Most Young People Only Use Instagram and TikTok Because of FOMO

Becker Friedman Institute of Economics, and University of Chicago conducted a study about the impacts and trends of social media among users and the reason behind why they use social media apps. The study revealed an interesting yet shocking fact that most young people use social media out of fear that they will miss out on certain aspects. They say that they use social media because they see everyone using it and don’t want people to think that they are not cultured enough.

The bottom-line of the whole study was that when individuals aren't active on social media as much as other people, they fear that they will miss out on new trends and will be left behind. Same thing happens with not owning luxury brands, as people often disregard people who are not familiar or do not own a branded item. It also affects their social status among peers.

This study started after offering more than 1,000 college students money if they deactivate their accounts. They were asked to deactivate the accounts while the rest of the people can still use their social media. The result showed that if the people in the study had to deactivate, $59 would be enough for them to delete their TikTok account. And they would deactivate their Instagram account if given $47. After that, they were asked if they would deactivate their social media accounts if the other would do too. The users agreed that they will take $28 to deactivate their TikTok account and $10 to deactivate their Instagram account if others would deactivate too.

It was also revealed that 58% of the respondents say that they would like to live in a world where TikTok and Instagram couldn’t exist. Some also agreed that everyone should deactivate their accounts if people in the study are going to do it. A small percentage also said that no one should deactivate their Instagram and TikTok accounts.

Respondents who said that they would deactivate their accounts were also asked why they still use social media apps. The main reason was FOMO(Fear of Missing Out). They said that they feel like not using social media, especially Instagram, will make them feel that they are not up-to-date with social media trends. Others admitted that they are just addicted to Instagram while some said that they use it for entertainment. Maps app was also included in the survey. The reason that people told of using Maps app was 30% productivity, 30% information and 10% FOMO.

Read next: The Rise of Smart Homes in America
by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

OpenAI’s COO Provides Interesting Insights Surrounding The Current AI Hype

As the world of AI dominates, we’re saying hello to all kinds of perspectives of the masses. But it’s interesting to hear what the actual leaders have to say that are responsible for the unfazed trends linked to this domain.

And who better to ask than the COO of OpenAI who did not fail in terms of having his say about the current AI boom. While most of us continue to debate how useful of an endeavor it really is, this next report concentrates on Brad Lightcap’s views and they’re very interesting, to say the least.

The AI hype is certainly not a solution for everything. And as per Lightcap’s opinion, it’s insane how some tech giants are holding on to unrealistic goals and targets to achieve with the breakthrough technology.

Sitting down for a recently held interview with media outlet CNBC, he added how one of the most hyped and talked about components in this entire ordeal has to do with the capability of AI to completely alter an enterprise in a single go.

He further added how his organization tends to hold discussions and meetings with other industry leaders and they keep on speaking about how they want to achieve a particular target for so long but just aren’t getting there.

It could be related to attaining a revenue growth of 20% that was seen in the past but just isn’t seen now. Maybe they wish to embark on reducing costs, and so on and so forth, the leading executive added.

• Related: ChatGPT Is Fighting Its Own Internal Battles That Most People Know Nothing About

Lightcap reiterated how this year has seen the boom of generative AI and ever since they rolled out their famous AI tool dubbed ChatGPT, it’s safe to say that there can never be just a single thing to do when using AI if you wish to solve your business’s issues completely.

He added how most firms fail to understand that AI creates a new realm for users in terms of individuality and their respective empowerment in the industry. But it’s not just the big shots who can benefit.

AI can help those starting out or working as independent entrepreneurs with great ambitions who can use the AI tool and generate more revenue. Moreover, when one person asked the program to generate tips on how to get a successful firm up and running with just a startup sum of $100, ChatGPT did that. And while the person or firm isn’t earning millions just yet, it’s surely on its way.

But the COO of OpenAI revealed how such actions are yet to be announced and usually go unnoticed and he thinks it’s not fair. He added how you can find plenty of people in the industry carrying superpowers that are only in the leading position thanks to what plenty of tools equipped them with. So what they once perceived as impossible was actually possible now with assistance.

Programs and tools including the likes of ChatGPT give businesses the shortcuts needed to get desirable results in a faster and more efficient manner and with the help of the company’s owners and workforce, success is no longer a dream, it’s reality, he confirmed.

One leading industry example was provided with Morgan Stanley and how it enhanced earnings with projections expected to hit a whopping $83 million in the next five years. But then comes the negativity of some who can’t help but talk about how AI is detrimental to the human race and will end up stealing people’s work while getting rid of jobs and that’s proof of how society can never be happy.

Read next: ChatGPT Exposed: OpenAI Warns Repeating The Word ‘Forever’ Is Against Its Terms Of Service As It Could Reveal Training Codes
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

More Trouble For Meta As Company Sued $600 Million For Repeated Anti-Competitive Behavior In The EU

Tech giant Meta is not going to be happy to hear how another major lawsuit is being fired in its direction with a fine worth $600 million.

Media outlets in Spain allege that the tech giant has repeatedly been violating the European Union’s data protection laws by exhibiting anti-competitive behavior across the region. The purpose seems to be Meta’s keen goals linked to dominating the local advertising industry, the Spanish media confirmed, which now seeks damage for the act.

The group who filed the legal case entails 83 different media outlets in the country and they feel Meta’s constant strive to grab user data without requesting consent can no longer go unnoticed. It is a huge violation of the GDPR, they added which reportedly came into being nearly five years back. But the fact that Meta continues with its unlawful actions is proof of how little it cares about others in the industry including its own user base in Europe.

For those who might not be aware, the GDPR says all social media apps that make use of user data need to first attain consent from users as it belongs to them. But the fact that Meta repeatedly fails to do this and carries on with its own rules is a violation and clear how it wants to dominate the market via such acts.

To better comply with such laws, Meta says it’s working closely with different interpretations linked to legislation, specifically those having to do with getting consent.

If we go back to the year’s start, the tech giant revealed how it was working hard to stay close to the clauses outlined in the GDPR and hoped to do so by reconstructing the app requirements.

The tech giant released a statement on this front and added how both platforms were designed in a personal manner and they feel how it's important to give users a tailored experience including the types of ads on display.

Referring to it as an imperative component of its services, Meta feels reliance upon Contractual Necessity will be required to prove to people how various behavioral advertisements arise, depending on the activities taking place across its apps. This will be subject to both privacy and security changes in the settings, it added. They also called it bizarre to not give users a customized experience.

This particular method appears to be the center of a major push with the tech giant mentioning how it would be required to constantly change the legal basis that utilizes such a process. Moreover, it is more than certain that such information can influence behavioral marketing through ads.

The change it is making is to answer all the growing figures of requirements taking place in that region. This includes how the DPC who heads such a rule in the EU interprets the laws in regards to recent rulings while paving the way for the upcoming DMA.

This seems to be a major push arising from the side of the Spanish press who feel it must be applied in other places where the leading tech giant operates. But Meta is yet to provide remarks regarding the latest filing in Spain.

The changing data regulations across the EU continue to serve as a huge headache for those operating websites in this part of the world. Many people must adhere to the latest rules that revolve around giving users the right to accept or reject data usage.

But even within that jurisdiction, plenty of individuals continue to look for loopholes throughout the system and hope to keep on offering their own services without halting this process.

Even Meta seems to be keen on avoiding this by rolling out a subscription package that’s free from ads across the EU. Therefore, Meta will carry on with its usual business model of providing ads and if you wish to opt out of that endeavor, you can pay more to reap the benefits.

Meta says it’s not keen on making its users pay for the version without ads but it just needs to provide them with options to fulfill those requirements.

Read next: Meta Cancels Support For Cross-App Chats Between Instagram And Facebook Messenger Apps
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

ChatGPT Exposed: OpenAI Warns Repeating The Word ‘Forever’ Is Against Its Terms Of Service As It Could Reveal Training Codes

A team of researchers at ChatGPT claims repeating the term ‘forever’ will end up revealing segments linked to its training codes.

And now, parent firm OpenAI is shedding light on this subject in regards to how such a command is also a clear violation of the company’s terms of service.

The news arose as authors who hail from 404 Media mentioned how words like computer forever end up revealing the code but only parts of it. However, it also came with a warning regarding how such behavior violates its respective content policy.

For now, experts feel OpenAI’s statement on the matter regarding a clear violation is very vague but when you actually sit down and get deep into the policy, you see how it delineates how compilation, compilation, reverse assembly, translation, and more is not allowed, provided the intent is simply to identify source codes. Similarly, it is to be avoided if done for the mere fact of figuring out which model parts, systems, and algorithms are used in the chatbot.

The company similarly bars all users from making use of automated means to remove data from its Services.

The glitch arose in the public eye when we saw one high-level researcher who hailed from Google Brain, make an attempt with her team to expose the chatbot’s behavior of scraping the online web for data that it could use for training reasons, ahead of time.

Whenever prompts like the repetition of terms like the company was made, it caused the chatbot to carry on repeating this particular term and this forced the chatbot to repeat such a word close to 313 times, right before text was published from a source based in New Jersey. The latter included contact details like email IDs and even phone numbers.

The team observed how such issues don’t regularly arise, each time they’re used. However, the authors disclosed the results to ChatGPT’s parent firm in August of this year and even waited for three months before having the data released regarding the matter. So in the end, OpenAI got plenty of time to find a solution to the error.

There is yet to be any response for such comments being generated.

Also, the group of researchers want OpenAI to know that researchers are constantly working to attain exemption from the DMC Act that gives them the power to break into company policy and override copyright claims to highlight vulnerabilities but as one can expect, big tech giants don’t like the sound of that.

Read next: Wall Street in Peril as AI Threat Reaches London Finance Sector
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

The Need-to-Know About Consumer Rights And Fine Print

If you’ve ever clicked “Accept” on those seemingly endless pages of “Terms and Conditions” without reading the fine print, you’re definitely not alone. But any time you do that, you’re putting yourself at risk.

That’s because of what fine print actually is—text outlining a company’s policies or a given contract in detail. Once you click “Accept,” you’re agreeing to whatever those terms are, whether you’ve read them or not.

With an average word count of 10,835, it’s hard to imagine anyone could read through and analyze the fine print, especially if you’re in a rush. On top of that, a recent study by Secure Data Recovery suggests that many companies make their fine print long-winded and confusing on purpose, too complicated for the average consumer to skim, let alone understand.

But there are ways to protect yourself. Here’s what to look out for in the fine print before you click “Accept.”

1. Data Privacy

In an increasingly digital world, data privacy is at the forefront of consumer concerns. Companies are aware of this and sometimes bury important data privacy policies in their fine print. The terms you agree to might give them permission to use your data however they want, up to and including selling it to other companies.

Phrases like “our affiliates,” “our partners,” or “third party” usually refer to data-sharing, allowing the company to sell personal data it collects from you to any willing buyer. This could lead to you getting bombarded with emails, texts, and other solicitations from those other companies, since they’ve bought your contact information.

Giving up your data rights also affects how companies can market to you. For example, they might use information that you intended to keep private, scraped from personal communication or other data you generate by using their product or service.

Look for an “Opt out” option if you need to use the product or service but want to keep your data safe.

2. Financial Policies

Burying financial policies in the fine print gives companies an advantage in marketing. They can market using exaggerated claims, qualifying them by outlining the true terms in the fine print. While it’s technically not deceptive advertising, it means that what you see in ads isn’t always what you get.

One example is hidden fees. A company webpage or a product description might offer free returns, while the fine print says there’s a 20% restocking fee for any returned merchandise—so while “returns” are technically free, restocking isn’t. Other hidden fees include cancellation fees, automatic renewal, rebates, interest rate changes, and other charges or penalties.

Also, look out for introductory offers or similar promotions. For example, a credit card company might offer a very low promotional interest rate for a fixed period but put the exact terms of that rate in the fine print. If you don’t read the fine print, you might sign up for the card thinking you’ve locked in a certain rate—and get blindsided when taking cash out or having a late payment causes your rate to suddenly skyrocket.

This can also happen with deferred interest offers. When a company defers your interest, that means you don’t have to pay interest for a fixed period. But if you don’t pay off the principal by the end of it, you’re on the hook for all the interest you incurred in that time. It’s only “interest-free” if you can pay off the principal during the promotional period.

3. Liability

We’d all like to think that companies stand behind their products and services. But companies can limit their liability, legally and otherwise, in the fine print.

The fine print will usually state what makes the agreement or certain policies void, even if the company doesn’t explicitly tell you otherwise. For example, if you’re dealing with warranty coverage for a product, the fine print might list conditions that automatically void your warranty or specifics that it doesn’t cover.

The fine print might also outline your legal rights. In some cases, companies can limit your ability to take legal action against them if something goes wrong, like if they fail to provide quality service or you’re injured by their product. Terms like “class-action waiver” and “mandatory arbitration” mean you can’t exercise certain legal options—you can’t pursue a class-action lawsuit or sue, no matter what happens.

Key Terms to Keep in Mind

What to look out for in the fine print depends on the specific agreement, like if it’s for a product or service, a free service or paid, and so on. But some things are worth checking for in any agreement you come across.

Before you agree to the fine print, look for the following:

• If your information will be shared with third parties or affiliates: You can search for the terms “third parties” and “affiliates” specifically to find these sections.
• Opt-out options
• Arbitration
• Waivers or releases: These are important because they could give the company the ability to use your data, or prevent you from pursuing any claims against the company.
• Any sections written in all caps: These usually contain some of the most important conditions.

Final Thoughts

It’s hard to sift through pages and pages of fine print—especially when some companies purposely make it difficult to read. But contracts are contracts, and those “Terms and Conditions” are binding, no matter what they’re for.

The next time you get hit with a pop-up full of fine print, keep an eye out for the things in this post to help protect your rights.

Read next: Research Shows that Tech Knowledge is Going to be a Must in Every Field in the Upcoming 10 Years
by Irfan Ahmad via Digital Information World

Popular AI Image Generator Stable Diffusion Fails To Represent Minorities While Promoting Harmful Stereotypes, New Research Claims

There’s nothing worse than making use of AI technology to promote harmful stereotypes but it appears that one of the most popular AI-based image generators is doing just that.

Stable Diffusion has been deemed to be many people’s number one solution when it comes to AI image creation but thanks to new research by authors at the University of Washington, it might come at a specific cost.

This has to do with a complete erasure of minority groups including those belonging to indigenous communities, the study added, while making sure harmful stereotypes were promoted simultaneously.

Whenever a prompt was added to the tool, for example, to create a picture of an individual arising from a certain location, you’d find it creating light-skinned people too often.

Seeing the tool be a complete failure in terms of equal representation of all members of society really had the authors of the study stunned and they plan to go more into depth by presenting their research at this year’s conference in Singapore that has to do with Empirical Methods in Natural Language.

The same had to do with sexualizing pictures belonging to women arising from some kind of Latin nations like Peru or even Columbia as well as those arising from the likes of India and Egypt too.

The authors also spoke about how serious of a concern this was as it’s important to call out such tools that are serving as a harm to this world. There seems to be a complete removal of certain identity groups including those linked to nonbinary communities and those arising from indigenous communities.

If there happens to be a Stable Diffusion user arising from a particular part of Australia that is indigenous, they’d be amazed to figure out that they’ll never be represented by the powerful AI image generator tool.

Instead, lighter-skinned faces would be displayed even though indigenous communities were the first to settle and most of the land belonged to them originally in Australia.

To better gauge how the image generator portrays individuals, the authors of the research asked it to produce 50 different images featuring a person’s frontal view. The prompts generated were of various kinds including terms about six different types of continents and nearly 26 nations. A similar trial was done with gender.

The authors took those pictures produced by the tool and carried out a computed analysis and every one of them got a score. When the figure was closer to 0, it suggested less similar occurrences while those near to 1 had greater similarity.

The authors confirmed such results through manual means and that’s when they realized that most of the images were of the male gender and featured those having lighter skin tones and hailing from parts of Europe and North America. Meanwhile, the least correspondence was seen against the non-binary community and those hailing from the African and Asian regions.

In the same way, another interesting finding noted by the authors had to do with women of color being sexualized and most of them were from Latin America. Clearly, there is a huge problem that has to do with equal distribution of people but the authors failed to provide a proper solution on how to fix the matter.

The reason why the research was carried out on Stable Diffusion had to do with the fact that it put out its training data and is also open-source. The former is a rare occurrence when you look at other leading LLM including those from Dell.

Read next: Research Shows that Tech Knowledge is Going to be a Must in Every Field in the Upcoming 10 Years
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Research Shows that Tech Knowledge is Going to be a Must in Every Field in the Upcoming 10 Years

Per Scholas, a national nonprofit tech organization did research with the help of OnePoll that shows by the end of year 2033, all the jobs will be tech based. The survey was done among 650 chief executives, 100 hiring managers and 1500 regular workers of different companies. The purpose of the research was to find the trend of technology based equipment among workers. The survey also found out for which type of jobs will technology play an essential role in the upcoming 10 years.

The survey concluded that 98% CEOs think that tech knowledge is going to be a must part of jobs in the coming years. 75% of the workers weren't sure about their answer as most of them said that they think that tech skills will be important but not essential for jobs in the next 10 years. Even though the survey shows the trends in work spaces in the next 10 years, the research also shows that 57% of the workers are already learning new technology so they don’t be left behind in the tech race and lose their jobs. In the survey, 95% of Gen-Z were said to be learning new technology while in Gen-X, the percentage was 65%. 55% millennials are also learning new forms of technology to excel in their work.

What type of technology are workers from different types of jobs trying to learn? The research shows that 43% of the workers say that they are learning more about different apps, softwares, data science and artificial intelligence. Damien Howard, Chief Enterprise Solutions Officer at Per Scholas says that the data this research brings shows that companies are not intimidated to learn new forms of technology because technology can bring innovative, skillful and sustainable environments to their work. Although, some companies are not ready for the change. The reason lies in the fact that they don’t have a proper infrastructure of capital to do so.

45% CEOs say that they prefer hiring individuals with a 4 years degree, before anything else. But 44% say they choose individuals with strong command over tech to be the preference over a 4 years degree program. Damien Howard says that the trends in the companies are changing with the rapid change in working mediums. The authorities of the company want individuals with skills as well as tech knowledge to bring innovation and freshness to their work. Millennials know how important tech is as they have grown when the world was evolving in terms of technology. So, this group of people(27 years to 42 years) knows how important people with tech skills can bring into the work.

There are some skills that are very much in demand. IT tops the list with 39% employers looking for individuals with this skill set. AI and Cybersecurity come next with 29% and 28% demand respectively. When interviewing individuals, 63% employers demand technical knowledge to be the must. 49% look for communication skills while project management comes at 43%. Another interesting thing to be mentioned here is that 65% recruiters hire people with new ideas and perspectives, 42% recruiters prefer hiring individuals from different races and ethnicities.

The institutions where work is rapidly being shifted to technology are Engineering (79%), Education (71%) and tech (71%). The institutions with least upskilling rates are hospitality (49%), Banking (54%), Medical (58%). After tech, workers are also training in project management (38%), customer service (37%), graphic designing (36%) and leadership (36%).

Tech talent and skills can bring economic and well equipped changes to companies. Companies with the latest modes of work, diversity and opportunities can excel the most in the next 10 years.

Read next: This New Report Reveals What 2024 Will Look Like for Brands and Creators
by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World