#apps users increasing

[lunasilvis]

The sport's application I work on (for my portfolio) is starting to look so very professional and indistinguishable from actual, useable app store releases (in terms of interface, look/feel, smoothness of task completion, functionalities, quality, etc) 🥹 as a baby designer I am raving about this

[aakeysmash]

How on earth did you get your gif cover to be so clear?! I have a gif cover of fanart that I did but it’s so pixelated 😭😭🩷🌷 help

It’s because I downloaded it… girl I can’t edit for shit, I didn’t make it, I’m sorry LOOOL

[littlefoxwithbighat]

So, so disappointed and annoyed that duolingo has gotten rid of the option to practice for hearts and replaced it with only ads. If you're a learner and you mess up (which you know. It happens, you make mistakes. That's how you know you're learning and not just copying, and people have jobs and school and sicknesses and get tired or forget things between breaks) you have to watch 5 ads to get up to full hearts, and theyre quite long! And you have no other option really especially if the lesson is hard with the way the app is set up.

The practice for hearts option was something i really valued when i wanted a change of pace from learning difficult materials, or i was very sick and tired and just wanted to keep up my progress and streak or I knew i needed a general vocabulary refresh. It was practical and gave me more choice in using the app, and made losing all my hearts feel like addional motivation, rather than a gambling mechanic where I have to pay-to-win by sitting through 2 minutes of terrible mobile ads.

Plus, I believe they have changed hearts to regenerate much more slowly (I did my lesson about the same time yesterday, and I still only had 3 hearts! They should regenerate to full over the course of 24 hours at a MAXIMUM any longer is ridiculous!??? It's counterintuitive to the point of learning. So it puts you in a position when non paying users are almost guaranteed to have to watch at least 2 ads. I dont mind the preroll ads but and postroll ads. You know, I get that they're ultimately a business. But this is supposed to be an app where anybody, including students can quickly take 5 minutes to learn a language. If you count pre-roll and postroll and assume 2 ads minimum for hearts, you have to spend at least 5 minutes on ads alone. Thats DOUBLING your lesson time with something that adds no value.

I was already disappointed they'd removed (and seem to keep removing) mistake explanations, either getting rid of them entirely or locking them behind paywalls but. Man. This is a whole new level of low. I wish this company would treat its users with the level of respect and care they used to, rather than spending their money on advertising campaingns and publicity stunts their base users dont care about, and priorities app numbers and funelling people into the paid version rather than having a reliable, good product.

[absentlyabbie]

"that's almost a speciality computer science thing"

my dear, it is most professional spaces across most industries, globally. it's not going away any time soon. and though that day may eventually come, these students will continue needing to go to college and obtain jobs which will require these skills. it's downright irresponsible to phase out the teaching of those skills long before the use of them is even close to obsolete.

and yes, the educational system (note that teachers are not being blamed here, certainly not individuals) is to blame. and our educational system is a product of our government. both of which are ever closer to falling apart as they prioritize the goals of ever-increasing capital and leave more and more students behind and underprepared for anything but meeting standardized metrics.

students should be taught not merely "very specific PDF skills", but should learn the technology they will encounter in workplaces and higher ed, learn to recognize its components and basic operating standards, so that they are prepared to adapt as that technology evolves and continue using it in the process. they will still need basic skills and knowledge about email, basic digital and technological skills and information about varying technologies and programs they are likely to need to use, and how to navigate those spaces and explore and learn in them.

by all means, review the notes if you remain skeptical. this is hardly an "old man yelling at cloud" situation.

seriously, though. i work in higher education, and part of my job is students sending me transcripts. you'd think the ones who have the least idea how to actually do that would be the older ones, and while sure, they definitely struggle with it, i see it most with the younger students. the teens to early 20s crowd.

very, astonishingly often, they don't know how to work with .pdf documents. i get garbage phone screenshots, sometimes inserted into an excel or word file for who knows what reason, but most often it's just a raw .jpg or other image file.

they definitely either don't know how to use a scanner, don't have access to one, or don't even know where they might go for that (staples and other office supply stores sometimes still have these services, but public libraries always have your back, kids.) so when they have a paper transcript and need to send me a copy electronically, it's just terrible photos at bad angles full of thumbs and text-obscuring shadows.

mind bogglingly frequently, i get cell phone photos of computer screens. they don't know how to take a screenshot on a computer. they don't know the function of the Print Screen button on the keyboard. they don't know how to right click a web page, hit "print", and choose "save as PDF" to produce a full and unbroken capture of the entirety of a webpage.

sometimes they'll just copy the text of a transcript and paste it right into the message of an email. that's if they figure out the difference between the body text portion of the email and the subject line, because quite frankly they often don't.

these are people who in most cases have done at least some college work already, but they have absolutely no clue how to utilize the attachment function in an email, and for some reason they don't consider they could google very quickly for instructions or even videos.

i am not taking a shit on gen z/gen alpha here, i'm really not.

what i am is aghast that they've been so massively failed on so many levels. the education system assumed they were "native" to technology and needed to be taught nothing. their parents assumed the same, or assumed the schools would teach them, or don't know how themselves and are too intimidated to figure it out and teach their kids these skills at home.

they spend hours a day on instagram and tiktok and youtube and etc, so they surely know (this is ridiculous to assume!!!) how to draft a formal email and format the text and what part goes where and what all those damn little symbols means, right? SURELY they're already familiar with every file type under the sun and know how to make use of whatever's salient in a pinch, right???

THEY MUST CERTAINLY know, innately, as one knows how to inhale, how to type in business formatting and formal communication style, how to present themselves in a way that gets them taken seriously by formal institutions, how to appear and be competent in basic/standard digital skills. SURELY. Of course. RIGHT!!!!

it's MADDENING, it's insane, and it's frustrating from the receiving end, but even more frustrating knowing they're stumbling blind out there in the digital spaces of grown-up matters, being dismissed, being considered less intelligent, being talked down to, because every adult and system responsible for them just

ASSUMED they should "just know" or "just figure out" these important things no one ever bothered to teach them, or half the time even introduce the concepts of before asking them to do it, on the spot, with high educational or professional stakes.

kids shouldn't have to supplement their own education like this and get sneered and scoffed at if they don't.

[mobileappbuilder1]

How to Increase App Installs and Reach More Users

If you’re looking to increase your app installs, it’s all about combining strategy with creativity. Here are some tips to help you stand out and grow your user base:

Optimize Your App Store Page Make a great first impression! Use high-quality screenshots, a compelling description, and focus on relevant keywords to improve discoverability.

Leverage Social Media Share engaging content about your app across platforms like Instagram, TikTok etc. Use eye-catching visuals, app demos, and testimonials to generate interest.

Offer Incentives Run promotions, offer discounts, or provide referral bonuses to encourage more downloads. Everyone loves a good deal!

Collaborate with Influencers Partner with influencers who align with your target audience. Their recommendations can add credibility and inspire their followers to check out your mobile app.

Use Paid Advertising Invest in targeted ads on platforms like Google, Facebook, and TikTok to reach your ideal users. A/B test your creatives to find what resonates best.

Encourage Reviews and Ratings Positive reviews boost your app’s credibility and visibility. Prompt happy users to leave reviews, and always respond to feedback.

Focus on User Experience Word of mouth is powerful. Make sure your mobile app delivers on its promise with a seamless, enjoyable experience that keeps users coming back.

Put these tips into action and watch the installs grow!

[learning--tech]

Empower Your Business with DDS4U's Comprehensive Services

At DDS4U, we provide a suite of services designed to streamline your operations, drive growth, and ensure your business stays ahead in today’s competitive market.

AI-Powered Business Automation

Revolutionize your workflows with our AI-driven automation platform. By automating repetitive tasks and integrating advanced AI technologies, we help you save time, reduce costs, and improve accuracy, allowing you to focus on strategic initiatives.

Custom Software Development

Our experienced software developers create tailored solutions that meet your unique business needs. Whether you require a new application or need to upgrade existing systems, our innovative and scalable software solutions ensure your business operates efficiently and effectively.

CRM Solutions

Enhance your customer relationships with our comprehensive CRM platform. Manage customer interactions, streamline sales processes, and gain valuable insights to drive better business decisions. Our CRM system is designed to boost customer satisfaction and loyalty, ultimately leading to increased sales and growth.

Targeted Advertisement Platform

Maximize your reach and engagement with our cutting-edge advertising platform. Tailor your campaigns to specific audiences and utilize real-time analytics to optimize performance. Our platform helps you achieve higher conversion rates and a stronger online presence.

In-App Advertisement Space

Monetize your mobile applications with designated ad spaces. Our in-app advertising feature allows you to serve targeted ads to users, providing an additional revenue stream while ensuring ads are relevant and non-intrusive.

Referral Portal

Expand your network and drive business growth with our referral portal. Easily manage and track referrals, incentivize partners, and streamline communication. Our portal fosters strong professional relationships and opens new opportunities for your business.

Business Networking Platform

Connect with industry professionals and collaborate on projects through our dynamic networking platform. Share knowledge, explore partnerships, and expand your reach in a supportive community designed to foster business success.

Social Media Poster Design

Boost your social media presence with professionally designed posters. Our team creates visually appealing graphics tailored for social media platforms, helping you engage with your audience and enhance your brand’s online visibility.

Discount Booklets

Offer your customers exclusive discounts through our customizable discount booklets. This feature helps increase customer loyalty and encourages repeat business, driving higher sales and customer satisfaction.

Self-Managed Advertisements

Take control of your advertising campaigns with our self-managed ad platform. Create, monitor, and optimize your ads independently, giving you the flexibility to adjust strategies and maximize ROI.

Video Promotions

Enhance your marketing efforts with engaging promotional videos. Showcase your products and services, highlight unique selling points, and captivate your audience with compelling visual content that drives brand awareness and customer engagement.

At DDS4U, we are committed to helping your business succeed. Our comprehensive services are designed to address your unique challenges and support your growth ambitions. Partner with us to unlock new opportunities and achieve your business goals.

[richakalam]

Chatwise Shares is a dynamic

Chatwise Shares is a dynamic and forward-thinking tech company that specializes in creating innovative solutions for seamless communication and collaboration in the modern workplace. Their flagship product, Chatwise Connect, is a comprehensive platform that integrates chat, video conferencing, file sharing, and project management tools into one intuitive interface.

In an office scenario, employees at Chatwise Shares experience a highly interactive and collaborative environment. Teams use Chatwise Connect to stay connected, share ideas, and collaborate on projects in real-time. The platform's user-friendly interface makes it easy for employees to communicate across departments and locations, fostering a culture of teamwork and innovation.

One unique feature of Chatwise Connect is its virtual meeting rooms, which allow team members to join video conferences and collaborate on documents simultaneously. This feature is particularly useful for remote teams, as it enables them to work together as if they were in the same room.

Another key aspect of Chatwise Shares' office culture is its focus on work-life balance. The company offers flexible work hours and remote work options, allowing employees to manage their schedules in a way that suits their lifestyle. This flexibility helps employees maintain a healthy work-life balance, leading to increased job satisfaction and productivity.

Overall, Chatwise Shares is a company that values collaboration, innovation, and work-life balance. Through its innovative products and employee-centric culture, it has created a dynamic and engaging workplace where employees can thrive and succeed.

[hotvampireadjacent]

https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/15/duolingo-sees-216-spike-in-u-s-users-learning-chinese-amid-tiktok-ban-and-move-to-rednote/

LMFAO

[probablyasocialecologist]

Fifty per cent of web users are running ad blockers. Zero per cent of app users are running ad blockers, because adding a blocker to an app requires that you first remove its encryption, and that’s a felony. (Jay Freeman, the American businessman and engineer, calls this “felony contempt of business-model”.) So when someone in a boardroom says, “Let’s make our ads 20 per cent more obnoxious and get a 2 per cent revenue increase,” no one objects that this might prompt users to google, “How do I block ads?” After all, the answer is, you can’t. Indeed, it’s more likely that someone in that boardroom will say, “Let’s make our ads 100 per cent more obnoxious and get a 10 per cent revenue increase.” (This is why every company wants you to install an app instead of using its website.) There’s no reason that gig workers who are facing algorithmic wage discrimination couldn’t install a counter-app that co-ordinated among all the Uber drivers to reject all jobs unless they reach a certain pay threshold. No reason except felony contempt of business model, the threat that the toolsmiths who built that counter-app would go broke or land in prison, for violating DMCA 1201, the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, trademark, copyright, patent, contract, trade secrecy, nondisclosure and noncompete or, in other words, “IP law”. IP isn’t just short for intellectual property. It’s a euphemism for “a law that lets me reach beyond the walls of my company and control the conduct of my critics, competitors and customers”. And “app” is just a euphemism for “a web page wrapped in enough IP to make it a felony to mod it, to protect the labour, consumer and privacy rights of its user”.

[zvaigzdelasas]

15 Jan 25

[californiastatelibrary]

Updated on March 28, 2025 at 8:15am We've been impressed by the overwhelming interest in checking out e-books via California's Bookshelf... and by overwhelming, we actually mean literally that. Nothing should come between you and a good book, so Palace made sure the servers had a good breakfast today. Happy reading!

EDIT on March 27, 2025 at 1:40pm: After the launch of California’s Bookshelf virtual library earlier today, Palace has seen an influx of new users accessing The Palace Project app. Increased traffic has caused app slowness and outages that the Palace team is currently addressing. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to resolve these issues.

PRESS RELEASE – Every Californian with an email address and an internet connection can now visit California’s Bookshelf and access more than 300,000 eBooks and eAudiobooks.

Read the full press release here: https://www.library.ca.gov/uploads/2025/03/pressrelease-2025-03-26-californiasbookshelf.pdf

[anto-pops]

Would you consider making a headcanon post about Sebastian? It could be random, or it could be smutty as hell. But just... what goes on in Anto's brilliant mind when she's writing thid version of Sebastian in her stories? I'm very, very intrigued with how exactly you see him. I know we already have a general picture of who he is through your stories. But are there any more headcanons you have that might not be that obvious? I just love your version of him in your mind. ❤️‍🔥

YEEESSS I WOULD LOVE TO !! I have some written down in my notes app already that I reference from time to time but I'll add more here LMAO

↓↓ SEBASTIAN SALLOW HEADCANONS ↓↓

SFW

Sebastian's main love languages are quality time and physical touch. He loves any excuse to be around you, offering to study with you or to accompany you to Hogsmeade for whatever the occasion calls for.

As for physical touch, this man would make you wear him as a backpack if it wouldn't crush you. Any means of touching you has his name written all over it. Hand holding ? Check. Playing with your hair ? Check. Steering you places by putting his hand on your lower back and gently urging you along ? Hell yeah (he might even cop a feel while he's that low)

He loves seeing you in his clothes. Like, an unhealthy amount. You're cold ? Suddenly you're being smothered by his coat. You're studying together in his dorm and you start to doze off ? Smack– his Quidditch jersey or some other large shirt hits you in the face.

If you tell him to turn around while you're changing, he'll do it, but he may or may not sneak a peak 👀

This one is obvious if you've read my fics, but Sebastian is possessive. BIG TIME user of the "dibs" system, and he's calling dibs on you.

He glares down any other men that think to talk to you (though always from over your shoulder so you don't catch him), but if he's not close enough to do that, he'll manipulate the situation to better suit his preferences.

E.g.: using magic to tip something over so it spills on the offensive male's lap, or jinxing their textbook so it jumps off their desk and smacks them in the face.

In rarer instances where he has the ability to exercise patience, Sebastian will wait for the chatty admirer to stand up and leave, then use his magic to yank their pants down. Embarrassment is a good teacher, right ?

If the two of you aren't already dating, Sebastian goes out of his way to secretly memorize your schedule so he can 'coincidentally' run into you more often. He thinks it increases his chances of wooing you, but Ominis just thinks he's acting like a buffoon.

He always buys an extra treat to offer to you later on. He'll claim that he's so full that he doesn't have room for it, but it's all calculated so he can watch your expression light up when you take the morsel from him (Pavloving your crush... smooth, Sebastian)

This man falls asleep reading like he's an 80 year old man. Upright in bed, light still on, book halfway covering his face or open in his lap. He also 100% isn't above writing in the margins or dog-earing the corners of pages.

If the two of you ever get into an argument that isn't immediately resolved, he BROODS. He'll haunt the Undercroft like a ghost, stare unblinkingly at the fireplace in the Slytherin common room, and glare at anyone that tries to check on him.

Eventually you'll have no choice but to go seek him out because A) you're convinced he might be dead and B) everyone is begging you to. They can't take it anymore– he's terrifying when he's upset.

Sebastian is stubborn as hell but will almost always defer to your judgement. It's 1am and he's still up reading ? "Come to bed," you order. He listens. He gets injured after a particularly difficult fight in the Forbidden Forest ? "It's just a scratch," he waves you off. "Sit down," you demand, pointing at the ground in front of you. He scrambles over like an obedient puppy, though not without pouting.

He might argue against the claim, but he's sentimental. He always saves letters from you, Ominis, and his sister. He has a box of trinkets full of items that belonged to his parents hidden away in his trunk.

He also becomes extremely quiet and reserved when the anniversary of his parents' deaths comes along and will shamelessly melt into you for comfort as though you're the only thing that can keep him from crumbling.

The man can eat. Like Ron throughout the entire movie series, Sebastian's love for food knows no bounds. Maybe it has to do with playing Quidditch or just being gifted with a fast metabolism, but he gorges himself on sausages, pastries, candies, roasts, and whatever else he can get his hands on with reckless abandon.

He also never seems to gain weight from it (which irritates you to no end).

He was never big into romantic literature until he met you. Then all of a sudden, his excursions into the Restricted Section were focused wholly on locating more and more books centered around female anatomy and love stories.

Even if he vowed to never dabble in the Dark Arts again, there's still a tiny part of him that yearns to try his hand at it again. The allure of power like that is too tempting for him to completely ignore.

His eye sight isn't exactly perfect, but he refuses to wear his reading glasses because he doesn't want to tarnish his public image. He'll wear them around you, though (especially once you tell him that they make him look charming and dashing).

NSFW

Relating to his love of physical touch, Sebastian HAS to have his hands on you the entire time you're fucking

E.g.: running them up your legs, tracing the grooves of your abdomen, squeezing your breasts, or (his favorite) intertwining his fingers with yours and pinning your hands beside your head.

It depends on his mood, but Sebastian's kisses alternate between slow and soft to desperate and needy.

He often buries his hands in your hair to pull you in and hold you where he wants you, secretly obsessed with how malleable you are with him.

Sebastian is messy, passionate, emotional, and almost impulsive with how he loves. It can be overwhelming at times, but you grow to accept it fairly quickly.

He loves dominating you in bed, but he's remarkably quick to hand the reins over to you in the event you're feeling bold. He loves that just as much– watching you ride him like your life depends on it, shamelessly turning into the neediest, whiniest bloke in existence.

He's a LOUD masturbator. Sebastian totally lacks the ability to keep his voice down when he's jerking off– brazenly moaning and panting while his fist pumps wetly up and down his cock. For those reasons, he tries to hold off on pleasuring himself until he's alone in his dorm or in the showers, because it only took Ominis commenting on it once for him to learn his lesson.

Sebastian isn't an exhibitionist by any means, but in the event he's worked up enough that he can't stop himself, well... he'll fuck you anywhere. In the Quidditch locker rooms, in an empty classroom, in the bathroom. You usually try to lead him someplace more private in those instances, but you don't always succeed.

He's so willing to try new things with you that one might think he doesn't have a favorite position, but 9 times out of 10, he's finishing with his eyes glued to yours. Sebastian loves watching you crumble beneath him, adores watching your lips part around stammered moans of his name, so missionary tends to be his go to position towards the end.

The guy is grossly obsessed with watching you stretch around his cock. I'm talking stars in his eyes, a big stupid grin on his face, and airy groans of your name pouring from his throat. He was addicted from day one and will never stop studying the way you swallow him up.

Sex with Sebastian is as versatile as his kisses; sometimes it's tender and languid, not at all rushed as the two of you take your time touching and grinding and sighing into one another's mouths.

Other times, it's rushed and desperate. He'll dig his nails into your skin and bully your legs apart so he can get to his target quicker, then tease you and edge you so aggressively that the overstimulation bring you to tears.

Always whispers praises directly into your ear while he thrusts into you, relishing in the way you tighten around his cock and flush with embarrassment when he compliments how good you feel, or how perfectly you take him.

Sebastian is so, so shamelessly flirty when he drinks. It's a rarity when the two of you are still students, but getting your hands on Firewhiskey or other alcohol is far from difficult. After his third drink, he's ridiculously clingy and even more touchy than usual, unapologetically murmuring sweet nothings in your ear regardless of whether or not there's an audience to bear witness to the scene.

Loves loves loves burying his face between your breasts. Either to suck on your nipples or to press his ear against your chest to hear your heartbeat, it doesn't matter. Just trust that his head will eventually end up against your sternum.

Sebastian 100% has a breeding kink. He might not reveal it in its entirety in the beginning, but once you're both free from the confines of Hogwarts and living with one another, it shows itself dramatically.

(See this post for more clarity on why that is)

He can never decide what he likes more: watching his cum drip out of you, or seeing you covered in it. Usually he just opts to go another round so he can see both and sate his curiosity.

Will absolutely do everything in his power to leave lasting marks on your body. Be it on your neck, your thighs, or your waist– he loves seeing evidence of himself all over you. It makes him bloom with male pride knowing that anyone that sees them will know they were left there by him.

Not-so-secretly loves when his banter with you segues into a steamy, passionate make-out session. It could be over something completely irrelevant, but he'll keep pushing your buttons just to get you riled up enough that you decide to shut him up with your lips.

[moonbeam-darling]

Tiktok users moving to Rednote has got to be the funniest mfing move that could have possibly been taken.

The US is banning TikTok under the guise that they don't want China having access to our data, and Americans really said, yeah, fuck that, and moved to a Chinese based platform🤣🤣

I say "under the guise" because while it is likely one of the reasons, it's definitely not the main one. The US is trying to take away a place where our voices are heard and spread around.

Anyway, I love the fact that according to people's tiktok videos, Chinese users have been pretty welcoming and the app has already accommodated for the increase of English users. Since, it was mainly a Chinese platform.

[mariacallous]

Before Duolingo wiped its videos from TikTok and Instagram in mid-May, social media engagement was one of the language-learning app’s most recognizable qualities. Its green owl mascot had gone viral multiple times and was well known to younger users—a success story other marketers envied.

But, when news got out that Duolingo was making the switch to become an “AI-first” company, planning to replace contractors who work on tasks generative AI could automate, public perception of the brand soured.

Young people started posting on social media about how they were outraged at Duolingo as they performatively deleted the app—even if it meant losing the precious streak awards they earned through continued, daily usage. The comments on Duolingo’s TikTok posts in the days after the announcement were filled with rage, primarily focused on a single aspect: workers being replaced with automation.

The negative response online is indicative of a larger trend: Right now, though a growing number of Americans use ChatGPT, many people are sick of AI’s encroachment into their lives and are ready to fight back.

When reached for comment, Duolingo spokesperson Sam Dalsimer stressed that “AI isn’t replacing our staff” and said all AI-generated content on the platform would be created “under the direction and guidance of our learning experts.” The company's plan is still to reduce its use of non-staff contractors for tasks that can be automated using generative AI.

Duolingo’s embrace of workplace automation is part of a broad shift within the tech industry. Leaders at Klarna, a buy now, pay later service, and Salesforce, a software company, have also made sweeping statements about AI reducing the need for new hires in roles like customer service and engineering. These decisions were being made at the same time as developers sold “agents,” which are designed to automate software tasks, as a way to reduce the amount of workers needed to complete certain tasks.

Still, the potential threat of bosses attempting to replace human workers with AI agents is just one of many compounding reasons people are critical of generative AI. Add that to the error-ridden outputs, the environmental damage, the potential mental health impacts for users, and the concerns about copyright violations when AI tools are trained on existing works.

Many people were initially in awe of ChatGPT and other generative AI tools when they first arrived in late 2022. You could make a cartoon of a duck riding a motorcycle! But soon artists started speaking out, noting that their visual and textual works were being scraped to train these systems. The pushback from the creative community ramped up during the 2023 Hollywood writer's strike, and continued to accelerate through the current wave of copyright lawsuits brought by publishers, creatives, and Hollywood studios.

Right now, the general vibe aligns even more with the side of impacted workers. “I think there is a new sort of ambient animosity towards the AI systems,” says Brian Merchant, former WIRED contributor and author of Blood in the Machine, a book about the Luddites rebelling against worker-replacing technology. “AI companies have speedrun the Silicon Valley trajectory.”

Before ChatGPT’s release, around 38 percent of US adults were more concerned than excited about increased AI usage in daily life, according to the Pew Research Center. The number shot up to 52 percent by late 2023, as the public reacted to the speedy spread of generative AI. The level of concern has hovered around that same threshold ever since.

Ethical AI researchers have long warned about the potential negative impacts of this technology. The amplification of harmful stereotypes, increased environmental pollution, and potential displacement of workers are all widely researched and reported. These concerns were often previously reserved to academic discourse and online leftists paying attention to labor issues.

As AI outputs continued to proliferate, so did the cutting jokes. Alex Hanna, coauthor of The AI Con and director of research at the Distributed AI Research Institute, mentions how people have been “trolling” in the comment sections of YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels whenever they see AI-generated content in their feeds. “I've seen this on the web for a while,” she says.

This generalized animosity towards AI has not abated over time. Rather, it’s metastasized. LinkedIn users have complained about being constantly prompted with AI-generated questions. Spotify listeners have been frustrated to hear AI-generated podcasts recapping their top-listened songs. Reddit posters have been upset to see AI-generated images on their microwavable noodles at the grocery store.

Tensions are so high that even the suspicion of AI usage is now enough to draw criticism. I wouldn’t be surprised if social media users screenshotted the em dashes in this piece—a supposed giveaway of AI-generated text outputs—and cast suspicions about whether I used a chatbot to spin up sections of the article.

A few days after I first contacted Duolingo for comment, the company hid all of its social media videos on TikTok and Instagram. But, soon the green owl was back online with a satirical post about conspiracy theories. “I’ve had it with the CEOs and those in power. It’s time we show them who’s in charge,” said a person wearing a three-eyed Duolingo mask. The video uploaded right afterwards was a direct message from the company’s CEO attempting to explain how humans would still be working at Duolingo, but AI could help them produce more language learning courses.

While the videos got millions of views on TikTok, the top comments continued to criticize Duolingo for AI-enabled automation: “Keep in mind they are still using AI for their lessons, this doesn’t change anything.”

This frustration over AI’s steady creep has breached the container of social media and started manifesting more in the real world. Parents I talk to are concerned about AI use impacting their child’s mental health. Couples are worried about chatbot addictions driving a wedge in their relationships. Rural communities are incensed that the newly built data centers required to power these AI tools are kept humming by generators that burn fossil fuels, polluting their air, water, and soil. As a whole, the benefits of AI seem esoteric and underwhelming while the harms feel transformative and immediate.

Unlike the dawn of the internet where democratized access to information empowered everyday people in unique, surprising ways, the generative AI era has been defined by half-baked software releases and threats of AI replacing human workers, especially for recent college graduates looking to find entry-level work.

“Our innovation ecosystem in the 20th century was about making opportunities for human flourishing more accessible,” says Shannon Vallor, a technology philosopher at the Edinburgh Futures Institute and author of The AI Mirror, a book about reclaiming human agency from algorithms. “Now, we have an era of innovation where the greatest opportunities the technology creates are for those already enjoying a disproportionate share of strengths and resources.”

Not only are the rich getting richer during the AI era, but many of the technology’s harms are falling on people of color and other marginalized communities. “Data centers are being located in these really poor areas that tend to be more heavily Black and brown,” Hanna says. She points out how locals have not just been fighting back online, but have also been organizing even more in-person to protect their communities from environmental pollution. We saw this in Memphis, Tennessee, recently, where Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI is building a large data center with over 30 methane-gas-powered generators that are spewing harmful exhaust.

The impacts of generative AI on the workforce are another core issue that critics are organizing around. “Workers are more intuitive than a lot of the pundit class gives them credit for,” says Merchant. “They know this has been a naked attempt to get rid of people.” The next major shift in public opinion will likely follow previous patterns, occurring when broad swaths of workers feel further threatened and organize in response. And this time, the in-person protests may be just as big as the online backlash.

[heldhram]

How to run The Sims 3 with DXVK & Reshade (Direct3D 9.0c)

Today I am going to show you guys how to install Reshade and use Direct3D 9.0c (D3D9) instead of Vulkan as rendering API.

This tutorial is based on @nornities and @desiree-uk's awesome guide on "How to use DXVK with The Sims 3", with the goal of increasing compatibility between DXVK and Reshade. For users not interested in using Reshade, you may skip this tutorial.

If you followed nornities and desiree-uk's guide, it is strongly recommended that you start from scratch, meaning you should uninstall DXVK AND Reshade completely. Believe me when I say this: it will save you a lot of time, frustration, and make your life so much easier.

For the purpose of this tutorial, I am on patch 1.69.47 and running EA App on Windows 10, but it should work for version 1.67.2 on Steam and discs, too. This tutorial does not cover GShade.

Before we start

Backup your files, even the entire folder (Program Files\EA Games\The Sims 3\Game\Bin) if you want to be extra safe; you will thank yourself later. If you do not wish to backup the entire folder, at least backup the following:

reshade-presets

reshade-shaders

Reshade.ini

Options.ini (Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3)

Keep them somewhere secure, for your peace of mind (and sanity).

Done? Great stuff, let us begin!

Step 1:

If you installed DXVK following nornite and desiree-uk's guide, go to the bin folder and delete the following files to fully uninstall DXVK, we are starting from scratch:

d3d9.dll

TS3.dxvk-cache

dxvk.conf

TS3_d3d9.log (or TS3W_d3d9.log)

Step 2:

If you already have Reshade on your PC, uninstall it using this: https://reshade.me/downloads/ReShade_Setup_X.X.X.exe (replace X.X.X with version number)

Step 3:

Perform a clean install of Reshade (I am using the latest version - 6.4.1 at the time of writing). Please note that you need a version no older than 4.5.0 or this method will not work. Choose DirectX9, click next.

Once the installation is complete, you should see a "d3d9.dll" file inside The Sims 3's bin folder (Program Files\EA Games\The Sims 3\Game\Bin):

It may all seem familiar thus far. Indeed, this is how we installed Reshade in the past before using DXVK, but here comes the tricky part:

Step 4:

Create a new folder outside of The Sims 3's game folder (I created it on my C drive), name it "dxvk" or whatever else you like. Remember where you saved this folder, we will return to it later.

Step 5:

Now we need Reshade to load the next dll in order to chain Reshade with DXVK. Click on the search bar, and type in "View advanced system settings".

Click on "Environment Variables..."

Under "User variables", click "New..."

In the new pop-up window, find "Variable name:" and type in:

RESHADE_MODULE_PATH_OVERRIDE

for "Variable value:", paste in the directory that leads to the folder we created earlier. Once you are done, hit OK, and then hit OK again to save the changes made.

You can use Command Prompt to check if this new environment variable has been registered by entering:

echo %RESHADE_MODULE_PATH_OVERRIDE%

It should return you the folder's location. If not, make sure you have typed in the variable name correctly and confirm the folder's location.

Step 6:

Download DXVK (version 2.3.1) from here: https://github.com/doitsujin/DXVK/releases/tag/v2.3.1 and unzip "dxvk-2.3.1.tar.gz" (I use 7-Zip, but winRAR works, too). Remember to choose x32, and move only "d3d9.dll" to the folder we made earlier.

Now we have two "d3d9.dll" files, one from Reshade (lives in the bin folder), and the other from DXVK (in this new folder, outside of The Sims 3 game folder).

Step 7:

Download "dxvk.conf" here: https://github.com/doitsujin/dxvk/blob/master/dxvk.conf delete everything inside, and enter the following:

d3d9.textureMemory = 1 d3d9.presentInterval = 1 d3d9.maxFrameRate = 60 dxvk.hud = devinfo

Ctrl + S to save the document.

The first 3 lines are taken from @nornities and @desiree-uk's guide.

The last line is only for debugging purposes. Due to the inconvenient location occupied by the HUD (top left corner of your screen), it should be removed once the installation is successful.

Step 8:

Drag "dxvk.conf" into the bin folder, where Reshade's "d3d9.dll", "TS3.exe", and "TS3W.exe" all live.

Step 9:

Now fire up the game and check if both are showing up:

Lastly, check for “TS3.dxvk-cache” in the bin folder:

If it is there, congratulations! You have successfully installed DXVK and Reshade utilising D3D9 as API! You can now go to "dxvk.conf" and remove its last line "dxvk.hud = devinfo" and have fun! :)

Hope this tutorial isn't too confusing, the last thing I want is to over-complicate things. If you still need some help, comment down below or send me a DM/ask, I'll try and troubleshoot with you to the best of my ability.

Credits:

@nornities and @desiree-uk for their fantastic guide.

@criisolate for promulgating the usage of DXVK in TS3 community.

reddit user folieadeuxmeharder for helping me troubleshoot and informing me of this workaround.

doitsujin for creating DXVK.

crosire for creating Reshade.

[mintconditioned]

attention is currency. stop giving it away for free.

every platform wants your attention because your attention = profit. tiktok, youtube, even your student portal — everything’s designed to keep you scrolling, spending, or stressing. time is a resource. start protecting it like your money.

but what does that actually mean?

it means that you’re not the customer on most apps — you’re the product. companies profit by selling your attention and data to advertisers. algorithms are designed to hijack your brain’s reward system—likes, follows, autoplay, endless scroll. none of that is an accident.

recently, the ftc hosted a 2025 workshop called “the attention economy: how big tech firms exploit kids and hurt families,” highlighting how platforms intentionally hook users.

studies show that 1 in 5 teens spends over 2 hours daily on tiktok—over recommended limits—and higher usage is linked to anxiety and lower self-esteem.

researchers also warn that algorithmic amplification (like tiktok’s for-you feed) fuels compulsive use by reinforcing targeted content deep into feeds.

here’s how to take your attention back and why it matters:

1. delete one app every weekend. just for two days. a brief digital detox, like removing social media apps over a weekend, can reduce stress and improve focus.

2. if you wouldn’t pay to see it, don’t give it your full attention. time is a resource—if content wouldn’t earn your money, don’t give your attention. treat it like currency.

3. make your phone boring. moving apps off your home screen and switching your phone to grayscale can reduce its addictive pull .

4. start “micro budgeting” your attention. time-blocking your screen use—like budgeting money—improves control and awareness over where your time goes .

5. set one hour a week as “no input” time. intentionally unplugged time helps spark creativity and mental clarity.

6. stop doomscrolling as “being informed.” reading endless crisis content at night increases anxiety—limiting you to scheduled, credible news consumption is healthier.

7. pay attention to what content energizes or drains you. teens who develop awareness of what content affects their mental health can proactively curate their online feeds.

your attention is your mental energy, your focus, your time. tech companies spend billions trying to hijack it. you don’t have to quit the internet — but you should treat your attention like money. once you give it away, you can’t get it back.

and your future, your mind, and your goals deserve better. sources:

federal trade commission. the attention economy: how big tech firms exploit children and hurt families. workshop, federal trade commission, 4 june 2025, ftc.gov/news-events/events/2025/06/attention-economy-tech-firms-exploit-children. accessed 25 june 2025.

bilali, angeliki, et al. “association between tiktok use and anxiety, depression, and sleepiness among adolescents: a cross‑sectional study in greece.” pediatric reports, vol. 17, no. 2, 2025, p. 34, doi:10.3390/pediatric17020034.

“teens, social media and mental health.” pew research center, 22 apr. 2025, pewresearch.org/internet/2025/04/22/teens-social-media-and-mental-health/. accessed 25 june 2025.

foo, bart. “can’t stop scrolling! adolescents’ patterns of tiktok use and digital well‑being.” humanities and social sciences communications, 2024, nature.com/articles/s41599-024-03984-5. accessed 25 june 2025.