Why are all AI assistants feminised?
Ever wondered why Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant all answer our beck and call in sweet dulcet tones? The female gendering of AI technology is pervasive and largely unquestioned – but does it enforce damaging stereotypes? Rather disconcertingly, AI assistants are now an omnipotent presence in day-to-day life. Whether you...
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Opinion – Andrew Tate exemplifies a growing surge in right-wing rhetoric
The influencer’s brand of hyper-toxic masculinity has fostered a cult of violent sexism online. With young men most easily swayed by his disturbing ideologies, Tate’s permanent removal from social media should only be the start of confronting what is a much wider issue. When I first came across Andrew Tate...
Opinion – navigating algorithmic anxiety has become exhausting
As Instagram faces pressure to stop displaying only what it deems ‘most engaging’, it’s time we assessed the impact of engineered content that influences us in ways we’d otherwise steer clear of. Fairly recently, I attended an event intended for likeminded people to gather and discuss their interests. Situated in a...
Sharing ‘deepfake porn’ could soon be illegal in the UK
A government-backed review has warned that current laws do not go far enough to cover ‘disturbing and abusive new behaviours born in the smartphone era.’ During the past decade, numerous steps have been taken to confront the threat of sexual harassment online posed by evolving digital trends. In 2015,
New TikTok feature allows users to set screen time reminders
Self-regulating our social media consumption has proved to be difficult. Now, app designers are incorporating time-sensitive features to prevent us from getting lost in endless scrolling loops. Tapping into social media has become as ingrained into our daily habits as checking text messages, e-mails, and news notifications. But unlike apps used...
How smartphone dependence is harming our memories
‘Digital amnesia’ is on the rise, a concerning phenomenon that’s seeing our ingrained reliance on tech take a toll on our ability to remember important information. For those of us fortunate enough to own a smartphone, they play an integral role in our day-to-day lives. We use them to communicate,...
TikTok launches slew of safety features including For You filtering
TikTok is rolling out a slew of new safety features, including ‘maturity’ ratings on videos for young users, an algorithm that prevents bulk viewing of problematic content, and the ability to filter in the For You page using words or hashtags. Tuning your algorithm on TikTok can require a ton of sifting through some pretty sketchy content. Certainly if you were late to the game, like I was. Despite its impressive...
Apps and advertisers are officially coming for our lock screens
It’s only a matter of time until our lock screens become the next hottest real estate in tech. Advertisers are upping the ante with rollout in the coming months, according to reports. Have you ever sat peacefully with your phone locked beside you wishing it would, of its old accord, grab your attention with a fast-food offer, or a shortcut to a nifty app for filling out tax returns? Despite my...
Facebook removing some posts offering abortion pills
Following the Supreme Court’s decision to strip away constitutional protections for abortion, the platform is temporarily banning users who share status updates explaining how to legally obtain abortion pills in the mail. After months of speculation, the US Supreme Court has overturned Roe V Wade, the integral ruling from 1973 that gave women the constitutional right to have an abortion up to 24 weeks. Though the decision was not a surprise...
Apple faces £768m lawsuit for allegedly ‘throttling’ older iPhones
Up to 25 million Britons who owned an older iPhone model in 2017 may be able to claim damages from Apple. A consumer champion claims the tech giant deliberately ruined phone performances to push buyers towards new devices. When it comes to our phone devices, somewhat ironically, we’re the ones under the thumb. Over the last few years, phone usage has become more obsessive than ever. Up to five hours...
