to see how this impacts Elon Musk’s plans in the future as his new company continues to sustain heavy financial losses.

H/T: SEL

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by Zia Muhammad via Digital Information World

Google Ceases Testing Links in Search Generative Experience Snapshot Answers

In recent developments, Google has suspended its trial of incorporating links into the Search Generative Experience (SGE) AI-generated snapshot answers. This project, which began earlier this month with the goal of improving the usability of AI-generated replies, has now been halted.

Throughout the testing, Google included links and citations in the AI-generated snapshot replies of the Search Generative Experience. This test attempted to solve a significant limitation of the SGE, which was that users could not immediately access the sources of information from the generated answer text. On the other hand, Google has lately decided to stop including links and citations in its AI-generated replies.

A screenshot showcasing the link/citation integration within the SGE answers during the test phase has been made available. It's worth noting that the original coverage displayed a variety of formats for the inclusion of links in these answers. Users who took part in the test confirmed the presence of connections in Google's AI-generated comments, but as of yesterday afternoon, these links have been removed.

The agreement among those who participated in the test group, including Danny Goodwin, Managing Editor of Search Engine Land, is that Google has stopped showing links. The addition of links, according to users, considerably improved the user experience by allowing them to immediately access the sources from which the AI-generated replies were pulled.

One of the primary criticisms of the Search Generative Experience was the absence of clickable links within the AI-generated answer text, preventing users from verifying the information sources. The integration of links was seen as a solution to this concern, as it provided users with a more functional and informative experience. While it is unclear whether Google will reestablish connections in the future, the corporation has halted the current test phase.

Google's Search Liaison addressed the matter on Twitter in response to questions, claiming that while the business has always given corroborating connections, modifications to the manner and display of these links are underway. The Search Liaison confirmed that the carousel that preceded the SGE still allows users to access links using the menu icon. This implies that Google is not abandoning the concept of integrating links but is instead experimenting with alternative forms to maximize their appearance.

Several users, including Lily Ray and Kenichi Suzuki, have reported the disappearance of outbound links from their Search Generative Experience. Lily Ray expressed her disappointment and urged others who share her sentiment to provide feedback to Google. The lack of linkages in the AI-generated replies has sparked user debate, with questions raised regarding the veracity and context of the information supplied by the SGE material.

While Google's recent decision to cease the link integration test in Search Generative Experience AI-generated snapshot replies elicited mixed emotions; the firm is committed to improving the user experience through constant experimentation. On the other hand, the lack of linkages emphasizes the persistent issue of finding the correct balance between convenience and accuracy in AI-generated replies. As consumers await additional advances, it is apparent that the discovery of novel forms and upgrades in generative AI is far from complete.

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by Rubah Usman via Digital Information World

Google Gears Up To Launch Emergency SOS Via Satellite In Its Messages App For Android Devices

Google appears to be following in the footsteps of iPhone maker Apple with the launch of a new Emergency SOS feature that would be available through Satellite technology.

This innovative and extremely useful endeavor is designed to help users establish emergency contact whenever there isn’t any form of cellular connectivity available. Hence, this was a feature that was in demand and now finally seeing its rollout in Android is definitely getting appreciation.

The news was first spotted by top X user Neil Rahmouni and more details on this front were unveiled by others. New pictures show how Google Messages would be equipped with this emergency feature that’s being made available via satellite technology.

The company is already done with the process of including user interface features that are needed to start the process for emergency SOS texts through the Messages app.

Meanwhile, experts are not too surprised to see Google including SOS activity for Android as the firm already mentioned in the past how it was adding satellite support for its latest Android 14 variant. In addition to that, we all are well aware of how the Messages app is set as the standard platform on so many kinds of Android phones. Therefore, this kind of support was necessary before a new messaging app would be required to provide assistance for satellite connection.

The very useful feature is set to assist all those with Android devices. Moreover, we are already seeing how Apple’s SOS feature via satellite is already super useful for those with Android devices.

It’s an absolute lifesaver and this past month, we were informed about how one family had been rescued from the devastating wildfires in Hawaai’s Maui region, all thanks to the device’s Emergency SOS contact offering through satellite.

For now, there is no information regarding when we can see such emergency features launching on Android phones. Moreover, while the rollout is designed for Android 14, it might not be up for grabs for every phone. And that’s related to the fact that such endeavors need modern hardware.

At this moment in time, we’ve got tech giant Huawei and iPhone maker Apple being the only two firms that make the most of satellite connection through mobile phones. Moreover, Huawei even cinched ahead of Apple by rolling out the endeavor one week before across its Mate 50 and Mate 50 Plus devices.

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by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World