December 26, 2022 - Net Worth

Elon Musk’s Poll Earns Him Majority of ‘Yes’ to CEO Resignation

Net Worth Staff on December 26, 2022

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In a stunning development, Elon Musk’s Twitter followers have been speaking up: They want him removed from his position as CEO of the social media platform.

The unexpected move was fueled by an online poll started by Musk about his future on the platform. More than two-thirds of Musk’s huge following responded to his question about resigning, with a staggering 57.5% saying yes.

Before the polls closed, Musk said he would accept any result voted by Twitter users regarding his $44 billion purchase of the platform.

Famed tech mogul Elon Musk – famous as the leader of Tesla and SpaceX – has faced a flurry of criticism since taking charge of his last company.

Despite the poll being closed, Musk has yet to respond to its findings. So despite possible changes in his role as CEO and owner of Twitter, we will always hear from Musk one way or another.

Musk’s poll sent a surge of engagement on Monday, with more than 17.5 million users casting their votes — 42.5 percent rejecting his potential resignation as CEO.

Over the years, Musk has been known to respect public opinion – even taking it directly into account by honoring polls placed on Twitter. His affinity for the phrase “vox populi, vox dei,” a Latin phrase that translates to “the voice of the people is the voice of God,” is significant.

Musk took a break from world-changing drudgery to watch the World Cup final. He was spotted in Qatar alongside US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner as he took time out from his busy schedule.

What They Say

A former Twitter employee, who recently left the company, gave his opinion to BBC News.

The former worker said Musk was “showing himself to be the incompetent fool we all knew he was.”

“His investors are surely looking at this now and questioning whether he was the right horse to back,” the anonymous worker added. “I imagine he’s getting pressure from investors to step down and is using this poll to make it look like he’s following the will of the people instead of the will of those paying his bills.”

With the clock ticking and poll results about to drop, the Binance founder reached out with a message of determination for Musk – encouraging him to remain steadfast in his position

Changpeng Zhao, a renowned investor in Twitter and other companies, showed his support for Musk as he made a whopping $500m investment toward the CEO’s takeover of the company.

Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities predicted that the Twitter poll would bring about a shift in power, possibly signaling an end to Elon Musk’s leadership on the platform.

Since the technology entrepreneur took the helm at Twitter, things have been turned upside-down. Costly restructuring measures led to a mass exodus of employees and sparked heated debates about his leadership style.

Musk’s Helm at the Platform

Musk made some sweeping changes to the company, firing nearly half of his employees and rolling out a verification function that was quickly put on hold. Luckily for users, things picked up again last week.

Furthermore, he has been met with criticism from civil liberties groups for his proposed methods of content moderation; they allege that such measures will lead to a rise in hate speech and false information.

On Friday, a wave of criticism crashed down on Musk’s move from two global bodies. The United Nations and European Union strongly disagreed with Twitter’s choice to suspend several news reporters covering the social media platform.

The UN and EU have taken a stand on media freedom: the former declared that it is “not a toy,” while the latter has warned Twitter of potential sanctions.

Despite being heralded as the “golden child,” Musk’s Tesla has encountered numerous challenges in recent months. According to Ives, these difficulties have been an unfortunate stain on both the company and its founder.

“Twitter right now – it’s a quicksand situation, and I think it’s gotten worse since Musk took over Twitter. It’s been a circus show,” he continued. “I think ultimately, in the next 24 hours, Musk will probably name a new temporary CEO of Twitter.”

After he launched the poll, Musk posted on Twitter: “As the saying goes, be careful what you wish, as you might get it.”

“Those who want power are the ones who least deserve it,” he later said.

Weighing Twitter and Tesla

Ives has expressed his opinion that this is Musk’s subconscious response to the pressure of taking on too many ambitious projects. With such an impressive resume, one can only imagine how difficult it would be to juggle the leadership roles at Twitter, Tesla and SpaceX all at once.

“The biggest problem is the more controversy he creates, advertisers leave, and they run for the hills, and that’s 90% of revenue for Twitter,” he said.

With investors of Tesla no doubt intrigued by Musk’s Twitter poll, Russ Mould – investment director at AJ Bell- anticipates close observation going forward.

“Given how much of a distraction Musk’s tenure at Twitter has become, shareholders in the electric vehicle manufacturer will be breathing a big sigh of relief if he steps back from Twitter and gets back to the day job at Tesla,” he stated.

“For someone who sets so much store by work ethic, Musk sure seems to spend a lot of time on social media. With Tesla shares having more than halved year-to-date, Musk needs to roll up his sleeves and get his main business back on the road.”

TikTok Content May Impact Teens’ Mental Health, Per a Study

Net Worth Staff on December 26, 2022

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Teens can be exposed to potentially harmful content related to suicide and eating disorders just minutes after creating a TikTok account, new research finds, likely heightening scrutiny of the impact of this app on its younger users.

The Center for Countering Digital Hate’s recent report on TikTok revealed a chilling reality: In less than eight minutes, users can access content related to suicide and eating disorders.

As social media platforms continue to expand their reach, parents and guardians should remain vigilant for content of concern targeting younger audiences.

A research study created eight new accounts in four countries to examine how TikTok users engage in conversations about body image and mental health.

Using the platform’s minimum age requirement, account holders aged 13 participated in this study by briefly interacting with related content.

After analyzing data over a 30-minute period, the CCDH revealed that the app was recommending videos about body image and mental health issues at an alarming rate of one video every 39 seconds.

Lawmakers are looking for solutions to protect teens from potential privacy and security risks from the popular TikTok app. State and federal agencies have launched investigations to determine if it is an appropriate platform for young people.

Content Regulation

Over the past year, executives of social media platforms have had to answer questions from Congress about how their sites might affect young users, particularly adolescent girls, and whether they might be contributing to negative mental health outcomes.

The hearings highlighted a pressing need for increased scrutiny in determining what content should appear on our screens.

After intense public hearings and alarming revelations from Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen concerning Instagram’s detrimental effects on teens, the companies promised reform.

However, recent findings by the CCDH suggest there is still more work to be done to make all digital platforms safer for young users.

“The results are every parent’s nightmare: young people’s feeds are bombarded with harmful, harrowing content that can have a significant cumulative impact on their understanding of the world around them, and their physical and mental health,” Imran Ahmed, CEO of the CCDH, stated.

TikTok Argues

TikTok has called out a recent study for its limited sample size, short-term analysis window, and scrolling of topics unrelated to the research.

While these flaws call into question any conclusions drawn about the user experience on their platform – TikTok is keenly aware that accuracy still matters in interpreting user data.

“This activity and resulting experience does not reflect genuine behavior or viewing experiences of real people,” the TikTok spokesperson said in an interview with CNN.

“We regularly consult with health experts, remove violations of our policies, and provide access to supportive resources for anyone in need.”

The spokesperson added: “We’re mindful that triggering content is unique to each individual and remain focused on fostering a safe and comfortable space for everyone, including people who choose to share their recovery journeys or educate others on these important topics.”

The CCDH believes in shining a light on all stories about eating disorders, whether positive or negative.

Recently, many people have shared inspiring tales of recovery that empower those struggling with the condition and strengthen their belief for better days ahead.

TikTok said it is dedicated to keeping its users safe with its wide variety of innovative protection barriers. Recent updates include filters that can sort out potentially inappropriate content for a more age-appropriate viewing experience.

More Filters

In July, TikTok took its platform to a whole new level with a terrific trio of features. First, they introduced the “maturity score,” which helps users decide if they are comfortable viewing content that contains complex or mature themes.

Additionally, it offers tools allowing people to set time limits on videos and take regular screen breaks – all while providing insight via a dashboard tracking app usage.

Furthermore, TikTok provides parents with various tools to ensure their children have safe and enriching social networking experiences.

US Senator Richard Blumenthal’s team recently conducted an eye-opening experiment on social media algorithms, creating a fake Instagram account of a 13-year-old girl to investigate the regulation of pro-eating disorder accounts.

By doing so, they uncovered how easily preventative measures could be circumvented and the importance of closer monitoring by tech giants like Instagram.

Issues

On Instagram, users increasingly found themselves recommended to follow accounts related to extreme dieting. This development was noted by the senator, who reported on the phenomenon in an interview with CNN.

TikTok has made a firm commitment to promoting safety and well-being among its users, banning content that could potentially lead to self-harm or suicide.

The company had demonstrated an impressive commitment to keeping its platform safe, swiftly removing 93.4% of videos that violated their policies on suicide and self-harm within 24 hours with no views and 97.1% before any reports were filed between April – June this year.

To protect those at risk of self-harm, the spokesperson told CNN that searching for harmful words or phrases, including #selfharm, will bring up no results. Instead, viewers will be directed towards local support resources providing guidance and help when they need it most.

Despite some progress in regulating TikTok content, the CCDH believes further legislation is required to ensure children are safeguarded from any inappropriate material.

“This report underscores the urgent need for reform of online spaces,” the CCDH’s Ahmed said.

“Without oversight, TikTok’s opaque platform will continue to profit by serving its users – children as young as 13, remember – increasingly intense and distressing content without checks, resources or support.”

Netflix’s ‘Harry & Meghan’ Divulges 6 Events in Their Lives After Royal Step-Away

Net Worth Staff on December 26, 2022

Image commercially licensed from: Unsplash

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Since Harry & Meghan Markle resigned from their positions as members of the British monarchy, people who follow the royals have had a lot of time to consider what the couple was up to.

But now, viewers can take an inside look in the Netflix documentary series Harry & Meghan. The eye-popping documentary series offers a fascinating insight into life as modern-day royalty.

Liz Garbus has put together a unique six-part documentary series that delves into the early days of Prince Harry and Markle’s relationship, from their bittersweet departure from royal life.This captivating show is sure to blow your mind.

Read all about six sensational episodes of Harry & Meghan exploring some of their most breathtaking and eye-opening moments, all available to stream now. These stories reveal never-before-seen details about this beloved duo that are sure to captivate you.

Harry & Meghan Unveils Events

Prince Harry expressed deep regret over a moment of lapse in judgment when he donned a Nazi uniform.

At the tender age of 20, Prince Harry sparked public controversy with a most unexpected fashion choice- attending a party in an SS officer’s uniform.

Decades later, he publicly reflects on his careless decision to don such clothing and its enduring ramifications in episode 3 of Harry & Meghan.

“It was one of the biggest mistakes of my life,” he states.

“I felt so ashamed afterward. All I wanted to do was make it right. I sat down and spoke to the Chief Rabbi in London, which had a profound impact on me. I went to Berlin and spoke to a Holocaust survivor. I could have just ignored it and got on and probably made the same mistakes over and over again in my life. But I learned from that.”

More revelations are to be unveiled in later episodes of the docu-series. All six episodes of Harry & Meghan are available for streaming.

Prince Harry emotionally recounted his beloved mother, Princess Diana, tears.

Harry & Meghan uncover the royal spotlight.

Even as a young boy, Harry was keenly aware of the intense glare and scrutiny placed upon his mother – Princess Diana – by an ever-watchful public. This unfortunate reality would become even more pronounced for him later.

“Rarely do we have a holiday without someone with a camera, you know, jumping out of a bush or something,” he states.

“Within the family, [and] within the system, the advice that’s always given is, ‘Don’t react, [and] don’t feed into it.’ There was always public pressure with its fair share of drama, stress, and also tears, and witnessing those tears. You could always see it on my mum’s face, and I guess those are the moments when I thought, ‘Hang on, what am I? Who am I? What am I part of?'”

In the early days of her relationship with Prince Harry, Meghan Markle remembers feeling overwhelmed and intimidated by intense media attention.

Markle caught the world’s attention when news broke about her relationship with Prince Harry, making it difficult for the Suits star to remain anonymous in Toronto.

“It felt like all the U.K. media descended upon Toronto,” she says. “My house was just surrounded. Just men sitting in their cars all the time, waiting for me to do anything. My neighbors texted me saying, ‘They’re knocking on everyone’s doors; they’re trying to find you.'”

Prince Harry was urged to stay above the fray and disregard any criticism that might arise from their relationship.

From describing her as an “exotic” addition to the royal family to holding standards of perfection that few could possibly measure up to – British media coverage of Markle has been anything but prescient.

“Within that first week that [the relationship] became public knowledge, the first story was, ‘Harry’s new girl (almost) straight outta Compton,'” says Harry in episode 2 of Harry & Meghan. “I was like, whoa.”

The Duke of Wessex added: “The direction from the Palace was, ‘Don’t say anything.’ But what people need to understand is, as far as a lot of the family were concerned, everything that she was being put through, they’d been put through as well.”

“So it was almost like a rite of passage, and some of the members of the family [were] like, ‘Right, but my wife had to go through that, so why should your girlfriend be treated any differently? Why should you get special treatment, why should she be protected?’ And I said, ‘The difference here is the race element.'”

Meghan Markle is known for her abiding love of hugs (something which sets her apart from more traditional members).

In episode two of ‘Harry & Meghan,’ Markle reveals that her unconventional behavior can come as a surprise to even younger members of the royal family.

“When Will and Kate came over… for dinner, I remember I was in ripped jeans, and I was barefoot,” she states. “Like, I was a hugger, always been a hugger. I didn’t realize that that is jarring for a lot of Brits.”

Little did she know, the royal family’s etiquette extended far beyond public appearances – even private matters.

Upon meeting Queen Elizabeth for the first time, Meghan Markle was surprised to discover that she was expected to curtsy.

‘Harry & Meghan’ Episode 2 takes us on a journey down memory lane as Markle and Harry recall an essential moment of their relationship: meeting the Queen – Harry’s grandmother.

“My grandmother was the first senior member of the family that Meghan met,” Harry says. “She had no idea what it all consisted of, so it was a bit of a shock to the system for her.”

“How do you explain that to people?” Harry adds. “How do you explain that you bow to your grandmother? And that you will need to curtsy, especially to an American? Like, that’s weird!”