X Receives Intense Backlash For Allowing Adult Content As Indonesia All Set To Shut Down App

Elon Musk’s bold decision to have adult content posted on the X app seems to be backfiring.

Critics have already frowned upon the decision and now Indonesia is going as far as to shut down the platform as a whole.

The news comes after a press briefing was conducted by the Indonesia communications minister that explained on Friday how the majority of the nation practiced Islam and such content went against their religious thoughts and beliefs.

The country that hosts the most Muslims from all over the globe had strict rules that barred sharing such material that it referred to as obscene. Furthermore, the minister warned X through a letter how such behavior was unacceptable and therefore they were left with no choice but to ban the app.

For those who might not be aware, the country already has a strict law in place that bans the spread of explicit content and enforces a jail sentence on those doing so.

His comments arose after the app updated policies that gave permission for such content to be promoted with consent.

For now, Musk is staying hush on the highly controversial matter and has therefore failed to generate a response on this front. Before the final ban, the minister confirmed how they would continue to send more such written material in this regard before confirming the closure around the country.

X did not comment on the request left out by several media outlets but from what we can see, with millions of users in this densely populated nation, it can have some serious impacts as per reports from business outlet Statista.

Image: DIW-Aigen

Read next: Making Or Breaking Your Brand’s Identity: Top Expert Tips For The Perfect Logo Design
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Making Or Breaking Your Brand’s Identity: Top Expert Tips For The Perfect Logo Design

When it comes to perfecting your brand’s identity, it does not take a lot to impress. A captivating logo design is sometimes all you need to make the right first impression and have people running in your direction.

Remember, that’s the first thing that people will notice so you’ve got to make it unique and memorable. That's why the Adobe team has compiled a list of top tips, straight from the experts.

With a clear-cut insider’s view, you can now curate something magical. This is after 285 experts from the graphic design business were interviewed to see what it is that’s necessary for a great logo design.

Every creative decision goes beyond a single element. We’re talking about color psychology, the best fonts, and even some of the seamless manners by which things flow together.

Today, big names like McDonald’s, Shell, and Apple have some iconic logos. But change is not always preferred as can be seen with Elon Musk’s X app. So yes, there’s a lot to think about at the end of the day.

Iconic doesn’t mean over-the-top

Let’s begin with iconic designs. In today’s modern world, iconic symbols hold power as they give rise to creative talent. When we say iconic, we don’t say over the top. Instead, we say simple, classic, and oh so timeless. Not only are they standing out in a crowd but they manage to deliver the right message for the brand.

• Also read: Survey Reveals 80% of Firms Use AI for Visuals, But 70% Fear Data Leaks, Plagiarism

In the tech world, it’s Apple who reigned supreme over Android any day. The bitten apple was more unique than a robot in green. In the world of automobiles, Mercedes Benz and Volkswagon reigned supreme with both Gen Z and Millennials. They both have symbols that stand out in a crowd full of people. And some adore that.

Simplicity goes a long way

The next element worth mentioning for great logo design is simplicity.

More than 30% of all experts in the design business feel it’s common to say farewell to logos that are complex. Simplicity is what the viewer is looking for and sometimes the urge to stand out has logos get muddled up and appear far from attractive.

The goal needs to be getting a clean look that is not only modern but also so minimalist and chic. Not only are these easy to call but they can be moulded to various apps and across different media channels.

Don’t go for fonts that are hard to read. No one has the time to ask another what that brand’s logo says or represents. You either have it or you don’t so anything cursive should be avoided as explained by experts.

Pay attention to the text

Other than the visual elements themselves, people never ignore the text inside a brand’s logo. Some feature text as a major happening of the entire design while others go for those featuring typography that mostly features letters. It all depends on what your brand’s goals are and where it fits in this regard.

When we sat down and spoke to the experts, they had one thing to say. Simple shapes are the best to take on for 2024. This is closely followed up by bold typography or symbolism. If you do opt for text, classic will never go out of style and you can even include a modern twist to have things working in the right direction.

For font style, Helvetica is a favorite because of how simple and versatile it can be, not to mention easy to read. Meanwhile, those in search of geometric precision can opt for Futura while a more contemporary look is achieved through Montserrat. Remember, it needs to appeal to the masses at the end of the day.

Colors can send the right message and evoke a certain emotion

When it comes to hue, it’s not only about aesthetics. It’s about sending out the right message by connecting with the viewer’s mindset and their emotions. As proven by this study, certain colors evoke a different sensation in a viewer. And once you master that, your brand’s logo can well be on the way to success.

Red represents strength, power, and energy. It can really stand out if that’s what your brand is in search of. Yellow is more fun and youthful, adding a sense of friendliness and warmth. Does your brand have to do with health, vitality, and wellness? If yes, then green should be your pick.

• Related: Survey: 53% of Americans Have Used GenAI At Least Once, 82% Say It Supercharges Creativity!

For simple and clear-cut logos, blue should be your pick. It’s just professionalism and clear cut, no messing around here. Orange is very similar to yellow, adding warmth and a sense of likeability easily. It’s also one of the rarer hues that brands go for.

If your brand is more about creativity and luxury, then the aura that purple brings is unlike all others. It’s just innovative and sophisticated on a whole new level altogether. And the same goes for black, it’s always luxury redefined and that’s why a lot of logos make use of it.

For purity and simplicity, white is your best friend. It’s luxe personified and the level of professionalism this tone adds is unlike all others.

So as you can see, a little mindfulness of some key elements really goes a long way into making the best logo design out there. All you need to do is be aware of what your brand needs and how you wish to portray it to the outside world.

Read next: From Abstract to Urban: A Guide to Understanding Artistic Styles
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

2024 Sees US Content Creator Income Surge, Driven by Sponsored Content

With social modernization and globalization accelerating, content consumption has become the heartbeat of global entertainment and leisure. In fact, it won’t be wrong to say at all that a wide majority of the global population headlessly consumes social media content for instant gratification from a wide range of content creators and influencers.

But have you ever wondered how these content creators earn? Who would have enough time to make social media content all day long and have a job at the same time? There must be a source of income for these content creators that makes them create such material.

Well, then buckle yourself up because the folks over at eMarketer have created a nifty chart that sheds light on the source of creators' income and how they are changing with a comparison between the years 2021 and 2024. One thing to consider is that the following stats don’t include the video platforms and their user-generated content, such as Twitch and YouTube, but streams on social media, including Substack, LTK, and Spotify. Also, these statistics are applicable to US content creators only.

In 2021, content creators made $5.12 billion, while in 2024, it is forecasted to be $8.14 billion, an increase of $3.02 billion. Platform payout for 2021 was $2.34 billion, and for 2024 it increased by $0.89 billion, making it a total of $3.23 billion.

Affiliate marketing was $0.57 billion in 2021. In 2024, it got up to $1.10 billion. In fact, even the merchandise saw an increase from $0.13 billion in 2021 to $0.45 billion in 2024.

Moreover, sponsored content will account for $8.14 billion in US creator revenues in 2024, up from $5.12 billion in 2021. To sum it up for you, the total money earned by content creators in 2024 is forecasted to be a staggering $13.7 billion, with an increase of 16.5% since 2023.



Read next: Which Brands Do Gen Z Consumers Trust The Most? This Study Says It All
by Ahmed Naeem via Digital Information World

Anti-Biden Content Is On The Rise And It’s Coming From Gen Z Creators Who Once Showed Support

The elections of 2020 had a lot of Gen Z individuals ramping up support for the newly elected Presidential candidate Joe Biden. Today, however, the picture is remarkably different. And it wouldn’t be wrong to mention those who once showed support in the past are totally against him today.

The rise in anti-Biden content is peaking as we speak. It looks like top content creators are just not happy with the American president. There was a time when these same individuals united to produce videos and host events online to ensure the masses would be educated on how to vote for the Democratic party.

Four years later, the picture is so different that one starts to question what went wrong. Why is there so much hate on social media for Joe Biden when people felt he was the change that America and the world needed?

A leading social media coalition leader tried to explain in simple terms how Biden seems to have lost touch with the younger generation on a host of leading issues. This has led to serious frustrations and now, people feel there is no turning back with the majority ending support for a man they thought could be America’s savior.

You’ll find a new buildup of hate across all social media platforms including Twitch, TikTok, and YouTube, not to mention Instagram too. This is where young content creators are shedding light on how it’s about time their feelings and sentiments were put forward to the masses as they feel the President betrayed them.

Common issues include the current Gaza genocide, a ban on the popular TikTok app, and even the existing climate crisis. There is a rift that has been enhanced thanks to the current strategy put out by the White House in terms of supporting those that speak in its favor while shunning the rest that don’t.

At the start of 2021, President Biden took oath and that’s when the White House felt it was time to strengthen relationships with content creators belonging to Gen Z. After all, this was the time of the pandemic, and who better to raise awareness than them about the vaccine and how important it can be.

Then when the Russian conflict in Ukraine came into play, Biden referred to Gen Z creators as the new media and praised them while vowing to keep them informed at all times.

But we must take a moment to understand how things have shifted in a way that has many Gen Z supporters upset. Only those few creators keep getting invites that have stood by the White House while the others are left out on purpose.

All that comes out are creators mirroring what the president has to say and sharing images of themselves on stage with a smile. So where do all of those who have been critical of Biden go? Do they not get a right to have their say?

One leading creator by the name of Kahlil Greene mentioned how he was not invited to any event held by the White House because of his voicing his critical opinions against the administration. This included sensitive topics like the Gaza war and the TikTok ban. Another political influencer feels the same way, adding how it’s not fair to be called the new media and then be shunned for putting out facts that Biden and his team might not agree with.

The consensus from Gen Z creators is that everyone must get invites to the press briefing room, whether you like them or not. Yes, Fox News might not be Pro-Democratic but it’s always there. That’s what helps in balancing it all out.

Those who criticize the government are sidelined, raising concerns about selective exclusion. It’s almost as if people are handpicked and chosen to see if they are promoting Pro-Biden or Anti-Biden.

Now the general sentiments on this front are more linked to an outburst of anger and so much has been built up. Silencing Gen Z on matters like Palestine is being taken as assault on people’s right to express freedom of speech. Remember, Biden’s support for the Israeli nation and zero consideration for Palestinians is a huge issue that might block more votes from coming in his direction in the upcoming elections.

Many who used to make money from TikTok are now being booted off the app because Biden has voted in favor of the ban that will soon come into play. So the next time you ask why people are not happy with Biden, we advise you to see the bigger picture.

To give you a better image of the entire situation, a new poll rolled out by Morning Consult proved how two-thirds of voters belonging to Gen Z don’t feel like voting for him after his decision to support the TikTok ban legislation. Meanwhile, 46% are turned off by his support for Israel and then 38% are angered by his approval of new projects that are costing the government a huge budget like those linked to oil and gas drilling.

It does not stop there. While the support diminishes at one end, reports are suggesting how the current Biden campaign is recruiting a host of online supporters by contacting a top influencer marketing company called Village Marketing. They hope to hire contract-based creators as confirmed by emails from The Post to show pro-Biden support.

• Also read: Gen-Z Defies Stereotypes, Championing Change Despite Criticism of Laziness

These individuals would be assessed to see how many followers they have, how their metrics are doing on leading social media apps, and how great their audience reach is at the end of it all.

The head of Village Marketing believes regular creators are hesitant to speak about politics as they fear it could impact their reach as the algorithm just doesn’t wish to promote this type of content as recommendations due to poor demand. But with contracts in play, people would be hired to do the job.

But those who show support expect a lot in return and that could bring another factor into consideration. As a whole, Gen Z promises not to make the same mistake again. They failed to hand over the vote to Biden as they did in the past when they didn’t wish Trump to win.

People feel betrayed and cannot help but voice their thoughts on how the Biden Administration may have lost the plot a long time back and a lot must be done to regain people’s trust.

Image: DIW-Aigen

Read next:

• Which Brands Do Gen Z Consumers Trust The Most? This Study Says It All

• Young Users Are Turning To Social Media For Everything Resulting In Search Engine Use Decline
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

Study Reveals Social Media's Role in Distorting News and Spreading Misinformation

Ever since the innovation of the internet, the quality of life has been tremendously uplifted; whether it's effortless communication or seeking necessary information to keep oneself updated on worldly affairs, the internet can do it all.

However, over recent years, the internet has taken twists and turns due to social media platforms now providing more distorted, unreliable, and untrustworthy news about any event. The new trend of inaccurate information sharing was brought to light by the extensive research and evidence collected by the Knight Foundation and Pew Research on how Americans experience news on various social media platforms.

What's worth noticing is that news is often presented in a distorted way by the fact that for any same event, it's communicated and shown differently from platform to platform, whether it be Facebook, TikTok, or X. In fact, the sources behind this news are random people and social media influencers instead of actual journalists.

The collaborative study also found that most people weren’t on social media in the first place to get news. It was reported that 41% of the users on TikTok, 33% on Instagram, and 37% on Facebook said that it was a minor or major priority for them to use their platforms to get their news. However, X stood alone amongst all the other social media sites when it came to getting news as the preliminary reason for its users, with 65% in favor.

Upon closer examination of the types of news that participants claimed to see, opinions and "funny posts" regarding current affairs emerged as the most popular categories. The statistics for people expressing opinions about any topic or current event is found to be most on X, with 85%. In second place comes Facebook with 84%, and then TikTok with 80%. Instagram had the least users for the expression of their opinion, 67%. Meanwhile, the number of people who view funny content and posts that relate to current events was 79% for X, 81% for Facebook, 84% for TikTok, and 73% for Instagram.

On the other hand about the credibility of the sources of information shared on these platforms, 85% of the news on Facebook was through friends and family, Instagram it was 72%, TikTok 48%, and X had the least with 26% of the information coming from relatives and acquaintances. On the other hand, the information coming from legit media outlets was the most for X, with 80% of the consumers, 68% for Facebook, 67% for TikTok, and 65% for Instagram. Additionally, 86% of X users reported seeing news that "seems inaccurate," highlighting the widespread concern about misinformation across social media platforms.

Read next: Privacy Violated: AI Companies Accused of Using Children's Photos Without Consent in Brazil

And: Digital Nomad Visas Are In Demand And These Countries Are Your Best Bet At Working Abroad
by Ahmed Naeem via Digital Information World

Danny Sullivan Recommends SEO, Unique Content for Better Web Traffic

According to Google’s Search Liaison, Danny Sullivan, if your website isn’t getting any organic traffic from Google search, there are some ways that you can increase the traffic by focusing on some areas. The number one advice he gave to website owners who are struggling with traffic is to focus on SEO. Hacks which were used for SEO on websites no longer work. SImilarly, if the SEO on your website has some loopholes, it is no longer going to make the website rank on Google search and won’t attract any traffic.

Another thing that Danny Sullivan asked the websites to focus on was their content. Websites which have unique and different content make audiences go for them. Another important thing along with good content is promotion. If the content on your website is good, a little bit of effort on promotion can bring a lot of traffic to the website. There should also be continuity in the content you are making. If you are continuously making interesting content, nothing can stop any traffic from coming to your website.

The third thing websites who want to have some traffic and rank on Google search should focus on is making your traffic sources diverse. Do not just depend on Google Search as the single source of traffic on your website. Websites should also try to get traffic from emails, links on other sites and even social media sites. To get traffic from emails and social media, websites should build an audience who directly comes to the site via emails and social media. Websites should provide the authentic and unique content audiences want so they regularly check the new content and visit the site. The best way to build these audiences is to market and promote your website across all platforms.

Sources: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4.

Image: DIW-Aigen

Read next:

• Is Your Smartphone Eavesdropping? Here's How to Protect Your Privacy

• Digital Nomad Visas Are In Demand And These Countries Are Your Best Bet At Working Abroad
by Arooj Ahmed via Digital Information World

Is Your Smartphone Eavesdropping? Here's How to Protect Your Privacy

Having a smartphone brings with it a plethora of advantages. But did you ever wonder about the drawbacks that come with it?

The fear of your device listening to what you’re saying is no longer a far-fetched reality, it’s happening without most of us even knowing. Popular AI assistants, social media and productivity apps are to blame which are designed to serve users with quick replies to their queries.

Any app having access to the microphone could listen if you permit it to do so. That’s why we’re here to help with some tips and tricks on how to keep your privacy guarded and stop your device from eavesdropping.

Phones eavesdropping is not something new!

For starters, why phones listen to us is a debate that has been going on for years. The answer is simple. The device wants to make use of the data for the sake of personalized advertising so that you’re served with relevant ads that serves your interests. So that’s where your voice comes into play.

It’s just another tactic for companies to make money from users without attaining consent and breaching their privacy on a whole new level altogether.

Now the question is whether or not your device is always hearing you out? The answer is yes, surprisingly. The device is designed in a manner where it’s always hearing what you have to say technically. But the truth goes far beyond just that.

For it to actually hear you out, it needs to eavesdrop constantly and pick up on certain words. This is true for all phones with voice activation installed. Simple terms or phrases like ‘Hey Sir’ or ‘OK Google’ are just a few examples. Meanwhile, others like Alexa are always present to do the deed.

Does this mean that everyone else gets ignored? The answer is no! Smartphones make use of all kinds of data being thrown in their direction to develop a user profile so that you’re served the best ads in the business.

It’s amazing how the practice has been taking place for years and yet not a lot of us are aware. But wait, you can now keep yourself guarded at all times with the right privacy measures in place.

iPhones vs Android. Is there a difference?

Whether you’ve got an iPhone or an Android, they’re both capable of hearing what the user has to say and it’s sad how so much is taking place with no check and balance in place.

As far as Google’s Android operating system is concerned, terms like ‘OK Google’ are enough to get the device activated. Meanwhile, other keywords are also easily noted and recorded for future reference. Not everyone you speak to is getting recorded and sent to Google as not every single voice recording carries major ad value. Now what is said after these terms are spoken is key. It’s just like how your search or browsing history gets saved.

In some cases, the device could be activated by accident and end up recording sensitive chats or details from a user’s personal life. This could lead them to have chats with a pal about a certain fact linked to their lives.

As far as iPhones are concerned, it’s also listening to what you have to say. Siri was said to be one of the first assistants working virtually on a device and it’s listening to what you’re saying constantly. However, the device tends to select certain parts in a chat recorded by Siri to see how it can be improved.

The creators of iPhones were called out in the year 2019 when people started to complain about assistants hearing way more than they should and they were concerned about that in terms of privacy basis. Apple did claim that it cracked down on this front and admitted to the embarrassing situation, it raised a lot of questions in people’s minds in regards to how compliant it was for mobile phones today.

How is this legal when I never gave consent?

Now the other question worth mentioning is how legal it is for certain phones to hear what others have to say today.

Remember, phones are not only listening to you but phone makers are 100% able to do it legally. Now the question on your mind might be linked to how you never provided consent, right? No, you actually did, unfortunately.

Whenever you go about accepting terms and conditions for any kind of software update or app installation, you’re doing just that. It’s how a device works and how app developers collect user data. Be it audio commands or other kinds of web activity, the playground is huge to attain user data. Now is that fair or not is another topic altogether. But the fact that it’s taking place and considered legal is overwhelming, to say the least.

Now if a device can hear you legally does not mean it should be doing that in the first place. Similar to how you link a device online, your phone could have malware infected which tracks the user’s identity. This is why it’s a great idea to restrict permissions and double-check before signing terms and conditions.

What can I do to prevent my device from listening to me?

Android Users

If you’ve finally come to the conclusion that this practice of your phone listening to you is not right, then we’ve got news for you. It’s time to create the right digital boundary with a few easy steps.

To start, you need to get rid of all malware from your phone. You need to begin by getting rid of suspicious platforms/apps that give away too much to begin with.

Sometimes there are instances when you never need to give an app the microphone access, so in that case you can simply revoke/remove access to microphone, for example, if you've never used Google Chrome or ChatGPT's voice command feature then you can safely remove the microphone access on these apps.

You can even turn on safe mode on device. This means no third-party apps would be running in your device’s background. For that, simply press and hold the device’s power button until you see the power off display/screen. Now press and hold the "Power off" icon and it will reveal a Safe mode screen, now press the safe mode and your device will reboot and get into the safe mode. (To turn off Safe Mode on an Android device, pull down the notification panel. If your phone supports this feature, you'll see a "Safe mode enabled" notification. Tap this notification to turn off Safe Mode, and your phone will automatically restart to normal mode.)

Another common strategy to use is resetting the device’s browser to factory settings or getting rid of downloads in the history. Or simply factory resetting the whole deice. As a whole, you’ll be doing yourself a great favor with these proactive measures that prevent the device from being infected. Other than that, experts do recommend anti-malware applications or making use of the company’s Play Protect features by going to settings.

Disabling Google Assistant on Google Maps and Android Auto

Believe it or not, Google also hears what you’re saying through some of its most popular apps. This is Google Assistant across Google Maps. The same is the case for Android Auto which you can simply switch off.

All you need to do is enter the settings on the device and say ‘Hey Google’ followed up by ‘Open Assistant Settings’. This provides prompts for turning off the assistant by clicking on settings and then the General Tab.

You can access Google Assistant through the phone’s Maps app. For that, simply open the platform, click on the profile image, and press Settings. You can select Navigation and toggle that off access to the Assistant by pressing on OK.

iPhone Users

If you have an iPhone, you’ll be amazed at how a simple step can allow you to safeguard yourself from your own device listening to you. Siri is the biggest culprit here so you’re better off switching it off.

Simply go to your device’s settings and tap and Siri and Search. Next, turn off listen to ‘Hey Siri’ and then long press the side button designed for Siri and allow Siri when locked. Once that’s done, press on Turn Off Siri seen across the Pop-up.

In case you are worried about the phone malware on your iPhone device, simply restart the device and clear the browsing history. Another easy tip is to back up the device and restore that to factory settings.

Top 5 privacy tips for all smartphone users

While we tried our best to cover the basic measures iPhone and Android users can take to ensure they remain guarded at all times, here’s some more great advice from the experts.

• Always delete your phone’s voice request history

Did you know that Android devices featuring Google Assistants have a memory back of what’s said and done? Yes, you need to delete your voice request history as soon as possible. This also keeps you safe in the unfortunate incident of a cyberattack and also makes sure sensitive data remains safe at all times.

• Ensure timely software updates

As days go by, cybercriminals are getting ahead of the security game. This is why stopping them from exploiting your security and privacy must be attempted with timely software updates that keep your device working at optimum levels.

• VPN is your best friend when it comes to privacy and security

The best-added layer of security and protection that you can give your device is through a VPN. This adds encryption to ensure all personal data sent out and received is secure including passwords and bank details.

• Only download apps after careful verification

We’re surrounded by apps of various kinds but did you know that not all of them can be trusted? Experts recommend downloading from trusted and verified sources only and that means resorting to the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.

• Don’t forget to review application permissions

No matter how much in a hurry you might be, sparing a few extra minutes to read your app’s terms and conditions is always recommended. This helps you evaluate if the app really needs access to your microphone and in turn your chats or not.

Remember, a little precaution goes a long way here so we recommend making the most of these tips today.

Read next: Meta, Amazon, Apple Most Impersonated in Phishing Scams: Study

by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World