We often hear about how social media has such a negative effect on people in our society, so often that we sometimes forget to remember that social media can also have a positive effect on our society. This article takes a look at how social media can make it easier to make friends and stay in touch with long-distance friends, it allows for speedy communication, and can even be beneficial for learning environments. Take a look at all the other positive impacts that social media has made in our culture:
AI Tomorrows Future, For A Better Economy
With modern Artificial Intelligence (AI) still in its early days of development there is no telling what advancements AI will bring us in the future let alone the true scale of wealth AI will bring to the economy. According to Carnegies article there is estimates that AI will create tens of trillions of dollars in wealth to the economy. That’s a lot of money!
How will AI create all that wealth for the economy you ask? Well to put it simply, lets use a factory for example, whether a factor makes cars or is processing your favorite soda it takes a lot of time and a lot of steps. Well that’s where AI comes in by replacing human beings which in turn productivity is than greatly enhanced. AI can do everything a human being in this “step” could and more by detecting infinite algorithms of possibilities, say even detecting a problem on an assembly line mid production before it happens, something a human being could not do.
This is but a simplified version of what AI is truly capable of, artificial intelligence is the way of the future, but it all starts and ends with policy makers approval. Policymakers think about long term economic growth when deciding whether or not Artificial Intelligence is truly worth the hassle. With that said, AI’s potential to boost productivity and growth in companies and the countries that lead makes AI a possibility of the future not too far-fetched nor ruled out.
https://carnegieendowment.org/2019/10/02/world-isn-t-ready-for-ai-to-upend-global-economy-pub-79961
Here Are 6 Ways Social Media is Affecting Your Mental Health
Its been debated that social media plays a significant role in our mental health. More than just the risk of being exposed to cyber-bullies and trolls, social media can play a big factor in the way you view yourself and those around you. Some call this “Facebook Depression.”
For starters, social media can be highly addictive. Mindless scrolling can keep you captivated for hours. I, myself, just last night sat on TikTok rather than writing this post for 2 hours. It is an opportunity to distract yourself from reality and responsibilities. It can also create more sadness and less well being. The correlation of social media use and decreased happiness is direct for this reason: social media provides a fleeting feeling of social connection that isn’t tangible and because it is not tangible it isn’t as fulfilling as person to person interaction. We try to fill this social void by increase our followers or “internet friends,” but this doesn’t mean that we are actually being social.
Social media provides a place for people to post the highlights of their lives or moments that we created and not real for people to compare their own lives to, which can damage self-perception or even create a cycle of jealousy. Yet, we still find ourselves thinking the use of social media will somehow make us feel okay anyway, even though we feel all of these things.
Take a look at this article from Forbes to get a more in depth look into the studies that support these 6 ways social media affects our mental health: https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2017/06/30/a-run-down-of-social-medias-effects-on-our-mental-health/#789db0392e5a
Women in tech: “Having a diversity of viewpoints makes for a more accessible and educated industry”
Technology is one of the most popular and fastest-growing industries today. Yet, there is still underrepresentation of women throughout the sector. Research studies have even shown that gender diversity within a company results in positive benefits for the company. So why are there still very few women who work in the tech industry? JaxEnter saw a need for more people to know about the phenomenal women in tech and started a series focused on bringing the most inspirational women into the world’s attention. Read the article below to learn more about Irene Lopez, a software engineer at Relic building reliable services to support evolving business needs.
Social Media Activism
https://www.teenvogue.com/story/social-media-activism-changed-everything
In our technologically advanced society, social media engulfs us all. We are constantly checking our phones to find out what is happening in the world around us. It is no wonder we can influence social movements as well. The Teen Vogue article follows Rayne-Fischer Quann, then an 18-year-old student, who organized thousands of Ontario students to walk out of their classrooms after their local government repealed their recently modernized sex-ed curriculum. To be able to organize thousands of people within the span of an Instagram post speaks volumes on how instrumental social media has been and will be in current and future social movements. The article states, “Social media is one way that youth can exert their power in a social world where they often don’t have other avenues for doing so.” It is the only aspect in their lives they have control over politically because folks 17 and under are not able to shift politics through voting. Now, just because we have a new form of activism, does not take away the fact that it is still as dangerous as physical activism. Online activists have gotten death threats (Rayne is an example of this), arson, fake police calls, bomb threats, etc. just from being vocal on social media. We are living in an era where all of our experiences are documented for future research or for teaching and influencing the next generation of activists. I am proud to be living in an era where I can document almost anything and share it with my future immediate family and relatives.
Five Security Risks Faced in the Modern Workplace
Many jobs nowadays revolve around technology or at least have technology incorporated in some way. For some businesses, it may be tough to adjust, or employees may not be aware of the risks involved when working in a cyber workplace. Information security is one of the most important things that employees should practice, and this article highlights some common security problems.
https://securitybrief.co.nz/story/five-security-risks-faced-in-the-modern-workplace-empired
Artificial Intelligence to Prevent Alzheimer
Alzheimer is a very common disease that can affect anyone regardless of age, sex or race. Currently, Alzheimer’s disease has no known cure and affects an estimated 5.8 million Americans of all ages (AAS 2019). Scientists at the Phoenix Lab are using artificial intelligence to create a treatment plan specific to each patient that helps prevent the development of the disease. Learn more by clicking the link below.
Artificial Intelligence in the Insurance Industry
The claims process in insurance is known for being a slow and aggravating process at times. Artificial intelligence could cut out the need for any human involvement, which would significantly reduce the amount of time spent in the process. AI claims could also save the industry billions in fraudulent claims due to its ability to go through data and see patterns at a much faster rate than humans.
Why is the internet being shut off in India?
India has had the most internet blockage and shutdown in the world this year. The reason being the new citizenship law. In cities that there are many protesters the government has chosen to shut off the internet by telling the internet providers in that area that it is for public order reasons.
Are we killing the music industry with social media?
We all use social media theres no doubt in that, but have you ever considered how much music is shared through your daily use. Whether it be from someone’s story on snap chat or on a smile video on facebook, we are constantly surrounded by music now a days. With the amount we are consuming and sharing, we are shaping how artists share their projects with us. Rather than going through a record label smaller artists are able to put their products online with fate in their hands. But with the help of music streaming services smaller artist may show up in someones recommended playlist and said artist would gain another fan. I dont believe that this is a good or bad thing, rather a chance to change the industry and break standards. https://t.co/fqFTrUw7Kz?amp=1
LIS 4022 Spring 2020 