List of All Articles with Tag 'v'

Countries that border the Amazon rainforest need to have a bigger voice in the international climate debate and

Just as you thought social media platforms had all corners of the internet covered, along comes Threads, created by Facebook and Instagram owners Meta. In what has been described as a rival to Twitter, Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg has already had over 10 million people signed up in the first few hours of launching. Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter For some, it’s a matter of jumping in with both feet and navigating the waters from there. Others will sit back and take a little more cautious approach. Either way, learning how to navigate the social media jungle using these few simple tips will be invaluable... Take a social media detox It’s easy to use social media compulsively and excessively. You can become so accustomed to scrolling through posts, laughing at videos and liking images that it can take over. According to data found by audience insights platform GWI, 29 per cent of people across Britain use more than five social media apps, with 54 per cent of 16-24-year-olds doing the same. “There has been a substantial surge in social media consumption over the past decade. What initially began as occasional Facebook ‘check-ins’ has now evolved into spending six to eight hours per day on various social media platforms such as TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, and now, Threads,” said Marvin Winkelmann, the managing director of AFK Digital. That’s why he says moderation is key. “I strongly advocate for individuals to not only take periodic breaks from social media to rejuvenate their wellbeing but also to consider reducing their engagement before bedtime and during meals. By doing so, we can prioritise face-to-face interactions, which hold even greater significance than merely keeping up with the seemingly idealised virtual world.” Practise the right social media etiquette Winkelmann highlights that different platforms have different niches in terms of how people generally interact. “But a rule of thumb should always be to treat other users with respect.” It’s also why Chris Hackett, the founder of Face Digital, an SEO advisory firm, believes we all need to learn the right social media etiquette, which dictates how people should behave around others online. “Always be yourself,” he said. “Whether you’re using social media for personal or professional reasons, people connect with authenticity. This doesn’t mean you should be airing out your personal details, but you don’t have to hide behind an online persona. “Be careful with what you say. It may feel like a safe space, but using social media to vent or voice controversial opinions can come back to haunt you in the future. “And don’t post anything that you wouldn’t want an employer to see. Social media is, for the most part, public. Before you fire off that tweet, imagine a potential employer reading it and what they may think.” Be careful of negativity Hackett advised against getting into arguments on social media. “There are a lot of keyboard warriors around, and there is nothing to gain by arguing with them. If you don’t like something, scroll past it.” Plus, some of the negativity on social media could have an impact on your mental health – which is why it’s important to look after yourself. “Social media has become a constant figure in everyone’s lives, to the point where it can be detrimental to our mental health. The best way to deal with negativity is to take time away from toxic online environments,” said Hackett. Winkelmann added: “It is crucial to acknowledge that social media platforms tend to accentuate negativity due to the provocative nature of negative content. People love to disagree and share their opinions online. “As a result, the algorithms used by these platforms are designed to amplify such content. It is important for individuals to remain aware of this fact, bearing in mind that much of what is observed online is often an embellished representation of reality anyway.” 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.

Crypto enthusiasts are hopeful that a once-in-four-years event which rewrites the underlying code of the world’s biggest cryptocurrency

From Donald Trump's 2016 election victory to the shocking twist at the end of Game of Thrones, it seems that The Simpsons has a knack for predicting the future - and now some believe it predicted the new social media app Threads. The cartoon series has been running for 35 years since it first took to screens in 1989 and has become a part of pop culture in the 750 episodes that have aired. During this time, The Simpsons have covered a wide selection of topics from politics to celebrities, and as a result, it has eerily managed to foretell news or events that have not happened yet. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Some recent examples include the unexpected connection between the Titanic sub and foreseeing the controversial Willow Project. Most recently, people believe the show predicted Meta's new social media platform, Threads, which is said to rival Twitter. The "evidence" that has been circulating around the internet is a photo of Homer Simpson with his ear circled as it appears to be drawn like an "@" sign, strikingly similar to the Threads logo, which is shown beside the image. "The Simpsons predicted threads?!??" Twitter user @bestinteracted asked. However, all is not what it seems since Homer's ears are drawn differently in the cartoon show, and so the image is not real, rather it has been edited to make it look like the Threads logo. Someone was quick to point this out in response. So, in conclusion - no, The Simpsons did not predict the Threads app. 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.

Texas was among the hottest places on Earth last week as a heat wave brought misery from Mexico

Britain’s increasingly extreme weather is shaking the very foundations of its centuries-old history. The nation has been experiencing

In a cease-and-desist letter earlier this week, Twitter threatened legal action against Instagram parent company Meta over the new text-based app, Threads

Leqembi could slow the progression of Alzheimer's, but the side effects can be severe.

Bitcoin is ending the week on a down note after the optimism that pushed the price of the

Since Meta Platforms Inc. launched Threads on Wednesday, millions of users have joined the new social platform that

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will increase financial aid and outreach to applicants in lower-income

When can we expect the NBA 2K24 ratings reveal? Here's what we expect based on previous years.