#social-media

#social-media

The toxicity of his products is exceeded only by his gormless demeanour (let he who is without sin, cast the first stone). Yet, even those who consider him an enemy of humanity must admit that Zuckerberg possesses a talented grasp on the fundamentals of technology trends. Despite the clinical efficiency of his businesses in spreading misery, or perhaps proof of how well the product has been engineered underneath the hood - offerings like Facebook, Instagram and Whatsapp, it is fair to acknowledge, are tightly-built products.

Schadenfreude seems to permeate American politics these days as viral clips and memes of politicians making real or AI-generated gaffes and off-color remarks are gleefully shared by ideological foes. The German word, which means taking delight in another's misfortune, describes a response that was once taboo to express openly. Now it's been embraced by partisans as a powerful weapon to reinforce political support and group identity.

It's just a mom thing to be on Facebook, I guess,

The word has taken on even greater meaning in the age of social media, where we have unparalleled access to the lives of influencers, online personalities, and celebrities via phones. Take Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's engagement. The news triggered mass hysteria online, with many displaying genuine raw emotion for a couple they've never even met. Or British singer Lily Allen, whose latest album West End Girl details a breakup and sparked a "parasocial interest in her love life," according to the Cambridge Dictionary.

Why would I want to wait six months when I can inject peptides and look like the best version of myself in 30 days? Walker Harrell speaks from behind a screen that pans down to show his body slim, muscular, the kind of physique many can only attain through a strict diet and exercise regime. Except, he tells his audience, hard work isn't how he achieved this. Instead, he says, he has been injecting peptides and by following the link

Littlejohn was sent off in Crystal Palace's League Cup win over Leicester City on Sunday after an altercation with Hannah Cain. The 35-year-old appeared to grab Cain by the neck and the players fell to the ground in a second-half flashpoint. The Football Association has said it's standard three-match ban for violent conduct was "clearly insufficient" and it can seek an extended punishment if a case is "truly exceptional".

The holiday season is in full swing, with its parties, get-togethers, and festive feasts. Although it can seem like a season full of endless socializing, the reality is that more people spend the holidays alone. Reasons for this trend vary and can range from the practical (avoiding expensive flight tickets) to the more personal (family conflicts or estrangements). Some people relish the quiet time alone and have created holiday rituals for themselves-crafting,

"To everyone who started using Meltdown and suddenly stopped cancelling plans because of a breakout - we owe you an apology,"

Katie Grant Dickerson was not surprised to learn that she was pregnant with more than one baby. After all, multiples run on both sides of her family - and her sisters are triplets! But she was surprised to learn that she was about to give birth to quadruplets. "Every day we make it through is an accomplishment, a true miracle," Dickerson tells TODAY.com. She and her husband have been coping with the chaos of raising their "quad squad" for 7 months. "The biggest surprise is that we didn't know how hard it would be!"

The brief, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California but is not yet public, reportedly claims the study, called Project Mercury, was initiated in 2019 and was meant to explore the impact of apps on polarization, news-consumption habits, "well-being, and daily social interactions." Plaintiffs in the suit say social media companies were aware that these platforms had a negative impact on the mental health of children and young adults but did not act to prevent it.

The European Commission has given unconditional approval to Omnicom Group's USD$13.25bn (£10.11bn) all-stock acquisition of Interpublic Group. Announced last December, the deal will merge two of the world's largest advertising holding companies. The combined entity will become the largest global advertising agency network, as traditional players seek to strengthen their position against Big Tech. YouTube and Facebook remain the most widely used social media platforms in the US.

I average around four hours of my day on my phone, checking emails, responding to texts, scrolling social media, and checking the weather. That's four hours I could be spending reading a book, writing an article, learning how to predict the weather, calling a loved one, and doing anything besides checking the time suck and brain rot that is social media sites and messaging apps.

Not everyone online is necessarily who you think they are, and you shouldn't believe everything you read.

It's a story that requires us to look more closely at how our own instincts, emotions, and digital habits shape the spread of information. This story reveals something both sobering and empowering: falsehood moves faster than truth not merely because of the technologies that transmit it, but because of the psychology that receives it. That insight is no longer just the intuition of intelligence officers or behavioral scientists. It is backed by hard data.

According to a new filing in the Northern District of Californi a, which has been put forward by a collective of more than 1,800 plaintiffs, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube have "relentlessly pursued a strategy of growth at all costs, recklessly ignoring the impact of their products on children's mental and physical health." 'In a 2020 research project code-named 'Project Mercury,' Meta scientists worked with survey firm Nielsen to gauge the effect of 'deactivating' Facebook, according to Meta documents obtained via discovery. To the company's disappointment, 'people who stopped using Facebook for a week reported lower feelings of depression, anxiety, loneliness and social comparison,' internal documents said.' The suit alleges that Meta buried these findings, and canceled any further work on this element, arguing that the results were tainted by the 'existing media narrative' around the company.

But no: What you find instead in the case of Larry Bushart is one of the most plain and egregious examples of police overreach and punishment of free speech you'll hopefully ever encounter. The injustice of it is both frightening and deeply relevant to our current sociopolitical landscape ... as is the curious indifference of national news, who seemed to largely miss the story entirely.

After the right-wing activist was shot and killed Sept. 10 during an event at Utah Valley University, President Donald Trump and his allies sought to punish anyone who made public comments about Kirk that could be perceived as critical. Numerous universities fired or suspended professors, including three at FAU: Karen Leader, an associate professor of art history; Kate Polak, an English professor; and Rebel Cole, a finance professor.

A Russian soldier, with his face blurred, poses in front of the bodies of three Ukrainian soldiers lying face down in a pool of blood, their hands clasped behind their heads. The image, shared by the Russian Rusich unit on its Telegram channel, is accompanied by an announcement for a contest: The first three people to submit a photo of prisoners who have clearly been erased from existence will receive a cryptocurrency reward.

You open Instagram to grab a trending audio for a reel. Just one quick thing. Two hours later, you're still scrolling. You haven't created anything. You haven't even saved the audio you meant to find. And now it's 10 p.m., and you're mentally exhausted - and a little sad, tbh - from consuming content instead of making it. (Seriously, why is Instagram's search function on the Explore page?) Oh, wait, that was me. Hi. 👋

Today's audiences don't just want to buy from a brand. They want an experience to go along with it. And while strategies like transparency and smarter prep for sales calls can go a long way in boosting your sales numbers, the brands that achieve the greatest lasting success often focus on creating an unforgettable experience for their customers. What does an unforgettable experience actually look like?

Not long ago, the idea of getting paid to share your morning routine online would have sounded absurd. Yet today, influencers are big business: The global market is expected to surpass US$32 billion by the end of 2025. Rooted in celebrity culture but driven by digital platforms, the influencer economy represents a powerful force in both commerce and culture. I'm an expert on digital consumer research, and I see the rise of influencers as an important evolution in the relationship between companies, consumers and creators.