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Algorithm Tries to Predict Terrorist Attacks

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two police cars blocking the road

It is not impossible to look for online indicators of terrorist propaganda in social media.

The discussion about terrorism made the front pages of most of the newspapers after the Orlando massacre. With the new algorithm that tries to predict terrorist attacks, now it becomes a topic to be debated in science magazines also.

Prior to his attack in Orlando, Omar Mateen was investigated by FBI on two occasions. His Facebook page contained references to the Islamic State and, reportedly, he used social media to look for pieces of information about the San Bernardino massacre, which took place in December 2015.

However, it is hard to predict a terrorist attack by simply checking the online activity of a single person. As President Obama already explained two days after the Orlando massacre, the movement of lone actors or small groups is very hard to foresee.

However, scientists claim, it is not impossible to look for online indicators of terrorist propaganda on social media. The experts developed their thesis around one social media platform, called Vkontakte. Unlike Facebook, Vkontakte does not require its users to log in with their real names. However, a phone number is requested during the registration process.

The project started a few years ago with the intent to monitor the social upheaval in Latin America (namely in Brazil and Venezuela). The idea to focus their attention on social media rather than the events happening in the real world came to them along with the Arab Uprising.

With Facebook becoming the main tool to communicate and organize protests, people realized that a closer look at the online algorithms might offer an accurate picture of the main trends in society.

This new algorithm that tries to predict terrorist attacks focuses mainly on the behavioral patterns of the users affiliated with pro-ISIS groups. The research team managed to find almost 200 pro-ISIS public groups on Vkontakte. To avoid moderators and hackers, the users reincarnate themselves each time their profile is hacked or shut down.

And this is how new small groups emerge. To efficiently prevent the aggregation of large, influential groups, counterterrorism agents need to track down small groups and shut them down before the distribution of radical propaganda escalates.

The trend that was noticed so far relates the rapid increase of such groups with an imminent attack. Such a pattern can be a reliable indicator that something may be going on.

However, the new algorithm that tries to predict terrorist attacks has no efficiency in the case of an assault organized by a small group. Because these groups do not leak information on social media, they leave no footprints that can be tracked down.

Online source: Wikipedia

Filed Under: Science Tagged With: Arab Uprising, Facebook, FBI, Latin America, Omar Mateen, social media, terrorist attacks, Vkontakte

Facebook launches Interactive Map of its Live Video feature

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"facebook logo"

Facebook has made its Interactive Map available on May 18

Facebook’s Interactive Map, first introduced in April, has just gone global. The feature allows users to view live streams from any user in the world, from Greenland to North Korea, turning every Facebook into a voyeur.

For now, the Interactive Map is only available through Facebook on Web. It can be accessed by pressing the “Live Video” button on the navigation bar. An interactive map of the world will pop up, on which little blue dots will indicate the places where users are live streaming. The bigger the dot, the more popular the live stream is. To get a preview of the video, just hovering over the dot will show one.

The Interactive Map also allows you to see where the viewers of a particular feed are located. Hovering over the dots will release lines that will connect the place the stream is being broadcast from with that where the viewer is located.

The move is encouraging users of the popular social platform to share more of their lives with the world. However, it seems that for the moment, the most popular live streaming videos belonged to media outlets rather than individuals. It also allows Facebook to enter the race with competitors such as Periscope, Snapchat, and Meerkat, and why not, give them a run for their money.

Live streams entice viewers to interact more, and the new Facebook feature allows users to react and comment on live videos. According to Facebook vice president of product management Will Cathcart, the social media platform wanted to tap into the popularity of live video streams. Live videos, he noted, attract up to 10 times more comments, compared to regular videos. Also, statistics show that viewers spend an average three times more time watching live videos than they do watching regular clips.

As people can now take better quality videos, Cathcart said, Facebook sought to make video a “well-supported” part of the social media platform. The global launch of Interactive Map is expected to become very profitable as well for the social media platform, which currently counts 1.65 billion users worldwide. Should it offer the live streams to advertisers, the company can look forward to a new solid revenue stream.

Image source: Wikipedia

Filed Under: Technology & Research Tagged With: Facebook, Interactive Map, live streaming, social media

Getting Started On Nintendo’s Miitomo

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Miitomo

The new chat app Miitomo from Nintendo has just been launched last week, and many of you might be in need of knowing a few things before you get started. The platform is a mix between a social network and a game and is the first app from Nintendo to hit the mobile gaming stores. So far, it has proven to be quite a hit, since users have been downloading Miitomo by the millions over the last few days.

Back in its homeland in Japan, the app has already recorded over one million downloads, surpassing the top messaging app Line. In the United States, Miitomo has been downloaded more than three million times since it was released.

When you start, you will first be prompted to create a Nintendo account that can also import profiles from existing Miis from either a 3DS or a Wii U by using a QR code. Miis are internet avatars, but they also have wonderful animations that make them come alive. When creating your Mii, you also have the option of taking a selfie that will automatically be transformed into the avatar.

Furthermore, you can customize it any way you like by changing the hair style and color, but also facial features. You also have the option of changing the pitch, accent, speed, depth and energy of your Mii’s voice and the expression, manners, attitude, and movement in order to create the best representation of yourself.

Next, you will be prompted to answer various questions about yourself in complete sentences, and give as many details as possible in order to convey an extensive personality to your Mii. The questions range from your favorite aspect about cats to what brought a smile on your face recently or the place where you wish to retire. This also serves as starters for conversations, especially between new Miitomo friends.

Nintendo has also created a monetary system for its app. You can thus buy various outfits for your avatar by spending gold coins, including shoes, shirts, dresses and even complete outfits. You can earn these coins by answering questions, commenting, listening to answers or simply logging in daily. However, these free coins are limited every day. You can also spend real money for the coins and receive all the perks of Miitomo.

In this way, the company has avoided including annoying advertisements. Should you wish to buy game currency, you should know that 1,000 gold coins cost $0.99, while 67,500 coins come in batches for $49.99.

Image Source: VG 24/7

Filed Under: Technology & Research Tagged With: avatar, chat app, Getting Started On Nintendo's Miitomo, Mii, social media

Trouble Sleeping? Turn Away From Social Media

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"social media"

Trouble sleeping? Turn away from social media because researchers founds they are prone to fragmented sleep patterns among frequent users. There’s no doubt that social media has taken over the internet. Be it for pictures, posts, videos, or overall existing in the digital world, most people have an account here or there.

However, besides online bullying or fierce political debates that know no end, there are other issues that can be attributed to prolonged use. Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh conducted a study on 1,788 adults in the United States, aged between 19 and 32 years old. The purpose was to hone in on the effect of social media on sleep.

Previous studies have shown that smartphones and other gadgets may have an impact, but this is the first of its kind that directly concentrates on several platforms. The participants were asked about their frequency of use of Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Google Plus, Instagram, Snapchat, Reddit, Tumblr, Pinterest, Vine, and LinkedIn. These are all major social media brands that have proven themselves popular among young adults.

According to their findings, each person spent, on average, around 61 minutes per day on social media and visited various accounts around thirty times per week. Over 50% of the participants reported problems sleeping that ranged from medium to high disturbances. And, apparently, those who often frequented social media had the biggest problems. This ranged from insomnia, trouble falling asleep, or not getting enough rest through the night.

Those who frequently checked social media throughout the week were three times more likely to report sleep disturbances. On the other hand, those who also spent the most total time on various platforms were twice as likely to have trouble sleeping. Whether frequency of use or total time, it seemed that avid social media users did report the most problems.

According to lead author of the study, Dr. Jessica Levenson, from the university’s Department of Psychiatry, this is the first time a study has shown the impact of social media on sleep. And it’s no wonder. Technically, this is the first generation to grow up with such an extensive diversity of social media platforms. They’re are in full bloom and too many options to count. However, it’s also very impacting.

This may indicate that young adults reporting sleep disturbances should also be inquired by doctors on their social media use. Then, perhaps a method to stop the “obsessive checking” should be one of the methods used. However, the matter requires more investigation. While there is a definite association, it’s difficult to say which influences which.

Does social media cause sleep disturbances? Do people with trouble sleeping frequent social media more often? Or it is a combination of both? It’s tough to tell, but the researchers will persist with their investigations.

Image source: static.images.publisher.attn.com

Filed Under: Lifestyle & Health Tagged With: Facebook, Instagram, sleep, sleep disturbances, social media, trouble sleeping, Twitter

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