All posts tagged: break

Meta allowed pornographic ads that break its content moderation rules

Meta allowed pornographic ads that break its content moderation rules

Published by skeptic

Meta owns social media platforms including Facebook and Instagram JRdes / Shutterstock In 2024, Meta allowed more than 3300 pornographic ads – many featuring AI-generated content – on its social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram. The findings come from a report by AI Forensics, a European non-profit organisation focused on investigating tech platform algorithms. The researchers also discovered an inconsistency in Meta’s content moderation policies by re-uploading many of the same explicit images as standard posts on Instagram and Facebook. Unlike the ads, those posts were swiftly removed for violating Meta’s Community Standards. “I’m both disappointed and not surprised by the report, given that my research has already exposed double standards in content moderation, particularly in the realms of sexual content,” says Carolina Are at Northumbria University’s Centre for Digital Citizens in the UK. The AI Forensics report focused on a small sample of ads aimed at the European Union. It found that the explicit ads allowed by Meta primarily targeted middle-aged and older men with promotions for “dubious sexual enhancement products” and “hook-up …

Blinking may give your brain a micro break during cognitive tasks

Blinking may give your brain a micro break during cognitive tasks

Published by skeptic

Blinking may do more than just keep our eyes healthy gaiamoments/Getty Images Blinking serves a crucial physiological function, by clearing debris from our eyes and keeping them lubricated. But now, scientists have found it may also have a cognitive role. In 1945, Arthur Hall at the University of Sheffield in the UK reported on the frequency of blinking as people read aloud, finding that it mostly coincided with gaps in the print. He suggested that blinking may help people take pauses as they read. To expand on… Source link

A Break in the Weather for American Middle School Climate Education

A Break in the Weather for American Middle School Climate Education

Published by skeptic

More American public middle school science teachers are teaching, and teaching more about, recent global warming, although more of them are also giving “equal time” to doubts that recent global warming is human-caused, according to a new study I coauthored with Eric Plutzer, a political scientist at Penn State University, and Amanda L. Townley, the executive director of the National Center for Science Education. Published in June 2024 in a special climate change education issue of the peer-reviewed Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education, the study (“Climate Change Education in U.S. Middle Schools: Changes over Five Pivotal Years”) compared the results of two nationally representative surveys of public middle school science teachers in the United States from 2014 and 2019.  Why focus on middle school? Although there are opportunities to study climate change in high school biology, chemistry, and physics classes, the course most hospitable to climate change is high school earth science. But such classes are few and far between; according to a 2018 study, only eight states required the study of earth and …

Canoo reportedly puts staff on ‘mandatory unpaid break’ for weeks

Canoo reportedly puts staff on ‘mandatory unpaid break’ for weeks

Published by skeptic

Canoo is having a very unmerry Christmas. Remaining employees of the beleaguered U.S. electric vehicle startup have been placed on a “mandatory unpaid break” according to TechCrunch, with no view to return for a few weeks at minimum.  While it isn’t uncommon for businesses to close around the end of the year, Canoo’s decision to put staff on break from Monday is unlikely to be driven by holiday cheer. The company has been plagued by financial problems and furloughs, resorting to borrowing millions from CEO Tony Aquila‘s private equity firm AFV Management Advisors in order to stay afloat. SEE ALSO: Canoo unveils electric pickup truck that’s way smaller than the Tesla Cybertruck According to EV, staff were notified of the mandatory break via email last Friday, and told they would receive further updates to their personal email addresses in the first week of January. Employees’ access to Canoo’s system was apparently suspended by close of business the same day. “We apologize for the timing of this message,” Canoo’s email read, as sighted by EV. “Please …

Royal news live: Unseen Meghan Markle picture sparks debate as King Charles enjoys ‘holistic’ Indian Spa break

Royal news live: Unseen Meghan Markle picture sparks debate as King Charles enjoys ‘holistic’ Indian Spa break

Published by skeptic

King Charles heckled by Australian senator: ‘Give us our land back’ Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email An unseen photograph of Meghan Markle has been shared by former Suits co-star Patrick J Adams, triggering a debate on social media on whether she’ll join a mini reunion of the show’s actors. Adams and Markle played an on-screen couple Mike Ross and Rachel Zane in the legal drama series – and had a strong friendship away from the cameras with Adams invited to the Sussexes’ royal wedding in 2018. Now, Adams has posted 10 behind-the-scenes Suits images on Instagram, including a black and white image of Meghan. Fans began asking Adams on social media to invite Meghan, who quit Suits ahead of marrying Prince Harry, to the reunion. It comes as King Charles enjoyed an Indian spa break while on his way home from his tour of Australia and Samoa. The King, who is receiving treatment in his battle with cancer, …

How your online world could change if big tech companies like Google are forced to break up

How your online world could change if big tech companies like Google are forced to break up

Published by skeptic

The US Department of Justice may be on the verge of seeking a break-up of Google in a bid to make it less dominant. If the government goes ahead and is successful in the courts, it could mean the company being split into separate entities – a search engine, an advertising company, a video website, a mapping app – which would not be allowed to share data with each other. While this is still a distant prospect, it is being considered in the wake of a series of rulings in the US and the EU which suggest that regulators are becoming increasingly frustrated by the power of big tech. That power tends to be highly concentrated, whether it’s Google’s monopoly as a search engine, Meta’s data gathering from Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, or by small businesses becoming dependent on Amazon. But what would a breakup of these tech giants achieve for consumers? Those in favour of shaking up Silicon Valley in this way argue that it would lead to more competition and more choice. And …

Should I Break Up With My Trump-Loving Partner?

Should I Break Up With My Trump-Loving Partner?

Published by José

It’s a great relationship in nearly every other way. Illustration by Miguel Porlan October 15, 2024, 1 PM ET Editor’s Note: Every Tuesday, James Parker tackles a reader’s existential worry. He wants to hear about what’s ailing, torturing, or nagging you. Submit your lifelong or in-the-moment problems to [email protected]. Don’t want to miss a single column? Sign up to get “Dear James” in your inbox. Dear James, My partner of six years is smart and funny. I never get tired of talking with him. He makes me laugh until I can’t breathe. The sex is fantastic. We’re great travel partners. The problem is that he is a Trumper. I feel that Donald Trump is a vile human in every way possible. I despise him and all he stands for with every fiber of my being. My partner doesn’t wear a MAGA hat, and he acknowledges that Trump has personal “flaws,” but he says he “likes his policies” and plans to vote for him … again. I’ve asked if there’s anything Trump might say or do …

I took a 10-minute break from work to do this easy daily yoga routine and I returned relaxed and refreshed

I took a 10-minute break from work to do this easy daily yoga routine and I returned relaxed and refreshed

Published by skeptic

Fit&Well created this content as part of a paid partnership with Yazio. The contents of this article are entirely independent and solely reflect the editorial opinion of Fit&Well. I’m not the most flexible person, but as I get older I know my flexibility is something I need to maintain—and hopefully improve—so I can carry on doing the activities I enjoy.  It’s taken on even more importance since I’ve been going to the gym to protect against old running injuries reoccurring. While my gym visits have made me stronger, they’ve also left me feeling stiffer. I was already feeling tight from spending my nine-to-five sitting at a desk craning my head toward my screen. Lately I’ve been working with Yazio, trying out its calorie-counting app, and while browsing its Instagram account I came across a yoga and stretching routine that seemed accessible. It included only eight moves and after an evening at the gym on a weight bench by the dumbbell rack, I felt like I needed something to rejuvenate my body before playing sports later …

Heart Radio presenter Jamie Theakston reveals cancer diagnosis and announces break from show

Heart Radio presenter Jamie Theakston reveals cancer diagnosis and announces break from show

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Heart Breakfast host Jamie Theakston has announced he has been diagnosed with stage one laryngeal cancer. In a statement shared online on Tuesday, the 53-year-old said: “Hi Folks. As you know – I recently had an operation to remove a lesion from my vocal cords. © Getty ImagesJamie has revealed that he has been diagnosed with stage one laryngeal cancer. “The biopsy has identified this as stage 1 Laryngeal cancer. So – I have cancer – but cancer doesn’t have me. The prognosis is very positive and I’m hoping to be back with you in October.” He continued: “Until then I’ve been told to give my voice a rest and leave you in the mostly capable hands of JK and Amanda. © InstagramThe radio presenter revealed his diagnosis on social media “Big thanks to them and all the Global family who have been unbelievably supportive. Be thankful for this day, and when I next see you, I’ve got a great story to tell.” The star’s fans and friends were quick to send messages of support …

Taylor Swift hosts star-studded party at Rhode Island mansion amid Eras Tour break

Taylor Swift hosts star-studded party at Rhode Island mansion amid Eras Tour break

Published by skeptic

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Taylor Swift is taking a well-deserved break from her Eras Tour at her beachside mansion in Rhode Island, and she’s brought some famous faces with her. The Grammy-winning singer, 34, closed out the European leg of her record-breaking Eras Tour on August 20 with a string of concerts at Wembley Stadium in London. Now, Swift is ringing in the start of her two-month break from tour by spending some quality time with friends. The “Anti-Hero” singer and her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce, reunited on Saturday, August 24 at Swift’s home in Watch Hill, according to photos obtained by TMZ. It marked the first time the couple, who have been dating since summer 2023, was seen together since Kelce attended her Eras …