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Why Technology is Essential in Preparing Future Academic Leaders

Why Technology is Essential in Preparing Future Academic Leaders

Contrary to widespread belief, America is currently facing educational inequality. Those training for a career in education need to be aware that students in vulnerable communities black, indigenous, and other majority-minority areas, are facing disparity in resources such as books, counselors, and accessibility of educational technology. To make things more complex, factors like socioeconomic status, racism, the lack of acculturation, and the accessibility of technology interact, and often it is challenging to differentiate between their impacts.

The United States spends more on education than other Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) nations. Recent data shows states contribute $367bn to K-12 public education, or more than $7,000 per student. Yet, more money spent does not translate to better academic outcomes.

While the path toward educational equity is long and arduous, it is an essential journey that defines the nation’s course. So, educational leaders must learn to create equitable learning environments to support students’ well-being and education regardless of their backgrounds. Those taking advanced studies such as a Doctor of Education (Ed. D) are taught the practices and considerations to integrate technological innovations into classroom discussions. This is to establish a level playing field for their students struggling to catch up to their peers and reduce academic stress.

A prominent distinction among students is where they live—precisely the difference between rural and urban homes. Those living farther away from their school district may be unable to access the same resources or may be more likely to miss school days because of their living situations. Recent data reveals states like Maine and North Carolina see a significant increase in absenteeism among rural students.

Integrating educational technology into their learning allows students to access classroom materials immediately, ultimately boosting equity. It, in turn, challenges the imbalance of power and privilege, improves communication, and strengthens the economy. On the surface, this seems plausible. However, the big kahuna ensures these students access these technological advancements. Several students lack access to technology at home. Some only have access to a smartphone without a data plan, while others have multiple devices with internet access.

A student’s socioeconomic background impacts how likely they are to have technology access. A Pew Research Center survey reveals roughly 35% of American households with an income of under $30,000 lack high-speed internet access, while only 6% lack high-speed internet. A separate National Center for Education Statistics survey found that more than 60% of school-aged kids had internet access at home.

However, most students reported finding an internet café to complete their assignments. Simply put, the problem is not creating more innovative educational technologies but ensuring students get their hands on these innovations. Educators have an essential role in securing equitable technology access for students.

Many of those studying for a career in educational leadership ask: Is studying for an Ed.D. worth it? The answer is yes, especially if you earn it from an established academic institution such as Rockhurst University. A Doctor of Education degree prepares you with the strategic leadership techniques that can be implemented alongside an awareness of the social and ethical issues that are prevalent within their students. If you want to advocate for better access to education for less-privileged students, a Doctor of Education degree offers insight into the strategies needed to do so.

Keep scrolling as this article tackles several strategies students can learn about in their Ed.D and implement in their future career within educational leadership. These methods can help every student maximize academic innovations to reach their full potential.

Establish a Comprehensive and Systematic Technology Plan

As mentioned, less-privileged students in marginalized communities often lack access to educational technology. What makes this worse is that most educators do not even know it. The issue sometimes boils down to not knowing where to look. By creating a comprehensive and systematic technology plan, educational leaders can evaluate specific issues and determine why these communities lack access.

Once they have identified the crux of the issue, they can establish a foundation of policies that address what is needed to provide equitable technological access to students regardless of their socioeconomic and racial backgrounds. These policies must outline where students can go for help to obtain access, ensure they understand how to access technology, and be flexible enough to accommodate the diverse instructional requisites and student learning styles.

Create Digital Literacy Programs

Building in-depth digital literacy programs is another way for educational leaders to ensure students have equitable access to learning innovation. Many students in the United States, particularly those in marginalized communities, are uncomfortable with digital tools despite living in a technology-driven world. According to PubMed Central, there is a digital divide in the US, with more than half of indigenous and marginalized communities not well-versed in technological advancements.

Some factors impacting this digital divide include the lack of economic resources to purchase digital tools and limited English proficiency. By establishing digital literacy programs, educators can allow students to enhance their technological skills and maximize educational technology to boost their learning. Furthermore, digital literacy programs empower students to understand and navigate the challenges of the online environment, making them responsible digital citizens.

Advocate for Technology Access

In marginalized communities there is a lack of voice to ensure that every child has access to technology and other opportunities that enable them to learn, grow, and thrive. Issues are the central point of policy formulation. For government officials and policymakers to determine the issues to be dealt with, they must learn the most pressing issues within the educational system.

Educational leaders can work with individuals at the grassroots level and interact with the most vulnerable. Once they identify these issues, they can forward them to policymakers to develop policies addressing them. Through this communication cycle, educational leaders can ensure existing issues and demands, such as technology access for marginalized communities, are addressed to the concerned authorities.

It is, however, worth noting that the role of academic leaders is not limited to helping policymakers create educational laws and regulations. They also oversee the effective implementation of those policies and let the students in their schools know about them. On top of that, academic leaders also supervise and track the implementation of these policies to achieve desired objectives and communicate changes should modifications be deemed necessary.

Working Towards Creating an Equitable Learning Environment

Establishing an equitable learning environment does not happen overnight. However, an educational leader can take the initial step today by ensuring students, regardless of their backgrounds, can access the most potent technological innovation to support their progress and enhance overall learning. By gaining an Ed.D, those within education can have a well-rounded view of these issues and an advanced knowledge of the strategies and methods which can be used to overcome them.

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Time Travel in the Terminal: A Student's Guide to Mac Date and Time Adjustments

Time Travel in the Terminal: A Student’s Guide to Mac Date and Time Adjustments

Time is an essential aspect of our digital lives. We rely on accurate date and time settings for scheduling classes, submitting assignments, and countless other tasks. However, there are times when we need to manipulate the date and time settings on our Mac, whether for testing or troubleshooting purposes.

This article is a student’s guide to understanding and using the Terminal for adjusting date and time settings on a Mac.

Let’s get into it.

Why Adjust Date and Time

Before delving into the Terminal commands, it’s crucial to understand why you might need to adjust the date and time on your Mac as a student. Here are a few common scenarios:

  • Testing Date-Sensitive Software: Some software applications, especially in computer science or software development, may have date-sensitive features or functions. Adjusting the system date and time can help you test how your software behaves in different scenarios.
  • Troubleshooting Timestamp Issues: If you encounter problems with timestamps in your files, emails, or applications, incorrect date and time settings could be the root cause. Adjusting them can help troubleshoot and resolve such issues.
  • Learning and Experimentation: If you’re a computer science or IT student, understanding how to manipulate date and time is a valuable skill. You might need to perform experiments or simulations that require changing the system’s date and time settings.

Using the Terminal for Date and Time Adjustments

The Terminal is a powerful tool that allows you to access and manipulate various system settings, including date and time. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you to change date and time on Mac using Terminal.

Opening the Terminal

  • Spotlight Search: Press Cmd + Space to open Spotlight Search, type “Terminal,” and press Enter.
  • Finder: Navigate to Applications > Utilities, and you’ll find Terminal there. Double-click to open it.

Checking the Current Date and Time

Before making any changes, it’s a good practice to check the current date and time settings. You can use the date command to do this.

Open the Terminal and type: date

You’ll see the current date and time displayed in the format: Day Month Date Hour:Minute:Second Year. This information can help you confirm the initial status.

Adjusting the Date and Time

You can adjust the date and time by using the date command along with the specific format you want. The command follows this structure:

sudo date [mmddhhmiyy.ss]

  • mm: Month (01-12)
  • dd: Day (01-31)
  • hh: Hour (00-23)
  • mi: Minute (00-59)
  • yy: Year (00-99)
  • ss: Second (00-59)

For example, to set the date to December 31, 2023, at 2:30 PM, you would use:

sudo date 123117301023.00

This command requires administrative privileges, which is why we use sudo (superuser do). After running this command, you’ll be prompted to enter your password for verification. Once entered correctly, the date and time settings will be updated.

Rolling Back to the Correct Time

After you’ve performed your experiments or made necessary adjustments, it’s essential to revert to the correct date and time settings. To set the date and time back to the current values provided by your system clock, you can use the systemsetup command.

Open the Terminal and type:

sudo systemsetup -setusingnetworktime on

This command ensures that your Mac synchronizes with network time servers to obtain the accurate date and time settings.

Additional Date and Time Adjustments

Besides adjusting the date and time manually, you can make other adjustments as needed. Here are some useful Terminal commands for managing date and time settings on your Mac:

  • Set Time Zone: To set your time zone using Terminal, you can use the systemsetup command. For example, to set your time zone to “America/New_York,” you would type:
    Copy codesudo systemsetup -settimezone “America/New_York
  • List Available Time Zones: To view a list of available time zones, use the systemsetup command as well:
    Copy codesystemsetup –listtimezones
  • Adjust Network Time Settings: The systemsetup command allows you to configure network time settings. For instance, to enable or disable network time synchronization, you can use the following commands:
    • To enable network time synchronization:
      Copy codesudo systemsetup –setusingnetworktime on
    • To disable network time synchronization:
      Copy codesudo systemsetup –setusingnetworktime off
  • Adjust Date Format: You can also customize the date and time format displayed in the Terminal. To do this, export and set the LC_TIME variable. For example, to set the date and time format to “YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS,” you would use:
    Copy codeexport LC_TIME=”UTF-8

Best Practices and Precautions

When working with date and time settings in the Terminal, it’s crucial to exercise caution:

  • Backup Important Data: Before making any adjustments, ensure that you have backups of your important data. Mistakes can lead to unexpected consequences, so it’s always wise to be prepared.
  • Use the sudo Command Carefully: Be cautious when using sudo, as it grants you superuser privileges, allowing you to make system-level changes. Mistakes can have significant implications, so double-check your commands before running them.
  • Revert to Network Time Settings: After you’ve completed your experiments, make sure to set your Mac to synchronize with network time servers to maintain accurate date and time settings.
  • Document Your Changes: If you make changes for testing or experimental purposes, document what you did and why. This will help you revert to the correct settings and avoid confusion in the future.
  • Avoid Frequent Date and Time Manipulation: Frequent changes to date and time settings can disrupt the normal functioning of your Mac. Use this knowledge responsibly and only for specific needs.

Conclusion

As a student, understanding how to adjust date and time settings in the Terminal can be a valuable skill for various academic and technical purposes. Whether you’re testing software, troubleshooting timestamp issues, or conducting experiments, the Terminal provides you with the tools you need to manipulate these settings.

Remember to use these commands cautiously, always back up your important data, and document your changes. With these precautions in place, you can navigate the world of date and time adjustments on your Mac with confidence.

Author Bio: Gloria Peters is a seasoned content writer in the tech industry, specializing in creating engaging and informative content for TechanZone. With a keen understanding of technology trends, Gloria delivers insightful descriptions that captivate and inform tech supporters.

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A Guide for College Students Embracing the Digital Nomad Lifestyle

A Guide for College Students Embracing the Digital Nomad Lifestyle

A digital nomad is someone who works remotely and travels often. Their work doesn’t require them to report to an office or adhere to a strict schedule. Instead, they can work anywhere in the world, doing the job they love.

It’s no wonder this lifestyle is appealing more to college students. They can travel the world while studying and working abroad. That said, being a college student and a digital nomad is a challenge. It’s not like a vacation where all you have to worry about is enjoying yourself.

You have to learn how to balance the fun of traveling with work and school commitments. The following tips will help you do just that.

Understand What the Digital Nomad Lifestyle Will Be Like

You have to understand what the digital nomad lifestyle will be like if you want it to work out. You can assess whether this life is for you, and better prepare for it if you decide that it is.

Here are some critical points to consider about the digital nomad lifestyle:

  • A work-life balance is a must
  • Traveling often can be exhausting
  • You must ensure access to healthcare
  • You need a plan for financial stability
  • You’ll have to adapt to new cultures and languages
  • Knowing visa requirements and other legal requirements is essential
  • You might experience homesickness, especially if you go international
  • Balancing school with work and life in a new place is a big commitment

Dig into these factors and research all you’ll have to do and give up to be a digital nomad. Then, you can make an informed decision about moving forward.

Master Time Management

You’ll have to take your time management up a few notches if you want to be a digital nomad.

It’s one thing to balance life and school. It’s another to balance life, school, traveling, and potentially, work. You must learn how to divide your days so that you pay each of these things the attention they need. In addition, time management will ensure you don’t burn out.

Start with a routine to build some consistency into your days. Wake up at the same time regardless of your schedule and get ready for your days the same way.

You can establish priority tasks the night before, like your classes, if you’re working, and when you’ll study. Set aside time for breaks, meals, and leisure time as well. Building these activities into your schedule will ensure you actually do them.

Attach times to each task and activity. For example, you have classes from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Next, you’ll have lunch from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. After that, you have work from 1:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Then, you’ll study from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., and the rest of the night is yours.

Manage your time wisely and you can achieve everything you set out for each day.

Learn How to Stay Productive

One of the biggest challenges digital nomads run into is staying productive. All of the fun activities you can do when you travel to a new place can be distracting. It might be hard to stay motivated when you’re homesick. Technical and logistical issues can impact your productivity as well.

So, learning how to maintain peak productivity while studying and working on the road is essential.

Adhering to the routine we mentioned above will help keep you focused. Eliminate distractions while working by turning your phone on Do Not Disturb and muting social media apps. Create a designated workspace. You could also incentivize productivity by promising yourself a fun activity after you complete your work.

Secure your tech setup as well to maintain optimal productivity. Make sure you have the basics, like a good laptop set up with the proper work and school software and noise-canceling headphones.

Another crucial tool to have is a mobile hotspot. A hotspot ensures you can connect to the internet wirelessly on your mobile devices from virtually anywhere. This will come in handy when you travel internationally or to places with spotty internet connections. No matter where you are, you can still access your studies and any work you’re doing online.

Equip yourself with the right tools and techniques to stay productive as a digital nomad.

Choose Work That Aligns With Your Studies and Interests

Digital nomads are known to take many different directions with their work. You have options and can easily make a living while studying and traveling abroad. The key is ensuring the work you do doesn’t distract from your education and pull you away from who you are.

You’ll have a much better experience as a digital nomad if you choose work that aligns with your studies and interests. Rather than taking the barista job at the local cafe, work with your school to see if there are any work-study opportunities where you’re traveling.

You can also take the job search into your own hands. Search for job openings before you head to your destination through online job boards. Ask for referrals from fellow students.

Consider fully remote positions as well. There are many work-from-home jobs available that can accommodate a college student’s digital nomad lifestyle, such as being a tutor or a content writer for subjects related to your major.

Whatever work you decide to do, make sure it doesn’t take away from your studies and aligns with who you are and what you want to be.

Conclusion

Many college students are attracted to the digital nomad lifestyle because it allows them to travel freely while studying and working where they want to. As enticing as this life is, being a digital nomad isn’t void of challenges.

Make sure you understand what you’re getting into, master time management, learn to stay productive, and choose work that aligns with your studies and interests to give yourself a real chance at a successful digital nomad life.

SEE ALSO: How to Choose the Right Student Housing in the U.S.

How Does Technology Impact Student Learning?

How Does Technology Impact Student Learning?

Technology has transformed every aspect of modern life, and education is no exception. In today’s fast-paced world, students have access to many technological tools that have changed how they learn, communicate, and interact with the world.

Technology has revolutionized how we approach education, from online classes and virtual learning environments to digital textbooks and educational apps.

For college students, technology has become an essential part of their academic journey.

In this blog article, Shaiful Islam, a tech enthusiast and CEO at AppleGadgets LTD, will explore how technology impacts college/university students learning and how they can use technology effectively for their academic success.

Current Trends in Educational Technology

Technology is constantly evolving, and the field of education is no exception. Several current trends in educational technology are shaping how students learn and teachers teach.

Blended Learning

Blended learning combines traditional classroom instruction with online learning.

This approach allows for more personalized learning experiences, as college students can work independently, and teachers can provide individualized support.

Blended learning has become increasingly popular in recent years, as it offers flexibility and convenience while still providing the benefits of face-to-face instruction.

Gamification

Gamification involves using game design elements in non-game contexts, such as education. This approach has increased student engagement and motivation, making learning fun and interactive.

Teachers can use gamification to create interactive quizzes, reward systems, and other activities that incentivize learning.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a rapidly growing field that can potentially transform education. AI tools can help teachers personalize learning experiences, provide real-time feedback, and automate administrative tasks.

Virtual and Augmented Reality

Virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) technologies are increasingly used in education to create immersive learning experiences. VR/AR tools can simulate real-world scenarios like historical events, scientific experiments, or art exhibitions.

This approach can help students better understand complex concepts and retain information more effectively.

Positive Impacts

Technology has revolutionized learning, making education more accessible, interactive, and engaging. Here are some of the positive impacts of technology on college students’ learning experiences:

Increased accessibility of information

With the internet, students can access vast information on any subject at any time. Online databases, e-books, and digital libraries make research and studying easier and more efficient.

Students no longer have to spend hours searching through physical books or traveling to the library, which allows them to focus on learning and understanding the material.

Diverse learning styles accommodated

Technology provides a range of learning options that cater to different learning styles. For example, visual learners can use videos and infographics to understand complex concepts, while auditory learners can listen to lectures and podcasts. Online discussion forums and group chats allow students to collaborate and share ideas.

Improved communication with professors and peers

Technology has also improved communication between students and professors. Students can email professors with questions or concerns, join online discussion boards, and attend virtual office hours. This allows students to stay engaged in their coursework and seek help when needed.

Enhances student engagement and motivation

Technology has made learning more interactive and engaging for students. For example, gamification techniques such as educational games, quizzes, and other interactive tools can make learning more fun and enjoyable. Students are more likely to be motivated to learn when they are engaged and interested in the material.

Negative Impacts

While technology has undoubtedly brought numerous benefits to the learning process, there are also negative impacts that must be considered. Here are some of the negative impacts of technology on college/university students’ learning experiences:

Distractions caused by technology

One of technology’s most significant negative impacts on learning is the potential for distractions. Social media, online games, and other forms of digital entertainment can be tempting distractions for students who are supposed to be studying.

Students may also feel pressure to constantly check their phones or laptops, making it difficult to concentrate on coursework.

Decreased face-to-face interaction with peers and professors

Technology has also led to decreased face-to-face interaction between students and professors. While online communication tools have made it easier to stay in touch, they must maintain the value of in-person interaction.

Lack of face-to-face interaction can also lead to feelings of isolation and disconnection, negatively impacting students’ mental health.

Dependency on technology

Another negative impact of technology on learning is that students may need to rely more on technology.

For example, students may rely too heavily on online sources for research and not develop the critical thinking skills necessary to evaluate sources effectively.

Additionally, some students may rely on digital tools such as spell checkers, calculators, or grammar checkers, which can hinder the development of important skills.

Examples

Many examples of how technology has impacted learning in colleges and universities. For example, a study published in the Journal of Educational Technology & Society found that using mobile devices to access educational resources improved students’ academic performance.

Another study published in the International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning found that virtual reality technology improved students’ engagement and knowledge retention in science classes.

These studies highlight the potential of it to enhance the learning experience for college and university students.

How Can College Students Use Technology Effectively for Learning?

To use technology effectively for learning, college and university students should:

  1. Limit distractions by disabling notifications on their devices and using apps that block distracting websites during study sessions.
  2. Use technology to supplement, not replace, face-to-face interaction with professors and peers.
  3. Develop critical thinking skills by evaluating the credibility of online sources.
  4. Use digital tools such as spell checkers, calculators, or grammar checkers to supplement developing important skills, not a replacement.
  5. Use online resources such as video tutorials, quizzes, and interactive tools to supplement classroom learning.

Conclusion

Technology positively and negatively impacts college students’ learning experiences. While it has made education more accessible, interactive, and engaging, it can also be a source of distraction and dependency. When used appropriately, technology can be a powerful tool for enhancing the learning experience.

WhatsApp Services Go Down in Multiple Countries

WhatsApp Services Go Down in Multiple Countries

WhatsApp services have gone down across multiple countries. Despite being the most popular messaging app in over 100 countries, it is not immune to service disruptions. Wordwide, users have had to resort to other services when they were unable to access the app late Monday. Alex Himes, who was unable to contact her brother, used Apple FaceTime to communicate with him. Meanwhile, her mother used Signal, another messaging app that competes with WhatsApp.

Popularity

WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps in over 100 countries, with users in more than 100 different languages. While it started as a simple messaging app, it has evolved into a feature-rich communication platform. Its global audience has steadily increased since its initial launch in 2009, and WhatsApp statistics indicate that the growth will continue well into 2020. In the US, for instance, one out of every four adults uses WhatsApp. According to the company, its user base is made up of men and women from every age group.

In the United States, WhatsApp users are most active among those who are university graduates, with nearly a third of users accessing the service daily. While male users tend to be more active than females, there were still significant differences among the genders. For example, in the United States, 33% of WhatsApp users have college degrees, while 20% of users have only completed high school. WhatsApp users in the US also earn higher than average incomes, with 23% earning less than $30k per year, and 48% earning between $50,000 and $75,000 per year.

Cheaper Than SMS

While the cost of SMS messaging remains high in most regions of the world, it is significantly cheaper to use WhatsApp. SMS texting is free on some carrier plans, but in Europe, it costs as little as 0.07 cents per message. Some carriers in the EU even offer data packages, which allow you to send unlimited texts for less than a dollar per message.

In addition to being cheaper, it offers a variety of features that make it ideal for businesses. For example, businesses can send messages as an individual or entity. They can also use the tool to send canned responses to customers. This makes customer communication much easier than it is with SMS, which often involves one- way communication. Another benefit of WhatsApp is that it offers end-to-end encryption, which keeps your communication confidential.

With its low cost, WhatsApp became a popular alternative to SMS messaging. Previously, phone providers charged per text message, with a limit on the number of messages per month. However, with WhatsApp, there is no limit on the number of messages you can send – you simply need an internet connection and an app.

Alternative to Text Messages

WhatsApp is a messaging application for mobile devices that is free of charge. It can send text messages, photos, video, and audio files. It also has voice and video calling options and the ability to leave video messages. What’s more, it doesn’t cost you a dime to download, and it won’t cost you anything unless you use up your data allowance. Be cautious, though, since video calls can use up a lot of data.

A recent global Facebook outage affected the entire service for several hours. The outage affected both WhatsApp and Facebook. Many people were cut off from their Facebook accounts, which may have made them leave WhatsApp for good. Regardless, this latest scandal could be just what WhatsApp needs to move forward with its plans.

WhatsApp allows you to send messages to many people at once. It also allows you to create a group chat where you can view and reply to messages from other members. The advantage of this feature is that it lets you stay in touch with friends and co-workers while at the same time letting others contribute to the conversation.

Author Bio:

Leanne Smith is a professional writer with over eight years of experience and has completed several successful projects. My main goal is to offer excellent work and cheap essay writing service for students that is unique, plagiarism-free, well formatted, and delivered on time.

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Is Modern Life Making Today's Youngsters More Depressed?

Is Modern Life Making Today’s Youngsters More Depressed?

Since 1990 there has only been an increase in the number of youngsters taking their life due to depression. From 2012, there has been an additional spike in teenagers reporting mental distress and depression. With cyberbullying, social media, exams, drug abuse, etc., the pressure on teens is only increasing, and the present time is a difficult time to be a teenager. Read on to know what is depression, its causes and what we can do to fight this disease?

What is depression?

It is usual for people of all ages to get an occasional feeling of sadness, which goes away with time. This sadness can result from fights, breakups, exams, etc. However, if this feeling of sadness does not seem to go away and affects the youngster’s daily life to the extent that they find it challenging to feel motivated, it can be a sign of depression. If depression is not treated on time, it can affect the patient’s well-being, and there are also chances that they may try to commit suicide.

Due to hormonal changes, it is normal for teenagers to feel irritated and get occasional mood swings. However, if these symptoms last for more than 14 days and make it difficult to focus on day-to-day life, it can be a sign of depression. Some signs of depression are nervousness, feelings of worthlessness, change in behaviour, constant exhaustion, bodyweight fluctuation, sadness, drug abuse, suicidal tendency, loss of interest, etc. These symptoms are not always a sign of something serious; however, these signs should never be ignored.

What are the causes of depression in youngsters?

Research shows that today’s teenagers are much more depressed than their forefathers and mothers. Many people believe that it is because we have raised our kids with unrealistic expectations, while others believe that exam pressure and social media have made youngsters depressed. There is only no shortage of people who blame the parents and think that they have made the kids weak and not provided them with enough coping skills to survive in this cruel world. In reality, these and many more factors are responsible for the rise of depression in youngsters.

The present generation is much more stressed than any of the prior generations, and this stress is the biggest reason behind depression and other mental conditions. While lack of exercise, support, unlimited social media are more factors responsible for depression, the effects of genes cannot be ignored when we talk about depression.

Technology and depression

While technology has made life easier for many, a considerable number of teenagers cannot imagine their life without a smartphone. Many youngsters in the present times are so obsessed with social media that it has become difficult for them to differentiate between real life and online life. Not only youngsters, but people of all ages do things to impress their online friends while conveniently forgetting people in their lives. Teenagers’ obsession with social media is to the extent that they feel left out and stressed if they do not check their social media for some time. Moreover, with their innocence, they get easily fooled by things they see on social media and start comparing their lives with their online friends, which puts them in depression. Unmonitored social media also puts teenagers under the threat of cyberbullying, which can take a serious turn if appropriate steps are not taken at the right time. Not only this, but youngsters today are also busy on social media that they do not take time for studying, social life or exercise, which pushes them towards depression.

While technology is a significant reason behind the rise of depression in teens, it is not the only reason. Society’s growing stress on money and fame is also something that has pushed youngsters towards depression. The constant competition and the breakdown of the societal bond have been a reason behind teenagers becoming alone, pushing them towards depression and other mental health-related issues. So, yes, it can be said that modern life is making our youngsters depressed.

Treatment

One cannot stop the advancement of society and technology. However, what we can do is try on our level to ensure that teenagers don’t take stress about unimportant things in life. Youngsters should be encouraged to share their feelings with someone they trust, and they should be heard. Also, there is a need to remove the stigma around mental health and take the kids to a doctor if you think they are suffering from depression. Other than this, parents should also monitor the kids’ time on social media and make them aware of the ill effects of social media. As a society, we all should come forward and lay stress on the emotional well-being of our children, putting stress on their happiness rather than their marks. If all this is done, we will see happy, carefree, compassionate youngsters who will build society.

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Apple Becomes World’s First Company to Hit $3tn Market Value

Apple Becomes World’s First Company to Hit $3tn Market Value

Technological giants Apple have become the first company in the world to hit a stock market valuation of $3tn, tripling in value in four years.

On the first day of trading of the new year, the company’s shares for a little while managed to hit $182.88 around midday on Monday however dipped slightly towards the end of the day.

Apple share price has grown by approximately 5,800% since co-founder and former chief executive Steve Jobs released the first ever IPhone in 2007. However, under current chief executive, Tim Cook, the share price has grown sharply with help from the emergence of music and video streaming.

The Silicon Valley-based giants alone are worth more than Disney, Boeing, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Walmart, Netflix and Exxon-Mobil combined emphasising the sheer size of the company’s valuation.

Apple passed the $1tn mark in August 2018, making it the first company to reach that mark and only 18 months later, in 2020, passed the $2tn mark due to the high demand computers, laptops and tablets had during the lockdowns across the world because of the COVID-19 pandemic, therefore showing that Apple were one of the big winners of a pandemic which saw a lot of major company’s heavily affected.

‘Fantastic Accomplishment’

Chief executive officer of Longbow Asset Management, Jake Dollarhide, said: “It’s a fantastic accomplishment and certainly worthy to be celebrated.

It just shows you how far Apple has come, and how dominant it is seen as in the majority of investors’ eyes.”

Senior global market strategist at Wells Fargo, Scott Wren, said: “The market is rewarding companies that have strong fundamentals and balance sheets, and the companies that are hitting these sort of huge market caps have proven they are strong businesses and not speculation.”

According to Bloomberg, in 2022 it is expected that Apple’s next significant launches will include the iPhone 14, upgraded AirPods and possibly a virtual reality headset.

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Social Media Sites Return Following Outage

Social Media Sites Return Following Outage

Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp are running again after an outage that barred people from all across the world from accessing its services which lasted for nearly six hours.

All three platforms crashed on Monday afternoon at around 12:00 AST and services remained down until 18:00 AST, as users failed to receive and send messages or refresh their feeds.

Facebook named the cause of the outage due to a “faulty configuration change” which not only affected their services but also their employees passes and emails.

CEO of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, apologised for the outage after the three sites had been restored, saying in a Facebook post: “”Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger are coming back online now.

“Sorry for the disruption today – I know how much you rely on our services to stay connected with the people you care about.”

It is reported that the outage affected Zuckerberg himself as according to Fortune, a business website, the founder of Facebook had lost an estimated $6bn in shares during one point of the outage.

Downdetector, a platform that tracks outages from various sites, stated that around 10.6 million issues were reported from across the world. Reports came from areas including North and South America, Russia, New Zealand, Europe and Australia. Despite this, with more than 3.5 billion users from all sites, the real number of people affected would have been significantly more.

Security experts have predicted other possible cause for the outage with suggestions including a sabotage from an insider or an unintentional mistake.

Facebook released a statement, which said: “”To all the people and businesses around the world who depend on us, we are sorry for the inconvenience caused by today’s outage across our platforms.

“We’ve been working as hard as we can to restore access, and our systems are now back up and running.

“The underlying cause of this outage also impacted many of the internal tools and systems we use in our day-to-day operations, complicating our attempts to quickly diagnose and resolve the problem.

“Our engineering teams have learned that configuration changes on the backbone routers that coordinate network traffic between our data centres caused issues that interrupted this communication.

“This disruption to network traffic had a cascading effect on the way our data centres communicate, bringing our services to a halt.

“Our services are now back online and we’re actively working to fully return them to regular operations.

“We want to make clear at this time we believe the root cause of this outage was a faulty configuration change.

“We also have no evidence that user data was compromised as a result of this downtime.”

Due to the outage of these sites, other social media giants such as Twitter and TikTok benefitted, as they reported higher-than-normal usage, with Twitter recording its highest number of people on its platform at one time.

SEE ALSO: The 8 Coolest Tech Gadgets in 2021

The 8 Coolest Tech Gadgets In 2021

The 8 Coolest Tech Gadgets in 2021

When it concerns technology devices, the coolest ones will certainly always halt you in your tracks.

You find by hand inadequate them even if you suspect you don’t unquestionably necessitate them.

Yet even if you do not require them, it’s nice to treat them on your own now and then, and also the most effective devices will still be beneficial and also make your life much easier.

As well as with our list of the calmest tech gizmos, we sought to trace tools that fit this expenditure.

Maybe they’re not as significant to your everyday life as a mobile phone or a laptop, yet they’re the items you wish; they’re the ones you wind up blowing your tax obligation repayment on.

Whether that’s a new pc betting cabinet like the Nintendo Shift, a Simulated Practicality headset like the Oculus Quest 2 or a robovac like the iRobot Roomba, this stuff is the avowal items that you’ll appraise your helpers concerning the succeeding time you talk to them, or show off when you have entities sighted.

So, if you’re seeking suggestions on awesome technology gizmos to spend lavishly on, keep scrolling to see our choices.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G

Samsung’s most current foldable phone unquestionably covers the list of coolest technology gizmos of 2021, while it just exists for pre-order right nowadays.

It’s an ordinary smartphone touch awning that folds up into a 4.2 ″ small enterprise for agility and luxury.

The tower is made of strong aluminum that braces the dual, and the front and back cover are thru from the hardest glass Galaxy Z has seen so far.

It’s got a 1.9 ″ shelter screen that exhibitions are pushing notices, and also, it’s got Flex Scenery for hands-free selfies.

Apple Watch Series 6

With each passing year, given its 2014 launch, the Apple Watch has continued to become a growing number of helpful in the lives of the average discrete.

Whether it’s easily offering phone notifications, tracking exercises, checking important signs, or making telephone calls without having a phone close by in all, there is a lot that this little wearable can do. In simple it is one the best in the list of watches for businessmen and regular watch lovers.

The up-to-date iteration, the Apple Watch Collection 6, even features an enormously timely feature that will certainly allow you to monitor your blood oxygen stages.

If you’re dealing with Covid-19, monitoring SpO2 can be a key in establishing when you need to see a physician or health center to be dealt with.

And if the last seven years have essentially been any kind of sign, the Apple Watch will just cultivate to be better in the forthcoming

Oculus Quest 2

Virtual reality could be captivating its period to have its ‘iPhone moment,’ yet it is still quite the next big point when it anxieties the coolest tech gadgets.

And also, there is not a solo VR maneuver that flashes that assurance more than the Oculus Mission 2.

Deprived of the obligation for the commanding computer or special gear, you can just band the Mission 2 to your head, get the supervisors and also move openly in the VR area thanks to its inside out invention, which makes use of electrical cameras outside of the headset to track your gesture in the space everywhere you.

2020 Apple M1 MacBook Air

Apple’s up-to-date version of the MacBook Air is the most actual laptop processor you can attain and transformed the entire commerce when it was unconfined vertebral in 2020.

Not solitary does it involve of sooner chips than 98% of mainframes now for auction; it’s gotten an 18-hour battery life that’ll last you all day.

It’s likewise been constructed without a noisy follower and nearly ever examined when it first came out promoted that it might deal with every task tossed at it without one.

It’s geared up with 8GB of quick memory, a sensational 13.3 ″ retina presentation screen as well as is like-minded with a lot of the prevailing claims you use to work- containing of Adobe Creative Cloud, Microsoft 365, and Google Drive.

It’s similarly developed with the currently ill-famed Apple M1 mark with an 8-core CPU that works at speeds 3.5 x faster than previous models while utilizing less vigor.

Anker Nebula Solar Portable Projector

Typically, when you think of house theater projectors, you assume they call for an unduly included installment process and also a PhD-level data of gear to start all of it up.

Though, we are in a period where you can take out the Anker Galaxy Solar. Barely bigger than a book, you can aim it at a wall, as well as have it predicting a 120-inch, 1080p variation of your favored Netflix flick without needing to set up the picture setups or discover an electrical power outlet.

Will this change your elegant 65-inch 4K HDR TV? Never. But also, for those minutes when you’re really food craving that cinema experience in the house (and also truly, who hasn’t over the last year?), you’ll recognize why this made our checklist of cool tech gizmos.

Apple AirPods Max

Apple’s most current earphone drop featured a shocking price, but one that just Apple, with its quality of products, might carry out asking for.

These headphones are built with 3D border audio that settles based on your setting and heat setting, and also, they have really gotten Active Noise End that shuts out the rest of the world with the media of a switch.

The headphones themselves have a knit-mesh cover and recall foam earpads for a wonderful fit.

They’re furthermore built to faultlessly switch in between gadgets and have on-head finding, so your music will certainly stop if you require to eradicate them for a second. They come in five different sunglasses, with this efficient Space Gray.

Sony SRS-RA5000 360 Fact Sound Audio Speaker

With the capacity to make the audience seem like they are standing in the center of a show, Sony’s SRS-RA5000 360 Truth Sound Wi-Fi speaker could be advanced.

But this isn’t merely an elegant piece of equipment; 360 Fact Sound is an entire podium for music-focused 3D sound.

Similar to a movie-focused layout, such as Dolby Atmos, Sony is skilled in providing real-time material so that we can enjoy displays and shows in these plague times.

Fortified with seven separate chauffeurs, the SRS-RA5000 can spot the room it’s in and scatter the audio thru a room to create an immersive upshot.

However, while you’re not utilizing this speaker for real-time performances, you can likewise connect to your preferred music solution via Chromecast, Bluetooth, or Spotify Link.

As well as if you have a gathering of wise residence gadgets, you can use this audio orator as an Alexa or Google aide hub.

Sonos Wander Smart Speaker

Whereas the Bubble Comprehensive and Amazon Resonance all have their precious one worth as Wi-Fi smart speakers, and also the UE Wonderboom 2 is the unworldly superlative of the Bluetooth speaker, the Sonos Roam is a blend audio speaker that offers the utmost active of both orbs with negligible negotiation.

When connected to a Wi-Fi network, the Roam can make use of much better audio high quality and voice-controlled assimilation with Google Aide and Alexa.

When allied to your phone by Bluetooth, you can take the Roam everyplace you longing and have expediency to aural as long as your phone series isn’t dead.

Finest of all, the Sonos Roam still links with your prevailing network of Sonos stuff, as long as you have one more audio speaker in your multi-room conformation.

SEE ALSO: Is Your State Splurge-y Or Stingy?

 

OnlyFans Announces Ban on ‘sexually explicit’ content

OnlyFans Announces Ban on ‘Sexually Explicit’ Content

OnlyFans, a site that allows models and performers to charge their viewers for their explicit images and videos, announced that it will ban “sexually explicit” images and videos from its site from October – then promptly changed its mind after a backlash from users.

The London-based subscription platform had declared that from October 1st, they would change their regulations by not allowing any sexually explicit photos and videos from being uploaded onto the site. However, people will still be able to post nude content within the guidelines provided by the site.

This decision comes after the pressure applied onto them from banks and financial transaction services to stop the explicit imagery.

The popular social media platform, founded in 2016 by Essex businessman Tim Stokely, has been used by a range of content providers such as celebrities and musicians, but has been heavily patronised by sex workers and models allowing them to share their images and videos to their subscribers for either a tip or a monthly fee.

During the heart of the pandemic, OnlyFans grew rapidly in popularity, with millions of people subscribing to various creators, with the site claiming it has 130 million users. But it now admits that certain changes need to be made.

A spokesperson for the company said: “In order to ensure the long-term sustainability of the platform, and to continue to host an inclusive community of creators and fans, we must evolve our content guidelines.”

The OnlyFans website affirms that its creators receive 80% commission on their earnings, while the other 20% covers “referral payments, payment processing, hosting, support, and all other services”. The site has therefore allowed some creators to earn a vast income. Movie celebrity Bella Thorne is said to have made $1m in her first day on OnlyFans, sparking complaints that she had ‘ruined the platform for other content providers.’ Thorne charged users $200 for a single image, and soon after the company initiated a $50-per-image cap. The actress is reportedly the second-highest earning user on the site, with an estimated monthly income of $11 million, while Blac Chyna is said to be the top earner, with estimated monthly earnings of $20 million, while Cardi B is third with $9.34 million a month

The BBC has recently revealed in an investigation that the changes announced by OnlyFans followed concerns about how the site has handling the accounts posting the explicit imagery and videos.

In a response to the investigation carried out, OnlyFans said that it does not tolerate violations of its terms of service, and its systems and age verification go far beyond “all relevant global safety standards and regulations.”

But days after the announcement of the change of policy, OnlyFans announced it has suspended the move, saying in a tweet: “Thank you to everyone for making your voices heard. We have secured assurances necessary to support our diverse creator community and have suspended the planned October 1 policy change. OnlyFans stands for inclusion and we will continue to provide a home for all creators.”

The change of heart may be too late may be too late for some sex content creators who have already announced that they would move from OnlyFans to other platforms such as Justforfans, Fansly, LoyalFans or Pocketstars.

SEE ALSO: Social Media sites Remove Offensive Comments following Lizzo Abuse