Maintaining great mental health

Maintaining great mental health is crucial for several reasons:

  1. Emotional well-being: Good mental health allows individuals to experience positive emotions, such as happiness, joy, and contentment. It enables them to cope effectively with life’s challenges, maintain healthy relationships, and experience a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction.
  2. Physical health: Mental and physical health are interconnected. Poor mental health can lead to a range of physical health problems, including sleep disturbances, increased susceptibility to illnesses, weakened immune system, and higher risk of chronic conditions like cardiovascular diseases and obesity. On the other hand, good mental health promotes better physical well-being and overall vitality.
  3. Cognitive function: Mental health influences cognitive abilities such as memory, attention, concentration, and problem-solving skills. When mental health is compromised, it can impair cognitive function, leading to difficulties in decision-making, learning, and productivity. Maintaining good mental health supports optimal cognitive performance and enhances overall mental acuity.
  4. Productivity and success: A healthy mind is essential for professional success and productivity. It enables individuals to focus on tasks, handle stress effectively, and maintain motivation and creativity. Good mental health promotes better work performance, increased productivity, and the ability to set and achieve goals.
  5. Relationships and social connections: Healthy relationships and social connections are vital for human well-being. Maintaining good mental health allows individuals to engage in meaningful relationships, communicate effectively, and build and sustain social connections. It fosters empathy, understanding, and emotional resilience, leading to healthier and more fulfilling social interactions.
  6. Resilience and coping: Life is filled with challenges, setbacks, and stressful events. Good mental health equips individuals with the resilience and coping mechanisms to navigate these difficulties effectively. It enables them to bounce back from adversity, manage stress, and adapt to change, fostering a greater sense of control and confidence in facing life’s ups and downs.
  7. Prevention of mental disorders: Prioritizing mental health helps prevent the development of mental disorders or mitigates their severity. Regular self-care practices, stress management techniques, seeking support when needed, and adopting healthy coping strategies contribute to preventing mental health issues from escalating and developing into more significant problems.

Remember that maintaining great mental health is an ongoing process that requires attention, self-care, and a holistic approach to well-being. It is essential to seek professional help when needed and to actively engage in practices that promote mental well-being.

Here are some methods to help avoid and manage stress:

  1. Practice relaxation techniques: Engage in activities that promote relaxation, such as deep breathing exercises, meditation, yoga, or progressive muscle relaxation. These techniques can help calm the mind and reduce stress levels.
  2. Exercise regularly: Physical activity is known to reduce stress and improve overall well-being. Find an exercise or physical activity that you enjoy, whether it’s walking, jogging, dancing, swimming, or playing a sport. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise most days of the week.
  3. Prioritize self-care: Take time for yourself and engage in activities that bring you joy and relaxation. This may include reading, listening to music, taking baths, pursuing hobbies, or spending time in nature. Setting aside dedicated time for self-care helps recharge and rejuvenate your mind and body.
  4. Maintain a balanced lifestyle: Strive for a healthy work-life balance. Establish boundaries between work and personal life, and make sure to allocate time for activities outside of work that you enjoy and that help you unwind.
  5. Practice time management: Poor time management can lead to stress and overwhelm. Organize your tasks and priorities, set realistic goals, and break larger tasks into smaller, manageable steps. This approach can help you feel more in control and reduce stress associated with deadlines and time pressures.
  6. Seek social support: Connect with family, friends, or support groups. Sharing your thoughts and feelings with trusted individuals can provide emotional support and perspective, helping to alleviate stress. Additionally, spending time with loved ones and engaging in positive social interactions can boost mood and well-being.
  7. Maintain a healthy lifestyle: Eat a balanced diet, get sufficient sleep, and limit or avoid substances that can contribute to stress, such as excessive caffeine or alcohol. A healthy body supports a healthy mind and better stress management.
  8. Practice positive thinking: Cultivate a positive mindset by challenging negative thoughts and reframing them in a more positive and realistic light. Focus on gratitude and practice self-compassion. Engaging in positive self-talk and acknowledging your accomplishments can help reduce stress and increase resilience.
  9. Set boundaries and learn to say no: It’s important to establish boundaries in your personal and professional life. Learn to say no to commitments or requests that overwhelm you or don’t align with your priorities. Recognize that it’s okay to prioritize your well-being and not take on more than you can handle.
  10. Seek professional help if needed: If stress becomes overwhelming or persistent, consider reaching out to a mental health professional. They can provide guidance, support, and strategies tailored to your specific situation.

Remember that different strategies work for different individuals, so it’s important to find what methods work best for you. Implementing a combination of these techniques can help you avoid stress and maintain a healthier, more balanced lifestyle.

TIPS ON HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR COMPUTER’S SPEED

Here are some ways you can improve your computer’s speed:

  1. Uninstall unnecessary programs: Remove any programs that you no longer use or need to free up space on your hard drive.
  2. Delete temporary files: Regularly clear your computer’s temporary files and caches to free up space and help your computer run faster.
  3. Disable startup programs: Disable programs that start automatically when your computer boots up. This can help speed up the startup time.
  4. Install an SSD: Installing a solid-state drive (SSD) can significantly improve your computer’s performance and speed.
  5. Upgrade RAM: If your computer is running slow, adding more RAM can help improve its performance.
  6. Run virus scans: Malware and viruses can slow down your computer’s speed. Regularly run virus scans to keep your computer running smoothly.
  7. Use a disk cleanup tool: Use a disk cleanup tool to help clear up any unused files, folders, or programs that are taking up space on your hard drive.
  8. Defragment your hard drive: Defragmenting your hard drive can help organize and optimize your files, making it easier and faster for your computer to access them.
  9. Adjust visual effects: Adjusting visual effects such as animations, shadows, and transparency can help improve your computer’s performance and speed.
  10. Update your operating system: Regularly update your operating system and applications to ensure that they are running efficiently and that any bugs or glitches have been resolved.

Top 10 Classified Websites in Kenya

Here are some of the top classified websites in Kenya:

  1. Jiji.co.ke
  2. OLX Kenya
  3. PigiaMe
  4. Cheki.co.ke
  5. ZoomTanzania
  6. Cars45 Kenya
  7. Property24
  8. BuyRentKenya
  9. BrighterMonday
  10. Advertize.co.ke

These websites allow individuals and businesses to post advertisements for products, services, jobs, and properties in various categories. Users can search for listings and contact the sellers directly through the platform.

Voice AI and speech synthesis tools

Voice AI and speech synthesis tools you may find interesting

Voice AIs, also known as voice assistants, use natural language processing and speech recognition technologies to interpret and respond to spoken commands and questions. These systems work by breaking down the audio input into individual sound patterns, converting them into text, and then analyzing the text to understand the user’s intent. Based on this analysis, the AI can then generate an appropriate response, either through text or speech.

Voice AIs are typically activated by a wake word or trigger phrase, such as “Hey, Siri” or “Alexa,” which signals the system to start listening for a command. Once the trigger phrase is recognized, the system begins processing the audio input, which can include interpreting the user’s intent, retrieving information from a database or web search, and generating a response.

Examples of the most common voice AIs include:

  1. Siri: Siri is a voice AI developed by Apple and integrated into their iOS, iPadOS, and macOS operating systems. It can perform a wide range of tasks, such as setting reminders, sending messages, making phone calls, and providing information on a variety of topics.
  2. Alexa: Alexa is an AI assistant developed by Amazon and integrated into their Echo line of smart speakers. It can perform similar tasks to Siri, such as playing music, setting alarms, and controlling smart home devices.
  3. Google Assistant: Google Assistant is a voice AI developed by Google and available on Android devices, Google Home speakers, and other devices. It can perform a wide range of tasks, including answering questions, playing music, and controlling smart home devices.
  4. Cortana: Cortana is a voice AI developed by Microsoft and integrated into their Windows operating system. It can perform tasks such as setting reminders, scheduling appointments, and launching applications.
  5. Bixby: Bixby is a voice AI developed by Samsung and integrated into their Galaxy line of smartphones. It can perform a range of tasks, such as taking photos, sending messages, and controlling smart home devices.
  6. Hound: Hound is a voice AI developed by SoundHound Inc. It is designed to provide faster and more accurate responses to complex queries, such as calculating the tip on a restaurant bill or finding a nearby hotel that allows pets.

These are just a few examples of the most common voice AIs currently available, but there are many more emerging in the market. As voice recognition and natural language processing technologies continue to advance, voice AIs are expected to become even more ubiquitous and integrated into our daily lives.

CHat GPT, the Open AI language model revolutionizing research and technology

Chat GPT, also known as OpenAI’s Generative Pre-trained Transformer 3, is an advanced language model that has revolutionized the field of natural language processing. As a large language model, Chat GPT can generate human-like responses to text prompts, enabling it to hold conversations and answer questions in a way that was previously impossible.

One of the most significant benefits of Chat GPT is its versatility. It can be used in a variety of contexts, including customer service, language translation, chatbots, and personal assistants. Businesses can use it to improve their customer experience by providing an instant response to inquiries, while individuals can use it to improve their productivity by automating mundane tasks such as scheduling appointments and sending reminders.

The potential applications of Chat GPT are vast, and as its capabilities continue to develop, it will become increasingly important in various fields, including healthcare, education, and finance. It has the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with technology and the world around us.

One of the most significant benefits of using Chat GPT is its ability to handle complex language tasks. Unlike traditional chatbots that rely on predefined scripts, Chat GPT can generate natural language responses that are more human-like and personalized. It can understand the context of a conversation, allowing it to provide accurate and relevant responses to users’ queries.

Another advantage of Chat GPT is that it can learn from vast amounts of data, allowing it to continuously improve its responses. It is pre-trained on a large corpus of text data, which means that it has already learned the basics of language structure, grammar, and vocabulary. This enables it to generate responses that are more fluent and coherent than those of other chatbots.

To access Chat GPT, users can interact with it through a variety of channels, including messaging platforms, web browsers, and mobile apps. OpenAI offers a free version of Chat GPT that can be accessed through its website or integrated into third-party applications. The free version has certain limitations, such as a lower response rate and a limited number of requests per month.

OpenAI also offers a premium version of Chat GPT, called GPT-3, which provides access to a more advanced and powerful version of the model. The premium version is designed for businesses and developers who require a high level of customization and control over the model’s behavior. It offers a higher response rate and an increased number of requests per month, as well as the ability to fine-tune the model for specific use cases.

To get started with Chat GPT, users can create an account on the OpenAI website and follow the instructions to integrate it into their applications. OpenAI provides extensive documentation and support for developers, including tutorials, code samples, and a community forum.

There are many things that users can do with Chat GPT, depending on their needs and preferences. For example, they can create chatbots that can handle customer inquiries, automate tasks such as scheduling appointments and sending reminders, and provide personalized recommendations based on user data. They can also use Chat GPT for language translation, sentiment analysis, and text summarization, among other tasks.

One of the most exciting applications of Chat GPT is in the field of creative writing. As a language model, Chat GPT has the ability to generate new and original text that mimics human writing styles. This opens up new possibilities for writers, who can use Chat GPT to generate story ideas, dialogue, and even entire novels. Some writers have even experimented with using Chat GPT to create collaborative writing projects, where multiple writers work together to generate a story.

Chat GPT is an advanced language model that has the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with technology and the world around us. Its ability to generate human-like responses to text prompts makes it ideal

 

Link to OPEN AI Chat GPT

WHICH COUNTRY HAS THE FASTEST INTERNET IN THE WORLD?

COUNTRIES WITH THE FASTEST INTERNET IN THE WORLD

when it comes to the fastest Internet speeds worldwide, Scandinavian countries are world leading. Fast download AND upload speeds are available in Denmark, Sweden, Iceland, Finland and Norway. This region ranks highly for fast Internet speeds on a consistent basis, which is not just a nice have for citizens, but also a contributing factor as to why countries like Sweden produce so many start-ups.

The USA ranks 13th for median download speeds. It is also the largest country by both population and size to perform well for download speed, over the largest testing samples. Upload speeds only measure 10.45 Mbps though.

Rank Country Download Speed (Mbps) Upload Speed (Mbps) # Download Tests # Upload Tests No. IPs
1 Liechtenstein 199.28 39.78 96 98 10
2 Hong Kong 112.32 91.40 4782 5589 933
3 Denmark 107.78 66.02 21495 22217 912
4 Switzerland 93.60 41.44 65614 74350 1907
5 Netherlands 93.48 27.58 89478 93970 9044
6 Sweden 91.36 86.04 20812 23875 2071
7 Iceland 80.19 24.30 314 435 55
8 Finland 79.40 18.39 9487 10395 526
9 Andorra 76.67 56.20 159 176 33
10 Bermuda 74.21 19.27 589 631 46
11 San Marino 61.89 9.76 4 3 3
12 Norway 58.95 49.73 13841 14298 2083
13 United States 54.99 10.45 1972335 2126398 364898
14 New Zealand 52.86 19.85 21053 21533 3518
15 South Korea 44.42 41.96 5215 5393 413
16 Belgium 41.68 12.47 42931 43810 6537
17 Hungary 39.85 15.35 3512 3439 903
18 Germany 37.50 9.78 144229 142519 56429
19 Barbados 34.98 17.07 352 420 110
20 Saint Pierre and Miquelon 34.40 4.48 13 10 1
21 Luxembourg 34.12 10.45 298 305 72
22 Australia 32.26 10.69 95073 99997 30367
23 Bahrain 32.05 17.64 533 463 273
24 Austria 31.70 9.43 19126 18000 5139
25 Japan 31.23 44.60 83445 82208 38954
26 Taiwan 30.58 18.14 9999 19865 753
27 Romania 28.55 25.62 2418 2682 989
28 United Kingdom 28.51 8.87 296494 316680 65332
29 Spain 28.50 25.92 76757 82229 29253
30 Republic of Lithuania 27.47 16.99 782 721 232
31 Poland 25.77 10.06 6022 6468 1608
32 Bahamas 25.07 6.86 372 363 111
33 Canada 23.66 8.82 142597 144837 30905
34 Latvia 23.28 18.39 519 1098 185
35 Saint Lucia 21.44 5.55 44 46 37
36 Greenland 21.43 85.61 59 62 10
37 Ireland 21.27 10.47 21742 20990 7491
38 Israel 20.19 3.13 4257 4636 833
39 Slovakia 19.95 9.55 2443 2574 493
40 Czechia 19.04 6.63 20694 29905 2635
41 Bulgaria 18.86 12.39 1534 1479 478
42 Belize 18.08 12.95 227 248 112
43 Papua New Guinea 17.61 1.57 11 11 11
44 Portugal 17.27 10.46 13317 14626 6238
45 New Caledonia 17.07 10.60 111 146 39
46 Estonia 16.83 22.75 694 754 145
47 Vietnam 16.39 19.21 8144 8716 6118
48 Serbia 15.21 4.42 6155 6230 3940
49 Thailand 14.90 15.01 14186 16359 10329
50 Qatar 14.27 8.83 848 1639 759
51 Italy 14.17 6.26 95366 93685 34834
52 Lesotho 14.09 4.62 14 13 7
53 U.S. Virgin Islands 13.86 4.90 152 142 43
54 Cyprus 12.92 4.97 1779 1856 541
55 Antigua and Barbuda 12.70 22.13 30 33 15
56 Trinidad and Tobago 12.28 7.02 500 600 267
57 Slovenia 12.21 8.98 971 977 258
58 France 12.10 2.89 46524 52697 18786
59 Ukraine 11.21 11.59 5070 5783 3026
60 Greece 10.88 1.50 7335 7652 2881
61 Malaysia 10.82 10.96 4279 4994 2617
62 Brunei 10.69 3.04 216 259 178
63 Croatia 10.34 3.06 1703 2015 944
64 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 9.35 4.35 42 49 24
65 Cabo Verde 9.03 1.36 17 19 16
66 Republic of Moldova 8.90 7.14 508 609 338
67 Malta 8.54 9.58 480 485 119
68 Georgia 8.10 7.16 193 230 169
69 Russia 8.06 8.83 18427 22181 9176
70 Uruguay 8.05 6.91 1002 1114 852
71 Costa Rica 8.04 2.30 3819 3991 1967
72 Bosnia and Herzegovina 8.03 1.50 937 1219 840
73 Panama 7.69 5.07 2232 2706 904
74 Mexico 7.55 1.90 102970 104889 47864
75 Grenada 7.47 2.11 82 87 20
76 Montenegro 7.22 2.93 309 426 278
77 North Macedonia 7.17 0.88 235 318 242
78 Solomon Islands 7.09 3.61 7 7 6
79 United Arab Emirates 6.76 6.01 3808 6077 2716
80 Albania 6.27 2.22 528 856 582
81 Chile 6.24 4.21 3536 5075 2419
82 Jamaica 5.94 1.88 733 808 450
83 Dominica 5.68 8.00 9 12 9
84 Turkey 5.22 0.66 9915 11150 7272
85 Saudi Arabia 5.13 2.95 8083 10995 6021
86 El Salvador 4.93 1.27 4585 4455 1970
87 Sri Lanka 4.91 2.13 304 465 329
88 Egypt 4.89 0.73 21838 23380 18998
89 Northern Mariana Islands 4.88 2.53 37 33 18
90 Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan 4.86 1.25 1291 1407 997
91 American Samoa 4.85 2.00 12 16 11
92 Brazil 4.80 3.92 265193 282153 159684
93 Cameroon 4.67 2.84 128 189 104
94 Bolivia 4.60 3.71 7754 8269 4084
95 Myanmar 4.40 5.22 1196 1537 987
96 Belarus 4.37 2.70 1340 1628 827
97 St Kitts and Nevis 4.36 1.21 95 73 22
98 Liberia 4.23 2.70 18 30 10
99 India 4.09 2.69 414725 399945 227100
100 Guatemala 3.78 1.76 8885 8766 2799
101 South Africa 3.70 2.27 40879 39240 16373
102 Morocco 3.64 0.52 23932 22783 16169
103 Nicaragua 3.64 0.93 2431 2415 1101
104 Tunisia 3.58 0.71 2988 2937 2076
105 Ecuador 3.57 3.98 22487 22953 11416
106 Kuwait 3.48 1.26 868 1574 526
107 Colombia 3.38 1.78 38424 40391 19828
108 Iraq 3.19 2.63 7801 8160 5384
109 Eswatini 2.93 0.97 83 93 57
110 Dominican Republic 2.92 0.88 5106 5318 3526
111 Oman 2.85 0.67 1870 2173 1161
112 Burkina Faso 2.80 1.02 95 116 69
113 Iran 2.74 0.60 6 7 7
114 Peru 2.68 1.99 15016 16829 8461
115 Honduras 2.64 2.17 3510 3661 1789
116 Palestine 2.32 0.55 881 849 635
117 Palau 2.28 0.50 4 5 4
118 Kyrgyzstan 2.24 1.04 138 184 139
119 Uganda 2.14 2.04 572 587 311
120 Kenya 2.10 1.97 9199 9110 3243
121 Philippines 2.05 2.31 166009 158522 59370
122 Cuba 2.01 0.20 2 2 2
123 Laos 1.99 1.93 47 57 43
124 Mongolia 1.98 1.82 71 76 42
125 Vanuatu 1.94 2.05 41 41 4
126 French Polynesia 1.92 0.48 163 168 105
127 Indonesia 1.88 1.82 91028 93531 54667
128 Zimbabwe 1.85 0.61 311 372 229
129 Mozambique 1.85 1.51 270 277 171
130 Tanzania 1.75 1.74 362 383 224
131 Nepal 1.73 3.38 10160 11797 5474
132 Niger 1.71 1.39 42 47 23
133 Guyana 1.71 0.81 563 632 347
134 Argentina 1.70 0.78 23690 26451 10732
135 Mauritius 1.62 1.91 127 171 122
136 Haiti 1.62 1.86 113 138 81
137 Paraguay 1.56 1.91 1370 1526 772
138 Seychelles 1.52 0.77 40 41 14
139 Kazakhstan 1.52 1.37 632 945 725
140 Fiji 1.50 0.67 69 69 25
141 Uzbekistan 1.49 0.62 1158 1660 1172
142 Armenia 1.46 0.88 111 168 122
143 Algeria 1.42 0.56 5007 5322 3824
144 Azerbaijan 1.37 0.60 1355 1599 1097
154 Mali 1.34 1.25 93 124 97
146 Cambodia 1.29 7.30 473 549 384
147 Angola 1.27 1.16 241 279 144
148 Gabon 1.23 0.98 136 173 117
149 Bhutan 1.22 2.47 10 9 5
150 Marshall Islands 1.19 6.22 30 33 8
151 Senegal 1.18 0.44 397 498 360
152 Nigeria 1.16 1.56 2693 2967 1409
153 Ghana 1.14 1.10 638 732 447
154 Togo 1.09 0.82 158 194 140
155 Chad 1.09 0.97 22 26 21
156 Sierra Leone 1.07 1.40 6 7 5
157 Suriname 1.05 0.69 220 240 130
158 Mauritania 1.02 0.30 85 90 64
159 Equatorial Guinea 1.01 1.13 10 11 9
160 São Tomé and Príncipe 0.98 1.27 24 25 18
161 Zambia 0.91 1.28 86 97 62
162 Pakistan 0.86 0.57 9795 13195 9141
163 Bangladesh 0.86 2.65 23702 27739 8293
164 Rwanda 0.81 1.03 78 41 26
165 Libya 0.75 0.63 592 691 452
166 Djibouti 0.75 0.26 19 30 21
167 Lebanon 0.74 0.92 1778 2556 1305
168 DR Congo 0.73 0.51 47 58 55
169 Venezuela 0.71 0.41 10773 11255 5937
170 Botswana 0.66 0.96 189 219 138
171 Comoros 0.65 0.26 5 5 4
172 Benin 0.65 0.86 84 104 77
173 Maldives 0.55 0.81 242 310 116
174 Somalia 0.52 0.48 267 355 143
175 Yemen 0.46 0.15 551 597 574
176 Malawi 0.41 0.71 5 9 9
177 Congo Republic 0.39 1.88 19 21 14
178 East Timor 0.36 0.62 7 8 9
179 Afghanistan 0.34 0.23 59 77 51
180 Turkmenistan 0.32 0.59 11 13 8
181 Namibia 0.30 0.38 431 313 166
182 Gambia 0.29 0.54 16 15 15
183 Ethiopia 0.27 0.55 1346 1605 967
184 Burundi 0.23 0.21 9 12 9
185 Tajikistan 0.23 0.82 44 71 45
186 Guinea 0.21 0.76 30 37 22
187 China 0.13 4.87 705 769 198
188 Ivory Coast 0.13 0.19 164 217 142
189 Federated States of Micronesia 0.07 0.62 9 9 8
190 Eritrea 0.05 0.17 1 3 2
191 South Sudan 0.04 0.39 1 5 1
192 Guinea-Bissau 0.01 1.53 1 1 1

Meta abandoning policy of removing misinformation about Covid

Meta took a step Tuesday toward abandoning its policy of removing misinformation about Covid from its platforms.

The company, which owns Facebook and Instagram, is asking its Oversight Board for an advisory opinion on whether measures taken to squash dangerous Covid-19 misinformation should continue or be modified.

In an online posting, Meta’s president for global affairs Nick Clegg explained that the company’s harmful information policies were expanded at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020 to remove entire categories of false claims on a worldwide scale. Prior to that time, content was removed from Meta’s platforms only if it contributed to a risk of imminent physical harm.

“As a result,” Clegg wrote, “Meta has removed Covid-19 misinformation on an unprecedented scale. Globally, more than 25 million pieces of content have been removed since the start of the pandemic.”

However, Meta is suggesting it may be time for a change in its Covid misinformation policy.

“We are requesting an advisory opinion from the Oversight Board on whether Meta’s current measures to address Covid-19 misinformation under our harmful health misinformation policy continue to be appropriate, or whether we should address this misinformation through other means, like labeling or demoting it either directly or through our third-party fact-checking program,” Clegg noted.

Fading Emergency

Meta’s Covid misinformation policies were adopted during a state of emergency that demanded drastic measures, explained Will Duffield, a policy analyst with the Cato Institute, a Washington, D.C. think tank whose vice president, John Samples, is on the Oversight Board. “Now, three years later, the sense of emergency has faded,” he told TechNewsWorld.

“There’s a lot more health information out there,” he said. “If people believe ridiculous things about vaccines or the efficacy of certain cures, that’s more on them now and less a result of a mixed-up information environment where people don’t know what’s true yet.”

“It was an unprecedented step to hand the policy over to global health organizations and local health authorities,” he added. “At some point, some of that had to be clawed back. You can’t have a state of emergency that lasts forever so this is an attempt to begin unwinding the process.”

Global Repercussions

Is the unwinding process beginning too soon?

“In the developed world, vaccinations are almost universal. As a result, while caseloads remain high, the number of serious illness and deaths are quite low,” noted Dan Kennedy, a professor of journalism at Northeastern University in Boston.

“But in the rest of the world, where there are countries where Facebook is a bigger deal than it is in the U.S., the emergency isn’t close to being over,” he told TechNewsWorld.

 

 

“While many countries are taking steps to return to a more normal life, that doesn’t mean the pandemic is over,” added Beth Hoffman, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Pittsburgh’s school of public health’s department of behavioral and community health sciences.

“A big concern is that removing the current policy will particularly harm areas of the globe with lower vaccination rates and fewer resources to respond to a surge in cases or new variants,” she told TechNewsWorld.

Clegg acknowledged the global ramifications of any policy changes Meta might make. “It is important that any policy Meta implements be appropriate for the full range of circumstances countries find themselves in,” he wrote.

Line in the Sand

Meta wants to draw a line in the sand, maintained Karen Kovacs North, director of the Annenberg Program on Online Communities at the University of Southern California. “Their point is that there is no imminent physical harm in the same way there was at the beginning of the pandemic,” she told TechNewsWorld.

“They don’t want to set a precedent for taking stringent action if there is no imminent physical harm,” she added.

Clegg noted in his posting that Meta is fundamentally committed to free expression and believes its apps are an important way for people to make their voices heard.

“But resolving the inherent tensions between free expression and safety isn’t easy, especially when confronted with unprecedented and fast-moving challenges, as we have been in the pandemic,” he continued.

“That’s why we are seeking the advice of the Oversight Board in this case,” he wrote. “Its guidance will also help us respond to future public health emergencies.”

Meta says it want to balance free speech with the spread of misinformation so it makes sense that it would revisit its Covid policy, asserted Mike Horning, an associate professor of multimedia journalism at Virginia Tech University.

“While they seem to remain concerned about misinformation, it’s also good to see that they are concerned with how the policy might impact free speech,” he told TechNewsWorld.

Backlash From Content Removal

Pulling back on removing Covid misinformation could improve Meta’s image among some of its users, noted Horning. “The removal policy can be effective in slowing the spread of misinformation, but it also can create new problems,” he said.

“When people have their posts taken down, more conspiracy minded individuals see that as confirmation that Meta is trying to suppress certain information,” he continued. “So while removing content can limit the number of people who see misinformation, it also leads some to see the company as unfair or biased.”

The effectiveness of removing Covid misinformation may also be passing its expiration date. “One study found that when the Covid misinformation controls were first implemented, distribution of misinformation was reduced by 30%,” Duffield said.

 

 

“Over time, misinformation peddlers shifted to talking about other conspiracy theories or found coded ways to talk about Covid and Covid skepticism,” he continued. “So initially it had an impact, but that impact waned over time.”

North noted that some methods for controlling misinformation may appear to be weak but can be more effective than removing content. “Removing content can be like whack-a-mole. Content gets removed so people try to post it in a different way to trick the algorithm,” she explained.

“When you de-index it or reduce its exposure,” she continued, “it much harder for a poster to know how much exposure it’s getting so it can be very effective.”

Profiting Off Misinformation

While Meta declares the noblest of motives for changing its Covid misinformation policy, there could be some bottom-line concerns influencing the move, too.

“Content moderation is a burden for these companies,” observed Vincent Raynauld, an assistant professor in the department of communication studies at Emerson College in Boston.

“Whenever you remove content from your platform, there’s a cost associated with that,” he told TechNewsWorld. “When you leave the content up, you’re likely to get more content creation and engagement with that content.”

“There are lots of studies that show misinformation tends to generate a lot of engagement, and for these companies, user engagement is money,” he said.

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