It's Mental Health Awareness Month in the U.S., the month when we acknowledge that we're

UPDATE 8/16: Apple apparently heard the feedback, and has moved the "end call" button back

Signal president Meredith Whittaker is concerned companies have been given "inordinate power" with AI.

Spotify Technology SA is planning a more expensive subscription option that’s expected to include high-fidelity audio in an

Salesforce will raise prices for some of its cloud and marketing tools by an average 9% from August,

Do you know your phishing from malware? One in six older adults admit they are completely “baffled” by digital terms. A study of 2,000 over-65s found the likes of hyperlinks, phishing and “The Cloud” are among the jargon which leaves people scratching their heads. Processor, malware and USB-C also made the top 20 list of confusing terms - with cookies, IP addresses and smishing also featuring highly. It also emerged 11 per cent think digital terms are so complicated that a foreign language would be easier to learn. To help older people get a better understanding of online jargon, BT Group has partnered with AbilityNet and lexicographer Susie Dent, to create a Digital Dictionary consisting of the 21 most commonly misunderstood words used on the internet. Susie said: “Whilst so much of modern life seems easier online – whether that’s booking a doctor’s appointment, managing your finances, or doing the weekly shop – we’re forgetting one crucial thing: it’s only easier if you understand the language the web is built on. “So, it’s great that this Digital Dictionary is a guide that simplifies the language.” The survey also found the over-65s spend just five and a half hours a week online, with 78 per cent feeling left behind by their lack of knowledge. Just over half (54 per cent) wish they were more knowledgeable when it comes to computing, but 17 per cent of these feel a lack of motivation. Other issues include feeling there is simply too much to learn or needing someone to show them what to do. But 16 per cent worry others will see them as a burden if they ask for help understanding different areas of technology. The main feeling for people who struggle with online jargon is frustration, though others feel silly, or stupid. And while easy access to information (31 per cent), convenience (17 per cent) and keeping in touch with friends and family (15 per cent) were deemed good things about the online world, many had negative things to say. A third (34 per cent) say their least-liked thing about being online is scams, with 14 per cent having privacy concerns. One in 10 (10 per cent) also stress that not every piece of information they see online is credible, according to the OnePoll.com figures. Victoria Johnson, spokesperson for BT Group added: “As younger generations grow up with the internet, it gets even harder for older generations to understand ever-changing online jargon. “But for anyone who isn’t a digital native and didn’t grow up with smartphones or super-fast broadband, it can feel like a whole new world to some. “It’s a shame to see from the research that older adults feel they are a burden when asking for help navigating their way online. “We want to create a more inclusive society by helping them make the most of life in the digital world. “We hope that the variety of online guides will give people the confidence to start exploring the internet and will give them all the training and support needed to live life to the full in the digital age.” The Jargon over 65s don’t understand: 1. Smishing 2. Vishing 3. Hyperlink 4. USB-C 5. Ransomware 6. URL 7. Phishing 8. QR code 9. Cloud 10. Malware 11. IP address 12. Cookies 13. Streaming 14. Tabs 15. Processor 16. Spam 17. Antivirus 18. Hardware 19. Browser 20. Upload 21. USB 22. Social media 23. Emoji 24. Webpage 25. App 26. Google 27. Download 28. Search Engine 29. Software 30. Smartphone Read More Brits think investing is for the super-rich, poll finds Brits get itchy feet in their home after five years, study finds The AI scams that are targeting young adults Elon Musk to live stream himself gaming on X in ‘everything app’ bid Japan startup unveils 15-foot robot suit for space exploration Apple blames Instagram for overheating iPhones

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul 17, 2023--

With the invention of phones, gaming consoles and other devices that keep us inside, the wholesome days of playing outside carefree seem to be drifting further away. So much so, that it appears some adults have forgotten how to skip. You know… the thing you used to do as kids around the playground, where you move forward hopping from one leg to another. Thanks to many on TikTok recording their hilarious attempts to try and skip again, the activity is now trending on the platform. What is the Skip Challenge that people are posting on TikTok? Skipping has gone viral on TikTok thanks to multiple videos showing people’s failed attempts at trying it, with the hashtags #skipchallenge and #forgothowtoskip. In the clips, typically a person is being filmed while having an attempt at doing it, with some hilarious results. In one video that has been viewed over 5.3 million times, TikToker Trina Kay tested her son-in-law’s skipping skills and it didn’t go well. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter @trinakaydesigns I asked my son-in-law if he remembered how to skip. Here is attempt #1.... #forgothowtoskip #howtoskip #growingupsucks Rather than skip, the man appeared to do more of a prance, leaving Kay and many viewers of the clip in hysterics. Another video that has been viewed 8.7 million times showed a TikToker’s manager bravely doing his failed skipping attempt in front of the whole office. @nickelback_loves_u Thought this “forgot how to skip” trend was a joke. I was mistaken ?. @Morris-Jenkins #forgothowtoskip #howtoskip #funnyvideos #trending #skipchallenge #fypシ They captioned the clip: “Thought this ‘forgot how to skip’ trend was a joke. I was mistaken.” According to the many failures posted on the platform, it appears we have lost our child-like joy. But, some are trying to recapture it by skipping for the first time in decades. @maryborderskennedy #skip #skippinginstyle #skipchallenge #pawpawsteve In the comments, one person wrote: “This is so funny. I just tried skipping for the first time in probably 30 years. It's not easy to do.” Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

SAVE 49%: Access Peacock from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN. A one-year subscription to

Scientists have theorised that if we are going to find life on Mars, it will be microbes and they will be living in caves below the surface. The Perseverance rover, NASA’s exploration robot on the Red Planet, is currently searching for signs of ancient life in the Jezero Crater. Scientists already know that there are so-called lava tubes on Mars, which some think could be large enough to shelter the first human astronauts from the cosmic radiation which is bombarding the planet. When these were formed, they thought conditions on Mars were more similar to those on Earth, with flowing water, an atmosphere and a warmer climate. One theory is that as conditions changed on the surface and Mars lost its magnetic field and atmosphere, life could have shifted underground. Daniel Viúdez-Moreiras from Spain’s National Institute for Aerospace Technology calculated that UV radiation levels would be about 2 percent of the radiation levels found at the surface. Fortunately, we have lava tubes here on Earth too, which could tell us what life could look like in similar conditions elsewhere in the Solar System. Hawai’i’s Mauna Loa volcano lava tubes were recently explored by NASA. Within them, life is sheltered from conditions on the surface. On Earth, that is a bad thing: we have sunlight and oxygen. But on Mars, where conditions are much harsher, that is a big advantage. “The microbes we found in Hawaii could be similar to microbes that once lived on Mars,” researcher Chloe Fishman explained to NASA following a trip to collect samples in April, “or even microbes that live there today.” The team brought back samples from the cave so as to sequence the genomes of the microbes they found there. And there are already plans to explore lava tubes on the Moon, too. So maybe, just maybe, they will hold the secret to life on Mars. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Google’s next flagship smartphone will feature an AI-powered camera that can automatically alter the expression on someone’s face, according to a leaked video. The Google Pixel 8 and Google Pixel 8 Pro, which are set to be unveiled on 4 October, have already been partially revealed by the US tech firm, which has a habit of teasing its devices before the official release date. The latest promo video, posted by reliable leaker Kamila Wojciechowska, shows Pixel 8 users radically adjusting the appearance of photo subjects “with a tap”. “Reimagine an image with Magic Editor from Google Photos,” the video states. “It’ll make you wonder, can a phone be made of magic? Nope, it’s AI.” The video generated excitement among Pixel owners on social media, though some expressed concern about the camera’s abilities. “I am sold on the Pixel 8 series,” one user of X, formerly Twitter, posted. “The head swap kinda creepy though.” Similar to Apple with its latest iPhone 15 series, the tech giant is expected to place a major emphasis on the phone’s camera, with other leaks and rumours surrounding Google’s next Pixel devices suggesting both versions will feature a 50 megapixel main camera, together with a 10.5 megapixel front camera. The Pixel 8 Pro will feature an additional rear camera that offers telephoto capabilities and 5x optical zoom. Key specs have also been leaked, most notably the inclusion of a Tensor G3 chipset that will enable better processing power. The price for the standard version is expected to be £699 in the UK and $699 in the US, while the premium version will cost £999 in the UK and $899 in the US. Anyone who pre-orders the Pixel 8 Pro will also receive a free Pixel Watch 2. Google does not comment on leaks or rumours about unreleased products. Read More 10 ways AI will change the world – from curing cancer to wiping out humanity Pixel 6 pre-order: How to get Google’s new phone Google Pixel 6 release date revealed for ‘iPhone killer’ Google Pixel buds A-series review: AirPods for the Android crowd

More than half of all Americans have experienced online hate or harassment within their lifetimes, while reports of online abuse among teenagers and LGBT+ people have surged within the last year, according to an annual survey from a leading civil rights group. The Anti-Defamation League’s fifth annual survey charts a dramatic increase in reports of online hate and harassment among several groups over the last year, including 51 per cent of teenagers between ages 13 and 17 – an increase of 15 per cent from the same point last year. Forty-seven per cent of LGBT+ people, 38 per cent of Black people, and 38 per cent of Muslims have reported online hate and harassment over the last 12 months, according to the report, which calls on Congress, the White House and social media companies to implement stronger protections against online abuse. “We’re confronted with record levels of hate across the internet, hate that too often turns into real violence and danger in our communities,” according to a statement from ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt. “The time for talking, and for planning, is long over. It’s time to execute on the priorities set out by the White House and other policymakers, and it’s time for big tech companies to deliver on their promises to reduce hate online.” Reports of online abuse are particularly acute among transgender people; 76 per cent of trans respondents said they have been harassed online within their lifetimes, and more than half experienced such abuse within the previous 12 months – the most among any demographic included in the survey. “Due to the recent proliferation of extreme anti-transgender legislation and rhetoric, ADL sampled transgender individuals separately this year,” according to the report. By the end of May, state lawmakers had introduced more than 500 bills impacting LGBT+ people in 2023, including 220 bills specifically targeting trans and nonbinary Americans, according to an analysis from the Human Rights Campaign. In remarks at the White House earlier this month, President Joe Biden condemned the “totally, thoroughly unjustified and ugly” wave of legislation impacting LGBT+ Americans. A separate report from the ADL and GLAAD discovered more than 350 targeted threats against LGBT+ people within the last year, including online harassment as well as armed protests at drag performances, bomb scares against hospitals that provide gender-affirming healthcare, and other acts of violence, including a mass shooting inside a Colorado Springs LGBT+ nightclub. Incidents targeting drag performers and the people and venues that host them have accelerated across the US, with similar threats surfacing in the UK, according to a separate recent report from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue. The group collected 203 on- and offline threatening incidents within the last year. The ADL’s latest survey of 2,139 people was performed online with the ADL and YouGov from 7 March through 24 March. Read More More than 200 anti-drag attacks documented across US as nation leads global threats to LGBT+ events Ritchie Torres, the only openly gay Black man in Congress, on how he fights GOP ‘bullying’ of LGBT+ people Elon Musk promotes transphobic content as hate speech surges on his far-right platform White House rejects Lauren Boebert’s claim that antisemitism plan will be used ‘go after conservatives’