The Center for Humane Technology (CHT) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to radically reimagining the digital infrastructure. Its mission is to drive a comprehensive shift toward humane technology that supports the collective well-being, democracy and shared information environment. CHT has diagnosed the systemic harms of the attention economy, which it says include internet addiction, mental health issues, political extremism, political polarization, and misinformation.[1][2] The Center for Humane Technology's work focuses on alerting people to technology's impacts on individuals, institutions, and society; identifying ways to address the consequences of technology; encouraging leaders to take action; and providing resources for those interested in humane technology.
Launched in 2018, the organization gained greater awareness after its involvement in the Netflix original documentary The Social Dilemma, which examined how social media's design and business model manipulates people's views, emotions, and behavior and causes addiction, mental health issues, harms to children, disinformation, polarization, and more. The film was watched by 38 million households in its first month, making it the second-most watched documentary on Netflix.[
Title: The Financial Triumph of the Pizza Industry in 2020
Introduction:The year 2020 proved to be a challenging period for businesses across various sectors due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. However, the pizza industry emerged as a surprising success story, adapting its business model to thrive in these uncertain times. This essay explores the outstanding financial growth that the pizza industry experienced in 2020, revealing the staggering amount of money generated by this beloved and versatile sector.
Paragraph 1:The pizza industry, renowned for its resilience and adaptability, demonstrated exceptional financial gains in 2020. Despite the adverse circumstances, this sector showcased tremendous flexibility to meet consumers' changing needs and preferences.
Paragraph 2:According to industry reports, the pizza industry witnessed an impressive surge in revenue throughout 2020. Estimates suggest that the industry generated a staggering amount of money, exceeding previous years' records.
Paragraph 3:One of the key factors contributing to the pizza industry's financial success in 2020 was the surge in delivery and takeout orders. As the pandemic restricted dine-in options, consumers turned to the convenience and safety of home delivery and takeaway services, propelling the industry's financial growth.
Paragraph 4:Another aspect that contributed to the pizza industry's record-breaking financial performance in 2020 was its ability to offer contactless delivery and online ordering options. By embracing technology and digital platforms, pizza chains successfully adapted to the new normal, attracting customers seeking a safe and hassle-free dining experience.
Paragraph 5:Furthermore, the closure of other restaurants and limited menu options during the pandemic gave pizza establishments the opportunity to cater to a broader audience. This resulted in a significant increase in the customer base and subsequently, higher profits.
Paragraph 6:It is essential to acknowledge the innovative marketing strategies employed by the pizza industry in 2020. Pizza chains leveraged various channels, including social media, online advertising, and promotional offers, to entice customers and boost sales.
Paragraph 7:Additionally, the adaptability of the pizza industry showed through creative collaborations with other businesses. By partnering with grocery stores, movie theaters, and other establishments, pizza companies expanded their reach and capitalized on new revenue streams.
Paragraph 8:Furthermore, the rise of ghost kitchens and cloud concepts, a trend that gained momentum in 2020, greatly benefited the pizza industry. By reducing expenses associated with physical locations, pizza chains could maximize their profits and tap into emerging markets.
Paragraph 9:The introduction of new and diverse pizza flavors and menu options in 2020 also contributed to the industry's financial success. Through constant reinvention and appealing to changing consumer tastes, pizza establishments ensured a steady stream of revenue.
Paragraph 10:In conclusion, despite the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the pizza industry showcased exceptional financial resilience in 2020. With strategic adaptations, innovation, and a strong focus on customer preferences, this beloved sector generated an astounding amount of money, exceeding previous records. The industry's success story serves as a testament to its ability to adapt and thrive amidst adversity, ensuring a promising future for pizza lovers worldwide.
Title: African American Communities: Harnessing the Power of Trillion-dollar Spending
Introduction:African American communities in the United States possess enormous financial potential, collectively spending trillions of dollars each year. This economic influence presents both an opportunity and a challenge. By understanding the spending patterns and focusing on economic empowerment, African American communities can actively contribute to their own growth and development, fostering social and economic progress within their neighborhoods and beyond. This essay will highlight the significance of African American spending power, analyze key sectors of expenditure, address challenges, and propose strategies to harness this economic potential.
Paragraph 1: The Power of African American SpendingAfrican Americans have consistently exhibited significant purchasing power that stimulates local economies. Their contributions extend to various industries, including retail, entertainment, telecommunications, and automotive sectors. This trillion-dollar spending power demonstrates the community's economic relevance and its ability to influence markets at local, regional, and national levels.
Paragraph 2: Household Expenditure TrendsUnderstanding the allocation of African American spending is crucial in developing targeted community economies. Significant portions of the spending are directed towards essential needs like housing, food, healthcare, and education. This explains the importance of investing in increasing affordability, accessibility, and quality of these necessities, leveling the playing field for African Americans across various socio-economic levels.
Paragraph 3: Housing and Real EstateAfrican Americans heavily invest in housing and real estate, contributing to the growth of local communities. Enhancing access to affordable and sustainable homeownership opportunities is vital to reducing wealth disparities and fostering financial stability within African American communities.
Paragraph 4: Education and Career DevelopmentEducation is a key determinant of socioeconomic success. African Americans prioritize investing in education and career development to enhance opportunities for themselves and future generations. By addressing systemic barriers to equitable education, increased funding for schools, and diversifying career opportunities, African American communities can maximize their spending power for positive long-term outcomes.
Paragraph 5: Entrepreneurship and Business DevelopmentAfrican American communities have a rich tradition of entrepreneurship. Supporting and promoting black-owned businesses can channel significant amounts of spending back into the community. This requires reducing barriers to financing, increasing access to mentorship, and providing resources for business development, which will ultimately stimulate local economies and create job opportunities.
Paragraph 6: Investing in Entertainment and MediaThe entertainment and media industry has long benefited from African American consumer spending. Encouraging diverse representation and amplifying black voices can help ensure that these sectors reciprocate by investing in the African American community, fostering a symbiotic relationship that reinforces the economic strength and social representation of African Americans.
Paragraph 7: Addressing Challenges and InequalityDespite the considerable spending power, African American communities face interconnected challenges such as systematic inequalities, limited access to credit, and financial services, and disparities in income and wealth accumulation. Addressing these challenges requires comprehensive policies and awareness to create equitable economic opportunities for African Americans.
Paragraph 8: Advocating for Financial LiteracyPromoting financial literacy and empowerment within African American communities is key to maximizing the impact of their spending power. By equipping individuals with financial knowledge, skills, and resources, community members can make informed decisions, avoid predatory practices, and invest wisely, contributing to individual and communal economic growth.
Paragraph 9: Collaborative Efforts and Community BuildingTo fully harness the potential of African American spending, fostering collaboration among community members, organizations, and policymakers is vital. By building networks and partnerships, African American communities can collectively pool resources, advocate for their interests, negotiate fair contracts, and create sustainable economic ecosystems that further strengthen their financial positions.
Paragraph 10: ConclusionThe trillion-dollar spending power of African American communities represents an immense economic opportunity that can drive social and economic change. By strategically directing their spending towards education, homeownership, entrepreneurship, and community development, African American communities can set the stage for lasting progress, empowering their members, promoting equity, and positively shaping American society as a whole.
This documentary dives into the psychological underpinnings and the manipulation techniques by which, it claims, social media and technology companies addict users. People's online activity is watched, tracked, and measured by these companies, who then use this data to build artificial intelligence models that predict the actions of their users. Tristan Harris, former Google design ethicist and co-founder of the Center for Humane Technology, explains in the documentary that there are three main goals of tech companies:
- The engagement goal: to increase usage and to make sure users continue scrolling.
- The growth goal: to ensure users are coming back and inviting friends that invite even more friends.
- The advertisement goal: to make sure that while the above two goals are happening, the companies are also making as much money as possible from advertisements.
Harris summed this up with the warning: "If you're not paying for the product, you are the product", paraphrasing earlier insights from Television Delivers People, Tom Johnson and Andrew Lewis.[1]
Another interviewee, Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist at NYU Stern School of Business, brings up the concerns of mental health in relation to social media. Along with mentioning the concerns with mental health, they also discuss the dangers of fake news in the documentary. Harris argues that this is a "disinformation-for-profit business model" and that companies make more money by allowing "unregulated messages to reach anyone for the best price".
Orlowski uses a cast of actors to portray this in the dramatization of the issues covered in the film. The narrative features a family of five, portraying various perspectives of social media usage and its influence on their daily lives. The main character, Ben, is a teenager who falls deeper into social media addiction under the manipulation of the Engagement, Growth, and Advertisement AIs. Cassandra, Ben's sister, believes that one can stay connected to the Internet without a cellphone and she represents individuals free from the manipulation of social media and technology, unlike other members of her family. Isla, the youngest daughter in the family, represents how teenage girls fall into depression and lose their sense of identity due to social media.[2]
One scene in the narrative shows the family at the dinner table. The mother proposes that everyone keep their cell phones locked in a Kitchen Safe prior to eating dinner but when a notification buzzes on someone's phone, Isla gets up from the table and tries to open the Kitchen Safe. She resorts to shattering the Kitchen Safe with a tool after a few failed attempts, retrieving her own phone but damaging Ben's phone screen in the process. In return for a new phone screen, Ben promises his mother that he will refrain from using the phone for a week. Halfway through the agreed time period, Ben breaks his promise, and progressively becomes addicted to social media. The AIs behind the screen push "Extreme Center" political content to keep Ben engaged. Once Ben starts watching one video recommended by the AIs, he becomes so immersed in the content containing propaganda and conspiracy theories that it affects his daily life, leading him to skip soccer practice and disregard friends and family. Ultimately, towards the end of the film, Ben gets involved in an "Extreme Center" rally that escalates and becomes violent.
In the ending credits of the documentary, the interviewees propose ways the audience can take action to fight back, such as turning off notifications, never accepting recommended videos on YouTube, using search engines that do not retain search history, and establishing rules in the house on cell phone usage.
Frances Haugen (born 1983 or 1984[1]) is an American product manager, data engineer and scientist, and whistleblower.[2] She disclosed tens of thousands of Facebook's internal documents to the Securities and Exchange Commission and The Wall Street Journal in 2021.
Haugen has also testified before the United States Senate Commerce Committee's Sub-Committee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security, the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and the European Parliament. In 2023, her memoir, The Power of One: How I Found the Strength to Tell the Truth and Why I Blew the Whistle on Facebook, was published by Little, Brown & Company.
In 2019, Haugen joined Facebook, after a person close to her became radicalized online; she "felt compelled to take an active role in creating a better, less toxic Facebook"[15] and thought "Facebook has the potential to bring out the best of us".[16] When Facebook recruited her, she expressed interest in a role related to misinformation; in 2019 she became a product manager on the Facebook civic integrity team.[6]
Following the 2020 United States elections, Facebook dissolved its civic integrity team, and Haugen became disillusioned.[17] While still at Facebook, she decided to become a whistleblower, due to what she has since described as a pattern of Facebook's prioritization of profit over public safety,[18] and left Facebook in May 2021.[19]
In the spring of 2021, she contacted John Tye, a founder of the pro bono law firm Whistleblower Aid, for help; Tye agreed to represent her and to help protect her anonymity.[18] In the late summer of 2021, Haugen began meeting with members of the United States Congress, including Senator Richard Blumenthal and Senator Marsha Blackburn.[20]
Wealthy millionaires are known for their astute investment choices, which allow them to not only preserve and grow their wealth but also generate substantial returns. While their investment portfolios can be diverse, there are several key industries in which they commonly invest their money. These sectors tend to offer stability, growth potential, and the opportunity for significant returns. This essay will explore ten industries that wealthy millionaires frequently invest in: real estate, technology, finance, healthcare, consumer goods, energy, entertainment, luxury goods, fashion, and agriculture.
Real estate is a tried-and-true investment option favored by millionaires due to its stability and potential for appreciation. They invest in various real estate assets, including residential properties, commercial buildings, and developments, which provide both cash flow through rentals and appreciation over time.
The technology industry has been a hotbed for millionaire investments in recent years. By investing in tech companies and startups, millionaires gain exposure to the potentially extraordinary growth and disruptive innovation that this sector offers. Examples of notable investments include venture capital funds and direct investments in rising technology giants.
Finance is another industry that millionaires often invest their money in. This includes investments in banking institutions, private equity firms, hedge funds, and venture capital firms. Millionaires understand the returns generated from the financial sector and see it as a safe bet with the potential for significant returns over the long term.
Healthcare is a resilient industry that attracts several wealthy investors. Millionaires invest in pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, telemedicine startups, and healthcare infrastructure. These areas often exhibit steady growth and a stable demand for healthcare products and services.
The consumer goods sector attracts wealthy investors who seek steady returns from well-established companies. Investments in companies manufacturing everyday consumer products, such as food, beverages, and personal care items, provide consistent cash flow and dividends.
Energy, including renewables and traditional fossil fuels, is another industry where millionaires prefer to invest their money. With the global demand for energy continuously increasing, wealthy investors recognize the potential for significant returns through investments in oil and gas companies, renewable energy projects, and infrastructure.
Entertainment, including film and television production, has long been an attractive investment option for millionaires seeking diversification. This industry offers the potential for substantial returns through box office successes, streaming services, and content licensing.
Luxury goods, including high-end cars, luxury fashion brands, and fine art, are favored by wealthy investors who appreciate the exclusivity and cultural value of these assets. Investing in luxury goods offers potential returns from both appreciation and their ability to retain value over time.
Fashion is also an industry that attracts millionaire investors. Whether it is through founding their fashion brands, acquiring shares in renowned fashion houses, or investing in emerging designers, wealthy individuals find opportunities for profits in this ever-evolving industry.
Lastly, agriculture presents opportunities for wealthy investors seeking diversification in their portfolios. By investing in farmland and agricultural companies, millionaires can tap into the long-term potential of food production and benefit from rising commodity prices.
In conclusion, wealthy millionaires invest their money in various industries ranging from real estate, technology, finance, healthcare, consumer goods, and energy to entertainment, luxury goods, fashion, and agriculture. These sectors offer stability, growth potential, and the chance for substantial returns. By strategically diversifying their portfolios, millionaires can navigate the ever-changing economic landscape and continue to sustain and expand their wealth.
Aza Raskin (born February 1, 1984) is the co-founder of the Center for Humane Technology[1] and of the Earth Species Project.[2] He is also a writer, entrepreneur, inventor, and interface designer.[3][4][5] He is the son of Jef Raskin, a human–computer interface expert who was the initiator of the Macintosh project at Apple.
Raskin is an advocate for the ethical use of technology, and has been critical of the effects that modern technology has on everyday lives and society.[6] In the podcast Your Undivided Attention, along with Tristan Harris, Raskin has talked extensively about the power of information technology and the dangers it potentially poses to modern society.[7] In 2019, he became a member of the World Economic Forum's Global AI Council.[8]
Raskin coined the phrase, "freedom of speech is not freedom of reach,"[9][10] which was the title of an article that he wrote with Renée DiResta.[11] The phrase is now widely used to refer to the large-scale implications of platform amplification and free speech. For example, it was publicly quoted by the comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, and was used by Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey to help explain the rationale for banning political advertisements on Twitter.[12][13]
Raskin has continued his father's work on project Archy, has worked as the head of user experience at Mozilla Labs and as lead designer for Firefox, and has founded a number of companies. He is also the inventor of the infinite scroll.[14] More recently, he has collaborated on virtual reality projects[15] and on zooming user interface (ZUI).[16
Tristan Harris (/trɪsˈtɑːn/; born 1983/1984)[1] is an American technology ethicist. He is the executive director and co-founder of the Center for Humane Technology.[2][3]
Early in his career, Harris worked as a design ethicist at Google.[4] He received his Bachelor degree from Stanford University, where he studied computer science.[5]
Harris has appeared in the Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma. The film features Harris and other former tech employees explaining how the design of social media platforms nurtures addiction to maximize profit and manipulates people's views, emotions, and behavior. The film also examines social media's effect on mental health, particularly of adolescents.[6]
In 2007, Harris launched a startup called Apture.[8][9][10] Google acquired Apture in 2011, and Harris ended up working on Google Inbox.[1]
In February 2013, while working at Google, Harris authored a presentation titled “A Call to Minimize Distraction & Respect Users’ Attention”, which he shared with coworkers. In that presentation, he suggested that Google, Apple and Facebook should "feel an enormous responsibility" to make sure humanity doesn't spend its days buried in a smartphone.[11] The 141-slide deck was eventually viewed by tens of thousands of Google employees and sparked conversations about the company's responsibilities long after he left the company.[11][12] Harris holds several patents from his previous work at Apple, Wikia, Apture, and Google.[13]
Harris left Google in December 2015 to co-found the 501(c)3 nonprofit organization Time Well Spent, later called the Center for Humane Technology.[1][14] Through his work at CHT, Harris hoped to re-align technology with humanity's best interest. He asserted that human minds can be hijacked and the choices they make are not as free as they think they are.[15]
At CHT, Harris has advocated for understanding and minimizing the negative impacts of digital technologies. In 2017, he spoke on 60 Minutes with Anderson Cooper about the addictive design of smartphone apps.[16] At a 2019 presentation in San Francisco,[17] he coined the phrase "human downgrading" to describe an interconnected system of mutually reinforcing harms—addiction, distraction, isolation, polarization, fake news—that weakens human capacity, in order to capture human attention.[18]
Harris and other CHT team members were interviewed for the film The Social Dilemma, distributed by Netflix. In it he says, "Never before in history have 50 designers made decisions that would have an impact on two billion people"[19][20] about the harms of social media.[21][22][23]
CHT offers an online course on how to build humane and ethical technology, called The Foundations of Humane Technology, which has received notable media coverage. [24]
In recent years, Harris has expanded his focus from the attention economy to close the gap between the accelerating pace of technology and risks/externalities it creates, compared to the capacity of culture and its institutions to respond and adequately guard against them. Harris and CHT call this "The Wisdom Gap."[25]
The Atlantic stated in their November 2016 issue that "Harris is the closest thing Silicon Valley has to a conscience."[1] Since then, he has been named on Time 100 Next Leaders Shaping 2021,[26] Rolling Stone’s 25 People Changing the Future, and Fortune’s 25 Ideas that Will Change the Future. He is also the co-host of the podcast, Your Undivided Attention.[27]