Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Trump wants to cut taxes on Social Security benefits, impacting current and future beneficiaries.</li><li>Experts warn these cuts could deplete the Social Security fund three years earlier than expected.</li></ul>Donald Trump plans to make changes to America's Social Security system with his return to the White Housein January. The president-elect promised on the campaign trail to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trumps-tax-plan-social-security-retirement-medicare-2024-8">cut taxes on Social Security benefits</a> in his second term. "People on Social Security are being killed, and one of the things I'm doing is no tax for seniors on Social Security, and I'll get it done quickly," Trump told "Fox &amp; Friends" in August. For some baby boomers, lower <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/retirement-savings-social-security-baby-boomers-without-savings-401k-poverty-2024-8">Social Security</a> taxes could mean larger monthly checks in the short-term. But experts predict that the <keyword id="23944791" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Social-Security-tax-cuts" source="keywords">Social Security tax cuts</keyword>, along with other campaign promises made by Trump, could quickly drain the national Social Security fund. That would put benefits at risk for low-income retirees and younger generations, who may <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/retirement-savings-social-security-baby-boomers-without-savings-401k-poverty-2024-8">rely on that income</a> as they age. "It's designed to help retirees, but the people it's going to hurt are people that rely on Social Security the most," Taylor Lee, a certified financial planner at Belmont Capital Advisors, told BI of Trump's Social Security tax cut. More than 72 million Americans receive Social Security and the estimated average monthly check is <a target="_blank" href="https://faq.ssa.gov/en-us/Topic/article/KA-01903">$1,92</a>4.35 a month, per the Social Security Administration. Americans can begin taking Social Security at age 62, or wait until their full benefits kick in at 67, the national retirement age. Trump's campaign promise comes as Business Insider has <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/older-americans-regret-retirement-savings-taking-social-security-early-investments-2024-10">heard from older adults</a> with limited retirement savings, many of whom are struggling to afford necessities like housing and groceries on their fixed Social Security income. Income taxes on Social Security apply to all beneficiaries with an annual household income above $25,000, and most pay taxes on at least <a target="_blank" href="https://www-origin.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/taxes.html">50%</a> of their benefits. Lower-income beneficiaries pay less in taxes. <h2>Social Security tax cuts would hurt low-income retirees, younger generations</h2>US Social Security will be depleted<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/when-will-social-security-benefits-run-out-retirement-crisis-boomers-2024-5">in the next decade</a> without Congressional action. The fund is largely financed through payroll taxes that Americans contribute to throughout their career. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.crfb.org/blogs/what-would-trump-campaign-plans-mean-social-security">A report</a> published in October by the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget said that Trump's campaign promises — which alsoincludes ending taxes on tips, reducing <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-tax-plan-tarriffs-benefits-top-earners-study-2024-10">some income taxes</a>, expanding deportations, and imposing tariffs — would take a toll on the Social Security fund, making it "insolvent" within the next six years. That's three years earlier than the Congressional Budget Office's current estimation. Those policies would also lead to a 33% <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.crfb.org/blogs/what-would-trump-campaign-plans-mean-social-security">benefit cut</a> in 2035, a 10% increase from what the Congressional Budget Office projects under the current law. Lee said that low-income boomers and younger generations are likely to feel the brunt of these cuts. Low-income boomers living on Social Security already pay less income taxes, so they wouldn't see the benefits Trump promised. Lee said that many don't have other <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/social-security-no-savings-snap-benefits-debt-boomers-experiences-2024-6">retirement savings </a>to fall back on if their benefits are slashed. He added that older Americans who are wealthy or middle class would feel less stress from Social Security cuts, and may benefit in the short term from Trump's tax plan. "It would help people in the middle class, people that have the luxury of having a 401(k) or an IRA and have multiple sources of retirement income," Lee said. "But the people that's going to hurt the most are people that don't have that traditional retirement income." Lee said it's possible that <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-z-social-security-insolvency-medicare-donald-trump-biden-mcconnell-2023-3">younger generations</a> will have lower Social Security benefits, requiring them to rely more heavily on retirement savings. To be sure, any changes Trump hopes to make the tax or Social Security systems would need to be approved by Congress. Working in his favor is that the<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/republicans-win-senate-election-majority-election-2024-11">Senate will have a Republican majority</a>.(Votes for House representatives are still being counted.) Lee added that tax funding is also not the only challenge facing Social Security: people are living longer, meaning that more benefits funding is required per person. As for other retirement finances, like <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/investing/what-is-401k">401(k) accounts</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-election-victory-impact-investments-costs-housing-taxes-childcare-2024-11">investments</a>, it's unclear what impact a second Trump term will have. The president-elect plans to impose tariffs on foreign goods and make broad tax cuts, a move that is likely to drive inflation and make the cost of living <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-tariffs-higher-inflation-fed-interest-rates-taxes-mortgage-rates-2024-11">more expensive</a>. With the <keyword id="23944794" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="future-of-Social-Security" source="keywords">future of Social Security</keyword> uncertain, Lee said it's important for retirees to build a strong financial plan. "There's a lot of planning that we can still do," Lee said. "Government policy — we really can't affect that. So we just have to control what we can control." Are you relying on Social Security in retirement? Are you adjusting your retirement plans based on Trump's return to office? If so, reach out to this reporter at <a target="_blank" class="" href="mailto:allisonkelly@businessinsider.com">allisonkelly@businessinsider.com</a>.

Trump's plan for Social Security will help baby boomers in the short term and cut benefits for anyone younger

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Michael Johnston was making six figures in a remote job he enjoyed when his second child was born.</li><li>He fell in love with <keyword id="23944982" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="full-time-parenting" source="keywords">full-time parenting</keyword> and his wife, a successful editor, was keen to keep working.</li></ul>This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Michael Johnston, 41, a <keyword id="23944981" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="stay-at-home-dad" source="keywords">stay-at-home dad</keyword> who lives in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. Johnston's financial claims have been verified with documents. It has been edited for length and clarity. I graduated from Boston University in 2006 with a degree in mechanical engineering. I then got a job in the semiconductor industry. The role allowed me unlimited creative freedom and had crazy big budgets. Life was good. A few years into this amazing job, things shifted. The 2008 recession hit, and though I survived layoffs, everything changed. Money dried up for creative projects, and suddenly, I was doing paperwork all day. After my wife Maddie finished school, we wanted a fresh start. We moved coasts onto a ranch in California. I found a new role at KLA Corporation, in manufacturing, with much less paperwork. When my wife told me she was pregnant, I had a steady job with a manageable workload, but I traveled frequently to China, Taiwan, and South Korea. I was grateful for the income when our son Lincoln was born. <div type="image" title="Dad with baby in a carrier." height="4032" width="2268" msid="114981391" hostid="261"></div><h2>The impossible task of pandemic parenting</h2>Like many parents, March 2020 was a very difficult period for my family of three. Lincoln was around three years old, and suddenly my world narrowed to just four walls during lockdown. Instead of traveling and working in the office, my role was being permanently on the phone. I had meetings the entire day and would try to get my actual work done in the evening. Calls from around the world pushed late into the night. At some points, I worked almost 24 hours a day. Maddie, Lincoln, and I tried to maintain daily family life while we kept up with our careers. Now we were both fully remote, so we bought a beach house in Maine in 2020 and left California in 2021. But that wasn't the only reason we were moving back closer to home: our second baby was on the way. <div type="image" title="Michael Johnston and his kids." height="3357" width="1888" msid="114981168" hostid="261"></div><h2>Crunching numbers on <keyword id="21017792" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="paternity-leave" source="keywords">paternity leave</keyword></h2>I fully intended to go back to work after paternity leave. I was making six figures doing work that I loved — prior to the pandemic shift — and my team was great. But over 12 weeks of leave, I fell in love with being a full-time dad. If I was up at 3 a.m. I was comforting a sleepless kid, not fielding international calls. It was some of the best times we'd had as a family. My wife has a successful career in editorial work, and we began examining whether we could afford to be a one-salary family. We'd spent our early career days digging out of student and credit card debt from moving around. Right before kids, we'd finally paid off our debt, which was tough even with two incomes. Moving back to Maine was a major savings opportunity. We streamlined our spending on our mortgage, rental property, two cars, and everything else it takes to run a family in California. We no longer had to pay for flights back, preschool or daycare. We dug into what life would look like on one income, and my financial projections showed it was doable in Maine. We walk the kids to school and don't have a pricey commute. We no longer pay for any day care — a drastic change from the insanely California options at around $2,000 for one child. Maine also has free breakfast and lunch at school. <h2>Deciding to stay home</h2>It came down to how we viewed our work. After maternity leave, my wife was excited to see her coworkers and jump back into her job. I saw work as a means to an end. My future wasn't ever really tied up in my workplace. I'd missed so much of my first child's youngest years that I was determined not to repeat that with my second. On the work front, I'd used my degree for 17 years and accomplished what I wanted to. A week or two before the end of my leave, I set my team up for success and gave my boss my two weeks' notice. <div type="image" title="Michael Johnston and his family." height="1690" width="2253" msid="114981165" hostid="261"></div><h2>Settling into full-time dad life</h2>The first few months were awesome. We knew we'd made the right choice. I walked the kids to school every day and got to experience small moments I'd previously been too busy to enjoy. I did have misconceptions about stay-at-home parenting life. I thought I'd renovate our 1954 Airstream during naps. Instead, I get up at 5:30 a.m., make lunches, have a cup of coffee for 15 minutes in peace, and then get everyone ready for school. Once my oldest is at school, my new mission is potty training. I'm lucky to grab a shower during naptime. I clean and reset the house for the evening, getting dishes under control and dinner started. My wife and I always split the cores, her taking the mental labor of organizing school and social life comms and I did more physical chores. This is now just more official – I manage school runs and all the household tasks. When others find out I'm a stay-at-home dad, they always ask: "When are you going back to work?" Maybe I will, maybe I won't. If I do, I'll have different boundaries. I spent too long wrapped up in my job. We are trained to graduate, get a good job, work that job forever, then retire at 65. I plowed along for long enough. Now I know a corporate job isn't a mandatory trajectory. It was a choice. I'm happy doing something different. Correction: November 8, 2024 — A previous version of this story misstated that the Johnston family didn’t have a car. They do have a car in Maine.

I quit my 6-figure job to be a stay-at-home dad. After leaving California, we could afford to be a single-income family.

Earlier this month, <keyword id="19904608" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Amazon" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Amazon" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Amazon">Amazon</keyword> made headlines for enforcing a strict <keyword id="20408795" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="return-to-office" source="keywords">return to office</keyword> mandate on employees starting next year. Until now, Amazon employees were required to come to office for three days a week but from next year, the employees will have to work from offices for all five days. The move had sparked backlash from various employees who took to social media to express that they work better in a hybrid or remote setup. Now, at a recent event, <keyword id="19974102" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Amazon-Web-Services" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Amazon Web Services" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Amazon Web Services">Amazon Web Services</keyword> CEO <keyword id="21187658" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Matt-Garman" source="keywords">Matt Garman</keyword> talked about the company's <keyword id="23712741" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="RTO-mandate" source="keywords">RTO mandate</keyword> and said that if it doesn't work for some employees, they can always "find another company." <h2>"Find another company" </h2> Speaking at The Wall Street Journal’s Tech Live event, Garman said that according to him, in-office work plays a critical role in driving innovation and operational efficiency. Citing interactions like impromptu chats in hallways, quick brainstorms on whiteboards, and casual discussions over coffee, he said that in-person collaboration brings advantages that remote settings can’t replicate. However, Garman also acknowledged that the mandate might not sit well with everyone, and that is okay. He said, “If it’s not for you, then that’s okay – you can go and find another company if you want.” This statement, as per a CNBC report, comes amid internal debate, with many employees voicing concerns about losing the flexibility they’ve become accustomed to, which some say enables them to balance their work and personal lives better. The report adds that around 37,000 employees have joined an internal Slack channel that advocates for <keyword id="20665553" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="remote-work" source="keywords">remote work</keyword>. On a related note, Garman had talked about Amazon's new policy over a week back as well. While speaking at an all-hands meeting as per a Reuters report, he had addressed potential concerns from those who might find the mandate challenging. Garman said that while most employees he spoke with supported the change, he recognised it might not suit everyone. "If there are people who just don't work well in that environment and don't want to, that's okay, there are other companies around," he had said and added, "By the way, I don't mean that in a bad way. We want to be in an environment where we're working together." <h2>When Amazon defended its RTO mandate </h2> Garman isn't the only Amazon employee who has advocated <keyword id="20294959" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="work-from-office" source="keywords">work from office</keyword>. A couple of days back, a report in The Information revealed that Beth Galetti, Senior Vice President of People Experience and Tech at Amazon, defended the RTO mandate. Galetti said that younger employees are eager to benefit from in-person mentorship and have been asking to work from office. Speaking at The Information’s Women in Tech, Media, and Finance conference, Galetti explained that many junior staff members expressed a desire for face-to-face interaction with colleagues. She also said that the new policy reflects a return to Amazon’s previous work culture, where there was flexibility for personal matters but office attendance remained the norm.

'Find another company if it doesn’t work for you’: Amazon Web Services CEO on work from office mandate

Two weeks after he and his wife closed on a summer house, Kevin Berman was <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hiring-picks-up-in-fall-low-openings-hurting-job-seekers-2024-9">laid off</a>.That was in September last year. Berman, who's 61, has since applied to more than 650 IT jobs.He has decades of experience in the field. He doesn't think his age has been an issue the handful of times he's landed an interview.But when Berman, who lives outside Detroit, hears nothing after applying to a role he sees as a perfect fit for his experience, he sometimes wonders whether his years are working against him. One role had a unique job title — something Berman had done earlier in his career. He didn't get so much as a screening call."Those were the ones that I'm like, OK, there's something going on," <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinberman/">Berman</a> told Business Insider.Berman is hardly alone in questioning why, with his experience, he <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/job-seeker-applied-more-than-2000-roles-2024-9">didn't get a shot at a job</a>. For those who've been working for a while — and those just starting out — it's not unreasonable to wonder whether <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hiring-managers-biased-against-gen-z-older-workers-survey-says-2024-4">age bias</a> is undercutting their career trajectory or prospects, labor-market experts told BI.That's a problem partly because the workforce in the US and many other developed countries is getting older.The Pew Research Center estimated that about one in five people 65 and older in the US <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2023/12/14/older-workers-are-growing-in-number-and-earning-higher-wages">were working last year</a>. That was nearly double the portion of people that age who had a job 35 years ago.Having people of various ages on the job together can be good for business. In 2020, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development reported that promoting multigenerational workforces and giving older people more chances to work could <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/promoting-an-age-inclusive-workforce_59752153-en.html">boost per capita gross domestic product</a> by 19% over the next three decades.Marjorie Powell, chief HR officer and senior vice president at AARP, argued that people were working longer often out of necessity, to cover things like healthcare or housing costs."They are also continuing to work because they want to contribute," Powell said.Berman's search for a new role in IT reflects a mix of necessity and desire.Less than three months after Berman was laid off, his wife also lost her job to corporate cutbacks. That left the couple with two mortgages and little income beyond their severance payments and unemployment, which ran out about six months ago, Berman said. Though they're renting out one of the homes, they're eating into their savings and investments, he added.Berman has been trying to do some IT consulting work. To stand out from other job applicants, he has obtained certifications in artificial intelligence management and cybersecurity. Both he and his wife are considering pursuing an MBA.Powell said <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-wont-take-as-many-jobs-as-feared-altman-2024-9">rapid technological advances</a> could exacerbate bias against older workers because being conversant in the latest thing is often seen as the preserve of the young."People have a tendency to think that the only people who are technology adapters are those that are in younger demographics, which is not true," she said.Powell said other impediments to older workers could lurk in job descriptions with phrases like "digital native" and "high energy."Employers often also ask job seekers when they were born and when they graduated, Powell said. She argued that with something like a degree, applicants should have to say only whether they completed it.What Powell sees as pernicious language and requests for extraneous dates can be "red flags that there may be some age bias involved," she said.In other cases, older workers might be told they're overqualified. What employers might not understand, Powell said, is that those with loads of experience aren't always looking to keep climbing or nab ever higher pay. Instead, she said, they may be drawn to the nature of the work or the mission of an organization."The bottom line is either you have the qualifications to do the work or you don't," Powell said.Being seen as overqualified is one of several concerns animating Don Trautman's job search.At 67, he's old enough to retire, but he's been looking for part-time work on and off since April after taking a buyout from a longtime employer.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dont75/">Trautman</a> is a certified public accountant and holds an MBA. He spent the past 18 years managing buying and warehouse operations, though he'd like to return to the accounting work he did earlier in his career.Trautman, who lives with his wife outside Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, has removed most dates from his résumé, as some recruiters advise. Nevertheless, when he applies for jobs, he fills in the start and end dates for his roles."Once I start putting in that I started my last job in '99 and I had multiple jobs before that, they're going, 'Oh, wait a minute,'" Trautman told BI. It would be impossible not to deduce that he's an older worker, he said.What's more, Trautman said, many employers advertise that they can offer room to advance, but that's not what he's seeking."I'm not looking to become a CFO," he said.This year, Katerina Stroponiati founded Brilliant Minds, a venture-capital fund for founders over 50.When Stroponiati traveled to the US from her native Greece more than a decade ago with dreams of starting a company, some of her family members asked whether she was too old to do something like that."I was 26," she told BI.Stroponiati, who's now 41, said she saw the stealthy reach of ageism at a prior venture fund she ran in the US. The few founders over 50 she encountered tended to intimate that they were out of place, she said."They were always shy, and they were not as confident as those in their 20s," Stroponiati said.In April, she started her fund for older founders so that she could focus on an overlooked market and the ways people evolve throughout their lives. "All the headlines are around Gen Z trying to disrupt the 9-to-5," Stroponiati said. "But nobody talks about the other generations. Actually, boomers and Gen X are trying to do the same thing — they're disrupting retirement."The fund has received more than 600 applications. So far, she's invested in two startups. Both are run by women over 55. One is focused on using a large language model in e-commerce, and the other involves AI infrastructure.Stroponiati's goal is to invest in 15 companies by 2027."I'm offering an alternative to retirement, to the old model," she said.Stroponiati argued that Greece didn't do enough to deal with an aging population and now faces economic and social consequences. The US, she said, has a chance to respond."We have to think what it means to have productive older citizens," Stroponiati said.Michael North, an associate professor of management and organizations at New York University's Stern School of Business, focuses on the challenges of having five — or, by some estimates, six — generations working side by side.North told BI that one difficulty for older workers is the long-held assumption in the US that people will retire around age 65.Government safety nets like Social Security and Medicare "assume that you're not really supposed to be working after that certain age," he said. But apart from recent deviations owing to factors like the pandemic, people in industrialized economies are generally living longer — and staying healthier as they do it.North said many older workers are vibrant, skilled, and educated. "There's a discordance there between what our policies and expectations have in place versus what older adults objectively have to offer," he said.For their part, North said, some younger workers and those hoping to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/entry-level-jobs-tech-roles-require-years-of-experience-2024-10">break into the job market</a> can become frustrated that the oldest employees won't retire and create openings.Essentially, younger workers sometimes see older workers as "blocking their own opportunities," he said."Whether that's fair or not, it's actually a pretty important debate to have," North said.Part of the frustration for many young people, he said, is that challenges in paying for college, affording a home, and starting a family are tougher than they used to be. North added that resentments over those conditions could tee up "alarming" generational conflict."It doesn't seem like a recipe for a society that is increasingly multigenerational to have these sorts of frictions and frustrations on both sides of the age spectrum," he said.For Trautman, who hopes to get back into accounting, returning to a fixed schedule on some days would be ideal. Now he completes his morning routine and sits down at his desk, but sometimes he doesn't have enough to do."In all honesty, retirement has been a struggle," Trautman said.He doesn't want to go work at Lowe's or Home Depot, as some friends have suggested.But "if it came down to it, I could do that," Trautman said. "The local grocery store is good about hiring people my age."

Ageism at work

<ul><li><keyword id="22496070" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AI-based-technology" source="keywords">AI-based technology</keyword> will be used for <keyword id="20074926" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="crowd-management" source="keywords">crowd management</keyword> at <keyword id="23948812" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mahakumbh-Mela-2025" source="keywords">Mahakumbh Mela 2025</keyword>.</li><li>Around 2,700 <keyword id="19997866" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="CCTV-cameras" source="keywords">CCTV cameras</keyword> are being installed at the fair area ahead of the event.</li><li><keyword id="19897919" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="social-media" source="keywords">Social media</keyword> platforms like Facebook and X will provide immediate assistance in locating lost relatives.</li></ul>As Prayagraj gears up for the festivities of Mahakumbh Mela 2025, AI-based technology will be used for crowd management for the convenience of devotees, SSP Mahakumbh Mela said. In a bid to ensure the safety and convenience of an estimated 45 crore devotees, the Yogi Adityanath government is preparing for the upcoming Maha Kumbh. For the first time, the grand event is being digitized on such a large scale, leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) and social media platforms to enhance management and security. "Around 2700 CCTV cameras are being installed in the district and the whole fair area. This will help us in crowd management... Cameras with AI features have also been installed in the area. These cameras will automatically send us alerts based on their feed. This step would be in addition to human intelligence. AI is adding to the information of human intelligence. We have already installed 25 police stations in the area and a total of 56 stations will be placed,” said Rajesh Dwivedi, SSP, Mahakumbh Mela. AI-powered cameras are being installed throughout the Kumbh site to monitor the massive crowd and ensure 24/7 surveillance. These state-of-the-art cameras will not only bolster security but also assist in reuniting individuals who may get separated during the event. In addition, popular social media platforms like Facebook and X will provide immediate assistance in locating lost relatives, streamlining the process of reuniting families amidst the sea of pilgrims. This time, visitors from across the country and abroad attending the Mahakumbh 2025 won't have to worry about losing their loved ones in the crowd. The Mela administration has devised an extensive plan to address this concern. A digital 'khoya paaya kendra' (lost-and-found centre) will go live on December 1, utilizing advanced technology to reunite separated individuals quickly and efficiently. The entire fair area is being equipped with 328 AI-enabled cameras, which have already been tested at four key locations. These cameras will monitor the crowd 24/7 and assist in locating lost individuals. Under the directives of the Yogi government, the large-scale installation of these cameras is in its final stages. The digital lost-and-found centres will immediately register every missing person's details digitally. Once registered, the AI-powered cameras will begin searching for the individual. Additionally, information about missing persons will be shared on social media platforms like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), making it easier to locate them quickly. Face recognition technology will be used at the Maha Kumbh to identify individuals who get separated from their loved ones. This advanced system will work instantly, capturing photographs and identifying individuals among the estimated 45 crore attendees. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/oppo-find-x8-and-find-x8-pro-launched-in-india-starting-at-69999/articleshow/115521010.cms">Oppo Find X8 and Find X8 Pro launched in India starting at ₹69,999</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/android-16-developer-preview-announced-new-features-timeline-and-everything-you-need-to-know/articleshow/115476441.cms">Android 16 Developer Preview announced – new features, timeline and everything you need to know</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/indian-wearables-market-declines-20-7-in-q3-2024-smartwatch-and-earwear-categories-struggle/articleshow/115447720.cms">Indian wearables market declines 20.7% in Q3 2024, smartwatch and earwear categories struggle</a>

AI-based technology to be used for crowd management at the Mahakumbh Mela 2025

<ul class="summary-list"><li>I hate mixing my social life with my work life, so I avoid company social events.</li><li>Since I graduated during the pandemic, most of my schooling and work-life is virtual.</li></ul>When I got the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/slack-notifications-not-working">Slack notification</a> about a social event at work, there was a little tug in my brain. I had an immediate, gut reaction of "no," followed by a quick brainstorming session of possible excuses and believable illnesses I could fake.It wasn't a result of avoidance or disdain for my company or <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/coworker-badmouthed-to-everyone-forced-to-quit-2024-4">my coworkers</a>; I'm fortunate to work with a wonderful group of people at an easygoing organization where I feel respected and valued. They're a joy to collaborate with, and I genuinely appreciate my interactions with them — but only at work.The prospect of mixing the work and social worlds gives me a headache. I can see myself in a decorated <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/remote-work-virtual-3d-offices-see-coworkers-katmai-2023-12">conference room</a> washing down a catering taco with a lukewarm White Claw; I feel like my head could explode.I can only speak for myself, but I think many <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-zers-are-leading-a-sober-dating-revolution-2024-7">Gen Zers</a> my age would agree that we're just not built to mix our work and social worlds. We're wired differently, which I attribute to the strange context in which we began our careers.<h2 id="f2fcd107-d7d0-4a7b-a77e-21414af77239">Older generations mixed their work and social lives</h2>My <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-grandparent-death-isnt-treated-the-same-as-other-relatives-2020-5">late grandfather</a> on my mom's side was a creative services director for State Farm. I grew up on stories of him and his work buddies gathering at that Playboy club in Chicago for cigars, steaks, and a shot.When I was young, it wasn't uncommon for my parents to come home late from a work social or <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/office-quiet-but-happy-hour-still-kicking-after-pandemic-2024-4">happy hour</a>. They both graduated from college in the early 90s and grew their careers over nearly two decades of boom time.It was actually because of the relationship my dad developed with his boss that his job was saved, and we were spared the worst of the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/woman-warned-great-recession-2008-brooksley-born-wall-street-sexism-2024-3">2008 recession</a>. So maybe I should eat my words.<h2 id="cc599088-c156-4e16-b7c4-d5d8659f74ae">But my schooling and job is virtual now</h2>Gen Z is entering the workforce at a pivotal time. The pandemic obliterated the last two years of my college life — right as I had solidified my <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tiktokers-debunk-large-friend-groups-authentic-people-few-friends-2024-1">friend groups</a> and was baby-stepping into building a network.I graduated in 2021 when the world was still seemingly on hold. No one was hiring, so I freelanced. After a year, I did well enough to move out of my parents' house. My current <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/working-2-full-time-remote-jobs-overemployed-millennial-started-business-2024-7">full-time job</a> was offered to me through a long-term freelance partner, and I never formally interviewed.All of the freelance work was also done remotely. Though I do go into the office a few times a month for my current gig, I am still primarily remote.The end result is a natural barrier between work and my <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/social-life-differences-living-in-uk-compared-to-us">social life</a>. Work exists on my laptop through emails, slack messages, and the occasional office visit. Though I sometimes wish it wasn't the case, seeing it bleed into my social world can feel unnatural.<h2 id="a188061f-72e8-49f0-b6a8-766bfa180ac0">Building a social life at work is not my priority</h2>I tell my dad that his company should sell all of its real estate, torch its branded blimps and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/united-states-car-models-interactive-guide-politics-color-brand-location-2024-10">company cars</a>, and give everyone a raise. I do this mostly to get a rise out of him but also because I struggle with superfluous company spending of any kind, including after-hours social events.For us Gen Zers, I'd argue that our unique upbringing has made us an efficient generation. We'll work in the office if it makes us more productive, but can easily pivot to remote work to save money and commuting time. When remote work bums us out, we learn how to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ballroom-dancing-helped-gen-z-make-friends-work-from-home-2024-10">ballroom dance</a>.Gen Z likes flexibility. We are deeply conscious of the time economy. With so much time already dedicated to work, it can be hard to justify an extra few hours making a strained company <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/get-better-at-small-talk-2017-6">small talk</a> over loud music at a bowling alley or an escape room. I would rather budget that time at concerts with people I can swear around.I would rather forge great work relationships through productive collaboration and great discussions. So, for the time being, I will avoid all company social events.I work for my money but won't work for a social life.

I'm Gen Z and avoid all social events at my job. I don't like mixing my social life with my professional life.

X (formerly Twitter) is experiencing its largest user exodus since <keyword id="6355315" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="elon-musk" source="Orion">Elon Musk</keyword> took over in 2022. The tipping point is a perfect storm of political controversy, privacy fears, and discontent with the platform’s new policies, culminating in a dramatic shift of users to alternative platforms like <keyword id="412371" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="bluesky" source="Orion">Bluesky</keyword> and <keyword id="1163500" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="threads" source="Orion">Threads</keyword>. Here’s a breakdown of the recent changes and why they’ve left users saying goodbye to X. <h2>Political backlash</h2>The day after the U.S. presidential election on November 6, X saw over 115,000 account deactivations — the most since Musk's acquisition. Many users were disillusioned by Musk's perceived alignment with newly elected President Donald Trump. Musk's vocal support for Trump during his campaign, coupled with his attendance at Republican rallies, alienated users who once trusted X as a politically neutral platform. One user, Kara Wurtz, said the election was the “final straw.” After eight years on the platform, the finance director from St. Louis decided that X was no longer delivering the content she valued. “Every time I opened it, it would throw things at me that put me in a bad mood,” she said. The political fallout didn’t just affect individuals. Prominent organisations and brands, including The Guardian and former CNN anchor Don Lemon, have also bid farewell to the platform. <h2>New terms of service spark outrage</h2>On November 15, X's updated terms of service came into effect, granting the platform a sweeping global licence to use user-generated content. This includes using posts, photos, and creative works to train artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) models. The backlash was immediate: <ul><li>Privacy Concerns: By continuing to use X, users implicitly agree to have their data — personal photos, creative work, and more — used for AI training. Artists and creators fear their intellectual property could be exploited to develop AI tools that might one day replace human creativity.</li><li>Legal Implications: Disputes over the new terms will be handled in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, home to Judge Reed O'Connor, a Tesla investor. This has raised questions about potential bias in legal proceedings related to the platform.</li></ul>Alex Fink, CEO of the AI-powered platform Otherweb, criticised X’s lack of transparency, stating, “Unlike other platforms with vague licensing terms, X removes any ambiguity about its intentions.” <h2>Changes to blocking and safety settings</h2>Safety concerns have also escalated due to alterations in X’s block feature. Users now allegedly receive notifications that even those they block can still view their posts — though they can’t interact. This tweak is particularly alarming for users who have faced harassment on the platform. Many feel their safety is compromised, prompting them to seek refuge in safer alternatives like Bluesky, which saw a surge of 500,000 new users in just one day following the policy updates. Initially developed by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, Bluesky offers customizable feeds and decentralised control, which many find refreshing. With over 16 million users (and counting), it’s quickly becoming the top choice for X refugees. Threads, Instagram’s text-based app, also surpassed 275 million monthly active users by November, with 15 million new sign-ups last month alone. For many, these platforms represent a chance to escape X’s chaos while reclaiming control over their online experience. <h2>Is Fediverse the future?</h2>Experts believe the exodus from X could mark the beginning of a new era of decentralised social networks. Bluesky, built on a protocol that enables interconnected platforms, is part of the "Fediverse," which could allow users to interact seamlessly across different apps. This shift reflects growing dissatisfaction with centralised platforms that control user data, content visibility, and privacy settings. While Musk touts record-breaking engagement on X, the cracks in the platform’s foundation are evident. Critics warn that X could become a training ground for Musk’s xAI venture, leveraging user interactions to fuel lucrative AI models. Whether X can weather this storm remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the days of Twitter’s broad appeal as a space for open, inclusive dialogue seem to be fading fast.

Mass X-odus: What are the controversial changes on X that are driving users away?

The Covid-19 pandemic drastically changed the way we work, with <keyword id="20665553" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="remote-work" source="keywords">remote work</keyword> quickly becoming the new normal. Employees across the globe adapted to working from home, enjoying newfound flexibility and a better <keyword id="19901232" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="work-life-balance" source="keywords">work-life balance</keyword>. And for a long time, we all thought that this was the new world and going to the office every day would be a thing of the past. However, as pandemic restrictions eased, many companies began rolling back these remote policies, pushing employees to return to the office. Tech giant <keyword id="19904608" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Amazon" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Amazon" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Amazon">Amazon</keyword> recently ended remote work for its employees and told them to come to office five days a week, just like how it used to be before the pandemic. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, in a blog post, said that working from offices has its benefits and therefore all employees will have to start coming to work the entire week. He added that even though they will permit work from home in case of emergencies (taking care of your sick kid, running emergency errands etc), remote work will no longer be the norm. <h2>Companies are calling employees back to offices</h2>Amazon isn’t the only company that has implemented the <keyword id="20007258" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rto" source="keywords">RTO</keyword> (<keyword id="20408795" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="return-to-office" source="keywords">return to office</keyword>) mandate. Companies like <keyword id="19945574" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Wipro" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Wipro" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Wipro">Wipro</keyword>, TCS, X (earlier called Twitter) and Infosys also require employees to be there in office for at least three days a week. While X boss <keyword id="19903807" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Elon-Musk" source="keywords">Elon Musk</keyword> had once asked those seeking work from home to “get off of their moral high horse,” Infosys CEO N. R. Narayana Murthy had made headlines for saying that workers in India should work 70 hours per week. In wake of Amazon’s recent RTO mandate, many young professionals are reacting strongly on the internet. While some feel that the RTO mandate will hamper their productivity, others feel that it is simply unnecessary. And then there are also some people who think that this is a good decision. Let us take a look at how people are reacting on being called back to offices. <h2>How are people reacting?</h2>Social media sites like Reddit, X, and LinkedIn are full of reactions on the RTO mandate. Many employees feel that this will increase their cost and time spent on commute. Amazon’s recent decision to bring its employees back to offices has not sat well with many, especially those accustomed to the <keyword id="20445439" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="hybrid-work-model" source="keywords">hybrid work model</keyword>. On LinkedIn, Samrat Bhardwaj, who has previously interned with Amazon India, questioned the rationale behind the shift, asking whether the company truly considered employee well-being or was more focused on its own benefits. He also voiced concerns over the increased cost in case employees think of moving closer to tech hubs. He also added that if people start living at a distance from tech parks, rent will be lower, but you'll be wasting a lot of time to and fro from the office every day. On the other hand, Erin Mantz, a former Meta and Amazon employee, pointed out the stark difference between previous work norms and the flexibility of today's workforce in a LinkedIn post. “Gen Xers, for decades, used to have to go in every day... no working from home, no midday walks or being home for the dishwasher repairman,” she said, reflecting on how work-life balance has evolved. She concluded that the shift back to in-office work might not align with modern expectations, suggesting that today’s workforce has experienced a better way of working. <h2>“Working in the parking lot isn’t a bad idea”</h2>People aren’t just concerned about the increased cost and wastage of time in commute. Some also pointed out the irony of commuting to the office only to continue working in their cars due to a lack of proper space and resources. One Reddit user said, “Genuinely had no idea how bad RTO would be until it hit. I'm as unproductive as ever and half my work is done in the parking lot at this point for these exact reasons. Going back to the office isn't the end of the world, but when there's zero space or even disability accommodation for the employees? Unacceptable, especially considering the ones who usually enforce the arrangements all have their own private offices with the best gear their department offers.” Another user, Oracle-2050, quipped that working from their car was a makeshift solution, noting, "At least I can attend Teams meetings and make phone calls." The absurdity of the situation was highlighted by yet another commenter who sarcastically remarked, “Only in clown world would a worker drive to the office in order to do work in their car.” Another user pointed out that the decision-makers pushing these mandates “all have their own private offices with the best gear their department offers,” leaving regular employees to struggle in far less conducive work environments. <h2>The “Fake work” problem </h2> Annie Dean, who earlier used to work as Director of Remote Work at Facebook, took a critical stance on LinkedIn, highlighting that return-to-office mandates don’t address the core problem which is “Fake work.” This term, popularised by Airbnb’s Brian Chesky, refers to tasks that feel like work but don’t actually create value for the business. Dean explained in her post that employees are drowning in endless meetings and messages, which detract from productivity. She argued that instead of mandating office attendance, companies like Amazon should focus on “pioneering new, more efficient modes of work.” This argument has resonated with many on X as well, where employees have expressed frustration over the return-to-office mandates being viewed as a quick fix. One Twitter/X user remarked that "commuting to do the same virtual meetings in person isn’t solving anything," while others echoed that the core problem lies in work structures, not location. Here are some other reactions on X: <div type="image" title="negative reactions" msid="113528739" hostid="261" sizebytes="64721"></div> <h2>A quiet layoff strategy? </h2> Yet another take on the RTO mandate comes from Jennifer DeLorenzo, a former senior recruiter at Pinterest. She suggested that the move feels like a “quiet layoff strategy.” According to her, by mandating full-time office attendance, companies may be hoping for a wave of resignations without having to deal with the negative press of formal layoffs. “This tactic allows them to reduce headcount while avoiding the negative optics of layoffs,” DeLorenzo wrote on LinkedIn, adding that it may backfire as hiring becomes challenging again when the economy shifts. Many others seemed to agree with her view. On Reddit too, there are many people talking about how companies might be carrying out soft layoffs by implementing an RTO mandate. Her comments tapped into a broader conversation on how companies may be using return-to-office mandates to indirectly reduce their workforce. Other social media users pointed out similar trends across industries, where companies tighten office attendance policies to nudge employees toward leaving voluntarily. <h2>Some mixed reactions too </h2> While the return-to-office mandates are frustrating for many, not all reactions are negative. Some employees, particularly newer hires, see value in the traditional office setting. Bhardwaj, for example, also noted that going to the office is beneficial for freshers who want to learn. “I do believe that going to the office makes you learn a lot as freshers,” he wrote in his post, suggesting that for those early in their careers, the in-person experience might be crucial for growth and networking. Some users on X too seemed to be in support of this mandate. Here’s a look: <div type="image" title="mixed-reactions" msid="113528718" hostid="261" sizebytes="77770"></div> This duality reflects the ongoing debate around the future of work. On one hand, companies like Amazon, Google, and Meta are focusing on building stronger in-office teams, believing that physical presence fosters better collaboration, innovation, and mentoring. On the other hand, employees, especially those who experienced the benefits of remote work during the pandemic, are pushing back against these mandates, valuing the flexibility and improved work-life balance that working from home provides. As companies continue to adjust their RTO policies, the tension between employee expectations and corporate strategies is likely to persist. However, one thing is clear — the future of work is still being negotiated, and both sides are making their voices heard across the internet.

'I'm unproductive, this is not the real solution': Internet reacts as Amazon, Wipro and others call employees back to office

<keyword id="19902762" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Google" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Google" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Google">Google</keyword> laid off thousands of employees in 2023 and many found their lives turned upside down with just an email notification. After all, when you have given your heart and soul to an organisation, it is never easy accepting the fact that you are being asked to leave at a moment’s notice. The situation becomes even more complicated when you have been with the company for more than a decade. Something similar happened with <keyword id="23300967" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nicholas-Whitaker" source="keywords">Nicholas Whitaker</keyword>, who had been working with the company since 2010 and found out about his <keyword id="20118388" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="layoff" source="keywords">layoff</keyword> abruptly. <h2>The 3 am email bringing bad news</h2>“My layoff experience was traumatic. I got an email at 3 am to my personal email, that I only found because a colleague pinged me on Linkedin in the DMs to ask if I was ‘Ok’ and if I was ‘safe’,” Whitaker told <keyword id="21390875" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Business-Insider-India" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Business Insider India" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Business Insider India">Business Insider India</keyword> in a conversation. He added that when his colleague enquired about his safety, he thought it was a “shooting or some natural disaster.” In other words, he didn’t even imagine that he was being laid off from Google. He then revealed that when he checked his work email, he discovered that he was locked out of his laptop and phone. He then checked his personal email and there it was, the “short and impersonal email” that told him that his role at Google was being eliminated. <h2>The layoff process was uncomfortable</h2>When Google announced large-scale layoffs last year, the company made a lot of headlines for handling them in an unprofessional manner. In March 2023, several Google employees had even written an open letter to Google CEO Sundar Pichai, asking him to deal with layoffs in a better manner. Whitaker, narrating his own experience, shared with Business Insider India that after receiving the dreadful layoff email at 3 am, he spent the next few months completing formalities to get his payments that were due. He said, “It took all of the next several months for me to mail back my laptop, badge and any gear that I had that was Google property. (I also had to) navigate unemployment, health insurance and get all of the documentation I had to submit to "self Offboard" and to receive payments that I was supposed to get.” “Along the way there were multiple errors and miscommunications from the team that made it all even more uncomfortable,” he said. Whitaker also noted a complete lack of communication and empathy from his old team at Google. “I got a single text message from my prior manager asking how I was doing a few days after I was laid off, but otherwise no one reached out to check on me or offer assistance from my old team. Overall I found the process to be brutally impersonal and inhumane,” he said. <h2>Experience at Google</h2>But was Google always “inhumane” in his experience? Not really. There were some amazing days too and Google, according to Whitaker, was a different company when he had joined. “My initial experience working at Google was like it was a completely different company. I started as a temp, contractor and then a vendor for Google back in 2010, and at the time I think it was something like 40,000 employees. It had a real startup feel to it. Teams were agile and collaborative, and there was a lot of room for growth. It may have been specific to my team and org, but it felt like you had a lot more room for experimentation and autonomy to make decisions, and failure wasn't seen as a bad thing, but a necessary part of innovation,” he said. Whitaker also said that a “class system” was there at Google, especially since he was a TVC (Temporary, Vendor and Contractor). “As a TVC you wouldn't be included in many of the activities and learning opportunities that full time employees had, and didn't get invited to extracurricular activities. There was a real bias towards culture at the time, and words like Don't be Evil, and be Googly were often used.” However, in general, he added that the atmosphere was positive and full of possibilities. “Colleagues generally were very supportive, collaborative and encouraging to work with. I was excited as this was my first time working in big tech, or Corporate America and I saw that period of time as a real coming of age for me. I learned how to be a professional at Google and appreciated all of the early guidance and support that I got from colleagues and leaders.” <h2>Helping others</h2>It has now been over a year since Whitaker was laid off. He now has his own venture and helps other people navigate their careers. Talking about what motivated him to kick-start his own venture, he said, “After 13 years in big tech, the last few years in particular being particularly difficult due to toxic teams and leaders, I didn't want to jump right back into that kind of experience again. A year before getting laid off, I had experienced a bad <keyword id="19956983" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mental-health" source="keywords">mental health</keyword> crisis that was the result of workplace bullying, gaslighting and toxic leadership. "I wanted to help others avoid and recover from similar situations and create a community where people can find mutual support and coaching on how to best navigate their careers in a conscious way. My severance after working so long at Google allowed me to fund the launch of my coaching business, and eventually ‘changingwork.org’." <keyword id="23300968" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Changing-Work" source="keywords">Changing Work</keyword>, Whitaker explained, is his way of addressing a deep need in corporate life — helping people rediscover their sense of purpose and alignment in their careers and finding ways to build more conscious leaders and businesses. He added, “What makes this so transformative for me personally is that it allowed me to step into a role where I could integrate all the lessons from my own career—especially the parts that were hardest for me. During my time at Google, I saw firsthand how high-pressure environments can lead to burnout, anxiety, and a disconnect from our true selves.” The recent tragic death of a young CA at Ernst &amp; Young (EY) employee in India has turned the spotlight on toxic work cultures prevalent in many high-pressure industries. Broader debates on burnout, mental health struggles, and unrealistic expectations in corporate environments in the workplace have occupied social media platforms. This incident serves as a painful reminder that companies must prioritize <keyword id="21050364" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="employee-well-being" source="keywords">employee well-being</keyword> and mental health to foster sustainable, humane workplaces. And makes the work that people like Whitaker are doing all the more important. “I’ve spoken publicly about how mindfulness practice, coaching and therapy literally saved my life during some of my darkest times at Google. Changing Work is the culmination of that journey. It’s not just about helping others find balance and fulfillment—it’s about creating a space where I can live those values every day,” he concludes.

Fired from Google after 13 years of service, he used his severance to build a business around helping others with their careers

On July 13, shortly after Donald Trump was targeted by an assassination attempt, <keyword id="19903807" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Elon-Musk" source="keywords">Elon Musk</keyword>, the billionaire owner of X (formerly Twitter), tweeted to his 200 million+ followers: I fully endorse President Trump and hope for his rapid recovery. Musk's efforts to influence who wins next week's US presidential election have continued. For example, over the past three months, he has donated more than US$100 million to a political action committee called America PAC that's promoting Trump. Shortly after Musk endorsed Trump's presidential campaign, there was a statistically anomalous boost in engagement with his X account. Suddenly, his posts were getting much higher views, retweets, and likes in comparison to other prominent political accounts on the platform. This raises suspicions as to whether Musk has tweaked the platform's algorithm to increase the reach of his posts in advance of the US presidential election. It also demonstrates the problems with how <keyword id="19897919" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="social-media" source="keywords">social media</keyword> platforms like X are currently regulated around the world. <h2>Not the first time</h2>Musk has a history when it comes to tweaking X's algorithms so his content reaches more people. Last year, he reportedly mobilized a team of around 80 engineers to algorithmically boost his posts. This came after his tweet supporting the Philadelphia Eagles during the Super Bowl was outperformed by a similar one from President Joe Biden. Musk seemed to confirm this happened, posting a picture depicting one woman labeled "Elon's tweets" forcibly bottle-feeding another woman labeled "Twitter." To see whether Musk has done this again in the lead-up to the <keyword id="20204585" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="US-election" source="keywords">US election</keyword>, we compared Musk's engagement metrics—such as the number of views, retweets, and likes—with a set of other prominent political accounts on the social media platform. The data spans the period from January 1, 2024, to October 25, 2024. Other political accounts that served as a basis of comparison include those of right-wing commentators Jack Posobiec, Tucker Carlson, and Donald Trump Jr. The study also examined accounts at the other end of the political spectrum, including those of US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, US Senator Bernie Sanders, and Vice-President Kamala Harris. <h2> A sudden and significant increase</h2>Since July, engagement with Musk's X account has seen a sudden and significant increase. The view counts for his posts increased by 138%, retweets by 238%, and likes by 186%. In contrast, other prominent political accounts on X saw more moderate increases: 57% in view counts, 152% in retweets, and 130% in likes. This suggests that while engagement went up for all accounts after July, Musk's metrics saw a particularly large boost, particularly in retweets and likes. The research further found that since July, other conservative and right-wing X accounts have performed better in terms of visibility of posts compared to progressive and left-wing accounts. Without backstage access to the workings of the company, it is impossible to know for sure whether changes to its curation system are boosting its owner's posts. The platform has limited the access it provides to researchers since Musk took over. However, the Washington Post recently found that tweets from Republicans are far more likely to go viral, receiving billions more views than those from Democrats. Similarly, an investigation by the Wall Street Journal revealed that new users to the platform "are being blanketed with political content" that disproportionately favors Trump. Since Musk purchased the platform, it has become more congenial to figures on the right, including people who were previously banned for spreading harmful and false information. <h2>The myth of neutrality</h2>The findings raise the question of the extent to which Musk's influential social media platform is reinforcing its owner's political agenda. Musk, whose businesses have extensive government contracts, has made a public and financial spectacle of his unabashed support of Trump. The billionaire tech tycoon is reportedly Trump's second-biggest financial donor. He also promoted Trump in a glitchy live interview on X and authored a stream of tweets promoting Trump's campaign. Musk is also handing out $1 million a day to selected registered voters. This plan (which has met with questions over its legality) aims to boost <keyword id="20759059" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="voter-registration" source="keywords">voter registration</keyword> among sympathizers in swing states. Musk's actions have torpedoed the fantasy that social media platforms such as X are neutral. Given he has previously tweaked X's algorithm to amplify the reach of his posts, it would be surprising if he were not tilting the platform in favor of Trump, whom he believes is "the path to prosperity." For too long, social media platforms have enjoyed immunity for the information they selectively inject into users' feeds. It's time for governments to reconsider their approach to regulating the oligopolistic power over our information environment wielded by a handful of tech billionaires.

You Searched For "Social work" and got 10 results

Trump's plan for Social Security will help baby boomers in the short term and cut benefits for anyone younger

Allie Kelly

I quit my 6-figure job to be a stay-at-home dad. After leaving California, we could afford to be a single-income family.

Alexandra Frost

'Find another company if it doesn’t work for you’: Amazon Web Services CEO on work from office mandate

Divyanshi Sharma

Ageism at work

Tim Paradis

AI-based technology to be used for crowd management at the Mahakumbh Mela 2025

BI India Bureau

I'm Gen Z and avoid all social events at my job. I don't like mixing my social life with my professional life.

Jonah Nink

Mass X-odus: What are the controversial changes on X that are driving users away?

BI India Bureau

'I'm unproductive, this is not the real solution': Internet reacts as Amazon, Wipro and others call employees back to office

Divyanshi Sharma

Fired from Google after 13 years of service, he used his severance to build a business around helping others with their careers

Divyanshi Sharma

Tech billionaire Elon Musk's social media posts have had a 'sudden boost' since July, new research reveals

PTI

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides