Looking to the Future of Online Learning with Key Takeaways from Thinkific's 2024 Trends Report

What does online education look like in the era of AI? How can creators monetize with brand deals drying up? Is the creator economy going to come crashing down anytime soon? These are just a few of the questions addressed by Thinkific’s 2024 Online Learning Trends Report.

There’s no doubt that online education is constantly changing and evolving. After the highs of COVID lockdown, a lot of the narrative in 2023 centered on the return to in-person education and the unsustainability of the creator economy. But in the report, Thinkific presents research — including a survey of 2,500 Americans — that seems to run counter to that narrative.

New technologies, including AI, make the online learning industry more accessible and increases opportunities for monetization while external economic factors are driving more people to seek out alternative sources of income. And Thinkific’s survey found that 92% of people dedicate at least one hour per month to learning digitally. That may be why Investment banking company Goldman Sachs predicts the impact of the creator economy could approach half-a-trillion dollars by 2027.

Here’s a brief look at the five trends Thinkific is predicting will dominate the online education portion of the creator economy in 2024.

AI is increasing creator productivity

Despite a lot of talk of AI coming in and “replacing” creators, Thinkific predicts AI will bolster online education by making creators more productive.

An MIT Sloan research study found that when people were presented with content and told that some content was presented by AI and some by humans, they expressed “human favoritism.” Despite a willingness to consume AI content, people like the authenticity of human education. To compete with AI-generated content, educators can instead wield AI to increase their output.

“As a creator, it's really important that you use AI to enhance what you do rather than actually use it as a pure creation tool,” Ian Richardson, CEO at Schudio, stated in Thinkific’s report.

Using AI to quickly generate social media copy or sales funnels, name courses, and generally fill the holes in your skillset is the recommended approach.

Creators monetize with downloadables

Every creator wants to know how to make money quickly. Thinkific suggests that in 2024 the ideal path is through downloadable digital products like:

• Guides
• Ebooks
• Templates
• Q&As
• Mini-courses

This content is easier to create and allows you to quickly build audience trust at a lower price point.

Nearly 3 out of every 5 people surveyed by Thinkific have consumed downloadable content from someone they follow on social media and 48% of people already have or would be willing to pay for said downloadable content.

"Digital products are one of the biggest reasons that I've been able to comfortably run my creator business as my full-time job,” Kristen Bousquet, Creator Monetization Coach added in the report. “Without it, I would personally be relying solely on brand partnerships. Since those are so inconsistent, my digital products have been something to lean on so that my income is more stable.”

More platforms become education platforms

Education will no longer be relegated to dedicated channels in 2024. Approximately 47% of 18 to 25-year-olds surveyed in Thinkific’s report said they used TikTok for learning. YouTube wasn’t far behind. And the surveyed audience named over 150 online platforms when asked what they used for online learning.

The volume of educational content on platforms traditionally associated with entertainment is going to increase. And for education creators, this means more opportunities to attract an audience on those platforms and funnel them into your proprietary channels.

Private communities grow in response to social media fatigue

Speaking of proprietary channels, Thinkific predicts that private communities will see a big uptick in 2024 as people seek a less negative alternative to social media.

In their survey, 69% of respondents felt that social media has more negative content now than it did five years ago. Top creators are already taking advantage of this reality to offer safe, private spaces to people seeking supportive learning communities online.

Bousquet credits the supportive space of her community as one of the main drivers behind her students' success.

“We've gotten so much incredible feedback on our private creator membership, Soulcial Suite, because our members truly feel like they have a safe space to connect and lean on people who get it.”

More older creators enter the game

According to Thinkific, life experience and expertise will prove increasingly valuable in online education this year.

Counter to the popular narrative that the creator economy is a young person’s game, Thinkific’s survey found that almost one out of every five people (19.2%) between the ages of 41 to 56 consider themselves digital creators — an increase of 16% since last year.

Why are we seeing this growth? First, the creator economy is shifting away from entertainers and towards educators. Some 62% of people are more interested in creators who make digital content for educational purposes than entertainment purposes according to Thinkific’s report.

Also, older generations usually have decades of skill-building that they can then share with an interested audience. This real-life experience is only increasing in importance with the emergence of AI as learners seek out reliable, trustworthy sources.

And with the turbulent economy and rising inflation, more and more people of all ages are seeking additional sources of income online.

Additional insights from former Instagram and YouTube employee Jon Youshaei

Thinkific’s report concluded with additional insights from creator expert Jon Youshaei who suggested that in 2024 we’ll see even more shorter-form content and that the pendulum will swing back toward personality-based, unpolished content.

The state of the creator economy in 2024 presents exciting opportunities for Creator Educators. As the landscape continues to evolve, those willing to adapt and innovate will find a flourishing space in the expansive world of online education.

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by Irfan Ahmad via Digital Information World

Hiya Reports Surge in Fraud Calls in Q4 2023 in the US, Warns of Upcoming AI-Generated Voice Scams Worldwide

Hiya, which is a Voice Security Firm, says that fraud calls have increased a lot in the last quarter of 2023 in America. But this isn’t something to be happy about because fraud through AI calls is going to start soon all over the world. These calls can use AI generated voices of someone you know and can fool the people easily. When people hear the voice of their acquaintance or loved one, they are likely to believe that call more. The study by Hiya shows that 29% of calls that Americans received were all spam calls and only 1% of these calls were fraud.

The President of Hiya, Kush Parik, says that scam calls are increasing day by day and no phone user is safe from it. It is a global issue so all the people related to the telecommunication industry should start raising awareness and they should take measures to make calls safe and trustworthy to people. If a serious measure isn't taken, then the goal of telecommunication will no longer be achieved.

Hiya’s data in its Global Call Threat Report reveals that America received the least number of fraud calls in the whole world in Q4 of 2023. There was an increase in calls from unknown numbers but the number of fraud calls was less. People received the most unwanted calls in the Holiday Season with 7.3 billion calls in Q4 globally as compared to 6.55 billion in Q3. After Thanksgiving, 357 million spam calls were recorded. In the US, people received on average 15 spam calls per month making 29% of spam calls. The 1% of scam calls were mostly about Medicare, Insurance, Credit Cards and many payment platform apps. But surprisingly, these scam calls had the lowest fraud rates globally.

The European country having the most spam call rate in Q4 was France with 47%, surpassing Spain. People in France receive an average of 10 spam calls monthly. In the UK, people received 4 calls per person on average with a spam rate of 28%. Most of the scam calls in UK were about immigrants visas and Amazon imposters. Brazil had 44% spam calls, with 9% identified as fraud. The states with most spam calls in the US were Oklahoma and Ohio with 28% spam rate. Alaska had the lowest rate of spam calls at 13%.

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by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

New Study Unveils the Major Companies Behind the Great US Employment Boom

Job numbers across the USA are up. A recent US Bureau of Labor Statistics report stated that payroll employment rose by 2.7 million in 2023, with an average monthly gain of 225,000.

So, which of the major US companies are behind this good news? You can find all the answers in the latest study from Switch On Business. Using data from LinkedIn, researchers at the business resource guide created several charts and infographics highlighting all the major US companies that hired the most staff between September 2022 and September 2023.

You can see a summary of the results below.

But first, let's take a look at why creating more jobs matters and what it means for the US economy in 2024.

More jobs equal more opportunities

More people in more jobs is a good thing. It's a strong sign of economic growth, with the increased employment rates indicating that businesses are expanding and require more labor to meet demand. This is typically a result of increased consumer spending, which drives economies forward. Consumers spend more on goods and services when they have more disposable income. This extra demand means businesses scale up their operations and services, increasing job openings and opportunities.

Hiring more people then creates a positive feedback loop in the economy. As more individuals gain employment, they have more income to spend, boosting demand for goods and services. And round and round it goes until the broader economy makes a bigger upswing, making everyone a little bit richer and more secure.

And rising employment numbers are a big boost for governments and the most marginalized in society. Additional people in work generate extra tax revenues for governments, which can then be invested in public services, infrastructure, and support programs.

Then there's the role of innovation and new businesses in economic growth. Startups and innovative companies often lead the way in creating new jobs. As these companies grow and succeed, they tend to hire more employees. This growth in employment often accompanies advancements in technology and productivity, which are key drivers of long-term economic growth.

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Finally, increased employment rates create greater consumer confidence. When people feel secure in their jobs, they're more likely to make significant purchases, such as homes and cars. This confidence also increases investment in the stock market, as individuals and businesses are more willing to take risks when the long-term economic outlook is positive.

So does an increase in jobs mean the US economy will boom in 2024?

The increase in jobs is a positive indicator for the US economy, suggesting potential for growth in 2024. However, it doesn't guarantee a "boom."

Job growth is critical to economic health, reflecting business confidence and consumer demand. But it's only one part of the economic puzzle. Inflation rates, global economic conditions, geopolitical tensions, and government fiscal policies must be considered when making any economic forecast for 2024.

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Plus, the US economy still faces several long-term challenges, such as the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the labor market and the need for fiscal reforms to address government debts and deficits.

Which US companies are hiring the most people?

Apple is the US company that created the most new jobs between September 2022 and September 2023, according to the Switch On Business report. The tech giant increased its employee headcount by a massive 95,102.

The list of top five companies hiring a significant number of new staff is dominated by other US mega-corporations, including McDonald's (93,817), Amazon (85,793), Walmart (46,327), and banking conglomerate JPMorgan Chase (28,100).

Biggest growth in employee headcount by percentage

Growth is a relative term. So next up, the researchers from Switch on Business looked at which companies created the most new jobs on a percentage basis.

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In terms of its relative people resources, hedge fund WorldQuant is the biggest grower of 2022/23, expanding its employee numbers by 60.19%. WorldQuant is a global quantitative asset management firm founded in 2007 by Igor Tulchinsky. It's known for its systematic financial strategies and extensive use of data and mathematical models to drive investment decisions. And WorldQuant uses these same models when looking for new hires.

WorldQuant's rapid growth is due to its innovative approach to talent acquisition. The company worked with the online learning platform Udacity to create a pathway for emerging talent. Udacity offers free, online 'nanodegree' programs in areas like artificial intelligence, predictive analytics for business, machine learning engineering, and data science. These programs are available to anyone in the world with an internet connection, creating a global pool of top talent for WorldQuant to tap into during the hiring process.

Biggest employer increases in every US state

When looking at the result on a state-by-state basis, a definite trend emerges. In the US economy, it's pretty clear that the big companies keep getting bigger and bigger.

For example, retail giant Target is the biggest employer in Minnesota, bringing in just under 19,000 new staff, while its rival, Walmart, hired an extra 46,000 staff in Arkansas. And Home Depot created more jobs than any other company in Georgia (19,551).

Biggest employer in every US state based on percentages of new staff

The increasing shift toward renewable energy sources will continue to put a significant demand on electric cars. As such, Tesla is Texas' biggest employer based on the percentages. It increased its employee number by almost one-third (31.15%).

Tesla is one of the most innovative and exciting companies to emerge from the green economy. But let's hope all those new staff are prepared for the 'challenges' of working for Elon Musk. The real-life Tony Stark is notoriously demanding of his staff. He stopped all remote/homework opportunities as he thought it encouraged laziness and once threatened to fire a whole intake of interns for waiting too long in line for coffee.

Do you ever get a craving for custard and hamburgers? Well, you're not alone. Thousands of Americans do, too. And especially in Kansas. The state's biggest growing business percent-wise was restaurant chain Freddy's Frozen Custard and Steakburgers, which now has 20% more staff on the books.

The burger joint is famous for its (yes, you guessed it) steak burgers and frozen custard desserts. It had 400 locations in 36 states in 2021, before adding 40 stores from Sept 2022 to Sept 2023.

Two more US restaurant chains came out on top in their states. They include fast food chain Jacks, which increased its workforce by a quarter in Alabama, and Zaxby's chicken joint, headquartered in Georgia (21% increase in new staff).

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by Irfan Ahmad via Digital Information World

Apple Lobbies Against Oregon’s Right To Repair Bill

iPhone maker Apple has shown great support for the right-to-repair bill that was rolled out in Oregon. Now, we’re hearing more on this front including how the tech giant is keen on lobbying against it.

The company mentioned on Thursday how its secure repair architect felt the need to speak out against the bill. This move comes just six months after we saw it gain support for another similar bill that transformed into a law in the state of California.

This is the belief that the current language involves parts that would underestimate the security and safety as well as the privacy linked to Oregonians who are being forced to ensure manufacturers use parts that belong to consumer devices that are of unknown origin.

It is going to seem a little bizarre how the iPhone maker shows support for one state but is in opposition to that seen in another. As mentioned by media outlet 404media, the bill in the state of Oregon has a single difference. And that has to do with how it limits part pairing.

The terminology reserved here has to do with describing the firm’s practice of mixing and matching certain parts like the screen or the device’s battery to a certain iPhone that was installed in it from the start. This makes sure that only real parts in the Apple device were made use of when the device was being repaired.

But this practice is quite controversial and it restricts repair options when third parties are involved. It was criticized for producing closed ecosystems that limit the choices that users have and also force repair expenses to rise.

Meanwhile, critics continued to argue how the practice prevents movements like the right to repair as it ensures users have a hard time fixing devices through independent means or by services that are unauthorized in the state.

In the same manner, it is better known for producing a huge figure of electronic waste. For now, seven parts trigger concerns during such repair operations.

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The Cupertino firm’s parts repair process is not created to ensure a monopoly of the repair process but it’s done to ensure easier access is up for grabs for the masses, Apple added. This would ensure the whole repair process continues to be secure.

However, one expert in the field of cybersecurity from the state of Oregon added that he was not on board with this frame of thought.

He says that there’s no kind of security implication linked to switching from one batter or glass screen to the next in a particular device.

Meanwhile, he praised tech giant Apple for doing wonderful things and for ensuring users’ data remains safe at all times. He says the firm is doing a great job at ensuring users’ data remains safe.

Photo: Digital Information World - AIgen/HumanEdited

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Big Tech CEOs Begin Their Day by Reading News Articles on This Aggregator Platform

The CEO of Google, Sundar Pichai, starts his morning by reading tech articles from a niche website, instead of Wall Street Journal and other tech websites. Sundar told Wired in his recent interview, that he likes reading articles from a site called Techmeme. It is a platform that collects and organizes news links from different big tech sites that publish tech news. Techmeme was founded in 2005 by Gabe Rivera and the aim of the website is to give a short summarized news to readers who don’t want to waste their time reading lengthy news articles. It is popular among tech experts of Silicon Valley but only a few people know it outside the tech world.

In an interview with a media outlet, Gabe Rivera said that the website receives hundreds to thousands of visitors. Techmeme is popular among tech execs because the site provides a to-the-point summary of the news people are looking for. There is absolutely no clickbait on the news as the news are covered with detailed headlines and are ranked according to the importance of news. There are also no extra videos and unnecessary ads on the site so the readers can have a smooth experience.

Sunday Pichai isn’t the only one who reads news from Techmeme. Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, and other Meta executives like Head of Instagram also likes to give some part of their day to read news from Techmeme. Other regular readers of TechMeme include Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella, chairman of LinkedIn Jeff Weiner and, Dick Costolo who was previously the CEO of Twitter. Some of the big investors like David Tisch who is an investor at VCs Boxgroup and TechStars has told Business Insider that he likes to read Techmeme. He says that is an easy way to read news without missing any major information.

Some of the tech owners and CEOs don’t read news from Techmeme but they have their own morning routines. The CEO of Apple, Tim Cook, says that his day starts with reading feedback emails from customers while Spotify’s CEO, David Elk, likes reading news and sometimes books to start his morning. However, Evan Spiegel, the CEO of Snapchat, likes reading news from Wall Street Journal and Financial Times in the morning.

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Meta Changes How Instagram and Threads Handle Political Content

Meta is changing the way Instagram and Threads show political content. The company wants to avoid making Threads like Twitter, where political debates can get very heated. Now, Instagram and Threads won't "proactively" show users political posts. This is similar to what Meta already does on Facebook. It has cut down on political content in different places like the News Feed and video suggestions.

Image: Digital Information World

Meta plans to bring these changes to Instagram and Threads as the 2024 U.S. elections get closer. This means less political content in Instagram Reels and the Explore section, as well as in the main feed of both Instagram and Threads.

Threads is trying to be different from Twitter, avoiding news and political debates. Even though Threads delayed adding a trends feature, Meta doesn't want to push news content there.

Meta's new rules affect how Instagram suggests posts to users. But, if someone follows an account that shares political content, they will still see those posts in their feed and stories. It just means those posts won't be suggested to people who don't follow the account. Instagram will let professional accounts check if they can be suggested and change their content if they want to be.

Users who like political content can choose to see it in their settings on Instagram and Threads. Facebook will have a similar option later.

Meta is making these changes slowly. They want to be careful after facing criticism for spreading hate and misinformation in the past. This could also help with lawmakers who are thinking about how to handle big tech companies.

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TikTok Loses Legal Battle Over EU Status

TikTok, the app famous for short videos, recently faced a legal challenge in Europe. It tried to avoid strict new European rules by going to court but didn't win.

The European Union had labeled TikTok a "gatekeeper" because of its size and impact. This label means TikTok has to follow tougher rules than smaller companies.

The court in Luxembourg looked at TikTok's request. TikTok didn't want to be a gatekeeper because it would have to share how it figures out what its users like.

TikTok thought this was too much to ask. However, the court said TikTok didn't prove that following these rules would cause big problems right away.

The decision means TikTok has to play by the same rules as other big tech companies in Europe.

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These companies include well-known names like Google, Apple, Facebook's parent company Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft. The rules are about making sure these big companies play fair.

For example, they have to let other services work with theirs and can't stop users from going to other websites or services.

This case is a big deal because it shows Europe is serious about controlling big tech companies. The rules are there to make sure no company is too powerful or unfair. It also shows that even big companies like TikTok have to follow the rules, no matter how much they might not want to.

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