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Daily Archives: April 23, 2017

Pew – Not everyone in advanced economies is using social media

Pew: Despite the seeming ubiquity of social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, many in Europe, the U.S., Canada, Australia and Japan do not report regularly visiting social media sites. But majorities in all of the 14 countries surveyed say they at least use the internet. Social media use is relatively common among people in Sweden, the Netherlands, Australia and the U.S. Around seven-in-ten report using social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, but that still leaves a significant minority of the population in those countries (around 30%) who are non-users. At the other end of the spectrum, in France, only 48% say they use social networking sites. That figure is even lower in Greece (46%), Japan (43%) and Germany (37%). In Germany, this means that more than half of internet users say they do not use social media.  The differences in reported social media use across the 14 countries are due in part to whether people use the internet, since low rates of internet access limit the potential social media audience. While fewer than one-in-ten Dutch (5%), Swedes (7%) and Australians (7%) don’t access the internet or own a smartphone, that figure is 40% in Greece, 33% in Hungary and 29% in Italy…”

NYT – How Google Cashes In on the Space Right Under the Search Bar

The New York Times tracks Google’s transition From Search to Sales: “In the 17 years since Google introduced text-based advertising above search results, the company has allocated more space to ads and created new forms of them. The ad creep on Google has pushed “organic” (unpaid) search results farther down the screen, an effect even… Continue Reading

Axios – New Executive orders in the pipeline impact energy, environment, VA

Axios Sneak Peak: Here are the executive orders coming this week, per a White House source with direct knowledge: “Executive Order Improving Accountability and Whistleblower Protections at the Department of Veterans Affairs”: “This Executive Order will establish, in the Department of Veterans Affairs, an Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection. The Office will help the… Continue Reading

Now users can download search results from Congress.gov

“The Congress.gov legislative database now has the ability to download search results. Anytime you do a search, anywhere in Congress.gov, you will see a “Download Results” link next to “Save this Search” link in the upper left corner. This will produce a .csv file that can be opened by a spreadsheet application.”  For more information… Continue Reading

Bike Commuting Is Preventative Medicine, According to Science

Via Bicycling: “Massive study finds cyclists and other active commuters experience dramatically lower risk of dying—from any cause—than those who drive or take public transit. Just in time for National Bike to Work Week (May 15 to 19 this year), a team of researchers from Glasgow University in Scotland found that people who bike to work… Continue Reading

Putting a value on injuries to natural assets: The BP oil spill

Putting a value on injuries to natural assets: The BP oil spill. Science  21 Apr 2017: Vol. 356, Issue 6335, pp. 253-254. DOI: 10.1126/science.aam8124 “When large-scale accidents cause catastrophic damage to natural or cultural resources, government and industry are faced with the challenge of assessing the extent of damages and the magnitude of restoration that… Continue Reading

Report Provides Blueprint Of How Memory Can Be Improved When It’s Lagging

Kaiser Health News: “A new study looks at the effects of electrical stimulation on the brain, and how those pulses can improve and impair memory.” The New York Times: ‘Pacemaker’ For The Brain Can Help Memory, Study Finds  – Well-timed pulses from electrodes implanted in the brain can enhance memory in some people, scientists reported… Continue Reading

Junk News and Bots during the French Presidential Election

Junk News and Bots during the French Presidential Election: What Are French Voters Sharing Over Twitter? COMPROP DATA MEMO 2017.3 / 22 April 2017 Philip N. Howard Computational propaganda distributes large amounts of misinformation about politics and public policy over social media platforms. The combination of automation and propaganda can significantly impact public opinion during… Continue Reading

Pew – Libraries and Learning

“Majorities of Americans think local libraries serve the educational needs of their communities and families pretty well and library users often outpace others in learning activities. But many do not know about key education services libraries provide. Most Americans believe libraries do a decent job of serving the education and learning needs of their communities… Continue Reading