# The Rise and Decline of LiveJournal: A Comprehensive Report

## Introduction

LiveJournal stands as one of the pioneering social networking platforms that transformed personal blogging from a solitary activity into a community-driven experience.

At its peak in early 2005, LiveJournal boasted more than 2.

5 million active accounts, making it a significant force in online communication.

However, as we approach nearly two decades since its heyday, the platform has largely faded from mainstream consciousness, with notable exceptions like author George R.

R.

Martin who continues to maintain an active presence there.

## The Origins and Creation of LiveJournal

### Brad Fitzpatrick's Vision

LiveJournal was created by Brad Fitzpatrick in 1999 when he was just 19 years old.

Initially, Fitzpatrick developed the platform as a personal journaling application to document his experiences working at a Yacc-based project at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

What began as a simple personal tool would eventually evolve into

# The Rise and Decline of LiveJournal: A Comprehensive Report

## Introduction

LiveJournal stands as one of the pioneering social networking platforms that transformed personal blogging from a solitary activity into a community-driven experience.

Title:

Content: Thursday 28 March 2024
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Editors
Abdurrahim Ali
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Editorial Board
Abdurrahim Ali
Free opinions
The Power of Choice
Follow the latest news through the app
The present you live and the future you look forward to depend on what you have already chosen.
The one who slept early chose to wake up early, while the one who stayed up all night, intentionally or without, had another choice.
The things of daily life that are entrusted to us, in which God has given us the power of choice.
From the beginning of his confession, God created this universe, and through the freedom of his worshippers, his praise and exaltation.
This is what makes a choice a power that humans possess that they may exploit in construction and development as they can also use it in destruction and destruction.
This is the first thing that our Lord Adam ’ s mind created, and he was held accountable for it.
It was a wrong choice, resulting from the landing on earth and the beginning of the journey of life that threw us into endless chains of choices.
The choice is obvious at every moment when the human mind is burning for a place where it will be held accountable.
As the pace of life accelerates, we find ourselves repeatedly at a moment of choice, loaded with decisions that will determine our future course.
Here or there, with or against, I accept or reject, so things go on this planet full of contradictions, which you pay us towards the freedom of life with which you live. I ’ m going to take it and take it to the next level.
The observable history of the events of the inhabitants of this planet makes us decide that choice is a real power like the rest of the invisible powers, my power. We are moved by sin and sin.
The power of choice is not just a philosophical concept separate from the reality that we are opposed to, but the results of a concrete reality that we live in all the details of our lives, resulting from what has happened. Our choices.
The power of choice is manifested by making a decision between multiple choices based on awareness and deep thinking.
It reflects the ability to guide our lives and determine our personal and professional path, and appears in many aspects of life, to demonstrate our ability to unite. You have set your goals and set your goals and set your values and principles.
The power of choice contributes to shaping the environment around us and enables us to influence ourselves and what is around us.
The power of choice requires conscious thinking and personal responsibility, which is why it is one of our most important tools in determining the course of our lives and achieving success and transformation. Eunuch.
The power of choice is perhaps a small moment at noon, according to the mere measure of time, but it carries with it a tremendous power, sufficient to reinforce the path we are taking, and perhaps to transform it. To another path.
In this context, the choice is a basic principle, as it is a practical exercise in taking responsibility, and this in turn makes us ready to bear the burden of the punishment. See, whether it be small or large, and to realize that every choice is heard with the whisper of the heart and the contemplation of the mind.
At crucial moments, we find ourselves standing in front of an internal struggle between multiple choices, and each option represents a different path.
This is where another aspect of the power of choice emerges. It can be as courage to explore the unknown or as a wise choice to move away from a path that is fraught with fear. Aah! Aah!
The extent to which the decision affects reflects the real power of our choice.
In the journey of life, our choices are not limited, and they have also drawn us into worlds we know nothing about.
And a chance to open new horizons, and explore our potential.
In this context, beauty appears in our ability to shape our lives and determine the way we walk.
The power of choice also manifests itself in how to deal with difficulties and challenges.
In the moments of crisis and pressure, it appears as a key to get out of the negative current and look for an answer solution.
Choice can be a critical turning point that makes us look at life differently, and take advantage of every challenge as an opportunity to learn and grow.
We cannot ignore the role of choice in forming our identity and building our character.
The collection of our decisions forms the map of our personal history, and carries in it innumerable details of our journey.
In this context, choice becomes a tool to carve out a story that expresses our own maturity and personal development.
The true power of choice is manifested in our ability to bear responsibility, and to understand that every choice carries weight that requires us to appreciate the results.
It can be the key to building a stable life filled with meaning, achieving the balance between ambition and satisfaction and embodying true success.
In the end, choice builds the moments of our lives and shapes them in a general way and determines the path we follow, and in this way we may have written with our own hands the life we love. To live it.
The power of choice is not just in the big decisions, but in every moment we go through.
It represents the moment when we decide how to continue in life and how to build our future.
With strength, we become an active force in our lives, charting our path in the colors of hope and optimism, carrying with unbounded confidence in our ability to fulfill wishes and make them possible. My dreams are real.
It is the religion and the dogmatic heritage, as well as the historical heritage, which carries within it clear examples that indicate the power of choice and its impact on the course of the event. And then I hit the ground running, and I hit the ground running.
He had chosen the wrong advice from the Iblis and had eaten from the tree in the hope of eternity.
But then he repented and chose obedience, and so his story showed the importance of making the right decisions and repentance.
It is also the case that Abraham chose to call people to God and reject idolatry, even in the face of pressure and threat.
His choice of truth and righteousness was a reflection of strength and fortitude.
Moses chose to raise the banner of justice and freedom for his people.
He chose to confront Pharaoh and lead Israel to freedom, and this choice shows his ability to lead.
He has chosen Joseph to remain pure, pure, true, even when his brethren have wronged him, and so is the trial of the prison.
His choice of honesty and companionship in the face of difficult circumstances highlighted the moral dimension on which he made the decision to choose.
These stories reflect the value of choice and its impact on the life of the individual and the community, and how individual decisions can affect the individual and the community.
Human history has also provided examples of people in whose lives choice has played a role.
Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon in 1969, chose to be the first man to walk on the moon.
This was a bold and historic decision that changed the course of human history.
World boxer Muhammad Ali Clay refused to join the U.S. military because he objected to the Vietnam War and considered it unfair.
He used his right to make his own choice despite challenges and criticism.
After serving 27 years in prison for his struggle against apartheid in South Africa, Nelson Mandela chose to embrace dialogue and reconciliation rather than revenge when he became president in 1994.
These stories highlight how small or large decisions can significantly affect the course of life, and how individuals can determine their own destiny from within. The choice.
All of the above invites us to reflect seriously on this power and what it can affect our lives, which urges us to increase our children ’ s awareness of the importance of the strength of our brothers and sisters. See what impact you can have on their personal and community lives.

Title:

Content: 20 Ways to Master Your Personal Brand on LinkedIn in 2024 and Beyond As an active network of over 850 million professionals, LinkedIn is a goldmine for personal branding opportunities, especially for entrepreneurs.

By Vikas Agrawal

Key Takeaways

  • It's important to effectively leverage LinkedIn's diverse features to maximize its opportunity.
  • As 2024 looms, the stage is set for you to amplify your personal branding on LinkedIn. The question is, are you ready to take the spotlight?

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Personal branding is more than a self-promotion exercise. It's the art of building a holistic professional identity that aligns with your skills, values and career goals. A great personal brand can help you attract customers and business partners while establishing your authority as a leader in your industry.

If you've been in the business world, you'll surely know that a great image and loyal following can make all the difference to your market share and sales. This is where the unparalleled platform for personal branding for professionals across industries and careers comes in. Yes, I'm talking about LinkedIn!

LinkedIn reigns supreme as the go-to professional networking platform for building a brand. With a whopping 875 million members and 310 million monthly active users as of 2023, most being business professionals, LinkedIn is a goldmine of branding opportunities for a professional. Your target customers and prospective business partners are waiting for you, but navigating through such a crowded field to get yourself heard can be daunting.

Thankfully, LinkedIn offers the tools you need to succeed on the platform. You need to make the most of LinkedIn's inbuilt features to stand out from the crowd and establish your brand — if you want to learn how you're at the right place! In this article, we'll explore 20 innovative features that can help you master personal branding on LinkedIn in 2024 and beyond.

Related: Unlocking the Power of LinkedIn: How Entrepreneurs Can Leverage the Platform for Growth and Success

1. LinkedIn stories and stories ads

Gone are the days when LinkedIn was just a digital resume. Now, you can share Stories, just like on Instagram or Snapchat. Use them to give people a peek into your workday or share quick career tips. And if you want to go big, you can even use Stories Ads to reach a wider audience. It's a fun and interactive way to boost your personal branding on LinkedIn.

Related: 7 Ideas For Personal Branding Using LinkedIn Stories

2. Live videos

Live videos are a game-changer for personal branding on LinkedIn. Imagine the possibilities — hosting a webinar, conducting a live Q&A session, or even giving a virtual tour of your workspace. It's like having a virtual stage where you can showcase your expertise and engage with your audience in real-time.

3. LinkedIn polls

Curious about what your network thinks about a hot industry topic? Or maybe you're looking for feedback on a project? LinkedIn Polls are your best friend. They're a simple yet powerful tool for gathering insights and sparking meaningful conversations, enhancing your personal branding on LinkedIn.

4. Product pages

If you're selling B2B products, listen up! LinkedIn Product Pages are akin to having a dedicated website within LinkedIn. It's a multifaceted feature that not only adds credibility but also serves as a direct channel for potential business opportunities, boosting your personal brand's reach and reputation.

Related: How to Find Investors on LinkedIn

5. Analytics for content creators

Here's something for all the data enthusiasts — LinkedIn's analytics, a treasure trove of insights. You can track engagement metrics and even understand the demographics of your audience. This feature is like having a personal branding dashboard that helps you fine-tune your content strategy based on real-time feedback.

6. Creator mode

Activating Creator Mode is akin to spotlighting your content creation efforts. It changes the layout of your profile to highlight your posts and encourages more people to follow you rather than connect. It's a subtle yet effective way to enhance your personal brand.

7. Cover story

You know how they say first impressions last? Well, the Cover Story feature lets you add a short video intro to your profile. Think of it as your elevator pitch but in video form. Well-designed cover stories are a fantastic way to make a memorable first impression.

Related: 6 Ways to Ace Social Media Branding for Your Startup

8. Pronouns and name pronunciation

In today's world, inclusivity is not just a nice-to-have, it's a must. Adding your pronouns and a name pronunciation guide may seem like small gestures, but they go a long way in making everyone feel seen and respected. It's a step towards building a more inclusive personal brand that resonates with a diverse audience.

9. Skills assessments

LinkedIn Skills Assessments serve as a third-party validation of your skills, whether Python programming or SEO expertise. Passing these assessments not only adds credibility but also signals to your network and potential employers that you have the skills you claim to have, further solidifying your personal branding efforts on LinkedIn.

10. LinkedIn newsletter

Starting a LinkedIn Newsletter is not just about sharing long-form content. It's about building a community. It offers a platform to delve deeper into topics you're passionate about and engage with your audience on a more intimate level. Over time, this can position you as a thought leader in your field, significantly boosting your personal branding on LinkedIn.

Related: 3 Strategies for Maximizing Your Potential on LinkedIn

11. LinkedIn events

Hosting a LinkedIn Event is a fantastic branding exercise. Whether it's a virtual panel discussion or an in-person networking session, these events offer a unique opportunity to bring like-minded professionals together. It's a great way to provide value, share expertise and build a community, all of which are vital in strong personal branding.

12. LinkedIn conversation ads

Imagine sending a personalized ad right into someone's LinkedIn inbox. That's what Conversation Ads lets you do. Conversation Ads offer a more personalized and intimate way to engage potential clients or collaborators. It takes a direct approach that can yield high engagement rates, making it a valuable tool in your personal branding arsenal.

13. LinkedIn lead gen forms

LinkedIn Lead Gen Forms help simplify the often tedious process of data collection. One click and voila! You've got yourself a high-quality lead. With pre-filled information, these forms make it easier for people to engage with your content. It's a user-friendly feature that makes your personal branding efforts more effective and efficient.

14. LinkedIn dynamic ads

These aren't your run-of-the-mill ads! Dynamic Ads are a step above traditional advertising. They use the viewer's LinkedIn profile data to personalize the ad in real-time. This level of personalization can significantly increase engagement rates, making your advertising efforts more effective and aligned with your personal branding goals.

Related: 4 Keys to Building B2B Brand Awareness Online

15. LinkedIn video ads

Why tell when you can show? Video Ads let you bring your brand story to life. They offer a dynamic storytelling medium. These ads are all about conveying your brand message in a more engaging and memorable way, enhancing your personal branding efforts on LinkedIn.

16. LinkedIn carousel ads

Think of Carousel Ads as a mini-slideshow that allows you to showcase multiple products or narrate a story slide by slide. This feature offers a unique and creative avenue to engage your audience, making it easier to convey complex messages or highlight various aspects of your brand. It's an inventive approach to enrich your personal branding on LinkedIn.

17. Featured section and articles

Your LinkedIn profile is your personal branding billboard. Use the Featured Section to showcase your best work, whether it's a project, article, or even a testimonial. It serves as a portfolio that visitors can explore, offering a more rounded view of your expertise and skills. Leveraging the featured section, you can focus on putting your best foot forward.

18. Recommendations and endorsements

Nothing boosts your credibility like a glowing recommendation or skill endorsement. It's social proof that you're as awesome as you say you are. Endorsements from people who have worked with you and can vouch for your abilities add a layer of credibility to your personal brand that's invaluable.

19. InMail

Want to reach out to someone outside your network? InMail helps you break down the barriers by allowing you to reach out to anyone on LinkedIn, regardless of whether they're in your network. It's like having a VIP pass to connect with industry leaders, potential clients, or collaborators, expanding your reach and influence.

20. LinkedIn learning coach, accelerate for marketing, and more

LinkedIn is constantly rolling out new features like a Learning Coach and Accelerate for Marketing. Whether it's recommending courses to enhance your skills or optimizing your marketing campaigns, these features offer actionable insights that can be instrumental in boosting your personal brand.

Ready to boost your personal brand?

Personal branding on LinkedIn is a dynamic, ongoing process that requires strategic use of the platform's multifaceted features, as we discussed. And the most important factor here is undeniably the content you present. If you don't know where to start, consider the expertise that an experienced design agency can bring in crafting impactful content to create a cohesive and compelling professional narrative.

Vikas Agrawal

Entrepreneur Leadership Network® Contributor

CEO of Infobrandz.com

Vikas Agrawal is a Strategic Marketing Consultant, and Crypto Advocate. With a passion for visual marketing and branding, data privacy and emerging technologies, Vikas leads Infobrandz.com and empowers companies to thrive in the digital era.

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Title:

Content: Latest News Our LivesOur Lives
Social media is a store of ideas.
Will you turn against the person one day?
Majd Jaber
“What we write on our pages remains present with us, even if years and years have passed, ” Maher Abdulrahman (34 years) was sure of, indicating that in any case and any field, it may be against the person or in his side one day.
Maher recalls what he wrote in a particular case about five years ago, and when a new job opportunity came to him in a large company, his appointment and request was rejected, and he later learned that the reason for this was what he wrote through his Facebook page, which is contrary to the company ’ s policy.
Maher considers that this is a great injustice to the person, he may have written something, and his convictions changed after that, and he may have written in a moment of anger, or for some reason, but many people “dig in our pages and we willingly ignore it. ”
Maher advises people to pay attention to everything they write through their pages through social networking sites, and not to "underestimate" this, if someone wrote something about a case 10 years ago will continue to pursue him, so care and caution should be taken.
Sometimes social networking sites are a store of ideas, revealing personality and characteristics, and the way of thinking in various aspects of life, which may be used by many to know how the other party thinks, and this is a negative for the user, sometimes many people may forget what they wrote years ago, and when they express a different opinion in the opposite issue, people rush to republish what they wrote, with a torrent of accusations.
Globally, the number of social media users has risen in the past 12 months, with 521 million new users joining as of April 2021, equivalent to an annual growth of 13.7 percent.
The latest data suggests that the number of social media users worldwide now equals more than 70 percent of the world ’ s eligible population.
The typical user visits more than six different social media platforms each month and spends an average of two and a half hours each day.
Recent figures suggest that people spend about 15 percent of their lives using social media.
In addition, the world spends more than 10 billion hours every day using social platforms.
Family specialist Mufid Sarhan believes that many people are keen to record their thoughts and feelings, and record all their movements through social networking sites in all their details for others to see.
Others express their opinions on general social, economic, political and other issues, express their personal positions and comment on the opinions of others, and sometimes participate in dialogues and discussions that last for days.
There are also those who express their feelings about an event or a public situation or about a person, family or institution.
But worst of all, from people who don ’ t think twice before writing, their writing is emotional reactions, or hasty situations, they get stuck in shocking situations before the picture is clear or the truth is revealed, or without knowing the full details.
According to Sarhan, the nature of social networking sites allows for everyone, some have an "obsession" in commenting and writing, and in everything, politics, society, economy, religion, culture, sports, weather conditions, space..
He is the one who has the ability to speak, to speak, to speak, to speak, to speak, to speak, to speak, to speak, to speak, to speak, to speak, to speak, to speak, to speak, to speak, to speak, to speak, to speak, to speak, to speak, to speak, to speak, to speak, to speak, to others.
Sarhan points out that the options are multiple and do not need much trouble, there are those who confuse between facts, constants, assets and opinions.
One may express an opinion contrary to what is agreed or scientific facts, religious, national and social postulates, considering that this is heroism, boldness or “thinking outside the box ” at the very least.
Sarhan pointed out that some of these people are upset if others criticize him or show a mistake in his opinion, considering that he is the owner of the absolute right to say or write what he wants without criticizing or commenting on it.
A person may write an opinion, position or comment at some time without anyone interacting with him because he is an unknown person and does not have “fans ” and what remains below him is preserved, and there may come a time when this person becomes known, people search in what he wrote months or years ago to know something about this person and his opinions and positions, or try to understand his personality.
The origin, according to Sarhan, is that what a person writes reflects his real opinions and attitudes, and it stems from his convictions emanating from understanding and perception.
During a person ’ s journey and through a range of positions and opinions, others can understand his personality, especially those who are at the forefront of public action and those in positions of responsibility whatever they are, they should be more accurate in their expression and not rush to express opinion and positions, because there are those who monitor their positions and follow their views, and those who are affected by them.
The “grace ” of social networking sites may turn into a“ curse ” if the person does not handle it well.
The social media platforms remain a store of ideas, attitudes and opinions recorded by the person over years, and reveal his personality, and may resort to others at any time, be a “help ” to him supportive of his positions, or be a“ pressure ”, causing him embarrassment and weakness, without being able to deny or get rid of them.
Psychologist and educational specialist Dr. Moussa Matarneh, points out that man changes his ideas and principles, whether through social networking sites or without them, for sure his personality develops and his experiences mature and learn from them, which changes his opinions, indicating that the lack of change or development in opinions is a negative evidence that the person stands in his place.
He pointed out that the human in dialogue with another person may change his opinion, how over the years, pointing out that there are people fishing and trying to reverse the previous views in a negative way, indicating that change accompanies man naturally, and the human nature is changing and developed in his life in general, and it is not healthy to be consistent in ideas and opinions.
He considers that the constants are principles and values and not ideas and opinions, pointing out that any person whose idea is refined and developed and changed into another form, which is normal and can not be considered a negative at all.
The psychological problem remains in the people who are waiting for others and their preoccupation with criticism without offering anything, indicating that this is a kind of lack of cultural awareness and the inability of the person to create something new.
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Title:

Content: City of the Future: Lazy People Packet Easy Entrance Dozens of Interactive TikTok News Win Enough Short Enough Fun
Post Date: March 19, 2023
(Ming Pao News) In foreign countries, the popularity of video sharing platform TikTok among young people is no longer new, and the media has taken the opportunity to expand the TikTok news market in recent years.
A survey of 44 markets conducted by Oxford University ’ s Reuters News Institute last year found that nearly half of the largest news organizations regularly publish content on TikTok. TikTok is not widely available in Hong Kong, but Instagram and YouTube, the more popular platforms, have introduced similar continuous video capabilities.
The success of TikTok News has become an example for local media to use when publishing “short ” news stories.
Young people love online videos.
The Reuters Institute at Oxford publishes digital news reports every year in partnership with academic institutions in multiple regions.
Chen Zhimin, an associate professor in the School of Journalism and Communication at CUHK, has been involved in collecting data on Hong Kong people ’ s use of social media and their use for news purposes since 2017, and the institute will invite partners to discuss the annual theme. “The 2021 conference found an observation in the United Kingdom or other countries: TikTok seems to be very popular … Let ’ s ask about TikTok this year. ”
The digital news report for 2022 is finally out, with four adults in the 18-24 age group in more than 40 markets using TikTok, and half of them using it for news purposes, a staggering increase of five times the rate three years ago.
In response to market demand, news organizations around the world have opened TikTok accounts.
The reporter interviewed Francesco Zaffarano, senior audience editor at Devex, a US online platform. He worked as a social media editor at The Economist and The Telegraph, and participated in the latter ’ s process of joining TikTok, the first British major newspaper to set foot on TikTok.
In order to gather market data, he has collected a list of TikTok accounts from news organizations around the world since the end of 2019, from only 20 initially to 790 now. (bit.ly / 3lipXyy)
Francesco and Chan agree that the rise of news channels on TikTok is similar to the growth of other social platforms, with the goal of expanding their influence and reaching target groups. Francesco mentioned TikTok as a growing platform to reach the younger generation, while LGBTQ, mental health or career development groups are also very active. Audiences are drawn to the informal, entertaining style of visual media (especially online video) platforms, which are more personal and diverse than television news, and can serve as a source of information on fast-changing events such as the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, as well as a gathering place for niche interests.
Simplify complex news concepts
You may not have used TikTok and TikTok from the same parent company, but continuous video is the trend of social media.
Hong Kong people are more likely to use Instagram and YouTube, the former launched “Reels ” in August 2020, which can shoot up to 90 seconds of video, while the latter launched“ Shorts ” a year later, which currently offers 15 seconds and 60 seconds options.
These sequels work in a similar fashion to TikTok, allowing users to use filters, add music, etc. Francesco, who specializes in social media, audience development, and interaction, says that each platform has its own language, and publishers need to know its syntax to speak well.
“If you create content for TikTok and Instagram Reels at the same time, the two may be more similar than creating content for Twitter or Linkedin. ”
So what is the language and culture of continuous video? We start with TikTok. TikTok ’ s predecessor was Musical.ly – a software that allowed users to record tens of seconds of mouth-to-mouth music clips.
He used memes and pop effects to explain complex news concepts such as fiscal reform and legislation at TikTok in his past work at Will Media, an Italian news platform.
This kind of explainers is also common in TikTok news. Francesco said users used to expect the latest news on Twitter, but because of TikTok ’ s different algorithm, they sometimes show users videos that were released months ago.
“This makes publishers rethink the lifespan of the content they produce, or it makes explanatory journalism particularly popular. ”
Be entertained, be told.
Other common patterns of TikTok news include news summaries, as well as snippets from feature films (such as teasers or partial clips).
Of course, the media can choose to use the same news clip to deal with various platforms without dealing with them separately.
However, Francesco cautions that audiences on each platform are different and that different models should be considered. When the Will Media team covered the Italian general election last fall, they conducted a 40-minute interview with some party leaders.
They already planned to release some of the interview clips independently on TikTok before the interview, so they planned to think about the editing direction first.
He believes that the media should plan the platform for release early. “It ’ s not good to think about making a documentary: it ’ s only after the video has been released … Yes, and TikTok, see what you can do about the video. ”
TikTok news clips, with filters, music and memes, inevitably raise the question that only entertaining soft news can survive.
“Some people might say that very low-quality, stupid videos are widely circulated.
This is true because stupid videos respond effectively to a need: people want to be entertained.
They tend to be entertained rather than informed.
But it ’ s not TikTok ’ s problem, it ’ s human nature. ” The development of TikTok news seems to bear this out.
The Washington Post was the first mainstream media to join TikTok and become a success. The team used funny, silly videos and a self-deprecating style to attract a large audience and fans in a short period of time.
Francesco noticed that many media tried to replicate this success equation in the early days, but ignored the fact that the newspaper team had created a very unique personal style that could not be reproduced at all.
He ’ s thankful that the media have slowly taken their own path in recent years, and some of them have taken TikTok in a more serious way, understanding that they can ’ t rely on making funny videos alone.
It turns out that hard news can also be streamed on TikTok. The 2022 Digital News Report pointed out that the Russia-Ukraine conflict has made TikTok more famous around the world, due to the experience of many Ukrainians in the platform documenting the war.
BBC originally decided to avoid TikTok, but after seeing the prevalence of misleading news related to the war, it finally decided to set up an English and Russian TikTok account.
Publisher Enhances Quality Creativity
One of TikTok ’ s main features is “short ”. Currently, videos can be selected from 15 seconds, 60 seconds, 3 minutes and 10 minutes (in testing).
Will a shorter period affect news production? Francesco disagrees.
“They ’ re just afraid of changing the way they work, not what ’ s wrong with the new model. Ten minutes is more than every piece of news on television! ” He recalls that he had to pass a national exam before working as a journalist in Italy, part of which required candidates to summarize articles.
“Bread and butter is the bread and butter of journalists around the world! ”
He said news organizations are more concerned about another point: TikTok still doesn ’ t allow creators to add links to their videos.
In the past, Instagram Stories were once not allowed to join links, and the media could not bring platform traffic to their own pages, and then discouraged social platforms.
However, Francesco saw the benefits, because in the past, the media only wanted to use social media to spread information, rather than trying to build a community.
“Now that TikTok can ’ t connect to the official website, publishers are forced to stay on the platform and really engage with the audience.
Some of TikTok ’ s features are facilitating communication between the media and the audience. Among them, Francesco likes “reply to comment ”, where creators can easily and efficiently use comments as the basis for creating new content, such as explaining content that viewers don ’ t understand.
“It ’ s a great way to show your audience that you ’ re listening to their voices and serving them. ”
Creators upload quality, interactive news clips on TikTok. The next question is whether they can reach the user ’ s phone screen.
Currently, various social platforms use personalized referral systems to show users content that may be of interest according to the algorithm. TikTok ’ s algorithm is different from other platforms, and the number of followers on the official website, and whether the account has performed well in the past, do not directly affect the recommendation system.
He believes the TikTok algorithm helps boost journalists ’ creativity, driving them to create new content rather than just relaying the products of others.
Manage your account with a news touch
The New York Times finally joined the ranks of many established media in January this year, announcing the opening of an official news account on TikTok. Francesco believes that famous news organizations are joining TikTok in succession and will convince other media to follow suit.
He noted that compared to national institutions, local news media (local news) is still difficult to find a positioning in TikTok, but the energy source is relatively lack of resources for small institutions.
But he ’ s hopeful, “I think they have a huge space in TikTok, in digital journalism. ”
I ’ m curious who ’ s going to be the first one. ”
The mainstream media in Hong Kong are all local news, and belong to the regional media mentioned by Francesco.
Francesco admits that media does need resources to develop social media, but “small things ”, such as not necessarily opening accounts on all platforms,“ you should join a platform only if you have something to say to the audience of a platform. ”
Determine priorities for information
Francesco is a social media journalist who has managed social platforms for large and small media outlets.
Some media will ask the marketing department to do a "small editor", but Francesco felt that the role of the media is to be done by the reporter.
“Social media is at the forefront of engagement with audiences.
It makes sense for news organizations to let people with a journalistic touch set the tone and prioritize information on social platforms.
For him, the media is not a one-way delivery of information, but a public service.
“If you don ’ t ask yourself what your audience wants, you ’ re not doing public service, serving your audience. ”
It means you're doing a terrible job. "
The reporter himself is also a social platform editor, of course, to ask Francesco for tips to communicate with readers.
“If you don ’ t know how to do it, ask the audience what they want.
They may not know exactly what they want, which is very common.
But please have a frank conversation with the reader! ” So readers, please tell me what you want to see?
Francesco is the author of the bi-weekly newsletter Mapping Journalism on Social Platforms: mappingjournalism.substack.com
【 Digital News 】
Wen Ying-yun Chu
{Chart} Respondents provide
{Art} Chang Yu-chi
{edit} Chu Chien-hsun
fb: http: / / www.facebook.com / SundayMingpao
Related Words: Daily Ming Pao - Sunday WorkShop

At its peak in early 2005, LiveJournal boasted more than 2.

5 million active accounts, making it a significant force in online communication.

Title:

Content: Sections
Frankfurt Stock Exchange
Börse Frankfurt
Frankfurt Stock Exchange
27.10.2020 SAP capitalization collapsed by 33.1 billion in one day.
What's next?
1
29.09.2020 Siemens Energetika enters the stock market 2
02.09.2020 The famous plagiarist of startups escaped from the exchange after a catastrophic fall in shares 2
01.11.2019 Automated workstation of the official will be developed for 170 million 1
28.08.2019 Legendary platform for remote access to the PC gathered for a multi-billion IPO 1
18.01.2019 IBS sold Medialogy to VTB 1
09.01.2019 Luxoft sold in the USA.
How much will Karachinsky, Matsotsky and Loshchinin earn on this 1
13.04.2018 Less than two weeks: IBS postponed IPO 1
04.04.2018 Having not kept on the German stock exchange, IBS after a three-year break came to the Moscow 1
30.06.2017 Lossy Internet startup convinced investors that it is worth $5 billion 1
18.06.2015 Oracle has collapsed profit 1
29.10.2014 Minority shareholders of IBS Group agreed to exchange shares with Luxoft 1
27.08.2012 Nokia shares soared on the victory of Apple over Samsung 1
23.05.2012 Finam Holding has released an application for trading on exchanges for Android 1
19.01.2012 Software AG in Russia was headed by a veteran of IBM 1
01.09.2011 The stock market shake-up has brought down the ICT sector.
Leaders and Outsiders 1
18.01.2011 The value of Apple shares fell on the news about Jobs 1
Updated Software AG: what does it mean in Russia?
1
22.07.2010 Promotions: Armada moved from the growing sector to the main list of MICEX 1
01.06.2010 IBS Group wants to attract new investors 1
29.03.2010 Shares: not all "daughters" of "Svyazinvest" are equally attractive 1
01.02.2010 Promotions: Armada and IBS - growth leaders 1
12.05.2009 IBS shares soared by 130%, RBC - by 115% 1
24.11.2008 Shares: Russian ICT fell by 78% 1
02.10.2008 IBS said goodbye to IPO?
1
01.10.2008 IBS "almost organically" grew by 45.7% 1
17.09.2008 Actions: "Black Tuesday" of Russian ICT 1
22.08.2007 NWT shares transferred to MICEX « A » 1 level 1 quotation list
21.06.2007 NWT supports SEC standards 1
06.04.2007 "VolgaTelecom" received licenses for broadcasting in three regions of the Russian Federation 1
20.10.2006 SAP reports Q3 results 1
07.09.2006 First coupon rate on VolgaTelecom bonds is projected at 8-8.15% per annum 1
24.07.2006 NWT excluded shares from the quotation lists of RTS 1
26.06.2006 Shareholders of VolgaTelecom elected a new board of directors 1
10.03.2006 Net profit of VolgaTelecom under RAS increased by 10% 1
01.08.2005 Telecoms shares lag behind Sberbank and TEK 1
03.05.2005 Russian taxes as a risk factor of "blue chips" 1
04.04.2005 The price of MTS and "Bee Line" has fallen 2
01.04.2005 General Director Appointed at "BulgaTelecom" 1
18.03.2005 "VolgaTelecom" withdrew from participation in the authorized capital of "Samarasvyazinform" 1
Publications - 40, mentions - 43
Frankfurt Stock Exchange is mentioned on CNews together with the following persons and organizations:
Rostelecom - Russian State Universal Telecommunications Operator 7166 5
IBS - IBS IT Services 1097 5
VimpelCom - Beeline - Beeline - Vimpel-Communications 6271 5
Luxoft - Luxoft 241 4
MTS - Mobile TeleSystems 7246 4
Sitronics - Sitronics 696 3
Software AG & IDS Scheer 150 2
Apple Inc - Apple Rus 8511 2
Microsoft Corporation 13912 2
Comstar UTS - Comstar United Telesystems 989 2
Oracle Corporation 3964 2
Yandex - Yandex 4270 2
VK - Mail.ru Group 2662 2
Rostelecom Svyazinvest 1069 1
TeamViewer 78 1
PM Expert 109 1
Rostelecom CenterTelecom 308 1
Rostelecom Uralsvyazinform 312 1
Rostelecom Dalsvyaz 308 1
Rostelecom UTK - Southern Telecommunications Company 273 1
Rostelecom Sibirtelecom 433 1
WorkDay 16 1
Compulink USP 104 1
MegaFon - Russian telecommunication company 5250 1
SAP SE 3599 1
Rambler Group - Rambler GK 614 1
Amazon Inc - Amazon.com 1622 1
VolgaTelecom 358 1
Alibaba Group 305 1
Samsung Electronics 6775 1
I.T. 851 1
Salesforce.com 311 1
McKinsey & Company 125 1
IBS examination 43 1
Humpty Dumpty - Hacker Group 6 1
DXC Technology 18 1
Siemens AG - Siemens Russia 1010 1
AFK Sistema PJSC 1327 1
Veon - VimpelCom - VimpelCom 622 1
Infineon Technologies 111 1
Federal Tax Service of the Russian Federation - Federal Tax Service of the Russian Federation 1829 3
Central Bank of the Russian Federation - Central Bank of the Russian Federation 2375 3
Rosavtodor FDA - Federal Road Agency 116 3
Rosatom - State Atomic Energy Corporation 818 3
Ministry of Finance - Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation 955 3
Federal Treasury of Russia 813 3
SFS RF - State Courier Service of the Russian Federation 19 1
Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation - Ministry of Information and Communications of the Russian Federation - Ministry of Communications of the Russian Federation 6275 1
Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation - Ministry of Culture 86 1
Rosarkhiv - Federal Archival Agency 97 1
Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation - Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation 388 1
Rosimushchestvo - Federal Agency for State Property Management - Goskomimuschestvo 359 1
FSS RF - Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation 293 1
Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation 280 1
FCS of the Russian Federation - Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation 518 1
Ministry of Labor of the Russian Federation - Ministry of Labor and Social Protection 183 1
United States Department of State 198 1
Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation - Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation 1495 1
Rostechnadzor RF - Federal Service for Environmental, Technological and Nuclear Supervision 99 1
Rosgvardia - Federal Service of National Guard Troops of the Russian Federation 162 1
FSB of the Russian Federation - Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation 2094 1
Russia - Russian Federation - Russian Federation 65957 11
USA - USA - The United States of America 18098 9
Germany - Federal Republic 4568 6
European Union - EU - European Union - European Commission - European Commission 6971 4
Europe 4590 4
Russia - Central Federal District - Moscow 20678 4
Russia - PFD - Penza region - Penza 291 3
Russia - Central Federal District - Belgorod Oblast - Belgorod 272 3
Russia - NWFD - St. Petersburg 9146 3
Russia - Volga Federal District - Ulyanovsk Oblast - Ulyanovsk 337 3
China - People 's Republic of China - PRC 6884 2
Middle East 1732 2
Germany - Berlin 402 2
Russia - UFD - Perm Krai - Perm 857 2
Switzerland - Swiss Confederation 887 2
Russia - Volga Federal District - Ulyanovsk Oblast 397 1
Russia - Volga Federal District - Saratov Region 414 1
Russia - Volga Federal District - Nizhny Novgorod Region 854 1
Russia - Volga Federal District - Samara Region 644 1
Africa - African region 1758 1
Europe Southeast 47 1
Russia - Volga Federal District - Penza Oblast 394 1
South Korea - Republic of 1879 1
Russia - Volga Federal District - Udmurtia - Udmurt Republic 461 1
Russia - PFD - Mordovia Republic 435 1
Russia - Volga Federal District - Chuvashia - Chuvash Republic 389 1
Russia - Volga Federal District - Orenburg Oblast 343 1
Russia - Volga Federal District - Kirov Oblast - Kirovsk 340 1
Russia - Volga Federal District - Mari El Republic 236 1
USSR - Union of Soviet Socialist Republics 1028 1
Poland - Republic 1007 1
Israel 905 1
United Kingdom - Virgin Islands 131 1
Japan 3826 1
Armenia - Republic 780 1
Singapore - Republic of 913 1
India - Republic of 2639 1
Australia - Commonwealth of Australia 1392 1
North America 1650 1
Southeast Asia 588 1
* The archive of CNews.ru publications was processed from 01.2005 to 10.2021.
Key phrases identified - 892733, in the queue of analysis - 795895.
Created name pointers - 46901.
CNews Index Book - book @ cnews.ru

However, as we approach nearly two decades since its heyday, the platform has largely faded from mainstream consciousness, with notable exceptions like author George R.

Title:

Content: Feb 3 • 12M

How I think social media companies could improve

Plus: the first official art on the moon is scheduled to launch in March

0:00
-11:32
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The visual trends, art, design, and marketing defining the look of politics. You’ll never look at politics the same way again.
Episode details
Comments

Hey guys, it's Hunter. I'm just recording in my phone right now. This isn't a podcast, no production, no editing, just me and my voice notes. Whenever you write a story that's 600-800 words, there's a lot that gets left on the cutting room floor, a lot of stray thoughts that don't make it into the final story, so for my readers, I just want to start giving you guys an inside look at a little more deeper into the story, some things that I wasn't able to write about, some other thoughts I had.

I've been writing a lot about social media lately — first off, people who subscribe for all my stories about logos and fonts, I promise you we’ll get back to that and if you guys have any stories, if you work in the design space, political design, have any story ideas, just know I'm always open to talking more about that — but social media has been changing a lot and it plays such a big role in digital politics and political communication and people who work in the space are really trying to figure out what comes next. You know, there's no guarantee that the situation we're in today with social media is where we're going to be come Election Day 2024. There's a lot changing and so I've been writing a lot about that.

One interview that I had that I haven't written about yet, it was with this researcher at the University of Albany. His name is Masahiro Yamamoto and he did research about this idea of “prosumption,” and it’s this concept that social media isn't just about consuming, it's also about producing and that makes it radically different than other forms of media. In the past, you could write a letter to the editor, you could call into C-SPAN, you could comment on a news article, like, prosumption has existed before, but social media has completely blown up the traditional top-down approach.

The thing that's really interesting when I was talking to him about this is prosumption isn't just for people who post content. You could be posting nothing and even while you're doing it you're producing data for the algorithm. It's your search history, it's the post you like, it's the posts you linger on, the stuff you share. That all gets fed back into the algorithm so it can serve you more of what you want. When you start to think about social media that way, it really makes you think about it differently and I think people are really coming to grips with social media as it is now isn't ideal, like, the status quo isn’t ideal. There's a lot of problems with it and how do we fix it?

I did a story a few weeks ago about this concept of bridging and there was a paper with this idea that rather than social media algorithms being driven primarily by engagement they can be driven by bridging concepts, things that bring people together. So if there's a piece of content and it gets liked by people with different viewpoints that would be higher in people's feeds, in the algorithm. And what I really appreciated about the paper about bridging is they talked about all the downfalls like it's so easy in theory to say, oh, yeah, let's just do this, it’ll fix everything but they really talked about, the authors of the paper, talked about how this could make social media less engaging and they even point, they argued, they said destructive conflict is an important driver of social change, so reducing destructive conflict to limit the potential for such change and so they're looking at the drawbacks. You can say it's all sunshine and rainbows if we make social media stuff that people people agree on and like but you know, they were able to really talk about there are issues with this. How do we get around it? But but the main point was they’re like our social spaces shouldn't default to being divisive and I think that's one thing that people really see with social media. It really promotes a lot of stuff that that divides people.

Speaking as a journalist, that’s something that I've seen. The Washington Post did a story last September and they were looking at different political influencers who were able to grow their audience after the 2020 election by spreading disinformation and if you're telling people what they want to hear, you can find an audience for that. You think back to the election, Fox News was the first to report Biden won Arizona, they called the election for Biden. If you're not getting this message and this narrative you want to hear, you can find people who are willing to tell you what they want to hear. Social media right now as it works, it rewards that kind of behavior and it's easy to see that across politics, but at the same time like I think you can understand how how people, there's fears about the political influence on algorithms and I think that's a conversation that a lot of people are concerned about.

But I think it's really important to have an honest conversation about that because when we talk about, like, it's so much of the conversation around political censorship on the right recently, like, it comes down to Trump being banned. He's recently been unbanned, but those original bans, it wasn't it wasn't as if he was banned for, like, saying he believes more power should go from the federal government to the state government or he believes in lower taxes, like, he wasn't banned because he was conservative, he was banned for violating the terms of service of these platforms. Twitter, their explanation was they banned him at the risk of further incitement of violence. They have a policy in their terms of service about glorification of violence. And so I think obviously as a U.S. president getting banned, that that has a lot of political implications, and people are like, well if it can happen to Trump it can happen to anyone, but I think it kind of misses the point of why he was banned in the first place.

He's been let back on to Meta’s platforms, back onto Twitter. He hasn't posted yet. But if you look at what he's posting on Truth Social, like, man, the guy hasn't changed. He's retweeting people who write calls to violence. In December, he called for terminating parts of the Constitution. I just think we're having this conversation, we're kind of throwing around this idea, oh, we're censoring conservatives, but it's not as if Trump was banned for anything that has anything to do with traditional conservatism.

But I also think when we have conversations about politics and social media the people who are posting most about politics are the most partisan, you know, it's not moderates and centrists and conservative Democrats and liberal Republicans who are posting. It's people furthest out on the edge and as I've been writing a lot about politics and social media I've been thinking a lot about the parallels to other things too, like, you talk about influencers whether it's like mommy bloggers who present this picture perfect life that isn't a reality or bodybuilders who are pumped up on steroids and PEDs, and it's like these are the people who are posting and I think it kind of gives — whether it's politics or body image — it gives people a twisted view because you're only seeing the people who post the most. There's always kind of argument, like, Twitter isn’t real, social media isn't real. It obviously shows us views of the world, but it paints an incomplete picture because not everyone is posting. Everyone is producing for the algorithm whether or not they're posting, but the people are posting don't necessarily represent the average person and I think that that that's really important when you're considering politics.

I've interviewed a lot of people a lot smarter than me about this and I always ask how do you think we can make social media healthier? And you know, I mean, that's the million dollar question. In theory there's so many things you can do. My interview with Masahiro, what he said “I think social media platforms need to be socially politically more responsible instead of just pursuing their own interests,” and, like, honestly like 100%. There's this initiative called Rebuild Local News and they're aiming to provide billions of dollars to rebuild local newsroom across the country and for people who pay attention to what's been going on for years now in the media industry is local news has been dying, newspapers are dying, and to fill that void is social media. People get their news from social media. It's more nationalized. Anyway, this initiative, one of their funders is Microsoft, the parent company of LinkedIn, and I'm like, man, wouldn't that be great if you also had Meta donating to that and Twitter and Reddit. Local news is it's less partisan. It's delivering news that's closer to home. It's delivered by journalists who don't live far away in D.C. in New York or L.A., they're people's neighbors. I as a journalist, this is obviously something that I'm really attuned to, but I think if social media did more to support local news to support users, be more civically engaged, I think that would go such a long way.

We'll see how social media plays out over the next year and a half. We have Supreme Court cases coming down the pike. We have changes in algorithms, who knows if TikTok’s going to be banned, like, there's so many question marks right now, but I really think at the end of the day, if these companies took more responsibility civically and socially, it would go a long way to creating a healthier social media ecosystem. So yeah, those are just some thoughts I've had. I'd love to hear what you guys think and thanks so much for reading. I'll talk to you later. Bye.

Have you seen this?

The first official art on the moon is scheduled to launch in March. Artist Sacha Jafri’s “We Rise Together — By the Light of the Moon” is set to blast off from the Kennedy Space Center the first week of March and 88 NFTs of the artwork will go on sale. The proceeds from the NFT sales are going to be donated to causes related to health, education, sustainability, and equality. [Hypebeast]

Shepard Fairey did former L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti’s official portrait. “To me, Shepard, you are the metaphor of this city too, because you’re still that graffiti artist, that rule breaker who doesn’t ask for permission, but you also know how to come indoors,” Garcetti said at the unveiling ceremony. [Los Angeles Magazine]

There’s a Rihanna mural up in Phoenix now ahead of her Super Bowl halftime show. The mural was painted by artist Tato Caraveo on the side of a Phoenix record shop.

Ali Hussan-Iddin Karim (@spaceshipthiefingtonworth) • Instagram photos and videos

Why the internet as we know it could be over by the end of the summer. Could the U.S. be headed for an over-filtered balkanized splinternet? Nine men and women in robes could decide. [𝘠𝘌𝘓𝘓𝘖]

R.

Title:

Content: November 4, 2021
November 4, 2021 ° C
November and Popular Resistance
+ - 0 Read
The place of history in our culture, our intellectual system and our educational system is far behind in the scale of value and attention!
He is really neglected in the intellectual and cultural shadowlands!
The most obvious evidence of this at the elite level is our lack of historians with the large number of history professors in our universities, and there is a big difference between the historian and the professor of history!
At the level of the masses is the small historical culture of their masses, and their interest in history is very small!
At the level of the educational system is the weakness of the curricula established for the subject of history, the limited time allocated to it, and the low transactions, which reduce the students and students in it!
The neglect of history by a people for decades is a wonder!
You have the right to say, “I ’ m not one of you! ”
The wonder increases when you see everyone unanimous agreement on its importance, necessity and seriousness, and on its great importance in preserving national identity, and on its utmost importance in strengthening national belonging in the soul, and yet treats history with neglect.
And to reach the wonder of our situation with history extent added to the previous what is known of the favor of science of history in the minds of all minds, and it is nice what was said in the statement of this, the famous historian Abu al-Hassan Ali bin al-Hassan al-Masaoudi Shafaei, God 's mercy, says: "And if not for the restriction of scientists their thoughts on the age of the hero of the first science, and lost the last; And all the wisdom of them devised, and jurisprudence of them raised, and eloquence of them benefit, and the owners of the measurement them build, and the people of the articles protest, and the knowledge of people from them taken, and the likes of the wise in them exist, and Mkaram morals and their highness are quoted, and the ethics of the king and the firmness of them are sought, collects you the history of the first and the other, The present, the present, the present.
Every stranger is known, and every wonder is exaggerated.
It is a science that enjoys hearing the world and the ignorant, and torments its foolish and sane position, and forget its place and remove to it the private and the public, and tends to its Arabic and Ajami novels. ”
I have no doubt that this is the truth of God ’ s Word, and that it is the truth of God ’ s Word, the truth of God ’ s Word.
This introduction paved the way for talking about the November Revolution and the popular resistance, as the November Revolution in its great symbolism, and its specific date on the day that returns every year, and the official interest in its memory is still present in the minds of people and their imagination, but the popular revolutions because of their abundance, and because there is no specific date today for most or all of them, and the relative official interest in them. Most of us were overwhelmed, most of us were unaware of its details, and most of us did not appreciate it very much, and most of us did not know its greatness and strategic importance.
The prevalence and spread of the fact that the French destruction of our country was in July 1830 covered the understanding of some of us with major and obvious facts, namely that the generalization of counting this history as a principle of destruction does not mean that all Algeria has fallen prey to it in this year. It was a real hell, in which the colonizers lost thousands of individuals, and huge material losses, and suffered flagrant military defeats!, as their regular army, armed with deadly weapons, graduated from military colleges, was defeated again and again before the men and youth of tribes and clans lightly armed!.
These popular resistance, which lasted until 1916, when one calmed down, followed by another, represented the spirit of the Algerian people, which refused to submit to the destroyer, and its pulse, which was indicative of its survival, until the national movement came and developed from itself, and the integration of its quest and struggle with the efforts of the sheikhs of the corners and the Association of Muslim Scholars. New in that pulse, which was preserved and protected by the popular resistance, until the first of November came to be the rebirth of the proud Algerian people, clinging to their religion, clinging to their identity, clinging to their history, refusing to submit and submit!
It is needless to mention that most of the leaders of these resistances were from the elders of the true corners, starting with the Lord ’ s man, Prince Abdul Qadir, to the honorable Sanussi, may God have mercy on them and the mercy of all the faithful martyrs and the sincere Mujahideen.
They did not do anything except to obey God ’ s commandments, but to obey God ’ s commandments. And so they defended their religion and their land and their people and their offer in the name of God and obedience to God Almighty, until the Mishal generation of November Vsar on their guidance and approach, and was chanting the heroes of the popular resistance: God is the greatest.
God is bigger.
Eternal chanting in the fields of honor, heroism and pride!
Islam was the main driver, the first motive, and the main motivator of the Algerian people to jihad, resistance, and revolution in all popular resistance and in the November Revolution!
This was summed up by the great professor Mouloud Kassem Knight Belkacem in his happy speech: By Islam we resisted.
In Islam we have won.
Those who oppose Islam and fight it in this country seek to kill the spirit of Algeria.
He continues to work for the purpose of destruction and movement, and “I seek refuge from God from betrayal, for it is wickedness of the lining. ”
* Imam and Professor of Sharia at the High School of Professors
Share your opinion

Title:

Content: People 's Daily Online > > Economy and Technology
What might we read in the future?
May 08, 2022 09: 00 | Source: Guangming Daily
Small number
Previous Previous post: How we might read in the future
Reading accompanies the growth of people, but also witness the progress of the times.
In recent years, through the mobile intelligent terminal to accept the digital services of media transmission, audio reading has quickly become a new form of reading for all people under the wide application of the Internet and digital technology.
Data show that in 2021, the number of active users in China's audio industry market has reached 800 million, compared with 570 million in 2020, and its growth rate and scale are amazing.
The audible reading spawned by the digital reading form has let us go through "screen reading" from "paper reading" and enter the latest "listening and reading" mode.
This model is not simply "ear" instead of "eye", but in the Internet and digital technology progress, the "ear" and "eye" segmentation of the reading disorder caused by the gradual breaking, is a two-dimensional text language reading and one-dimensional audio language transmission advantages superimposed, thus to the three-dimensional audio-visual language leap forward stage.
In the next step, with the continuous expansion of technology application scenarios such as barrier-free mobile Internet, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and the continuous evolution of media fusion form, it can be predicted that digital reading will soon enter a more advanced and vivid three-dimensional form, and further move from digital audio reading to immersive audio-visual reading.
The "book fragrant China" of the information age is coming.
In the face of this development trend, digital reading service providers such as smart libraries, online bookstores, digital publishing, and audio content industries need to actively adapt and actively act to promote the vigorous development of national reading under the new form of digital reading.
Complete "reading" with ears to enrich people's reading needs
The traditional reading form of acquiring information through the written language completes the first reading transformation of human beings, that is, from the one-dimensional linear propagation of the original spoken language to the two-dimensional plane propagation of the literal symbol system.
This transformation of reading solves the limitations of the subject admittance and transience of the original audio language transmission, expands the active control and regulation authority of readers in the process of receiving information, and forms a mature and complete social and cultural statute.
This is an epoch-making advance in sociocultural behaviour, the root cause of which lies in the advancement of communication language and media technology.
However, with the continuous development of the Internet and digital technology, in recent years, audiobooks that have been classified as small and only for a small number of people with reading disabilities have once again returned to the public view and formed a new landscape of audiobook reading.
People can more freely use fragmented time and complete "reading" with their ears, which provides convenience for people's reading behavior and enriches people's reading needs.
On the surface, the biggest feature of digital audio reading is to liberate the eyes, return to the ears, and let people replace "eyes" with "ears", but in essence, there is a fundamental difference between audio reading and the original audio language transmission.
Through mobile interconnection and digital technology, audio reading retains most of the control and adjustment power given to the reader by the text symbol system, such as repeated reading, choice autonomy, fast and slow autonomy, space-time freedom, etc., and even under the subjective will, it can also jump, abstract, text and sound conversion, and at the same time, the emotional temperature, interactive communication, live sense of the audio language and other characteristics of the advantages.
Therefore, the sound reading is not from the two-dimensional plane propagation of the word symbol system, backward to the one-dimensional linear propagation of the sound language, but is precisely an important expansion of the digital reading form to its own function, is the Internet and digital technology to promote the continuous extension of reading in the digital space, is the future human reading behavior will no longer be limited by the media technology and the "ear" eye "division of the development prototype.
The reason why it is "rudimentary" is that the current audio-visual reading can not fully integrate all the advantages of one-dimensional linear audio transmission and two-dimensional flat text language transmission, and has not fully demonstrated the three-dimensional communication appearance and advantages of the three-dimensional audio-visual reading form.
In the face of the deep understanding, logical analysis, rational construction space accompanied by text language reading mode, and the sensitive reaction of line of sight scanning to important information and focus at any time, the current audio reading mode can not provide a good solution to the needs and corresponding function design.
However, with the iterative upgrading and application expansion of the Internet and digital technologies, we have seen the possibility of these problems being solved in depth.
Audio-visual reading in the information age may become a new form of reading that occupies a leading position in the future.
At present, the Internet and digital technology are ushered in another round of cluster effects after iterative upgrading.
Accessible mobile interconnection, virtual reality, big data, artificial intelligence, block chain and other new technology applications of the aggregate development, has been a foreseeable prospect, which will bring digital media form from two-dimensional to three-dimensional comprehensive integration and upgrading.
The new digital media form can easily solve the visual shielding of audio reading, and can also fully liberate the compression of text reading and traditional view to the diversity and openness of communication, and its stereo and multidirectional degree will be the full integration of the advantages of one-dimensional audio language communication and two-dimensional text language communication.
This is the existing screen reading, mobile reading, audio reading and other traditional Internet audio-visual mode of digital reading services, bringing a major opportunity for comprehensive integration.
In fact, before this, the existing digital reading has been constantly trying to launch some service experience with three-dimensional characteristics, such as virtual scenes, interactive picture books, interactive reading, three-dimensional reading, co-creation of books with some open and dynamic new products, but limited to the media fusion form is not mature, these reading services are basically in the application of small-scale exploration, the function is relatively simple, the experience is insufficient, it is difficult to popularize at the public level.
However, in the face of a new round of Internet and digital technology application iteration, these functional integration and application innovation, will quickly fill the gap, speed up the adaptation of demand, its service experience will inevitably be more comfortable, convenient, fit the actual needs and people accept the habit of the way appear.
Then, these small-scale explorations also have the conditions to popularize, until they become a new form of reading for all.
Perhaps, text reading through the digital services of audio-visual reading, eventually to the information era of audio-visual reading, may become a new form of reading that occupies a leading position in the future.
Of course, this process does not mean the withdrawal of traditional reading methods, just as the sound language transmission has not disappeared after thousands of years of text language transmission, and each new reading form appears, and the original form is not a simple replacement relationship, but a relationship of superposition and integration.
It is also the reading change under this superposition fusion that will bring new development prospects to the industry.
In the future, artificial intelligence may become a personified "reading attendant", and libraries may have a "gamification" meaning.
In the future, the application scenarios and reality after the iteration and upgrading of the Internet and digital technology can produce what kind of excitation effect and empowerment effect, we still do not know.
But as far as reading is concerned, we can think of one or two for the time being.
The three-dimensional digital media form can create virtual native application scenes and can also develop virtual twin application scenes.
The future of digital libraries, online bookstores and other reading service providers, can fully realize the application of virtual scenes, and even integrate with real venues; the future readers can enter the reading scene at any time and anywhere in the audiovisual full-sensory acceptance mode, from the traditional sense of the Internet audiovisual experience into the audiovisual experience under the three-dimensional immersive mode. The popular service application model can improve people's daily reading experience.
And the more profound change lies in the future of the "books" themselves.
The audio-visual fusion immersive reading brought about by the form of digital media in the future is not only for the reading environment, but also for the reading behavior itself.
The application scenario imagination based on peripheral services is far from touching the core feature of 3D audio-visual reading pattern.
"Immersion" is not only the environmental immersion brought by the virtual application scene, but also the "ear" and "eye" segmentation of human reading behavior, which has always existed in the history of human reading behavior, will disappear.
This immersive feeling, previously only through people's reading imagination in the individual mind to achieve, the future can be transformed through technology, in the form of digital media in the virtual time and space, become "real", feel, audible, visual, touchable, plastic "information body."
Reading form is bound to reshape and reinvent the content production and service mode.
We continue to cite libraries and digital reading content service providers as examples.
The future library may be in the digital library, mobile library, smart library, virtual library and a series of technology applications fully developed, integrated into a "gamification" meaning of the library, the service direction is not only to carry out the "library" digital scene setting, but also to develop the "book" digital reading method, lies in how to make full use of the three-dimensional digital media form of reading experience, to create a new service content, rather than the traditional business model simply into a virtual environment.
Similarly, how the "book" in the form of audiovisual reading should be produced, whether its author will be converted from an individual to a group, a team, or to join artificial intelligence means, we are still difficult to measure.
However, as a rudimentary production of audio-visual reading content, the current visible production mode is very different from the traditional text books, which cannot prevent us from generating rich imagination on the content production mode of audio-visual reading in the future.
Overall, the rapid development of the Internet and digital technology is driving digital reading to accelerate to a new form, and a new era of reading is coming to us.
At that time, people will be able to return to the all-sensory communication scene in the unlimited space and time where virtual and reality are integrated, so that reading can overcome various temporal and symbolic obstacles and experience obstacles caused by single sensory acceptance, and even new reading forms, which will backcatalyze and regulate social behaviors and cultural forms such as social, communication, and content services in the future digital space.
Of course, no matter where digital reading goes in the future, traditional paper reading will go with it.
Every reading mode and reading form in human history has its own unique value and meaning, and has its irreplaceable experience and feeling.
The future reading society is bound to be a learning society with different reading forms superimposed on each other.
The value and characteristics of different reading methods will only become more prominent and meaningful in the process of continuous generation and continuous integration of new forms of digital reading.
(Author: Yang Feng, Associate Research Librarian, Renmin University of China)
(Editor: Yang Yu Polo, Li Nanhua)
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Martin who continues to maintain an active presence there.

Title:

Content: May 20, 2024

Losing the importance of academic libraries – open access in the sciences – a dubious promise of salvation

For centuries, libraries have been the place where scientific knowledge is stored and made available. It was also a place where science and literacy were celebrated in sometimes stunning buildings. The Abbey Library of der Melk, the Duchess Amalia Library in Weimar, the British Library in London, perhaps the largest library in the world, or the modern and aesthetically impressive Vasconcelos Library in Mexico, are truly stunning places. These places are increasingly losing their importance.

There is a complaint – and empirical studies confirm this complaint – that less or shorter texts are read, and libraries often contain mainly longer texts. In widely used social media, there are mainly short texts. On the other hand, today anyone can become an author and comment on anything, including science, without anyone having to go to the library. In order to learn about scientific issues such as climate disasters, education issues, health issues, car driving technologies, etc., there are blogs and Internet platforms where Haines and Kunz express their opinions and sell it as serious knowledge. A short, not too complicated, clear and as accessible message as possible and the largest possible number of followers are the quality criteria for this publication. What is meant by it is correct.

The new promise of salvation

Science should, and wants, to address this – by providing serious, tested knowledge. Producers of this serious knowledge are under great pressure to publish, because only many citations in well-known journals are eligible for research funding through external funding applications. “Publish or perish” has been the English adage for many years. The counterpart of many followers are many people who diligently read and then cite scientific texts in reputable and highly cited journals. Citation becomes the currency of scientific reputation!

In this context, there has been a new promise of salvation for some time: there should be an unimpeded flow of knowledge in the sciences. Publication and access to publications should be facilitated. In a digital world, it is no longer difficult to visit places of knowledge. Push-button access works similarly to Facebook or TikTok. By making research results digitally visible, science should develop better and faster, reach more people, and facilitate the discourses that produce knowledge. This digital promise of scholarly redemption is termed open access, usually abbreviated as “OA.”

20 years ago, the German Research Foundation, the Helmholtz Society, the Max Planck Society, the Leibniz Society, the Fraunhofer Society, the Science Council, the Conference of University Rectors and the German Library Association were founded. We are committed to this Berlin Declaration. Hundreds of national and international organizations have now followed this declaration. What was little more than an area of publishing 20 years ago is now of great importance.

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Free access to knowledge for all

Open access means free access to scientific publications worldwide. Who can doubt the salvation of such a concept? Sitting at home in your comfortable chair, on the train with a WiFi connection or in a café, you can search without going to a physical location, without understanding complex lending systems, without failing because of them and of course without having to pay reminder fees if the loan exceeds the deadline. The amazing site, which was often not without difficulties, is replaced by servers and those with access to these servers can read without much effort. Four forms of open access can be distinguished:

1. Gold Open Access: Scientific publications appear directly in open access after peer review. There are significant fees involved. For inexpensive articles in the social sciences, €1,200; If you publish in neuroscience, it can easily be between 6,000 and 7,000 euros. Authors are usually required to pay for this.
2. Diamond Open Access: This designation represents free publishing for both authors and readers. This is the anti-liberal model of golden open access and is closest to the ideal of free access to scientific knowledge for all.
3. Mixed open access: If an article is published in a closed access journal, authors can purchase the article by paying a fee. This is convenient for publishers because they make money from selling the magazine as well as from selling the article.
4. Green Open Access: This type of publication is a bit of a scam. Versions of an article from a closed access context are published in an open access site that do not correspond to the original print edition, for example because they are earlier versions, have a different layout or have expired an embargo period.

Not all that glitters is gold

Open Access Gold is, in many senses of the word, the gold standard of this publishing process. In the past, you, as an author, received a fee for what you wrote, and now those who want to publish their findings have to pay for it. This is a radical change: you used to buy something to read, now you buy the right to publish something! Gutenberg turned people into readers, digital technology and the Internet turned everyone into potential authors, and open access turned scientific authors into payers. In the brave new world of science, those who write are paid, and those who only read are paid nothing! Is this really a good development and a fair distribution of burdens?

Despite many supportive initiatives, Diamond OA is less popular and, more importantly, has less dignity. Journals of international importance and widely recognised, at least in my field, are published by publishers such as Sage, Elsevier, Springer and Wiley, all of which are specifically dedicated to Gold OA. This is not surprising because you can earn a lot of money with it. The texts are edited by colleagues who, as peer reviewers are called, check the quality of the texts and, if necessary, make suggestions for improvement that should be followed for publication. Reviewing is a declared voluntary work, and of course there is no compensation.

Scripts, which are usually created to strict specifications, require only a small amount of effort in terms of planning. There are no printing costs for paper printing if you publish online, and there are no fees for writing. This means that in addition to the supposed improvement in the flow of knowledge in science, open access is a huge money-printing machine for some publishers.

A number of universities currently join the so-called DEAL (Germany Alliance) consortium. This means that, under the leadership of the Conference of University Rectors, negotiations are underway with publishers to make publications visible in the open access process. One success message appears after another. The Federation is currently pleased that Elsevier publishing fees have been reduced from €2,550 to €2,500. Awesome! What does this mean for university authors?

The author’s view is open access

For those who research, write, and publish in high-quality, internationally recognized journals, using open access gold to publish results can become a resource-wasting machine. This is at least true if a university follows the “polluter pays” principle and allows those who actually publish high-quality publications to pay.

At my college, College 11 at LMU, the department loses nearly a third of its financial resources because staff publish in open access and therefore have a high level of international visibility. We now have to advise everyone not to publish in open access so as not to lose all the financial potential for small projects or teaching. This entails a significant loss of international visibility. Open access advocates now say that publishing fees should also apply when submitting projects.

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This ignores the fact that project funds usually have a time stamp; You have to spend it during the life of the project or in a very limited period of time after that. This contrasts with every research practice in which publication is done, for example in pilot projects, after evaluating the data years after the project. Those who wish to pursue a doctoral degree or post-project qualification lack publishing resources. As part of the qualification process, between 10,000 and 20,000 euros can easily be made. And anyway – as a scientist, are you only allowed to have ideas worth publishing as part of a third-party funded project?

Open access to university funding

People who advise organizations now will object that all you have to do is reshuffle and set different priorities and it will work! What is truly important can of course be paid for if there is good will. It should be noted that although there has been compensation for inflation in collective bargaining and increased pensions, not much has been achieved through individual teaching and research institutions.

Just wanted to comment here about my chair at LMU! For example, my chair has raised millions in third-party funding over the past 20 years, the number of students has doubled, but the budget has remained the same. At the same time, the costs of teaching positions, assistants, etc. have become a requirement that is difficult to meet. Instead of increasing budgets, a massive application bureaucracy is being developed that requires everyone in teaching and research units to search for advertisements and submit corresponding applications. The search for the money pot has become more important than the search for scientifically reliable results.

The problem presents itself very differently in different universities. Strong research universities that publish a lot of visual publications internationally have to pay a lot. Those who are less research intensive, or those who have sufficient national visibility, pay less because they just read.

Conclusion

If we want universities in Germany to have international visibility, we need counter-funding for open access, which is not passed on to scholars or teaching and research units in times of scarcity of financial resources. This must be done in a non-bureaucratic manner, without those who publish internationally in open access having to wade through an abyss of money, forms, applied prose, and reviews.

## The Origins and Creation of LiveJournal

### Brad Fitzpatrick's Vision

LiveJournal was created by Brad Fitzpatrick in 1999 when he was just 19 years old.

Title:

Content: IPQuorum discusses contemporary art, cats and Paul McCartney
29 April 2021, 14: 03
Conference "Media and Art.
How New Media Technologies Are Changing Artistic Practices ” was held on April 27, 2021 at the Technopark of the Skolkovo Innovation Center as part of the IPQuorum Intellectual Property Forum.
provided by the press service
The tone of the discussion was set by the editor-in-chief of InterMedia news agency Yevgeny Safronov, who said that technologies for creativity are both a tool and a catalyst at the same time.
It is worth paying attention to the fact that 45 thousand years ago there was a reasonable person who can do what no creature on Earth can do - to communicate with the help of artistic images created by him, in other words - to create, to create.
At the same time, man mastered abstract thinking - these phenomena are uniquely related to each other, the phenomenon is still waiting to be studied.
Hundreds of types and genres of art can be divided into five areas: entertainment, jewelry, images, texts, audio and video recordings.
The first three appeared simultaneously with the advent of mankind, but the texts and records - more recently.
It is characteristic that during this time, none of the directions has ceased to exist - there is only the expansion of the former and the addition of new ones, and all types of art constantly intersect and mix - communication with the help of artistic images generates more and more new types and subspecies.
The development of technology is often staggering, but even at first glance, it becomes clear that images and plots remain traditional.
In the 17th century, Cervantes caustically described the source of Don Quixote ’ s madness – chivalric novels.
Not everyone remembers that this type of literature appeared precisely due to a technological breakthrough - the rapid development of printing, becoming one of the first commercial mass genres (that is, the creative industry, as we would now say).
The parallels between the plots of such novels and modern television series are visible to the naked eye.
But another example of the creative industry of Russia of the XVII century - lubok, mass cheap printing for the broadest masses of peasants and townspeople.
In front of you - one of the most common stories of the lubka "Cat of Kazan" - the same you now see in social networks.
The development of life and art on Earth
Source: InterMedia
Then the word was taken by the chief editor of the site Kino-Teatr.Ru Jean Prosyanov.
He said that the coronavirus pandemic has fundamentally changed the way viewers interact with cinema, and cinema fees due to this have been reduced by half.
• This year, the main trend is that we are going to the web, and manufacturers are pulling up for the viewer.
For example, the largest producer of serial content “Mars Media ” said that in the next two years will change its portfolio – more than half of the projects will be produced for streaming services, – said the expert.
As for new technologies (vertical video, VR, interactive video, etc.) used in the film industry, in the long term they will become commonplace, but so far remain “only tricks for the sake of a trick. ”
Existing distribution chains are not yet ready to integrate such content.
• Group experience of watching movies will be lost.
Soon a trip to the cinema can be equated with a trip to the theater.
Now the viewer can get emotions not only from the viewing itself, but also from the opportunity to share the content with someone, to share impressions.
According to the speaker, the most interesting thing is how the object of copyright is combined with the reaction of the viewer to it.
• Copyright should change the formats of interaction so that viewers can easily create memes with the participation of their favorite characters, realizing that they are also participants in the legal system.
Boris Barabanov, a music columnist at the Kommersant publishing house, noted that even an advertising campaign can be a separate work of art in the modern world, and spoke about this on the example of the history of the promotion of Paul McCartney ’ s McCartney III album.
• Many people reasonably believe that the release of new albums by older musicians makes sense only to attract attention to their back catalogs.
So, in 2020, the copyrights to 600 songs of Bob Dylan were sold for $300 million, and it was the largest deal of its kind.
Paul McCartney is not going to part with the rights to his songs, but also counts on a decent income from his creations.
McCartney III ’ s advertising campaign originally combined digital services and offline activities.
During the action « 12DaysOfPaul » on the walls, billboards and fences in many cities of the world there were musical notes of not yet released songs, accompanied by brief information about the new album.
So the fans got the opportunity to record their own cover – a kind of tribute to the future, not yet heard by anyone album.
This is a reference to both the past and the future of music.
In the Middle Ages, music existed only in the form of a musical notation.
The work did not exist outside the performance and was born again every time, ” the speaker explained.
– And the future is an opportunity, thanks to social networks and digital platforms, to communicate closely with fans, instantly deliver new content to them and even make them your co-authors.
The album was released on several platforms at once (Apple Music, Spotify, etc.), and for each Paul McCartney found a special way to represent the material, thus expressing respect for users who are accustomed to artists doing the same thing on all platforms.
Differences in the presentation of content fueled the interest of fans and brought the author additional income.
The third part of the campaign was an album of remixes from popular contemporary artists (Beck, Dominic Fayka, St. Vincent, etc.).
• It turns out such a sandwich, where at the bottom - a recorded tribute, in the middle - the original versions of the songs, and on top - a collection of remixes.
Why did Paul do all this?
First, to achieve what he has failed for the last 32 years, - to occupy the first place in the British chart.
Secondly, to focus the audience ’ s attention on the new material and thus show that he is not one of those who gives it the same thing for the tenth time.
This is an example of how an advertising campaign becomes a separate work of art, creates new meanings and images.
People read them and treat such advertising as an independent work, - summed up Boris Barabanov.
Commenting on the expert ’ s speech, Evgeny Safronov noted that in general the recording industry is going through hard times, which led to an increase in the need for original solutions.
He demonstrated a diagram from the study “Culture and cultural industries in the Russian Federation 2020 ”, where the fall in industry revenues is clearly demonstrated.
Revenues of the global recording industry adjusted for inflation, 1991 – 2020, billion dollars
Source: InterMedia
President of the Association of Internet Publishers Ivan Zasursky said that the structure of society depends on the type of prevailing media.
According to the speaker, the Internet has changed the communication environment, as it allows you to combine all types of content.
• It is most interesting to encourage practices related to the culture of remix – modern artists re-launch signs, symbols and other elements of the culture of the past, thereby maintaining coherence, memory and relevance.
In addition, the expert believes that there should be as many legal works as possible, free from restrictions that new artists could integrate into their works.
Ivan Bliznets, Academic Director of the Digital IP Research and Education Center, noted that almost nothing has changed since ancient times, but before the results of creative activity could only be seen by a small audience - a family or a tribe.
Today, any copyright object found on the Internet becomes available to an unlimited number of users.
It is difficult to control the spread of such objects.
• Is it necessary to change the law on copyright, taking into account the fact that its main objects are used in the Internet environment?
Yes, but it has to be a thoughtful, point-by-point change.
"I categorically reject the position that copyright is outdated and a prison for authors and users," he said.
According to the expert, it is important to look for nuances that would allow solving emerging problems and effective protection of copyright objects in any environment.
Pavel Solomatin, InterMedia

Initially, Fitzpatrick developed the platform as a personal journaling application to document his experiences working at a Yacc-based project at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

What began as a simple personal tool would eventually evolve into

Title:

Content: MenuWallOpinions
Articles

Social Media: The great connector and its hidden truths

File photo

Sat, 22 Apr 2023 Source: Maxwell Investments Group

The Internet has undeniably changed how we live, work, and communicate. Since its inception, it has played a pivotal role in transforming lives and societies across the globe.

From revolutionising access to information to connecting people worldwide, the Internet has broken down barriers and created once unimaginable opportunities. Its evolution from a static network to a dynamic hub of diverse content created by everyone has been astounding.

In recent years, the rise of social media has become a particularly significant phenomenon. Boasting an impressive 4.7 billion users as of 2021, which accounts for 59% of the world's population, social media has become an integral part of our lives and has an immense impact on businesses and individuals.

Initially, the Internet was primarily a static network where users could access information but had limited means to contribute or interact with the content. However, as the technology evolved and became more accessible, users began to create and share their content, giving rise to a more interactive and collaborative space. This shift has been most evident in the emergence and growth of social media platforms.

Social media platforms have gained traction at an exponential rate, offering a space for users to connect, share ideas, and communicate with others from all corners of the world. The statistics are staggering, with billions of users engaging on various platforms daily. This unprecedented level of connectivity has led to a profound impact on how we live, work, and even perceive the world around us.

The widespread adoption of social media has transformed how businesses and individuals interact, opening doors for new opportunities, marketing strategies, and revenue streams.

As a result, companies are increasingly leveraging social media platforms to reach, engage, and retain their target audience. Simultaneously, individuals use these platforms for personal growth, networking, and connecting with friends and family.

However, the rise of social media usage also comes with its own set of challenges and concerns. Privacy, fake news, and cyberbullying have become more prevalent, demanding greater attention from governments, businesses, and users.

The Internet's journey from a static network to a dynamic hub of diverse content, powered by the rise of social media usage, has indelibly changed our lives and societies.

As we embrace the possibilities and face the challenges of this digital landscape, it is crucial to remain vigilant and informed about the potential impacts and opportunities.

I. THE EMERGENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

The rapid rise of social media has been nothing short of a global phenomenon, with individuals and businesses embracing its numerous benefits and applications. As a result, social media has become an integral aspect of our digital lives by allowing users to create, share, and exchange information, ideas, and thoughts through online communities and networks.

A. Definition and Purpose

Social media is a computer-based technology that facilitates sharing ideas, thoughts, and information by creating virtual networks and communities. By design, social media platforms are interactive and user-driven, allowing people to engage with others, share their experiences, and express themselves in various ways.

The ultimate purpose of social media is to connect people, foster relationships, and facilitate communication between individuals, groups, and organisations.

B. User Demographics

Social media platforms tend to attract diverse users, with some platforms skewing towards specific demographics. Social media users generally tend to be younger, better educated, and relatively wealthy compared to the broader population.

This is particularly true for platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok, which have a younger user base. However, as social media continues to grow and evolve, it is increasingly being adopted by older age groups and users with varying socioeconomic backgrounds.

C. The Growth of Social Media Platforms

The growth of social media platforms has been exponential, with over 128 sites in existence today. Among these platforms, Facebook remains the largest and most influential, boasting over 2.8 billion monthly active users as of 2021. Other major platforms include Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Snapchat, each with unique features and a user base.

The rapid expansion of social media has been fuelled by advancements in technology, particularly the proliferation of smartphones and mobile internet access. As a result, social media has become more accessible, allowing users to connect and engage with others anytime, anywhere.

Social media's emergence has profoundly impacted various aspects of our lives, from personal relationships to business practices. It has revolutionised how we communicate, access information, and share experiences, ultimately transforming how we interact with the world around us. As social media continues to evolve and grow, it will undoubtedly continue to shape our societies and businesses in new and exciting ways.

II. SOCIAL MEDIA IN GHANA

In recent years, Ghana has witnessed significant growth in social media usage, with the number of users reaching an impressive 8.8 million. This surge in social media adoption has changed how Ghanaians communicate and interact with one another and has created many opportunities for businesses and the broader economy.

A. The Rise of Social Media Users in Ghana

The number of social media users in Ghana has grown exponentially, reaching 8.8 million people as of 2021. This increase in adoption can be attributed to the rapid expansion of mobile phone usage and affordable internet access, which have made social media platforms more accessible to a larger population.

As a result, social media has become an integral part of daily life for many Ghanaians, who use these platforms to connect with friends and family, share experiences, and access information.

B. WhatsApp: The Most Widely Subscribed Social App in Ghana

Among the numerous social media platforms available, WhatsApp has emerged as the most widely subscribed app in Ghana. With its user-friendly interface, free messaging and calling features, and end-to-end encryption, WhatsApp has become the go-to app for Ghanaians to communicate with friends, family, and business contacts.

In addition to its popularity for personal use, WhatsApp has also been embraced by Ghanaian businesses as a powerful marketing and communication tool. Businesses leverage the app to connect with customers, share updates and promotions, and provide customer support, ultimately enhancing their reach and engagement.

The widespread use of social media in Ghana has profoundly impacted the country's social, cultural, and economic landscape. As more Ghanaians continue to embrace these platforms, it is expected that social media will continue to play a critical role in connecting people, fostering business growth, and shaping the country's future.

III. THE BENEFITS OF SOCIAL MEDIA

The remarkable growth of social media has brought many benefits for individuals and businesses alike. These platforms have transformed how we communicate and share information and have become essential personal and professional growth tools.

A. The Personal Benefits of Social Media

For individuals, social media offers countless advantages, such as:

1. Staying connected with friends and family: Social media platforms enable people to keep in touch with loved ones nearby, bridging distances and fostering a sense of closeness.

2. Networking for job prospects: Professional networking sites such as LinkedIn have become indispensable tools for job seekers and employers, helping connect talent with opportunities and build professional relationships.

3. Self-expression and creativity: Social media platforms allow individuals to express their thoughts, ideas, and creative endeavours, allowing users to share their passions and interests with a global audience.

B. The Business Benefits of Social Media

Businesses have also reaped the rewards of social media usage, utilising these platforms for a range of functions, including:

1. Locating and interacting with customers: Businesses can harness the power of social media to connect with their target audience, engaging with existing customers and attracting new ones through targeted campaigns and content.

2. Promoting products and services: Social media offers a cost-effective and efficient way to promote products and services, allowing businesses to reach a broad audience and generate buzz around their brand.

3. Tracking consumer trends: Social media platforms provide businesses with invaluable insights into consumer preferences, enabling them to stay ahead of the competition and tailor their offerings to meet evolving customer needs.

4. Providing customer support: Businesses can leverage social media to offer swift and efficient customer service, addressing queries, concerns, and feedback in real-time and improving overall customer satisfaction.

C. The Blending of Social Interactions on E-Commerce Sites and Client Communication

The advent of social media has also led to a convergence between e-commerce and social interactions. Online retailers increasingly incorporate social media features into their websites, allowing customers to share product recommendations, reviews, and experiences with their networks.

This integration of social media and e-commerce not only enhances the shopping experience for customers but also helps businesses to foster a sense of community and trust, ultimately driving sales and fostering brand loyalty.

Social media has emerged as a powerful tool for personal and professional growth, offering many benefits for individuals and businesses. As these platforms continue to evolve and expand, their influence on how we connect, communicate, and conduct business is expected to grow even further.

IV. THE HIDDEN RISKS AND DARK SIDE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

While social media undoubtedly benefits individuals and businesses, it also harbours a darker side that cannot be ignored. When misused or overused, these platforms can lead to adverse consequences, both for users and society.

A. The Impact on Mental Health and Well-being

Increased time spent on social media can contribute to a range of mental health issues, including:

1. Anxiety: Constantly comparing oneself to others online can exacerbate feelings of inadequacy and anxiety, leading to a negative self-image.

2. Lack of sleep: Excessive use of social media, particularly before bedtime, can disrupt sleep patterns, leading to poor sleep quality and insomnia.

4. Depression: Overusing social media platforms can contribute to feelings of isolation and loneliness, increasing the risk of depression.

B. The Perils of Online Behaviour

Social media platforms can also be a breeding ground for harmful behaviours and practices, such as:

1. Trolling: Malicious users, or 'trolls', often target others online, posting inflammatory and offensive comments to provoke a response.

2. Privacy breaches: Sharing personal information on social media platforms can put users at risk of privacy breaches, leading to identity theft and other cybercrime.

3. Fake news: The rapid dissemination of false information on social media platforms can have significant consequences, influencing public opinion.

4. Cyberbullying: The anonymity provided by social media can encourage users to engage in harmful behaviour, such as cyberbullying, causing emotional distress and even leading to tragic consequences.

C. Baccarella et al.'s (2018) Honeycomb Framework

In their 2018 study, Baccarella et al. introduced the honeycomb framework to explore the dark side of social media. This framework consists of seven building blocks, each with its potential dark sides or risks:

1. Identity: While social media allows users to create and maintain an online persona, it can also contribute to creating fake profiles and catfishing.

2. Conversations: While online discussions can foster connections, they can also enable trolling and cyberbullying.

3. Sharing: The ease of sharing content online can lead to the rapid spread of fake news and misinformation.

4. Presence: The ability to track users' online activity can result in privacy concerns and stalking incidents.

5.Relationships: Social media facilitates relationship-building but can contribute to superficial connections and diminished face-to-face interactions.

6.Reputation: Online reviews and feedback can help businesses improve, but they can also be manipulated or falsified, leading to an inaccurate portrayal of a brand's reputation.

7.Groups: Online communities can provide support and connection but also foster echo chambers and radicalisation.

While social media offers many advantages, it is crucial to remain aware of its hidden risks and potential dark side. By using these platforms responsibly and educating users about potential dangers, we can mitigate the negative impacts and harness the full potential of social media for the betterment of individuals and society.

V. REAL-WORLD EXAMPLES OF SOCIAL MEDIA'S DARK SIDE

The dark side of social media is not merely a theoretical concept but manifests in real-world incidents with far-reaching implications. Here are a few examples that demonstrate the potential dangers of social media platforms.

A. Reddit: Threats, Bullying, and "Internet Witch Hunts"

1.Reddit, a popular online community platform, has often faced criticism for hosting controversial content and enabling aggressive behaviour. The site has become notorious for "internet witch hunts", where users band together to expose and vilify individuals for perceived wrongdoings, often without verified information. This can lead to harassment, public shaming, and, in some cases, irreversible damage to the targeted person's reputation and well-being.

2.The platform has also seen incidents of threats and bullying, with users posting harmful content and engaging in targeted harassment. Reddit has implemented policies to address these issues, but the sheer volume of user-generated content can challenge effective moderation.

B. Sharing Incorrect Content and the Risk to Reputation

1. Incorrect information can spread rapidly on social media, with potentially dire consequences. In 2013, a false tweet about an explosion at the White House caused a temporary stock market crash, wiping billions of dollars in market value within minutes.

2. Businesses can also suffer reputational damage when incorrect content circulates on social media. For example, in 2017, United Airlines faced a public relations crisis when a video of a passenger being forcibly removed from an overbooked flight went viral. The incident sparked widespread outrage and led to a significant drop in the company's stock value.

C. Relationship-Related Risks: Online Harassment, Stalking, and Cyberbullying

1. Social media platforms can facilitate the development of relationships but can also become breeding grounds for harmful behaviours such as online harassment, stalking, and cyberbullying.

2.The case of Amanda Todd, a Canadian teenager who took her own life after being tormented by cyber bullies, highlights the devastating impact that online harassment can have on an individual's mental health.

3. Social media stalking is another serious issue, with perpetrators using platforms to monitor, intimidate, and harass their targets. In a high-profile case in the UK, a stalker used social media to torment his victim for years, leading to her suffering from anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

These real-world examples underscore the importance of understanding and addressing the dark side of social media. By raising awareness of these risks, promoting responsible online behaviour, and implementing effective platform moderation, we can work towards creating a safer and more positive online environment for all.

VI. ROUNDING UP

The Internet of Things and social media has undoubtedly revolutionised how we communicate, connect, and engage with the world around us. With an astounding 4.7 billion users across more than 200 social media sites globally, it is evident that these platforms have become an integral part of our daily lives. Users spend nearly three hours daily browsing, sharing, and interacting on social media.

While the benefits of social media are undeniable, offering opportunities for individuals and businesses alike to network, share ideas, and stay informed, it is crucial to remain aware of the hidden risks and potential hazards associated with these platforms. As explored throughout this article, social media can have a dark side, manifesting in privacy breaches, cyberbullying, and the spreading of misinformation.

As users, we must educate ourselves about the potential dangers of social media and engage in responsible online behaviour. This includes being mindful of the content we share, our interactions, and our time on these platforms. By doing so, we can work towards creating a more positive, inclusive, and safe online environment for all.

In addition, governments, regulators, and social media companies need to work together to establish and enforce policies that mitigate risks and promote user safety.

This may involve investing in more effective moderation tools, implementing stricter privacy settings, and promoting digital literacy programs that empower users to navigate the online world safely and responsibly.

In conclusion, social media has indelibly transformed the landscape of communication and information sharing. By striking a balance between its advantages and addressing its inherent risks, we can harness the full potential of these platforms while minimising the negative consequences of their misuse.

I hope you found the article enjoyable.

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Wishing you a fantastic week!

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Columnist: Maxwell Investments Group