#online trading algorithm platform

[algos11]

In today’s fast-paced trading environment, efficiency and accuracy are key to successful day trading. Traders are required to make decisions quickly, often based on complicated information, while simultaneously minimising emotional bias. Here the online algo trading platform can be a great asset to your day trading skill. Through automated trading strategies, the platforms not only enhance the speed and accuracy but also enable the trader to adapt to the market fluctuations better. This blog delves into how using algorithmic trading platforms in India can be beneficial for day trading and why such technology is becoming crucial for modern traders.

[bigulalgotrading]

DeepSeek AI Can Enhance Algo Trading and Option Trading Strategies.

DeepSeek AI - Algo Trading

DeepSeek AI is a low - cost advanced chatbot. DeepSeek AI can excel in many areas of technology and business, one of these areas is Algo Trading and Option Trading.

Read more..

[princeofcloudcity]

CALLING ALL FANDOM LOVERS! WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY!

✨🚨 KOSA has been reintroduced to the House! 🚨✨

The following text is from StopKosa.com:

KOSA uses two methods to “protect” kids, and both of them are awful.

First, KOSA would allow the government to pressure social media platforms to erase content that could be deemed “inappropriate” for minors. The problem is: there is no consensus on what is inappropriate for minors. All across the country we are seeing how lawmakers are attacking young people’s access to gender affirming healthcare, sex education, birth control, and abortion. Online communities and resources that queer and trans youth depend on as lifelines should not be subject to the whims of the most rightwing extremist powers and we shouldn’t give them another tool to harm marginalized communities.

Second, KOSA would ramp up the online surveillance of all internet users by expanding the use of age verification and parental monitoring tools. Not only are these tools needlessly invasive, they’re a massive safety risk for young people who could be trying to escape domestic violence and abuse.

As LGBTQ and reproductive rights groups have said for months, the fundamental problem with KOSA is that its “duty of care” covers content specific aspects of content recommendation systems, and the new changes fail to address that. In fact, personalized recommendation systems are explicitly listed under the definition of a design feature covered by the duty of care in the new version. This means that a future Federal Trade Commission (FTC) could still use KOSA to pressure platforms into automated filtering of important, but controversial topics like LGBTQ issues and abortion, by claiming that algorithmically recommending such content “causes” mental health outcomes that are covered by the duty of care like anxiety and depression. Bans on inclusive books, abortion, and gender affirming healthcare have been passed on exactly that kind of rhetoric in many states recently. And we know that already existing content filtering systems impact content from marginalized creators exponentially more, resulting in discrimination and censorship.

Dozens of LGBTQ+ and civil rights groups agree that KOSA is dangerous and updates to the bill haven’t addressed the core concerns advocates have about its impact on already often censored content and resources.

If you believe in a free and open internet, send a message to your lawmakers right now and tell them to reject KOSA!

[collapsedsquid]

If you squint, you can make out versions of the same story — people bypassing the mainstream media to their own ends, the importance of social media in determining public perceptions of protest movements. There’s also an unmistakable tone shift from gently awestruck condescension to gently horrified condescension. (Disclosure: I was a reporter at the Times from 2016 to 2022, where I sometimes wrote about this subject.) In a far more significant sense, though, something is different. This week’s protests have been visible on social media, but their portrayals are fragmented, strange, and to people on the ground, often absurdly divorced from reality. If social media used to work for activists, or at least could,now it’s more effectively used against them. This sort of narrative role-swap isn’t new. For all the attention Twitter got as a factor in the 2011 Egyptian revolution — a story embraced by the company’s leadership — the story of social media’s role in Egypt’s politics since has mostly been one of suppression, surveillance, and harassment. An American version of this story has been taking shape for a while. The most significant factor isn’t really about tech — it’s that the current administration is proudly hostile to protest and has cited social-media posts as thin pretexts for no-process arrests and deportations. An administration that both routinely threatens activists with imprisonment, deportation, or worse is more than enough reason for activists to regroup in spaces where privacy can be maintained, not just traded for attention.

But social media really has been transformed, too, in ways both explicitly ideological and technical. Twitter, the platform people are most often referring to when they talk about these things, is owned by Elon Musk, who bought the platform with the explicit goal of disempowering its “woke” users and has more than accomplished his goal. Meta is still run by former BLM supporter Mark Zuckerberg, who more recently embraced Trump and pivoted to military contracting. TikTok, which is legally banned, is still online because the Trump administration promised not to enforce the law under vague and suggestive circumstances. Before its legal ban, TikTok’s rise set in motion industry trends that would alter social media’s relationship to activism in material ways. Meta, X, and Google reoriented their platforms around TikTok-style algorithmic video feeds, which relied less on users following one another and more on black-box per-user recommendations. For the platforms, this meant more engagement. For activists, it meant there were no longer coherent public conversations in which to intervene, against which to push back, or to join in any meaningful sense at all. Platforms that were once useful for understanding and following the news became venues for pure spectacular consumption. In some ways this was novel and strange, with hundreds of millions of people consuming individualized feeds determined by automated recommendations. In other ways, it was familiar, since it was a reversion to pre-social-media power dynamics. The platforms were no longer social, in any meaningful sense of the word, but rather centralized and exercising constant (algorithmic) editorial discretion. At least as much as the mainstream media that’s now been twice replaced, TikTok-ified social media rewards decontextualized spectacle. This can be useful for activists to bring attention, generally, to their causes — at least some of the large swing in support for Palestinians can surely be credited to the endless stream of horrific videos from Gaza, which are plenty powerful without further context and don’t require the authority of a trusted follow. More often, though, the lack of a common chronological feed — the crude social-media proxy for a “shared reality,” I guess — produces disorientation, uncertainty, and the ability to retreat completely into ideological safety, pure fantasy, or both.

[mariacallous]

The Trump administration’s Federal Trade Commission has removed four years’ worth of business guidance blogs as of Tuesday morning, including important consumer protection information related to artificial intelligence and the agency’s landmark privacy lawsuits under former chair Lina Khan against companies like Amazon and Microsoft. More than 300 blogs were removed.

On the FTC’s website, the page hosting all of the agency’s business-related blogs and guidance no longer includes any information published during former president Joe Biden’s administration, current and former FTC employees, who spoke under anonymity for fear of retaliation, tell WIRED. These blogs contained advice from the FTC on how big tech companies could avoid violating consumer protection laws.

One now deleted blog, titled “Hey, Alexa! What are you doing with my data?” explains how, according to two FTC complaints, Amazon and its Ring security camera products allegedly leveraged sensitive consumer data to train the ecommerce giant’s algorithms. (Amazon disagreed with the FTC’s claims.) It also provided guidance for companies operating similar products and services. Another post titled “$20 million FTC settlement addresses Microsoft Xbox illegal collection of kids’ data: A game changer for COPPA compliance” instructs tech companies on how to abide by the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act by using the 2023 Microsoft settlement as an example. The settlement followed allegations by the FTC that Microsoft obtained data from children using Xbox systems without the consent of their parents or guardians.

“In terms of the message to industry on what our compliance expectations were, which is in some ways the most important part of enforcement action, they are trying to just erase those from history,” a source familiar tells WIRED.

Another removed FTC blog titled “The Luring Test: AI and the engineering of consumer trust” outlines how businesses could avoid creating chatbots that violate the FTC Act’s rules against unfair or deceptive products. This blog won an award in 2023 for “excellent descriptions of artificial intelligence.”

The Trump administration has received broad support from the tech industry. Big tech companies like Amazon and Meta, as well as tech entrepreneurs like OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, all donated to Trump’s inauguration fund. Other Silicon Valley leaders, like Elon Musk and David Sacks, are officially advising the administration. Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employs technologists sourced from Musk’s tech companies. And already, federal agencies like the General Services Administration have started to roll out AI products like GSAi, a general-purpose government chatbot.

The FTC did not immediately respond to a request for comment from WIRED.

Removing blogs raises serious compliance concerns under the Federal Records Act and the Open Government Data Act, one former FTC official tells WIRED. During the Biden administration, FTC leadership would place “warning” labels above previous administrations’ public decisions it no longer agreed with, the source said, fearing that removal would violate the law.

Since President Donald Trump designated Andrew Ferguson to replace Khan as FTC chair in January, the Republican regulator has vowed to leverage his authority to go after big tech companies. Unlike Khan, however, Ferguson’s criticisms center around the Republican party’s long-standing allegations that social media platforms, like Facebook and Instagram, censor conservative speech online. Before being selected as chair, Ferguson told Trump that his vision for the agency also included rolling back Biden-era regulations on artificial intelligence and tougher merger standards, The New York Times reported in December.

In an interview with CNBC last week, Ferguson argued that content moderation could equate to an antitrust violation. “If companies are degrading their product quality by kicking people off because they hold particular views, that could be an indication that there's a competition problem,” he said.

Sources speaking with WIRED on Tuesday claimed that tech companies are the only groups who benefit from the removal of these blogs.

“They are talking a big game on censorship. But at the end of the day, the thing that really hits these companies’ bottom line is what data they can collect, how they can use that data, whether they can train their AI models on that data, and if this administration is planning to take the foot off the gas there while stepping up its work on censorship,” the source familiar alleges. “I think that's a change big tech would be very happy with.”

[justinspoliticalcorner]

ANNA BONESTEEL AND EVAN GREER at Them:

Pride Month is over. As the “LOVE IS LOVE” banners come down and companies lose the rainbow gradients from their logos, we’re faced with a painful truth: LGBTQ+ people, especially the most marginalized among us, are in the crosshairs of a queerphobic backlash that is targeting our health, our histories, and especially our youth. And things are getting worse, not better. According to NPR, half of all US states now ban gender-affirming care for people under 18. Eight states now censor LGBTQ+ issues from school curricula via “Don’t Say Gay” laws, and two more states are considering similar legislation this year. The number-one book targeted for censorship is a graphic novel memoir about gender identity.

This June, Democratic lawmakers marched in Pride parades and spoke on stages, vowing to protect our community and fight back against legislative attacks on queer youth. But some of these same lawmakers are actively pushing federal legislation that would cut LGBTQ+ youth off from resources, information, and communities that can save their lives. Currently, 38 Democratic senators support the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), a bill that is vocally opposed by many queer and trans youth, along with a coalition of human rights and LGBTQ+ groups. As a queer- and trans-led advocacy group focused on the ways technology impacts human rights, our organization, Fight for the Future, has seen bills like KOSA before: misguided internet bills that try to solve real problems, but ultimately throw marginalized people under the bus by expanding censorship and surveillance rather than addressing corporate abuses. KOSA’s most obvious predecessor is SESTA/FOSTA, a Trump-era bill that its supporters claimed would clamp down on online sex trafficking. Instead, the bill did almost nothing to accomplish its goal, and has actively harmed LGBTQ+ people and sex workers whose harm-reduction resources were decimated by the subsequent crackdown on online speech.

Like SESTA/FOSTA, some of KOSA’s supporters have positive intent. Many lawmakers and organizations support KOSA because they are concerned about real harms caused by Big Tech, like addictive design features and manipulative algorithms. But, also like SESTA/FOSTA, KOSA doesn’t touch the core issues with Big Tech’s extractive, exploitative business model. Instead, KOSA relies on a “duty of care” model that will pressure social platforms to suppress any speech the government is willing to argue makes kids “depressed” or “anxious.”

Under KOSA, platforms could be sued for recommending a potentially depression- or anxiety-inducing video to anyone under 18. We know from past experience that in order to protect their bottom line, social media companies will overcompensate and actively suppress posts and groups about gender identity, sexuality, abortion — anything they’re worried the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) could be willing to argue “harms” kids. How do you think a potential Trump administration’s FTC would use that kind of authority?

Other features of the bill stretch its censorship potential further. Despite language claiming that the bill does not require platforms to conduct “age verification,” to meaningfully comply with the law, platforms will have to know who is under 18. This means they’ll institute invasive age verification systems or age-gating, which can completely cut off access for LGBTQ+ youth who have unsupportive parents, and/or make it unsafe for queer people to access online resources anonymously. KOSA creates powerful new ways for the government to interfere with online speech. For this reason, the bill is like catnip to extreme right-wing groups like the Heritage Foundation, the coordinators of Project 2025, who have explicitly said they want to use it to target LGBTQ+ content. KOSA’s lead Republican sponsor, Marsha Blackburn, has also said in an interview she wants to use KOSA to protect minors “from the transgender.”

The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) purports to protect children, but in reality, it’s a censorship bill that would impact LGBTQ+ youth. #StopKOSA #KOSA

[genderkoolaid]

sorry if you've talked about it already, but what is it that makes KOSA's idea of online safety wrong? I don't know much about the bill, what does it intend to do?

What do you think is a good way to protect kids from things like online predators or just seeing things that they shouldn't be seeing? (By which I mean sex and graphic violence, things which you'd need to be 16+ to see in a movie theater so I think it makes sense to not want pre-teens to see it)

From stopkosa.com:

Why is KOSA a bad bill? KOSA uses two methods to “protect” kids, and both of them are awful. First, KOSA would incentivize social media platforms to erase content that could be deemed “inappropriate” for minors. The problem is: there is no consensus on what is inappropriate for minors. All across the country we are seeing how lawmakers are attacking young people’s access to gender affirming healthcare, sex education, birth control, and abortion. Online communities and resources that queer and trans youth depend on as lifelines should not be subject to the whims of the most rightwing extremist powers and we shouldn’t give them another tool to harm marginalized communities.  Second, KOSA would ramp up the online surveillance of all internet users by expanding the use of age verification and parental monitoring tools. Not only are these tools needlessly invasive, they’re a massive safety risk for young people who could be trying to escape domestic violence and abuse.

I’ve heard there’s a new version of KOSA. What’s the deal? The new version of KOSA makes some good changes: narrowing the ability of rightwing attorneys general to weaponize KOSA to target content they don’t like and limiting the problematic “duty of care. However, because the bill is still not content neutral, KOSA still invites the harms that civil rights advocates have warned about. As LGBTQ and reproductive rights groups have said for months, the fundamental problem with KOSA is that its “duty of care” covers content specific aspects of content recommendation systems, and the new changes fail to address that. In fact, personalized recommendation systems are explicitly listed under the definition of a design feature covered by the duty of care in the new version. This means that a future Federal Trade Commission (FTC) could still use KOSA to pressure platforms into automated filtering of important, but controversial topics like LGBTQ issues and abortion, by claiming that algorithmically recommending such content “causes” mental health outcomes that are covered by the duty of care like anxiety and depression. Bans on inclusive books, abortion, and gender affirming healthcare have been passed on exactly that kind of rhetoric in many states recently. And we know that already existing content filtering systems impact content from marginalized creators exponentially more, resulting in discrimination and censorship. It’s also important to remember that algorithmic recommendation includes, for example, showing a user a post from a friend that they follow, since most platforms do not show all users all posts, but curate them in some way. As long as KOSA’s duty of care isn’t content neutral, platforms will be likely to react the same way that they did to the broad liability imposed by SESTA/FOSTA: by engaging in aggressive filtering and suppression of important, and in some cases lifesaving, content.

Why it's bad:

The way it's written (even after being changed, which the website also goes over), it is still possible for this law to be used to restrict things like queer content, discussion of reproductive rights and resources, and sexual education.

It will restrict youth's ability to use the Internet independently, essentially cutting off life support to many vulnerable people who rely on the Internet to learn that they are queer, being abused, disabled, etc.

Better alternatives:

Stop relying on ageist ideas of purity and innocence. When we focus on protecting the "purity" of youth, we dehumanize them and it becomes more about soothing adult anxieties than actually improving the lives of children.

Making sure content (sexual, violent, etc.) is marked/tagged and made avoidable for anyone who doesn't want to engage with it.

Teach children why certain things may be upsetting and how best to avoid those things.

Teach children how to recognize grooming and abuse and empower them to stop it themselves.

Teach children how to recognize fear, discomfort, trauma, and how to cope with those experiences.

The Internet makes a great boogeyman. But the idea that it is uniquely corrupting the Pure Innocent Youth relies on the idea that all children are middle-class suburban White kids from otherwise happy homes. What about the children who see police brutality on their front lawns, against their family members? How are we protecting them from being traumatized? Or children who are seeing and experiencing physical and sexual violence in their own homes, by the parents who prevent them from realizing what's happening by restricting their Internet usage? How does strengthening parent's rights stop those kids from being groomed? Or the kids who grow up in evangelical Christian homes and are given graphic descriptions of the horrors of the Apocalypse and told if they ever question their parents, they'll be left behind?

Children live in the same world we do. There are children who are already intimately aware of violence and "adult" topics because of their lived experiences. Actually protecting children means being concerned about THEIR human rights, it means empowering them to save themselves, it means giving them the tools to understand their own feelings and traumas. KOSA is just another in a long line of attempts to "save the children!" by dehumanizing them and giving more power to the people most likely to abuse them. We need to stop trying to protect children's "innocence" and appreciate that children are already growing, changing people, learning to deal with discomfort and pain and the weight of the world the same as everyone else. What people often think keeps kids safe really just keeps them ignorant and quiet.

Another explanation as to why it's bad:

[probablyasocialecologist]

Calls for a ‘return’ to a non-existent past are seductive precisely because it did not exist. In an increasingly hostile world, it is tempting to believe that things were easier before the onset of a nebulous ‘modernity’. These individuals hint that if we simply traded in social changes, such as gender equality, we would be rewarded with more acceptable material conditions. However, such ideas are born more out of a yearning for an imagined idea of the Fordist consensus and that such conditions must project backwards into the pre-modern world. Such yearnings are compounded by the fact that the history that most people are taught is rudimentary and often provides an unproblematised version of our countries’ past. These narratives help to shore up the power of our own governments and obfuscate the very real benefits that we still enjoy as a result of imperial plunder. Trad accounts, meanwhile, are encouraged by the very platforms they appear on. It is common for them to present themselves as ‘tutors’ or accounts promoting ‘classical’ art, architecture or philosophy. The unsuspecting see a picture of a lovely old church, click follow and then are slowly drip-fed pseudo-history. They are also introduced, algorithmically, to the host of other trad accounts, which will feed them the same ahistorical pablum, establishing a consensus that is blissfully free from fact and heavy on nostalgia. Even those, such as myself, who seek to argue against these falsehoods fall prey to the algorithmic churn. Engaging with bad faith actors is still engaging and it can spread the message further, allowing reactionaries to find others in their cohort. This all translates into money for the platforms, which thrive off engagement – positive or negative.

[zxlofttt]

Why MAGA and KOSA are Good: A Defense of Policies

The political landscape in the United States has been dramatically shaped in recent years by movements and pieces of legislation that aim to transform the nation’s economic, technological, and cultural frameworks. Among these are the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement and the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). While both have received criticism, they also carry elements that can be seen as beneficial for various reasons. Let’s take a closer look at why MAGA and KOSA might be considered positive developments for the nation.

MAGA: A Vision for National Pride and Economic Revival

At its core, the MAGA slogan, popularized by former President Donald Trump, centers on restoring a sense of pride and prosperity to America. For many, MAGA represents a call to return to a simpler, more secure time—one where American workers and industries were at the heart of the economy. Supporters argue that MAGA is about prioritizing American interests, enforcing fair trade practices, and addressing the outsourcing of jobs that has hollowed out key industries, particularly in manufacturing.

One of the major components of MAGA’s appeal is its focus on economic nationalism. By focusing on "America First," MAGA advocates for policies that encourage job creation, reduce reliance on foreign labor, and seek fairer international trade agreements. The tax cuts implemented under MAGA, including the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, were intended to stimulate economic growth by lowering corporate taxes and giving businesses more capital to invest in American workers. For supporters, these measures represent a necessary pushback against globalization, which many feel has left parts of the working class behind.

MAGA also speaks to the importance of American sovereignty and autonomy on the global stage. By reducing dependence on international organizations and foreign nations, supporters argue that the United States can reassert its leadership and safeguard its interests in a rapidly changing world. This approach appeals to those who feel that past administrations have been too eager to engage in costly international agreements at the expense of domestic prosperity.

KOSA: Safeguarding the Future of America's Youth

The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), introduced in the U.S. Senate in 2022, addresses the growing concerns surrounding the safety and mental health of children online. As the internet continues to permeate every aspect of daily life, children are exposed to a wide array of digital dangers, from cyberbullying and inappropriate content to predatory behavior and addiction to social media.

KOSA’s goal is to implement stronger protections for minors using online platforms by holding tech companies accountable for their role in safeguarding children’s well-being. It mandates that social media platforms develop and enforce systems that better protect young users, such as stricter age verification, the ability for parents to monitor activity, and mechanisms for reducing exposure to harmful content. The bill also requires platforms to proactively identify and address features that contribute to addictive behaviors, such as endless scrolling and algorithmic recommendation systems that prioritize sensational content.

For parents, KOSA represents a much-needed step in the right direction toward giving them more control over their children's online experience. With cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and mental health issues on the rise, many parents feel helpless when it comes to ensuring their children’s safety in the digital world. KOSA is an attempt to close that gap by putting in place laws that push social media companies to take greater responsibility for how their platforms impact young people.

From a mental health perspective, the negative effects of social media on children have become a growing concern. Studies have shown a correlation between excessive social media use and increased rates of anxiety, depression, and loneliness among teenagers. KOSA aims to mitigate these risks by imposing stricter standards on online platforms and encouraging healthier digital environments for younger users.

Bridging the Ideals of MAGA and KOSA

Although MAGA and KOSA come from different political and ideological spectrums, there is common ground to be found in their underlying goals: the protection of American values and the well-being of its citizens, especially the vulnerable. MAGA aims to restore the strength and integrity of the American economy and culture, while KOSA focuses on safeguarding future generations by regulating the digital space that increasingly influences young people’s lives.

In a society that is grappling with rapid technological advancement and economic upheaval, both MAGA and KOSA can be seen as responses to perceived threats to traditional American values and the social fabric. MAGA speaks to a desire to protect jobs and preserve cultural identity, while KOSA offers a safeguard against the pitfalls of an ever-connected, digital world that children and families are struggling to navigate.

Conclusion

While the policies and goals associated with MAGA and KOSA are not without their critics, both have important elements that speak to the concerns and aspirations of large segments of the American population. MAGA, with its focus on national pride and economic resurgence, offers a vision of a self-reliant America. Meanwhile, KOSA addresses the urgent need for protecting children in an increasingly digital world, seeking to ensure that technology is used responsibly to promote mental well-being and safety. Together, these movements reflect a broader effort to protect the values and interests that are vital to America’s future.

-ur favv anon

im not reading all that i just scrolled all the way down to click "post now" to show people how pathetic you are

[tieflingkisser]

Facebook Allegedly Detected When Teen Girls Deleted Selfies So It Could Serve Them Beauty Ads

"This is what puts money in all our pockets."

from the article:

You might have heard the famous maxim that "if something is free, you're the product." The freemium world of apps and social media have made it nearly indisputable,heralding a previously unimaginable tech panopticon known as "surveillance capitalism."

Surveillance capitalism came about when some crafty software engineers realized that advertisers were willing to pay bigtime for our personal data, which builds up as we surf the web. That data helps advertising corporations "understand their audience" and "deliver highly relevant content," and has expanded into a global data trade as more and more people spend more time online.

The data trade is how social media platforms like Google, YouTube, and TikTok make their bones. In 2022, the data industry raked in just north of $274 billion worth of revenue. By 2030, it's expected to explode to just under $700 billion.

And as the data trade expands, so too does the tech behind it. What were once chintzy if endearing tabloid-style popups — "Doctors hate him! See how he reversed his age with one weird trick" — have now become hyper-personalized ads crafted and delivered for very specific groups of users, a system called "social media targeting."

[...]

A recent tell-all book by former Facebook insider Sarah Wynn-Williams, titled "Careless People," is blowing the lid on the sheer depravity of the social media giant's targeting machine. Wynn-Williams worked at Facebook — which subsequently changed its name to Meta a few years back — from 2011 to 2017, eventually rising to the role of public policy director.

As early as 2017, Wynn-Williams writes, Facebook was exploring ways to expand its ad targeting abilities to thirteen-to-seventeen-year-olds across Facebook and Instagram — a decidedly vulnerable group, often in the throes of adolescent image and social crises.

Though Facebook's ad algorithms are notoriously opaque, in 2017 The Australian alleged that the company had crafted a pitch deck for advertisers bragging that it could exploit "moments of psychological vulnerability" in its users by targeting terms like "worthless," "insecure," "stressed," "defeated," "anxious," "stupid," "useless," and "like a failure."

The social media company likewise tracked when adolescent girls deleted selfies, "so it can serve a beauty ad to them at that moment," according to Wynn-Williams. Other examples of Facebook's ad lechery are said to include the targeting of young mothers based on their emotional state, as well as emotional indexes mapped to racial groups, like a "Hispanic and African American Feeling Fantastic Over-index."

"To me, this type of surveillance and monetization of young teens’ sense of worthlessness feels like a concrete step toward the dystopian future Facebook’s critics had long warned of," Wynn-Williams reflects.

[algos11]

In algorithmic trading, the importance of risk management cannot be overstated. Algo strategies, while offering speed and precision, are inherently intertwined with risks. 

[bigulalgotrading]

Top Algo Trading Software for Beginners | Bigul

Best algo trading software for beginners. Explore top platforms, their features, and benefits to help you start your algorithmic trading journey with bigul.

Read more..

[priyashareindia9]

In the fast-paced world of algorithmic trading, where decisions are made very quickly, having the right tools and indicators is crucial for success. One such indispensable tool is the VWAP indicator (Volume weighted average price indicator). In this blog, we will delve into why the VWAP calculator is essential for algorithmic trading and how it can enhance trading strategies.

[thenovus25]

Is the concept of Dissident Communities as a form of online protest still effective with the rise of censorship from a government level?

The idea of Dissident Communities has been a way for online activism groups to spread their message and do outreach for their cause, often used when referring to countries or places that are non-democratic. For example, recently over the last 5(ish) years, the “Free Palestine” movement has taken the globe by storm. Creating outbreak and opposition to the occupation of Palestine by the IDF (Israeli Defense Force). We saw the use of social media (mainly TikTok) to not just spread the human rights violations and war crimes that Israel is committing but, we also saw the real time documentation of said crimes. Muder, Bombing, Drones, Concentration camps, bleeding or dead children and many many more. With the outbreak in the United States in specific and the massive protests on college campuses. The conversion and the notion to ban TikTok was rising in popularity in the government. Citing that the app was a national security threat and needed to be banned, but couldn’t provide sufficient evidence. This isn’t even mentioning the manipulation of the algorithm to censor key phrases and hashtags aligned with the movement. WHile it is not completely ineffective it has definitely seen a decline in its effectiveness. As we have been told our entire lives, nothing is gone off the internet, even when you delete it. This also applies to the government's attempt to censor and the atrocities that have been spread globally of the occupation of Palestine.

What does the change in the nature of the game Animal Crossing achieve and could it be seen as a version of propaganda.

The game Animal Crossing is what would be considered a “cozy game”. Typically a single player game that one plays to relax and unwind. The game originally was for the gamecube in 2002 and focused on the creation and upkeep of “your” island. This means decoration and upgrading your house, decorating the outside with crops and flowers, attending to the other villagers on your island and many more. The original game had you barter, trade, and communicate with the other villagers to build community and aid in tasks for them. In 2020 the newest instalment into the series was announced, “New Horizons”. This game had a different approach to the island, The player's role as the "Island Representative" introduces a layer of political responsibility. Players have the power to shape the island's development, enact ordinances, and influence the lives of their residents. These decisions, while seemingly trivial, have political implications. For example, choosing to prioritize economic growth over environmental conservation reflects a particular political ideology. With the game being known as a “cozy game”, could that have other effects outside of the game? Are the players being conditioned to find the needing and want for economic growth cozy? Especially since the game was being played so much due to the Covid-19 Pandemic and with one of the games main demographic and player base being children, it could have an influence on the way they see the types of economic systems.

How did “Black Twitter” use its platform to create change in the misrepresentation of black individuals in mainstream news?

Black twitter was a subsection of twitter that was humorous, funny, entertaining, and highly political. The people of “black twitter” saw the use of negative and harmful stereotypes to demonize black people's image in mainstream media. Using misleading and incorrect information within the headlines to describe black people. This also applies to other areas of mainstream news as well, with things like photos. This is especially harmful when white people that committed similar or worse crimes are being represented in a more positive light. Within the article it references the Alternative Press’ tweet about the killing of Renisha McBride at the hands of a Detroit man. It reads The tweet, “Suburban Detroit homeowner convicted of second-degree murder for killing woman who showed up drunk on porch”. “Black Twitters” took major offense to that and wanted to make sure the Alternative Press knew it. This led to the creation of new headlines created to mock and make fun of the ridiculousness of the tweet. With @Phil_Lewis_ tweeting “#APHeadlines millions of Africans complain after free cruise to the Americas; slave traders find them ‘ungrateful”. The use of humor and the matching of energy did end in the tweets language boeing changed to, “Jury convicts Michigan man in killing of unarmed woman on his porch”.

How has the American government used online activism spaces to spread propaganda to a wider audience?

With the 2024 election cycle, we saw the use of online right wing personalities being used to spread information that aligns with the parties extreme views. Being walking propaganda puppets for the Republican/ MAGA party, spreading mass amounts of misinformation, disinformation, hateful rhetoric, and uplifting other personalities that share the same views. While the election cycle was happening, the news broke that these republican talking heads have and were actively being paid by the Republican Party and other outside nations (Russia mainly). I also have to mention that this wasn’t just a Right wing problem, the democratic party was also paying people to be left wing talking heads. While this was happening we also saw the rise in the use of bots on social media to instigate, rile up, and further spread dis/misinformation. Going to great lengths to try and make these bots as realistic and human as possible. The manipulation of social media and online activism spaces was effective and relied on people being to stupid to understand and recognize the signs of a bot account.

[investmentp2pguide]

The Role of Credit Scores in SME Financing

For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), securing SME financing is often a critical step toward growth and sustainability. However, one of the most significant barriers SMEs face is the reliance on credit scores by traditional lenders. Credit scores are a key determinant in SME financing Malaysia, loan approvals, interest rates, and terms, but are they the best measure of an SME’s creditworthiness? This blog explores the role of credit scores in SME financing in Malaysia, their limitations, and alternative models that could reshape the lending landscape.

Understanding Credit Scores in SME Financing

Credit scores are numerical representations of a borrower’s creditworthiness, calculated based on factors like payment history, outstanding debt, credit utilization, and credit length. For SMEs, lenders typically evaluate:

Personal Credit Scores: Often used for sole proprietors and small businesses where financial records are limited.

Business Credit Scores: Factors in business transactions, trade credit history, and financial statements.

These credit scores help banks and financial institutions assess the risk of lending to SMEs, influencing SME loan approvals and interest rates in SME financing in Malaysia.

The Limitations of Credit Scores for SMEs

While credit scores serve as a convenient risk assessment tool in SME financing, they pose several challenges for SMEs:

Lack of Credit History: Many SMEs, particularly startups, do not have an extensive credit history, making it difficult to obtain SME loan approvals.

Overemphasis on Personal Credit: Business owners often rely on their personal credit scores, which may not accurately reflect the financial health of the business.

Limited Consideration of Business Potential: Credit scores do not factor in future revenue potential, market conditions, or business models.

Bias Against New or Underserved Businesses: Traditional credit scoring models may disadvantage minority-owned businesses, women-led enterprises, and businesses in emerging industries, affecting SME financing Malaysia.

Alternative Approaches to SME Credit Assessment

To bridge the SME financing gap, alternative credit assessment models are emerging:

Cash Flow-Based Lending: Lenders assess real-time business cash flow and revenue trends instead of relying solely on historical credit scores.

Alternative Data Usage: Using data such as online transactions, supplier payments, and utility bills to evaluate creditworthiness.

AI and Machine Learning in Credit Scoring: Advanced algorithms analyze multiple financial factors to create more accurate risk assessments in SME financing in Malaysia.

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) and Crowdfunding Platforms: Businesses can bypass traditional credit scoring models and raise funds through investor confidence.

Government and Non-Profit Initiatives: Special SME loan programs offering relaxed credit score requirements to support SMEs.

The Future of SME Financing

The evolving financial landscape is gradually shifting toward more inclusive lending practices. Fintech innovations and alternative lending models are reducing reliance on rigid credit scoring systems, allowing SMEs with strong business potential but limited credit history to access SME financing Malaysia.

Related Reads:

Shift the Focus: Prioritise Factors within Your Control When Seeking SME Financing

Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Diversify Your Investments with CapBay P2P

SME Financing 101: Understanding Your Options

Breaking Down Barriers: The Significance of Financing Reforms for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

Conclusion

While credit scores will likely remain a factor in SME financing, they should not be the sole criterion for determining creditworthiness. A more holistic approach—incorporating cash flow analysis, alternative data, and innovative lending platforms—can empower SMEs to thrive. As financial institutions and fintech companies continue to refine these models, SMEs will gain more equitable access to the capital they need to grow and succeed through SME financing in Malaysia.

[forex-brokers-review]

FxPro Review: Unveiling the World's Leading Online Forex Broker

In the dynamic realm of financial trading, the significance of efficient and reliable online forex brokers cannot be overstated. Among the myriad options available, FxPro stands out as a beacon of excellence, earning its reputation as the world’s number one online forex (FX) broker. This detailed FxPro review aims to explore the unique features, offerings, and overall experience that have established this broker as a preferred choice for traders globally.

Discovering FxPro: A Legacy of Trust and Innovation

Founded in 2006, FxPro has carved a niche for itself in the competitive forex market, showcasing a steadfast commitment to providing an exceptional trading experience. As a Top Forex Brokers review, FxPro has successfully built a reputation for transparency, reliability, and innovation, making it a trusted partner for thousands of traders around the world. With a user-centric approach, the broker continuously evolves to meet the needs of its clients, ensuring they have the tools and resources necessary to thrive in the fast-paced world of forex trading.

The FxPro Trading Platforms: A Gateway to Success

Central to FxPro's appeal is its diverse array of trading platforms, designed to cater to the varied preferences of both novice and experienced traders. Each platform boasts unique features that facilitate seamless trading, empowering users to make informed decisions in real-time.

MetaTrader 4 (MT4): The Industry Standard

The MetaTrader 4 (MT4) platform is a cornerstone of the forex trading experience, and FxPro offers an optimized version that enhances its functionality. Known for its user-friendly interface, MT4 provides traders with powerful charting capabilities, a plethora of technical indicators, and automated trading options through Expert Advisors (EAs). This platform is particularly favored by those who appreciate a straightforward yet effective trading environment.

MetaTrader 5 (MT5): The Next Generation

For traders seeking a more advanced experience, FxPro also provides access to the MetaTrader 5 (MT5) platform. MT5 is a comprehensive trading environment that includes advanced order management, a greater array of analytical tools, and an integrated economic calendar. Its multi-asset capabilities extend beyond forex, allowing traders to delve into commodities, stocks, and futures, making it an excellent choice for those looking to diversify their trading portfolio.

cTrader: Innovative and Intuitive

In addition to MT4 and MT5, FxPro offers the cTrader platform, which is designed for traders who prefer a more innovative and user-friendly experience. cTrader features a clean interface, advanced charting tools, and customizable workspaces, catering to both manual traders and algorithmic trading enthusiasts. The platform also includes a community-driven marketplace where traders can share and access trading tools, fostering collaboration and innovation.

Competitive Spreads and Pricing Structure

When it comes to trading costs, FxPro excels in providing competitive spreads and transparent pricing. The broker’s commitment to low trading costs is evident across its various account types, allowing traders to choose an option that best fits their trading style and budget.

FxPro offers several account types—each tailored to different trading needs—ensuring that clients can find a suitable option. For instance, the FxPro MT4 account is popular for its tight spreads and no commission trading, while the FxPro cTrader account provides a commission-based structure with slightly tighter spreads. This flexibility allows traders to optimize their trading strategies while minimizing costs.

Moreover, the broker’s commitment to transparency ensures that traders are always aware of the costs associated with their trades, allowing for effective financial planning and decision-making.

A Diverse Selection of Trading Instruments

One of the standout features of FxPro is its extensive range of trading instruments. While the broker is predominantly known for its forex offerings, it also provides access to a wide array of asset classes, including commodities, indices, and cryptocurrencies.

Forex Trading

FxPro covers a vast selection of currency pairs, encompassing major, minor, and exotic pairs. This diversity enables traders to capitalize on global economic trends and currency fluctuations, providing ample trading opportunities.

Commodity Trading

For those interested in commodities, FxPro offers trading in popular assets such as gold, silver, oil, and agricultural products. This allows traders to hedge against inflation or geopolitical risks while diversifying their investment portfolios.

Indices and Cryptocurrencies

In addition to traditional forex and commodities, FxPro provides access to global indices and a selection of cryptocurrencies. Traders can engage with major indices like the S&P 500 and FTSE 100, or explore the burgeoning cryptocurrency market, including popular coins such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. This extensive range of instruments empowers traders to explore various market dynamics and seize opportunities across different sectors.

Robust Security and Regulatory Oversight

In an industry where security is paramount, FxPro stands out for its commitment to safeguarding client funds and personal information. The broker is regulated by multiple reputable financial authorities, including the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK, the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), and the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) in South Africa. This multi-tiered regulatory framework offers clients peace of mind, knowing that their investments are protected by stringent regulations.

FxPro also employs advanced security measures to ensure the safety of its clients’ funds. These measures include SSL encryption for data protection and two-factor authentication for account security. The broker’s proactive approach to security and regulatory compliance underscores its dedication to maintaining a trustworthy trading environment.

Enhanced Customer Support

Exceptional customer support is a hallmark of a reputable broker, and FxPro does not disappoint in this regard. The broker offers a robust support system designed to assist traders at any stage of their trading journey.

FxPro’s customer support team is available 24/7, providing multilingual assistance to cater to its diverse global clientele. Whether you require help with account management, technical inquiries, or trading strategies, the knowledgeable support staff is always ready to assist.

Additionally, FxPro offers a wealth of educational resources, including webinars, trading tutorials, and market analysis, empowering clients to enhance their trading skills and knowledge. This commitment to client education is a testament to FxPro’s dedication to fostering a supportive trading community.

Educational Resources and Trading Tools

FxPro goes beyond offering trading platforms and customer support by providing a comprehensive suite of educational resources and trading tools. The broker recognizes that informed traders are successful traders, and it strives to equip its clients with the knowledge they need to navigate the complexities of the forex market.

Webinars and Tutorials

FxPro hosts regular webinars led by industry experts, covering a variety of topics ranging from trading strategies to market analysis. These interactive sessions provide valuable insights and allow traders to ask questions in real time, fostering a collaborative learning environment. Additionally, the broker offers a library of tutorials and articles, catering to traders of all experience levels.

Market Analysis

To help traders make informed decisions, FxPro provides daily market analysis and insights. This analysis includes technical and fundamental reports, helping traders understand market trends and identify potential trading opportunities. By staying informed about market developments, traders can enhance their strategies and improve their overall performance.

Trading Tools

FxPro also offers a range of trading tools to enhance the trading experience. These tools include economic calendars, calculators, and trading signals, all designed to assist traders in making informed and timely decisions. Such resources are invaluable for both novice and experienced traders, facilitating a more strategic approach to trading.

Conclusion: The Ultimate Choice for Forex Traders

In this comprehensive FxPro review, we have explored the myriad features and advantages that make this broker a top choice for forex traders worldwide. From its cutting-edge trading platforms and competitive pricing structure to its diverse selection of trading instruments and robust security measures, FxPro has established itself as a leader in the online forex brokerage space.

Through its unwavering commitment to customer support and education, FxPro empowers traders to hone their skills and navigate the complexities of the financial markets with confidence. Whether you are a seasoned trader or just starting your journey in forex trading, FxPro offers the tools, resources, and support to help you succeed.

In conclusion, FxPro stands as a testament to what a premier forex broker should aspire to be. With its extensive offerings and client-focused approach, FxPro is not just a broker; it is a partner in your trading journey, ready to elevate your forex trading experience to new heights.