NEW RESOURCES

Wesleyan University: New Database Shows Court Change that Impact Access to Justice. “A new database created by Alyx Mark, assistant professor of government, documents the often mundane, yet vitally important changes courts made to their policies and procedures over the course of the global pandemic, changes that directly impact ordinary people’s access to justice.”

TWEAKS AND UPDATES

South China Morning Post: TikTok owner ByteDance to launch new social media app for young users that will rival Instagram-like service Xiaohongshu. “ByteDance, owner of global hit short video app TikTok and its Chinese version Douyin, is gearing up to launch a new social media platform designed for young users to share their lifestyle and hobbies, according to the tech unicorn’s latest corporate registration.”

USEFUL STUFF

PC Magazine: Amazon Photos Still Has Free, Unlimited Storage: How to Manage, Share Your Pics. “Looking for a reliable online service where you can back up, store, and share your photos? Amazon Photos is one option worth considering, especially if you’re an Amazon Prime(Opens in a new window) subscriber, or you’re looking for a good Google Photos alternative.”

AROUND THE INTERNET WORLD

CTV News: Google Maps incorrectly suggests weeks-long closure on major B.C. highway. “The provincial agency said in a notice last week that Google Maps inaccurately listed a weeks-long closure on the Coquihalla Highway between Hope and Merritt…. The Transportation Ministry has posted similar warnings about errors in recent weeks, with at least four issues noted in a month-long period.”

The Guardian: ‘They couldn’t even scream any more. They were just sobbing’: the amateur investors ruined by the crypto crash. “Last month, major coins including bitcoin and ethereum dropped by more than one-third in just a week. While bitcoin has tumbled significantly on several occasions, this bear run – meaning a period of declining prices – feels different. The industry is larger and more interconnected than ever, with retail and institutional investors jostling for space in what was, until last year, a $3tn market. (The crash has wiped $2tn off the market’s value.)” I feel that cryptocurrency is not just a discrete phenomenon but an expression of Internet culture as it is now. I believe something like it (as seismic and potentially destructive) will happen again. I’m indexing these articles in the hope that we learn what it looks like ahead of time.

SECURITY & LEGAL

CNN: Apple plans new feature to protect journalists and human rights workers from spyware. “Apple on Wednesday said it will release a new feature this fall for iPhone, Mac and iPad operating software that is designed to protect high-risk users such as journalists and human rights workers from sophisticated spyware that has been linked to human rights abuses.”

PublishersWeekly: Publishers, Internet Archive File Dueling Summary Judgment Motions in Scan Suit. “The battle lines have now been drawn in a potentially landmark lawsuit over the scanning and lending of books.”

RESEARCH & OPINION

University of Southern California: Largest ever study of tobacco content on social media links exposure to tobacco use . “People who have viewed tobacco content on social media are more than twice as likely than non-viewers to report using tobacco and, among those who have never used tobacco, more likely to be susceptible to use in the future. Researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of USC analyzed data from 139,624 participants in a meta-analysis of 29 studies.”

UK Government: New poll finds 7 in 10 adults want social media firms to do more to tackle harmful content . “Four in five adults (78 per cent) want social media companies to be clear about what sort of content is and isn’t allowed on their platform. In a stark warning to social media companies, 45 per cent of respondents also said they will leave or reduce the amount of time they spend on their platforms if they see no action.”

OTHER THINGS I THINK ARE COOL

NewsWise: Operating a ‘smart home’ by breath control. “Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have created a simple prototype device that enables users to control ‘smart home’ technology by changing their breathing patterns. The self-powered unit fits into the nostrils and has the potential to enhance the quality of life for people with limited mobility or inability to speak clearly. It also can be programmed provide automatic alerts to medical personnel if an individual has trouble breathing.” Good afternoon, Internet…

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