How a ban on smartphones is transforming Dutch schools
As global leaders become more concerned about the impact of smartphones on children’s development, many have moved to ban their use in schools. Nearly two years into its own ban, the Dutch government is measuring the results. It’s no secret that smartphones are addictive, even to adults. The constant buzz...
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Jack Dorsey’s launches Bluetooth messaging app Bitchat
Bitchat is a decentralised and encrypted chat service able to send and receive messages through Bluetooth signal – and without WiFi or phone service. Will it become an instant hit? Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey has just launched a new peer-to-peer massaging app that works without WiFi or phone service. Bitchat...
Zuckerberg school closures reflect wider shift among US billionaires
The quiet decision to retract funding for a US primary school has caused the institution to shutter – leaving disadvantaged kids in the crossfire. By all accounts, The Primary School in East Palo Alto, California, was designed to be an ambitious experiment in breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty. Founded...
Terrorists are leveraging AI and it’s becoming harder to stay ahead
Staying one step ahead of terrorist outfits is proving increasingly difficult with the rapid proliferation of open source platforms and artificial intelligence. Monday marked the 20th anniversary of the 7/7 terror attacks in London, and with the grim events of that week once again at the forefront of the public’s...
New study suggests ChatGPT use linked to lower brain activity
Fresh research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Media Lab suggests that frequent use of ChatGPT to write essays might be linked to cognitive decline. It turns out that using ChatGPT every day to write essays and perform literary tasks may be having a negative impact on our brains. New research...
The Oakley Meta smart glasses reek of surveillance capitalism
Billed as a wearable device to optimise physical performance, the Oakley Meta smart glasses may just be a catalyst for 24-7 surveillance and targeted advertising on an unprecedented level. Meta loves itself a hefty privacy scandal, and this could be another in the making. By now you’ve probably seen ads...
Is virality ruining everything?
As more of us turn to social media for recommendations, is the joy of a hidden gem at risk of extinction? I used to have a thing for secrecy, at least when it came to food. I revelled in the smug satisfaction of knowing about a low-lit bar that only opens two days a week, or the ramen place tucked behind a dry cleaners that doesn’t accept card. I believed...
Donald Trump launches new gold phone and service network
US President Donald Trump has unveiled a new gold smartphone and nationwide service network, fittingly titled ‘Trump Mobile.’ The business initiative raises questions about conflict of interest. The Trump Organisation has just announced ‘Trump Mobile,’ a new smartphone line and monthly network plan that is set to cost $499 USD upfront with a $47.75 USD monthly charge on top. Each ‘Trump Mobile’ phone is cased in a gold material, and...
Does Spotify have a porn problem?
AI-generated audio pornography and sex podcasts are ranking highly on Spotify and explicit video clips are being easily concealed from safeguards. The platform’s reactive moderation is under fire. Sex sells, we all know that. But what business does porn have being on the biggest music streaming app? Technically, sexually explicit content is prohibited on Spotify, but the app has a funny way of enforcing this rule. When porn is flagged by...
WhatsApp introduces ads into its feed for the first time
After teasing possible advertisement placements for several years, Meta has finally launched an update on WhatsApp that will roll the feature out publicly. Businesses will be able to display ads in the ‘updates’ tab. The popular text-based messaging platform WhatsApp now features business advertisements for the first time. As part of an update this week, parent company Meta announced that companies can now place ads in the ‘updates’ tab, where users...
