844 tacks
Drinking, smoking ... now social media: New laws to ban children from apps
Australia has enacted legislation banning individuals under 16 from using social media platforms, aiming to protect young users from online harms. ?The law holds platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram accountable, imposing fines up to AUD 50 million for systemic failures to prevent underage accounts. ?This pioneering move sets a global precedent, prompting discussions on balancing online safety with access to digital resources.
No one’s ready for this
The photograph is now meaningless as evidence. We are not prepared.
Robots sacked, screenings shut down: a new movement of luddites is rising up against AI | Ed Newton-Rex
The article discusses the growing backlash against artificial intelligence (AI), particularly its impact on human labor. Many AI systems are developed by utilizing the work of individuals without compensating them, leading to concerns about job displacement and the dehumanization of work. This has sparked a movement reminiscent of the Luddites, who historically resisted technological advancements that threatened their livelihoods.
TikTok’s algorithm is highly sensitive – and could send you down a hate-filled rabbit hole before you know it
TikTok’s recommendation algorithm is highly sensitive, potentially leading users down a hate-filled rabbit hole before they know it. An experiment by Guardian Australia revealed that a new, blank TikTok account quickly encountered conservative Christian, anti-immigration, and anti-LGBTQ content. This suggests that TikTok’s algorithm can rapidly expose users to extremist material, even without prior engagement.
Runway’s AI video generator trained on thousands of scraped YouTube videos
Some of YouTube’s biggest creators are on the list.
We unleashed Facebook and Instagram’s algorithms on blank accounts. They served up sexism and misogyny
Guardian Australia conducted an experiment by creating new, blank Facebook and Instagram accounts. Within three months, these accounts were inundated with sexist and misogynistic content, highlighting the platforms’ algorithms’ tendency to promote such material. This finding aligns with previous research indicating that social media algorithms can inadvertently amplify harmful content, especially among young male users
The Trump assassination attempt was a window into America’s fractured reality
The shooting wasn’t staged, but conspiratorial thinking has become widespread in our paranoid age.
Doomscrolling linked to existential anxiety, distrust, suspicion and despair, study finds
A study published in the Journal of Computers in Human Behavior Reports found that doomscrolling—excessive consumption of negative news—is linked to feelings of existential anxiety, distrust, suspicion of others, and despair. ?Researchers surveyed 800 university students from the US and Iran, revealing that constant exposure to negative news can lead to vicarious trauma, affecting individuals despite not experiencing the events firsthand.
'Deep mistrust': Sara Meger on unsubstantiated theories on Donald Trump attack - ABC News
Sara Meger, a Senior Lecturer in International Relations at the University of Melbourne, discussed the proliferation of unsubstantiated theories on social media platforms, particularly concerning the attempted assassination of Donald Trump. She highlighted how these theories contribute to deep mistrust and suspicion among the public.
‘Advergames’: how games platform Roblox became a corporate marketing playground
Brands are increasingly using Roblox to create interactive marketing experiences, known as ‘advergames,’ targeting young users. These games integrate products and services into engaging virtual environments, raising concerns about the impact on children.
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