Every day, thousands of web pages disappear without a trace. And with them, memories, knowledge, and fragments of our history vanish. When everything seems just a click away, it’s paradoxical that the World Wide Web (WWW) we call the Internet—that immense digital archive of our global civilization—is silently evaporating. From clay tablets to broken links […] … learn more→

Those who think that the initial exclamation mark ( ¡ ) is a prerogative of the Spanish language are mistaken. In 1668, John Wilkins suggested using that same mark to mark any statement that should not be interpreted literally, which, in short, he defined as the punctuation mark of irony . It may seem paradoxical that two centuries later, […] … learn more→

It’s nearly impossible to use the internet without being asked about cookies. A typical pop-up will offer to either “accept all” or “reject all”. Sometimes, there may be a third option, or a link to further tweak your preferences. These pop-ups and banners are distracting, and your first reaction is likely to get them out […] … learn more→

Digital devices have become our inseparable companions, and increasingly so at younger ages. A reality that presents both opportunities and risks for everyone, but especially for children. Social concern is high, and many countries are considering legislative measures to protect minors in digital environments. But beyond legislative measures, one of the keys to healthy digital use is […] … learn more→

My brother’s text messages can read like fragments of an ancient code: “hru,” “wyd,” “plz” – truncated, cryptic and never quite satisfying to receive. I’ll often find myself second-guessing whether “gr8” means actual excitement or whether it’s a perfunctory nod. This oddity has nagged at me for years, so I eventually embarked upon a series of studies with fellow […] … learn more→

Every day, users ask search engines millions of questions. The information we receive can shape our opinions and behaviour. We are often not aware of their influence, but internet search tools sort and rank web content when responding to our queries. This can certainly help us learn more things. But search tools can also return […] … learn more→

Ironically, Mark Zuckerberg’s attempts to muzzle his former employee, Sarah Wynn-Williams, once director of global public policy at Meta, seem to have created a bestseller. While Meta’s legal action successfully prevented Wynn-Williams (who worked there from 2011–17) from promoting her memoir, Careless People, her publisher has continued to promote it without her. In the week of its release, the […] … learn more→

Google announced the launch of AI Overviews, its generative artificial intelligence-fuelled search feature, in May 2024. Initially named Search Generative Experience, AI Overviews offers Google users AI-generated answers by sourcing and summarizing information from different websites. These AI responses are positioned at the top of the page for immediate visibility. The aim is to improve […] … learn more→

The use of information technology (IT) has significant environmental and social impacts, including human mortality from climate change. One striking example is the carbon emissions and impacts associated with digital communication. To quantify the human cost of carbon-emitting technology, researchers use the 1,000-ton rule that estimates that for every 1,000 tons of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere, […] … learn more→

Large social media companies should have to proactively remove harmful content from their platforms, undergo regular “risk assessments” and face hefty fines if they don’t comply, according to an independent review of online safety laws in Australia. The federal government has today released the final report of the review conducted by experienced public servant Delia Rickard, more than […] … learn more→