Science confirms touch alleviates anxiety amid spiking levels globally
As the world grapples with a mental health crisis post-pandemic and in light of findings that record numbers of people are now suffering from anxiety, scientists have been looking for new ways to treat the condition. According to a recent study, hugs are one such solution. The world is grappling...
Current in Tech
New research finds Gen Z prefer social video over TV
Streaming giants such as Netflix, Disney +, and Paramount could be facing problems in the future, as a new study finds Gen Zers prefer social video and live streaming over traditional television shows. Remember the days when your family would settle down for the evening, turn on the TV,...
Will calls to ban smartphones for children be answered?
A new poll suggests that most parents want smartphones to be banned amongst children. Could it happen? Are our beloved smartphones addictive? I think we all know that the answer is yes, but a large proportion of people are now going as far as labelling them ‘electronic drugs’ which young people...
Facebook sees Gen Z boost after relaunching ‘poke’ feature
Once a staple of Millennial internet use, Facebook has reintroduced the long-defunct ‘poke’ feature to its platform, allowing users to mildly annoy one another at their leisure. If you’re a Millennial, you probably know exactly what we mean when discussing Facebook’s long lost ‘poke’ feature. Although simple, the ‘poke’ button allowed...
Spotify testing freemium e-learning video courses
E-learning video courses are Spotify’s next offering as the service pushes for better subscriber retention and growth. Third parties like Skillshare and BBC Maestro are on board and a freemium model will generate new revenue – if people take to the idea. Remember when Spotify was purely a music streaming...
YouTube launches #WomenofYouTube mentorships for Shorts creators
YouTube has announced a new #WomenofYouTube mentorship program which will foster collaboration between female creators on the platform’s Shorts feature. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, YouTube is looking ahead to the future and ways in which it can further elevate its female creator base. At the forefront of this mission...
Is Currys Fortnite ‘Trash Tycoon’ e-waste project genuine?
UK tech retailer Currys has collaborated with Epic Games’ Fortnite with its new ‘Trash Tycoon’ gaming experience. Is it genuinely educational or is it corporate greenwashing for PR purposes? The UK’s largest technology retailer Currys has created a new ‘video game experience’ within Epic Games’ Fortnite called ‘Trash Tycoon.’ The game sees players run around a map that visually represents over 880 million unused and broken tech items currently being...
New study suggests that pregnancy can make you age faster
According to recent research, women who have been pregnant before are more likely to exhibit signs of accelerated biological ageing compared to women who have never been pregnant. While it may feel like common knowledge that pregnancy ages you, a new study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has confirmed that growing a human being from scratch can make your body between two to 14...
GDC 2024 begins with keynote on diversity and inclusivity
Old habits die hard in the business of game development, and industry figureheads are making a point of calling for more inclusivity at this year’s conference and beyond. The annual Game Development Conference kicked off yesterday, and thousands will be attending to partake in the week’s round-tables, lectures, tutorials, and award shows. Setting the tone for the rest of the expo, the keynote for 2024 opened with a session about...
Spotify begins rolling out music videos feature
While it appeared Spotify had laid its hat on short-form video, the music service will now begin to roll out full music videos on the app across the coming months. Is this the beginning of the end for the looping Canvas videos everyone disables to save their battery life? In a surprising pivot towards long-form video content, Spotify has rolled out an in-app feature that will allow users to watch full...
