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ALL CONSUMING ALGORITHMS Algorithms, although you may not necessarily be acutely aware of them – they play a big role in all your online activities including your Google searches and your Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X and Facebook feeds. What is an algorithm and how does it work? Algorithms are essentially “a set of finite rules or instructions to be followed in calculations or other problem-solving operations”. From a social media standpoint, the algorithms deployed by Instagram help determine the kind of content that we are exposed to when on the platform. They do this by determining how content is ranked, filtered and recommended to users. Instagram is not the only platform that makes use of these mechanisms to control content. TikTok is another [...]

Where does our old tech go to die? Electronic waste, alternatively referred to as E-Waste, is a direct bi-product of the electronic revolution that stemmed our love and now, reliance, on our electronic gadgets. Our electronic gadgets have completely changed the way in which we live our lives. Prior to the launch of the first commercial mobile phone in 1983, we were reliant on landline phones which were usually one to two per household and business, not one per person. As the name suggests, the mobile phone’s size, shape and transportability opened up a whole new world of communication and accessibility on the go. As time went on and mobile phones become more and more advanced in their capabilities, eventually resulting in smartphones, [...]

A cracking good time Have you ever sat down next to another person and heard an audible crack, only to look over and see them clicking their fingers or cracking their knuckles in such a way that its perceptible not only to them, but to all those around? For some, this sound can be extremely triggering, but for those doing the cracking, they might not even realise that they are doing it. It is possible that this action is entirely a subconscious act for them. However, there are also people who crack their knuckles and other parts of their bodies entirely intentionally. The real question is, why? For some it’s a harmless habit or a way to release energy generally associated with nerves [...]

Patches of Protection Measles is a highly contagious and potentially serious disease caused by a virus called the Morbilivirus, which comes from the Paramyxoviridae family of viruses. Although measles only affects humans, the virus strain that causes it has been closely linked to other viruses that infect animals. Even though there is a vaccine for measles available worldwide, it is still one of the leading causes of infant and child mortality, especially in developing countries and continents like Africa and Asia. Prior to the inception of the vaccination and widespread immunization, measles was responsible for almost 2.6 million deaths annually. The vaccination rollout between 2000 and 2015 reduced measles deaths globally by 79%, it has not and cannot eliminate the virus altogether. Measles [...]

HOW TO GET THAT BLUE TICK IN 2024 For some, social media prominence and being recognised and followed on various social media networks is a top priority – especially if that is a source of income too. Social media influencers rely on their social audiences to help generate income by scoring brand partnership deals and contracts. Over the last decade there has been a significant increase in the number of influencers and content creators across all social media networks with a particular focus on Instagram and TikTok with audiences engaging with visual and short-form video content. Although we love to scroll through the largely frivolous pictures and watch the videos that influencers post online, it’s easy to forget the work that goes on [...]

CERTIFICATIONS TO SET YOU APART Education and upskilling comes in many shapes and forms, and as Jim Stovall puts it, “Education is a lifelong journey whose destination expands as you travel.” It also expands the more you actively pursue it. These days, people are expected to possess skills and capabilities outside of just the ones that are learned in schools and tertiary education, as while these set a great and very important foundation – the real world applicability require so much more. With the rapid pace of technology and AI development, it also helps to try and keep up with these so that you can take advantage of the automated functionalities to save time and effort. Certifications are also a great way to [...]