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Meet the Winners of Startups in North and Central America

The Jungle by Upton Sinclair is part of the HackerNoon Books series. Read this book online for free on HackerNoon! Title: The Jungle Author: Upton Sinclair Release Date: June, 1994 [eBook #140] Language: English TABLE OF LINKS Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 About HackerNoon Book Series: We bring you the most important technical, scientific, and insightful public domain books. This book is part of the public domain. Upton Sinclair. (1994). THE JUNGLE. Urbana, Illinois: Project Gutenberg. Retrieved April 2022, from https://www.gutenberg.org/files/140/140-h/140-h.htm This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org , located at https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html . Photo by Patrick Hendry on Unsplash

The Jungle by Upton Sinclair  - Table of Links

The Power of Community in Memecoin Success

Heads, I kill him. Tails — well, Tails and he not only understands who wants him dead, he will learn how little he knows of real pain. I’ll teach him, though. When I’m done, there will be nothing about it beyond his experience and there will come a moment when he breaks and begs me to finish him, prays like a supplicant to me, his Almighty, singular judge of his redemption and sole voice of forgiveness. I’ll play deaf because I’m not paid to listen. Fuck. Heads again. Goddamn it. Another boring Friday night. Three minutes of focus, three seconds to jab the guy and plunge Father Paul’s secret recipe into his ass, and then what am I supposed to do for the rest of the night? What was all the training for if I can’t make use of it? “The toss allows God to decide,” the cunning old priest would say. “Rejoice in the blessing endowed on you to be God’s Will enabled.” I don’t get it. These bastards deserved to die in the worst ways possible, but God has never let a Tails spin into my palm. It’s like He’s fucking with me, like it’s a fucking joke to Him to wind me up and then relish the frustration and disappointment when that fucking coin smiles back at me. Whatever. I’m here, he’s here and between the crowd and the music, no one will hear him scream. Might as well be in space. Hoppin’ and boppin’ through the dancers, I could be invisible for all the attention I get. He, on the other hand, exudes so much charisma that even women with partners are half-turned to watch him from the corner of their eyes. Maybe becoming a serial kidnapper-rapist-murderer wasn’t entirely a matter of choice. Maybe he’s only using the gifts God gave him, just like I’m using mine, but I doubt I’m as happy with my lot as he is — or has been — with his. No complaints on my part, though. The money’s pretty good, I travel the world in First Class and though my green Vatican City passport may not have quite the get-out-of-jail-free status of the light blue United Nations one, I don’t attract national security bureaus like they do. The moments between songs allow me to close unnoticed, my syringe ready in its sheath under my left cuff. An instant after the pulsing bass returns, I stab and then pretend to trip, moving bent over to disguise my route. No need to confirm his death, so sure am I in the evil priest’s alchemical expertise, and then my Friday night boredom is redeemed via text message — double headers are rare enough events that I would exhaust my list with less than five fingers. My mission window is short and I must first change and dispose of these clothes, so I waste no time waiting for an Uber and flag the first taxi in the rank outside the club. I have never questioned a target and I don’t now, but I can’t honestly wrap my mind around what a pubescent girl could have done to deserve me. It’s late enough she’s probably in bed, asleep, but that makes no never mind to me. Five minutes after striding through the hotel’s front entrance, having greeted the doorman and smiled at the night-shift manager, I exit by a side door dressed in running gear, my syringe nestled in my sock. The taxi ride uptown is quick, and I climb out beside a park. I limber up until the cab is out of sight and then jog without urgency towards the target address. This late, all the neighbourhood businesses I pass are closed — coffee shops, upscale boutiques, salons, even a small insurance office. Slowing as I arrive ‘home,’ I pause and stretch on the pavement out front, using my movements to gather my tools. With tired purpose, I climb the front stairs. Two breaths and I’m shutting the front door behind me in practiced silence. My mission demands less illumination, so I turn the lights off as I come to them. Keeping to the shadows, I ignore the ground floor and head upstairs. A small part of me is grateful for the wall-to-wall as I step onto the landing, but a greater part smiles at the sound of pop music emerging from an alcove. Tossing my coin as instructed, giving God the final word, my breath catches. Tails. What the fuck? Tails again. And a third time. So. Two things occur to me. I cannot torture her here and I need a way to move her somewhere safe. An image brightens in my head — the sign in the window of the insurance agent listed it was closed all weekend. It will do in a pinch. I need a suitcase. Back down the stairs, ignoring the main floor once again, because suitcases are stored in the basement. I choose the largest and retrace my steps to the girl’s room. None of the lights have been turned back on, so there is no call for collateral victims. One final check. Tails. So be it. Opening the door enough to slowly reach in and quench the main light, I use her confusion to dart across to where she lies on her stomach lost in her iPad. A rap on her temple with a folded knuckle is enough to steal her awareness, and the suitcase is ample. On a whim, I toss in her iPad. Here, then, is the riskiest part. A man in running gear does not often haul a large suitcase through the night, but once more pretending purpose suffices to protect me. Trixie Thorn would otherwise have grown into a great beauty were it not for my orders, but I tie her to the table in the staff kitchen as securely as I always do. I push a piece of torn tea towel into her mouth and secure it with tape. The one thing I don’t do is cut away her pyjamas. Nudity is a great psychological weapon but I just can’t do it. Even armed with the remaining piece of towel doused with ammonia from under the sink, I hesitate to wake her. I cannot say why. So I study her. It’s pointless, but perhaps her iPad can tell me something. Lead image by on ZSun Fu Unsplash

Heads & Tails: A Tale of Chance, Faith and Morality - Part 1

মাথা ও পুচ্ছ: সম্ভাবনা, বিশ্বাস এবং নৈতিকতার গল্প - পার্ট 1

Kopf und Zahl: Eine Geschichte von Zufall, Glauben und Moral – Teil 1

Cara y Cruz: Una historia de azar, fe y moralidad - Parte 1

Pile et Face : Une histoire de hasard, de foi et de moralité - Partie 1

हेड्स एंड टेल्स: संयोग, विश्वास और नैतिकता की कहानी - भाग 1

表と裏：偶然、信仰、道徳の物語 - パート 1

앞면과 뒷면: 우연, 신앙, 도덕에 관한 이야기 - 1부

Cara e Coroa: Uma História de Acaso, Fé e Moralidade - Parte 1

Орел и решка: История о шансе, вере и морали. Часть 1

Yazı ve Yazı: Bir Şans, İnanç ve Ahlak Hikayesi - Bölüm 1

Đầu & Đuôi: Câu chuyện về cơ hội, niềm tin và đạo đức - Phần 1

正面与反面：机遇、信仰与道德的故事（上）

Recently, I had the opportunity to connect with , the Executive Director at , creators of the Ethereum Name Service (ENS). Our conversation came at a particularly exciting time for web3—possibly on the cusp of a bull market—and for ENS, which is seeing important milestones like its recent . Khori shared his vision of the “new internet,” emphasizing the role of digital identity and the push toward user-centric platforms in shaping an inclusive digital future. Khori Whittaker ENS Labs partnership with GoDaddy Khori, what exactly drew you into web3? My personal and professional journey has always been one of learning—and teaching. Throughout my career, I’ve been at the intersection of business and education, managing schools in the US for most of the past decade. My interest in adopting new technologies early led me to blockchain in late 2017. I started exploring how it could be applied in education, leading to exciting experiments with a blockchain-based student information system. This path then took me to Circle (USDC) where I engaged in a project focused on the talent side. It was then that I connected with , the founder of ENS. We started talking, and one thing led to another. Nick Johnson Today, I really see web3’s potential in transforming the internet as we know it. It redefines how we manage ownership online, improves access to information and resources previously out of reach, and fosters inclusive innovation through decentralized technology. You might hear me talk about Circle and ENS because both focus on breaking into mass adoption. On the monetary side, stablecoins like USDC or USDT allow you to send a transaction instantly and globally without going through all sorts of hoops. Once you experience that, you can’t go back. Then there’s the identity piece. With ENS, you possess a personal identity that is not bound to any specific platform, allowing you to carry it across the digital space. You can use it for transactions, reputation proofs, as a web domain… you name it! How do you see decentralized identity evolving in the future? I hope that in the future, we won't even be discussing web3—it will simply be the new version of the internet. At ENS, our goal is to welcome people into this new era. Currently, users' online identities are mainly stored and hosted on centralized servers controlled by major email and social media corporations. Web3 is about self-sovereignty and ownership. ENS gives users the freedom to carry their identities across platforms while maintaining their social graph and connections seamlessly as they move through digital spaces. For example, I've used Farcaster and Supercast, maintaining the same social network on both. When Warpcast experienced downtime, Supercast remained accessible, showing the resilience of decentralized identities. So, I believe the newfound control and autonomy over one’s digital presence will profoundly affect users in the years to come. What are some practical applications for digital identity? Education is a good example. Imagine being able to add your academic records directly to your digital identity. If you're a college student or recent graduate and need to share your transcript, you often have to pay your institution a fee to send it. Instead, these records could be linked to your digital identity, giving you control over who accesses them. That’s a basic user right. This extends to privacy enhancements we envision with zero-knowledge Layer 2 solutions. For instance, you could verify that you belong to a certain age group without revealing your exact age or share specific qualifications without disclosing all details. The same principle could apply to health and financial records. What parts of web3 identity haven’t been solved yet? One challenge is that we are still not really building for the next billion users. As a space, we are guilty of building for our niche little community over the past decade. This only works for tech-savvy users who are comfortable dealing with seed phrases and signing messages. It’s time we put the everyday person front and center. The other challenge is getting platforms like Facebook and X to recognize decentralized identities. But will they? It’s hard to say. They're reaping significant benefits from owning all our information. Yet, there's hope that social media sites like Farcaster might gain more traction. It’s unlikely that the traditional platforms will be able to maintain their hold indefinitely, especially as people begin to explore and understand what’s possible in the decentralized space. How does ENS think about onboarding this “next billion?” In the web3 space, we're all envisioning the future—the possibilities of 2030 and 2040. Yet, it feels like we're still playing by the rules set in 2012. It's time to update our playbook. The way we build our protocols and projects is crucial. I believe in moving from discussion to action. A key part of this action is establishing a digital identity for users, which is where ENS comes in. It's surprising to see so many new projects overlook the importance of a simple, user-friendly identity solution in favor of complex hexadecimal addresses. Identity solutions should be foundational, not an afterthought. Whether it's ENS or another service, the focus should be on prioritizing the user's needs from the start. Also, we can’t just keep talking to ourselves in a bubble. For example, our partnership with GoDaddy, which introduced ENS-enabled domains to millions of users, is a step toward a wider audience. Now, whether the users are ready to take the leap is the question—but the road is paved and ready. On our side, the adoption of ENS is growing, with hundreds of thousands already using .eth domains. The launch of Coinbase's subdomain service has expanded ENS usage to millions more. Similarly, Uniswap's introduction of uni.eth usernames saw significant uptake in just a few days. By collaborating with these large platforms to integrate ENS technology, we're extending its reach and making it a part of more users' online experiences. This enhances the users’ experiences and furthers adoption. cb.id We need to create B2C applications that genuinely appeal to everyday consumers, craft B2B solutions tailored to current business needs, and initiate what I call B2G (Business to Government) efforts to optimize the operations of local, municipal, and national governments. Solving real needs in the real world will bring the next billion users on board. Could these innovations ultimately help reshape societal values? In many parts of the world, people often feel like bystanders in their own stories. They witness decisions made by governments and corporations without having a say, leading to a sense of helplessness. Technology can shift our mindsets; our mindsets, in turn, can shape technology. I’m hoping that web3 will lead to a whole new way of approaching life. For example, by advocating for self-sovereign and decentralized identities, we can empower people to regain control and ownership. Maybe you don't have to just accept what's happening to you or your community anymore. We can come together, drive change, and pool resources to foster communities and decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) that push forward local initiatives. Thinking about concepts like network states, this is where societal change begins. It's about recognizing the power of collective action. This tech is not only about tearing down barriers but also about connecting people. Can you share your approach towards Layer 2 protocols and their significance today? Our strategy is grounded in active listening to the developers and the community, which informs our roadmap. A concern we’ve noted is the cost associated with domain registration and maintenance on Layer 1 networks. Even though a domain might only cost around $5, gas fees can go up to $25 or $30, which may discourage the user. And naturally, modifying your domain or adding records incurs additional on-chain fees. The recent Dencun update on Ethereum has helped, but our goal is to reduce these costs even further to simplify and accelerate how users manage their digital identities. What excites me about Layer 2 solutions is the opportunity to prioritize user experience from the outset. By considering what is lacking in current L1s and L2s, we can avoid those pitfalls. We're given a fresh start and ample time to craft something user-friendly that advances the protocol. At ENS Labs and within our wider community, there's ongoing research into various Layer 2 technologies, including discussions with Arbitrum or Optimism, and even the prospect of creating a dedicated ENS chain. Exciting! What are some other plans ENS has for the future? Naming anything/everything! We believe in humanizing the digital space, naming everything from wallet addresses to smart contracts. Not many know that ENS already has the capability to name smart contracts. This allows users to interact with contracts more transparently, knowing exactly what they engage with. Our vision extends to global adoption, making this intuitive naming system accessible worldwide and encouraging prominent organizations to integrate ENS names. We've already started making strides in this direction, such as our collaboration with the International Rescue Committee, facilitating crypto philanthropy with just a few clicks. This year, our focus is sharply on Layer 2 solutions. We're looking to collaborate with leading players from the traditional web and economic sectors, including businesses, governments, and more. Our goal is to simplify the internet for the future while prioritizing safety, security, and ease of use.

An Interview With Khori Whittaker: On ENS, Decentralized Identity & Socials, and the Next Billion

In a time when technology is changing so quickly, privacy and protection have become much more important in the digital world. In his conversation with Dr. Nir Haloani, Ishan Pandey learns a lot about the latest changes in blockchain technology. Dr. Haloani is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of COTI and a famous Master Inventor. Dr. Haloani has more than 14 patents, and he has made a lot of progress in the fields of machine learning, artificial intelligence, and data compression. His thoughts are very helpful for anyone who wants to know where blockchain technology and all of its uses are going in the future. Through this conversation, COTI's creative privacy solutions are looked at, along with a full analysis of these technologies' wider effects in the digital world. Unlocking Blockchain's Potential: An Exclusive Interview with COTI's CTO, Dr. Nir Haloani Ishan Pandey: Hello, Dr. Nir, We are happy to have you join us for our "Behind the Startup" series. Could you briefly introduce yourself and your experience into the blockchain space? Dr Nir Haloani: I am the CTO of COTI, Dr. Nir Haloani. I have authored over 14 patents in the domains of machine learning, artificial intelligence, and data compression, earning me the esteemed title of Master Inventor. Having over 19 years of experience, I have led R&D teams at many digital firms. Previously, I was the CTO and co-founder of Infima Technologies, which IBM subsequently bought! I have a PhD in applied mathematics from Bar-Ilan University and a BSc in computer technology and mathematics from Tel Aviv University. Ishan Pandey: Could you elaborate on the methods used by COTI to protect privacy without sacrificing the main benefits of blockchain technology? Dr Nir Haloani: To improve privacy on its blockchain network, COTI uses garbled circuits, a cryptographic technique from the secure multi-party computation (MPC) domain. By allowing transactions and smart contract executions where information is kept confidential between participants, this method successfully addresses privacy issues without compromising the openness, security, and decentralisation that are intrinsic to blockchain technology. With the use of their personal data, several people may collaborate on calculations while keeping their inputs secret thanks to garbled circuits technology. Because of its computing requirements, this approach was first theoretical but has now been optimised by COTI and Soda Labs to need a fraction of the usual processing power and memory. In addition to solving the Millionaires' Problem—a well-known cryptography use case created by Andrew Yao to ascertain who is wealthier without disclosing true net worth—COTI's introduction of garbled circuits also establishes a new benchmark for privacy in the Web3 sphere. It serves a range of purposes by guaranteeing safe transactions that impact a shared private state between many parties without jeopardising private information. Due to its immunity to the single-point-of-failure vulnerabilities seen in Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) systems, garbled circuits are positioned as a preferable option to Zero-Knowledge (ZK) based solutions. Ishan Pandey: In what ways does COTI see Web3 applications—such as decentralised exchanges, privacy wallets, and governance systems—integrating with garbled circuits? Dr Nir Haloani: By providing safe and private calculations, COTI anticipates corrupted circuits improving the security of Web3 applications. With a new level of privacy that enables users to participate in transactions and governance decisions without disclosing sensitive information, this technology has the potential to significantly alter decentralised exchanges, privacy wallets, and governance systems. This will promote a more safe and reliable digital environment. Through the effective implementation of jumbled circuits, COTI presents a novel approach to blockchain encryption, fusing the advantages of on-chain immutability with the critical need for privacy. This technique is an example of Multi-Party Computation (MPC), which allows many parties to collaborate on calculations while sharing private data without disclosing the inputs to other parties. This innovation removes the computational obstacles that previously prevented the widespread use of such cutting-edge privacy protections on the blockchain. A major technical advancement, the use of garbled circuits promises scalable privacy and much quicker processing compared to previous encryption methods like Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE). This strengthens COTI's position as a pioneer in Web3 safe data transmission and creates a plethora of use cases that need strict privacy controls without compromising the fundamental benefits of blockchain technology. Ishan Pandey: In terms of safe and private applications for daily life, what opportunities does COTI's jumbled circuits have for the future of blockchain technology? Dr Nir Haloani: By providing safe and private calculations, COTI anticipates corrupted circuits improving the security of Web3 applications. With a new level of privacy that enables users to participate in transactions and governance decisions without disclosing sensitive information, this technology has the potential to significantly alter decentralised exchanges, privacy wallets, and governance systems. This will promote a more safe and reliable digital environment. Through the effective implementation of jumbled circuits, COTI presents a novel approach to blockchain encryption, fusing the advantages of on-chain immutability with the critical need for privacy. This technique is an example of Multi-Party Computation (MPC), which allows many parties to collaborate on calculations while sharing private data without disclosing the inputs to other parties. This innovation removes the computational obstacles that previously prevented the widespread use of such cutting-edge privacy protections on the blockchain. A major technical advancement, the use of garbled circuits promises scalable privacy and much quicker processing compared to previous encryption methods like Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE). This strengthens COTI's position as a pioneer in Web3 safe data transmission and creates a plethora of use cases that need strict privacy controls without compromising the fundamental benefits of blockchain technology. Ishan Pandey: Given that COTI's jumbled circuits are a major advancement in on-chain privacy, how does the business intend to educate and involve users—particularly the younger demographic—about the significance and advantages of this ground-breaking privacy solution? Dr Nir Haloani: COTI plans to engage and educate users through a comprehensive outreach strategy that includes educational content, workshops, and community engagement initiatives. By illustrating the importance of privacy in the digital age and demonstrating how garbled circuits can protect users' data on the blockchain, COTI aims to foster a more informed and privacy-conscious user base. Ishan Pandey: What do you think the future of blockchain gaming will hold, and how do you intend to lead the way in innovation in this quickly changing sector? Dr Nir Haloani: The future of blockchain gaming is incredibly promising, with the potential to offer more immersive, secure, and fair gaming experiences. COTI's vision is to contribute to this future by leveraging its privacy technologies, to protect players' data and transactions within games. By incorporating privacy technologies, COTI aims to safeguard player data and transactions, enhancing trust and fairness in gaming ecosystems. Ishan Pandey: How does COTI intend to modify its privacy technology to satisfy legal requirements without jeopardising user privacy in light of the growing acceptance and examination of cryptocurrencies by regulatory authorities throughout the world? Dr Nir Haloani: Without sacrificing user privacy, COTI is dedicated to modifying its privacy technology to meet international regulatory requirements. This calls for a methodical strategy that upholds users' right to privacy as well as legal obligations by leveraging blockchain technology to balance user privacy with regulatory requirements. Ishan Pandey: How does COTI expect the volatility in cryptocurrency prices to affect its development trajectory and the uptake of its privacy-focused solutions? Dr Nir Haloani: Cryptocurrency price changes may have an effect on how people feel about them, but COTI says that the privacy-focused value of its goods is greater than these short-term changes in value. As more people learn about how important privacy is in the blockchain field, COTI thinks that more and more people will use its goods. Privacy is always important in apps and online purchases. COTI's main goal is to provide reliable privacy solutions that meet real-world needs and stay relevant and strong in a digital world that is changing quickly. Don’t forget to like and share the story! This author is an independent contributor publishing via our brand-as-author program. Be it through direct compensation, media partnerships, or networking, the author has a vested interest in the company/ies mentioned in this story. HackerNoon has reviewed the report for quality, but the claims herein belong to the author. #DYOR Vested Interest Disclosure:

Dr. Nir Haloani: Master Inventor Discusses the Future of Privacy in Blockchain

ডঃ নীর হালোয়ানি: মাস্টার উদ্ভাবক ব্লকচেইনে গোপনীয়তার ভবিষ্যত নিয়ে আলোচনা করেছেন

Dr. Nir Haloani: Meistererfinder diskutiert die Zukunft des Datenschutzes in Blockchain

Dr. Nir Haloani: el maestro inventor analiza el futuro de la privacidad en Blockchain

Dr Nir Haloani : le maître inventeur discute de l'avenir de la confidentialité dans la blockchain

डॉ. नीर हलोनी: मास्टर आविष्कारक ब्लॉकचेन में गोपनीयता के भविष्य पर चर्चा करते हैं

ニル・ハロアニ博士: マスター発明家がブロックチェーンにおけるプライバシーの将来について語る

Nir Haloani 박사: 마스터 발명가가 블록체인의 개인 정보 보호의 미래에 대해 논의합니다.

Dr. Nir Haloani: Mestre Inventor discute o futuro da privacidade no Blockchain

Доктор Нир Халоани: Главный изобретатель обсуждает будущее конфиденциальности в блокчейне

Dr. Nir Haloani: Usta Mucit, Blockchain'de Gizliliğin Geleceğini Tartışıyor

Tiến sĩ Nir Haloani: Nhà phát minh bậc thầy thảo luận về tương lai của quyền riêng tư trong Blockchain

Nir Haloani 博士：发明大师讨论区块链隐私的未来

147 Stories To Learn About Reading Books Online

189 Stories To Learn About Reading Books

179 Stories To Learn About Reading

United States and European Union Forge Alliance to Safeguard Trade and Security

মার্কিন যুক্তরাষ্ট্র এবং ইউরোপীয় ইউনিয়ন বাণিজ্য ও নিরাপত্তা রক্ষায় জোট গঠন করে

Die Vereinigten Staaten und die Europäische Union schmieden ein Bündnis zum Schutz von Handel und Sicherheit

Estados Unidos y la Unión Europea forjan alianza para salvaguardar el comercio y la seguridad

Les États-Unis et l’Union européenne forgent une alliance pour sauvegarder le commerce et la sécurité

संयुक्त राज्य अमेरिका और यूरोपीय संघ ने व्यापार और सुरक्षा की सुरक्षा के लिए गठबंधन बनाया

米国と欧州連合、貿易と安全保障を守るための同盟を結ぶ

미국과 유럽연합은 무역과 안보를 보호하기 위해 동맹을 맺었습니다.

Estados Unidos e União Europeia formam aliança para salvaguardar o comércio e a segurança

США и Европейский Союз создают альянс для защиты торговли и безопасности

ABD ve Avrupa Birliği Ticareti ve Güvenliği Korumak İçin İttifak Kuruyor

Hoa Kỳ và Liên minh Châu Âu thành lập liên minh để bảo vệ thương mại và an ninh

美国和欧盟结成联盟以保障贸易和安全

139 Stories To Learn About Ai Trends

This is the second part of a series that interrogates the nature of human logic. In case you missed it, find part 1 . here There are four reasons we have evolved to behave illogically: Signaling Subconscious hacking Satisficing Psychophysics We don’t have access to our genuine motivations because it is not in our interest to know. Humans are designed to self-deceive. Evolution made us that way so we could protect ourselves. The argumentative hypothesis suggests that human reason arose not to inform our actions and beliefs but to explain and defend them to others. It’s an adaptation strategy since we’re a social species. Feelings What people say they want and what they actually want are two different things. We know how we feel yet we cannot accurately explain why. Nature cares about feelings, feelings drive our behavior but feelings don’t come with explanations attached - because we’re better off not knowing them. If you asked someone why they go to restaurants they’d say ‘Because I’m hungry’. But we know that someone hungry could satisfy the urge to eat far more economically elsewhere. The real reason people go to restaurants are social connection and status. Problems and decisions We learn about problem-solving and decision-making through 2 lenses: market research and economic theory. Both are problematic in understanding underlying human motivation says Rory. Market research - asking people what they want “The trouble with market research is that people don’t think what they feel, don’t say what they think and they don’t do what they say.” - David Ogilvy People don’t have access to their motivations. The issue with economic theory is that it assumes a narrow and rational view of human motivation of what it believes humans do. The problem is that this doesn’t match reality. should Rory argues that rationalists refuse to admit there’s a psychology behind human behavior so their logic appears to be ‘Yes it works in practice, but does it work in theory (aka can we fit it on a spreadsheet)?’ As Upton Sinclair once said, “It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it” Decision-making process The context and order of choosing affect things in ways we wouldn’t expect. For example, Dan Ariely highlights the decoy effect - a phenomenon where consumers have a change in preference when presented with a 3rd option. There usually are 3 options with one option being a decoy. The decoy option is more expensive and less valuable compared to the other two. The remaining two will seem similar but one will be a tad more expensive but infinitely more valuable (Most subscriptions are structured that way). For example, real estate agents will show you 3 houses by first showing a decoy house to make the other 2 look better. One of the remaining two will be better value than the other and that’s the one they actually want to sell. The other house is there just to confirm your suspicion that the second house is similar but better. Emotions Morality works on an instinctual/emotional level yet we hastily cast rationalization for it. For example, most people feel it’s repulsive to eat dogs or horses yet they’ve no problem eating beef. If you ask people why, they will come up with a series of rationalizations and arguments to defend a socially constructed belief. Evolution equipped us with the right emotional responses. Putting rationale on top of it is a joke. If you came back home and saw a dog’s turd on the kitchen floor, you’d clean it up immediately. When asked why you’d say well it’s unhygienic, germs, etc. But that’s a rationalization. Someone in the Victorian age didn’t know about germs but they wouldn’t have left it there would they? Britain has no poisonous spider species and yet most people are afraid of them. That’s not rational, that’s instinctual. We adopted most behaviors thousands of years we knew the reasons for it. Instincts are heritable whereas reason has to be taught. before Innovation Sutherland predicts that we’ve come far technologically therefore the progress in the next 50 years will come mostly from improvements in psychology and design thinking over technology. As an example, making a train journey 20% faster will cost hundreds of millions whereas making it 20% more enjoyable will cost almost nothing. It’s easier to achieve improvements in perception at a cheap price compared to improvements in reality (physics). Logic rules out the former and focuses on the latter. Take as an example. It didn’t make the car get there anywhere faster but it reduced the frustration of waiting for the driver to pick you up while watching it on the little map. Which would you prefer? Flight to London delayed or flight to London delayed by 30 minutes? We are more bothered by the uncertainty rather than waiting. Uber The only way to uncover unconscious motivations is to be willing to ask stupid and obvious questions. Such as: Why do people hate standing on trains? Why do people not like it when their plane is delayed? Why do people hate waiting for an engineer’s appointment? Sutherland says that the business that asks the stupid, irrational questions is the one that survives the future. To sum up you’re solving the problem whilst being unreasonable is about actually solving the problem. Being rational is about pretending . We tend to blaze a path and in hindsight, reason our way of getting there. With the boring, unlucky, and ‘irrational’ parts edited out of our memory. The process of discovery is not the same as the process of justification it requires the discovery process to be just as neat as the solution. The space for intuition and creativity is killed at the expense of logic and rationality. The modern world has it backward: they come through playing, intuition, and experimenting. Novel ideas don’t come through reasoning and logic Also published here.

Emotions and Evolution: The Paradoxical Nature of Human Behavior and Decision-Making

Product Management Trends in 2024 The world is constantly changing, and along with it, users' habits, needs, and expectations from digital products change as well. A slowing economy, market saturation with look-alike products, increasing number of cyber attacks, ubiquitous AI - all these and other factors impact what products the world will desire and love in the near future. I have studied research from , , and to identify trends in society and technology, and analyzed how they could potentially influence the development of digital products in 2024. Accenture McKinsey Ipsos Of course, there are many more trends in society and technology, with AI permeating every niche. However, in this article, I will cover the top 5 trends which I found interesting: Trend 1: Unpredictable user segmentation and hyper-personalization Trend 2: Growing subscription fatigue Trend 3: Saturation with look-alike products and the battle for attention Trend 4: Cybercriminals are becoming stronger, now with the support of AI Trend 5: Finding the right balance between users’ needs and investors’ demands Unpredictable user segmentation and hyper-personalization Trend 1: “I did literally all of the things I was told to do to be successful, and yet I still lack stability on so many levels” “I keep feeling like my life is about to get started, much like how I felt at 20, even though I’m 40. -these are the quotes from about the lives of . The New York Times article millennials Why do millennials feel this way? Because their most active years have passed in quite turbulent times: crises, wars, a pandemic, etc. Gen-Z, observing millennials, seems to understand that the traditional well-established paths in life no longer guarantee success. The conventional scenario of school, university, a stable long-term job, starting a family, and owning a house does not ensure stability and success. Due to the high level of uncertainty in the world, the planning window is shrinking. Life milestones are changing and they manifest differently for each individual. It is becoming increasingly difficult to segment users based on behavior, and almost impossible based on demographic characteristics. Simply knowing a customer is 64, female, and lives in Sydney will never again be enough to support useful predictions. And make no mistake: people’s expectations of personalised offerings will only grow. – Accenture In addition, there is a growing expectation that in a world overloaded with information, products should have a better understanding of users and offer increasingly personalized experiences. It appears that with the democratization of AI, we are entering a new era of personalization, where products will be expected to adapt to each individual. How does this impact product development? → Review your segmentation, persona, and marketing strategy As people are choosing non-traditional lifestyles more often, demographic segmentation is becoming increasingly complex. Therefore, it is necessary to review the segments and personas of your product and segment them by behavior or lifestyle rather than demographics. Additionally, it may be necessary to review the marketing strategy to ensure it aligns with the new priorities and life situations of your target audience. → Seek opportunities to personalize product experience It’s a no-brainer that products that successfully integrate AI for product personalization and marketing will lead the competition, as they will be able to understand customers on a deeper level and provide them with tailored solutions. However, to create personalized experiences, user data is necessary. It is important to clearly explain why you are collecting user data and obtain their consent. While personalization is desired, it should not be based on data that users have unwillingly shared. Trend 2: Growing subscription fatigue Product teams are increasingly offering subscriptions even when it doesn't make sense. For example, how do you like the idea of a subscription for heated front seats (£15 per month) and wheels (£10 per month) in a BMW? Although the subscription was not launched, it raised concerns. Even products that traditionally relied on advertising, such as and , are now offering subscriptions. As a result, people accumulate multiple subscriptions, leading to a significant recurrent payment. This has caused irritation, and now, people carefully consider which subscriptions they truly need. Twitter Instagram "Once hailed as a source of recurring revenue, subscriptions are becoming tedious to customers, and uptake is slowing down worldwide" Accenture states User behavior patterns are starting to change: people subscribe and unsubscribe to services as needed. Interesting series came out on ? Let’s subscribe. Is it over? Let’s unsubscribe. That's why Netflix doesn't make foolish moves and doesn't offer a 50% discount on the next month's subscription when a user tries to unsubscribe. Netflix How does this trend impact product development? → More effort is needed to familiarise users with the product In a saturated market of subscription-based digital products, it is crucial to allow users to try your product before committing to purchase or installation. This can be done through web versions, product demonstrations on social media, and more. Subscribing and installing an application now signify long-term commitments rather than just testing the product, so try to find other ways how to introduce your product to your target audience. →More control over subscriptions will help acquire and retain users Services like Netflix and Spotify simplify subscription management, allowing users to easily enable or disable subscriptions without deleting their accounts. Some services even offer freemium mode, enabling continued use after unsubscribing. This helps users maintain control over their finances and reduces resistance to subscriptions. → Think twice if you want to use special offers when a user decides to unsubscribe A checklist for successful e-commerce tactics often recommends offering a discount to users who unsubscribe. But is it effective in your case? If a user unsubscribes because they find the subscription expensive, what do we hope to achieve by giving them a 50% discount for the next month? Will they suddenly become wealthy? Will we provide them with product value for a month? Will they create new accounts and exploit the system to get a discount every time? For instance, Netflix doesn't provide any discounts; instead, they suggest taking a one-month break, which works well for them. → Review the monetization of your product and make sure it is working in the current realities Products with customizable subscriptions and alternative payment methods will have an advantage over competitors. In 2023, Netflix introduced a cheaper subscription format with advertising to reach a wider audience. Initially, Netflix resisted adopting an advertising monetization model but eventually did so. From the (2020) with Reed Hastings (co-founder Netflix): Variety interview [Interviewer]: You say you’re running a company with no rules. But you do have rules, right? One principle you’ve never wavered on is to not introduce advertising. Isn’t that a rule made to be broken? [Reed]: It’s definitely not a rule. It’s a judgment call… It’s a belief we can build a better business, a more valuable business [without advertising]. Trend 3: Saturation with look-alike products and the battle for attention Easy access to business knowledge, the rise of no-code solutions, component libraries, and artificial intelligence have made it easier for more people to create their own digital products. In the pursuit of reducing time-to-market, creativity has taken a backseat, resulting in many similar solutions. 18-to-24-year-olds. According to 2024 Accenture's research on digital trends, 35% of respondents find app designs indistinguishable across brands, a sentiment that rises to nearly 40% among This is made worse by the constant increase in the number of apps. In our post-mobile-first era, businesses no longer need to be convinced to make websites or products that work well on mobile devices. Almost every service has its app, even if it's not needed at all. The battle for users has shifted from Retention to Acquisition. New applications struggle to convince users to download and try them, let alone ensure their continuous return. According to a study by Heady.io, of people dislike constantly being forced to download new apps. published in Forbes 91% How does this trend impact product development? → Review your Go-to-Market strategy Due to market saturation with look-alike digital products, the popular product-led growth (PLG) business model, which relies on the product as the main factor for attraction, conversion, and growth, seems to take a backseat in the near future. Products that focus on Marketing Led Growth (MLG) - a business model in which marketing is the main driver, will have a greater chance of success in 2024. Brand marketing and social media will become almost key tools for promotion. In 2022-2023, products that invested in creativity and marketing were ahead of their competitors. For example, and its strategy which allowed it to become the top-of-mind app for learning foreign languages. Duolingo TikTok → Review your product team and approach to roadmapping The classic product triad – product manager, designer, and developer, can turn into a quartet with the addition of a marketer. Alternatively, the product manager can become a marketer, as we observed in the case of in 2023. Additionally, product roadmaps may include numerous marketing features specifically aimed at creating viral marketing moments. AirBnb → Invest in creativity and move away from template solutions In a world of look-alike products with uniform designs, people more than ever want something new and creative. Accenture recommends allocating a budget for creativity in 2024 and striving to avoid an approach to product development that is solely focused on efficiency. Cybercriminals are becoming stronger, now with the support of AI Trend 4: : If cybercrime were a separate country, its total damage of $8 trillion by 2023 would make it the third-largest economy in the world. Hacking and cyber attacks will likely continue to increase. Some alarming statistics AI only adds fuel to this fire. For example, (remote user verification through photo) has stirred up controversy. its recent achievement of bypassing KYC People, it seems, have lost hope and no longer doubt that their data will be leaked online. 55% of respondents in the Ipsos study on trends in 2024 say they believe that their data will likely be leaked online. , we see that trust in digital products is declining: In the Deloitte study In 2021, 49% of respondents answered positively to the question of increased trust in online services in protecting their data compared to the previous year. In 2023, this percentage decreased to 38%. So the loss of hope is mostly based on users' distrust of digital products, which can be fixed with the right amount of investment into privacy, security, and marketing. , we also see that people are taking more precautions to protect their data. For example, they are using two-factor authentication, purchasing devices that do not track location, and using VPN and other means. People are arming themselves. In the same Deloitte study How does this affect product development? → Avoid collecting unnecessary user data Just don't do it. It raises a lot of concerns. According to the McKinsey 2022 study, 87% of respondents consider reputation, ethical principles, and the amount of personal data collected by the product to be almost as important factors in making a purchasing decision as cost (94%) and convenience (92%). → Make sure to invest in product security The increasing number of cyber crimes and people’s awareness of online dangers create a need for secure products that proactively care for their users. It appears that investing in security features and incorporating them into your marketing can be an effective strategy to distinguish yourself from competitors soon. Finding the right balance between users’ needs and investors’ demands Trend 5: In a slowing economy, investors aggressively seek profitability. To meet investors' profit expectations, products raise subscription fees and decrease development investments. However, reducing the developer workforce can result in more bugs, security risks, and a decline in product quality, updates, and new features. As a result, customers end up with a poorer product at the same or higher price. This phenomenon known as starts spreading in the tech industry. shrinkflation How does this trend impact product development? → Explore your customer ‘forgiveness elasticity' Accenture now suggests studying users' "elasticity of forgiveness" to understand what users can tolerate and what can potentially influence them to leave. Poor customer support and declining product quality can make customers feel undervalued: According to the Accenture survey, of respondents identified poor customer service as the main reason why they do not feel valued, while cited decreasing product quality as the main reason. 47% 37% Factors such as ethical practices and data breaches can influence users to discontinue their relationships with your product. McKinsey research says that of all respondents stopped doing business with a company because they disagreed with its ethical principles, and did so because they learned of a data breach, even when they didn’t know if their own data had been stolen. 14% 10% The world as well as digital product development is rapidly evolving due to changing user habits, needs, and expectations. To stay ahead, product managers and teams must adapt to emerging trends and challenges. To summarise, it seems like to stay ahead of competitors and keep users and investors happy, product teams should prioritize creativity in their marketing strategies, invest in security features, and address user fatigue caused by subscriptions and an abundance of apps. Additionally, it is important to  re-assess whether the product team still understands the ever-changing needs of their users and adjust marketing and product strategies accordingly focusing on personalized experiences. Good luck building products people love –– seems like it’s going to be fun in 2024!

How to Build Products People Love in 2024 and Beyond 

2024 এবং তার পরেও লোকেদের পছন্দের পণ্যগুলি কীভাবে তৈরি করবেন

Wie man Produkte herstellt, die die Menschen im Jahr 2024 und darüber hinaus lieben

Cómo crear productos que la gente ama en 2024 y más allá

Comment créer des produits que les gens adorent en 2024 et au-delà

2024 और उसके बाद लोगों को पसंद आने वाले उत्पाद कैसे बनाएं

2024 年以降も人々に愛される製品を構築する方法

2024년 이후에도 사람들이 좋아하는 제품을 만드는 방법

Como construir produtos que as pessoas adoram em 2024 e além

Как создавать продукты, которые люди полюбят в 2024 году и в дальнейшем

2024 ve Sonrasında İnsanların Sevdiği Ürünler Nasıl Geliştirilir?

Cách xây dựng sản phẩm được mọi người yêu thích vào năm 2024 và hơn thế nữa

如何打造 2024 年及以后人们喜爱的产品

The driver education sector is evolving rapidly with the advent of digital learning. Andrii Sheverdin, a pioneer in this realm, transforms traditional driver training with his innovative app, “Driving School in the Phone.” This platform disrupts the status quo, making quality driver education universally accessible, particularly for teenagers. In a revealing interview, Sheverdin shares insights into his groundbreaking approach and dedication to making driver training inclusive, driven by his philosophy: "Empowering every teenager to learn without barriers." Since 2021, the driving school industry has experienced significant changes. A major development is the adoption of online education. From the start of 2023, driver's license applicants in the USA must complete a five-hour online course for a "Pre-Licensing Course Certificate," an hour longer than in previous years. This change in teaching methods has sparked intense discussions. Many drivers worry that reducing in-person lessons with instructors might increase road accidents. , a driving school founder and winner of the International IT Project Competition Bridge in the EdTech Visionary category and the Skolkovo award, launched the innovative online platform "Driving School in the Phone." This platform played a crucial role in assisting countless educational institutions in maintaining their operations remotely amid the pandemic. It demonstrated that educational quality can be sustained even when shifting to digital platforms. In November 2023, Sheverdin expanded his operations by establishing CoreWaY LLC in New York, marking his entry into the American market. Our interview explores the future of driver training and the role of technology in this evolution. Andrii Sheverdin Andrii, before the launch of your driving school application, the online education market in this area was somewhat underdeveloped. Having been involved in driving instruction since the mid-2000s, could you share some insights into the challenges faced by students and schools before your innovative solution came into play? The vast majority of driving schools functioned solely in a traditional, offline manner. Theoretical training was conducted exclusively through in-person sessions, adhering to a fixed schedule. This necessitated students to accommodate, often involving significant travel time. Managing payments and handling administrative tasks previously required in-person attendance. This method restricted the frequency of interaction between the students and staff at the driving schools. Operations within these schools were predominantly paper-based, with little to no digital integration. Before our intervention, no complete strategies were in place for driving schools to an online educational model. Your product was a trailblazer in the field, combining mobility and modern technology, a feat acknowledged by the Russian National Business Awards. But what sparked the concept for the highly successful "Driving School in the Phone" application? The idea to create a mobile application for driving schools came after many years of working in this field and a deep understanding of its problems and needs. From my own experience, I encountered that the learning process in driving schools was often inconvenient for students precisely because of the need to adjust to the schedule and spend time on the road - about which I already mentioned - there were other inconveniences. As the head of a driving school, I saw difficulties in organizing effective interaction between employees and students within the driving school. In communicating with young students, I understood that they needed a more modern, mobile learning format. Eventually, I realized it was necessary to create an application that would allow for online learning, remote handling of organizational issues, and make getting a driver's license more comfortable for students. These ideas formed the basis of "Driving School in the Phone." Frequently, there's skepticism about online educational platforms, particularly for something as critical as learning to drive. Yet, the training provided through your application matches the effectiveness of conventional, in-person learning methods. How were you able to accomplish this? Yes, one of the critical tasks we set for ourselves when creating the "Driving School in the Phone" application was to ensure the same high quality of online learning as in the traditional offline format. And we put a lot of effort into this. First, our educational platform includes modern interactive tools: tests, video lessons, and 3D animations. This allows the student to immerse deeply in the material and gain the necessary knowledge. Moreover, we implemented functions for remote interaction of students with teachers through chats and video conferencing. Any question can be asked online and promptly receive qualified consultation. Also, in the application, there is an option to take theory exams online to prepare for the traffic police exam fully. Numerous driving schools have adopted your product and have reached thousands of driving students in your home country. Would this level of uptake be a success? Success is a relative concept. There is always something to strive for; however, we achieved impressive growth and business scaling thanks to the introduction of our application in driving schools. Our clients increased students' graduation several times with the same number of employees. This was made possible by optimizing and automating business processes using our platform. But the most important thing is that we are fundamentally changing the approach to training in driving schools, making it genuinely modern and convenient for students thanks to mobile technologies. My team and I take great pride in seeing how our product enhances the quality of educational services in driver training. And this is the best reward for us as a company-developer. With a substantial client base utilizing your platform, how does your company's organizational structure facilitate effective interaction with them? Can you describe how you established this structure? At CoreWaY LLC, we have formed a unique and multifunctional team that works in different corners of the world. This affords us a distinctive advantage: we can identify and utilize top talents, irrespective of their geographic location. This is incredibly crucial in our line of work. Managing such a distributed team requires flexibility and an innovative approach. We strive to maintain constant communication and ensure that all our employees, regardless of location, feel involved in the company's overall process and course. We use various technological tools and platforms to stay on the same wavelength, even in different time zones. It also helps us be closer to our clients worldwide and better understand their needs. Our company generally puts flexibility, open communication, and teamwork at the forefront, allowing us to effectively respond to rapidly changing market demands and stay at the forefront of innovation in driver training. Andrii, could you share some details about the new company you've established in the USA? What are your strategies for entering the American market, and how do you intend to tailor your approach to accommodate the unique aspects of driver training in the United States? Our new company, CoreWaY LLC, which I registered in November of this year in New York, represents an important step in our endeavor to bring innovation to driver training in the USA. We plan to offer a fresh look at the educational process, combining proven methodologies with modern technologies. The main goal of our company in the USA is to provide affordable, convenient, and practical driver training. We realize that educational requirements and preferences in the USA differ from those in Russia. Therefore, we will adapt our approach to each state's local features and legislative requirements to make our training as relevant and effective as possible. In the American market, the main focus will be on creating a comprehensive educational program for drivers of all categories: from passenger cars (category D, in Russia - category B) to motorcycles and trucks (CDL - Commercial Driver's License). Considering the popularity and demand for category CDL in the USA, we will pay special attention to the training of truck drivers. We also plan to cooperate closely with local driving schools and educational institutions to make our programs and methods entirely relevant. Our goal is to create a holistic educational ecosystem that will meet the needs of modern American drivers and contribute to road safety. With your driver training application gearing up for its imminent IOS release in the USA, could you highlight this app's distinctive features and functions? How does it stand out from other existing solutions in the market? Yes, we eagerly await the upcoming release of our new driver training application on mobile platforms in the USA. This application is developed with our commitment to innovation and providing high-quality training. In addition to adaptive learning and artificial intelligence support, we have introduced some unique features that make our application more inclusive and accessible. Firstly, we thought about schoolchildren. You know, teenagers learn differently; they need a different approach. Therefore, we introduced a special mode for grades 9-12 students. In it, everything is more straightforward and more enjoyable: simplified цtests, interactive guides, and all that. And most importantly - for school children, it is entirely free. We want every teenager to have the opportunity to learn to drive without any barriers. Another thing we cared about was support for immigrants. Our application is now available in eight languages. This means that no matter who you are and where you come from, you can easily switch to your native language in the application. Our application serves more than just the purpose of learning how to drive. It signifies the progression toward establishing a more inclusive, accessible educational environment. We want everyone, regardless of age or background, to have the opportunity to learn and develop. What is your planned course of action or strategy to implement? We are setting our sights high with plans to enhance our application's features and break into new markets. An essential advancement we've made is incorporating artificial intelligence to personalize learning experiences and support students from various countries. This involves real-time translation of messages, enabling seamless communication between clients and driving school staff in their preferred languages. Additionally, our goal is to collaborate with driving schools in every state across the U.S. This will allow us to provide a more complete range of services to those learning to drive.

Andrii Sheverdin: 'Every Teenager Should Have the Opportunity to Learn Without Barriers'

আন্দ্রে শেভারডিন: 'প্রতিটি কিশোরের বাধা ছাড়াই শেখার সুযোগ থাকা উচিত'

Andrey Sheverdin: „Jeder Teenager sollte die Möglichkeit haben, ohne Barrieren zu lernen“

Andrey Sheverdin: "Todo adolescente debería tener la oportunidad de aprender sin barreras"

Andrey Sheverdin : « Chaque adolescent devrait avoir la possibilité d'apprendre sans barrières »

एंड्री शेवरडिन: 'प्रत्येक किशोर को बाधाओं के बिना सीखने का अवसर मिलना चाहिए'

アンドレイ・シェバーディン：「すべてのティーンエイジャーは障壁なく学ぶ機会を持つべきだ」

Andrey Sheverdin: '모든 십대는 장벽 없이 학습할 수 있는 기회를 가져야 합니다'

Andrey Sheverdin: 'Todo adolescente deveria ter a oportunidade de aprender sem barreiras'

Андрей Шевердин: «Каждый подросток должен иметь возможность учиться без барьеров»

Andrey Sheverdin: 'Her Genç Engelsiz Öğrenme Fırsatına Sahip Olmalı'

Andrey Sheverdin: 'Mọi thanh thiếu niên nên có cơ hội học tập không rào cản'

安德烈·谢维丁：“每个青少年都应该有无障碍学习的机会”

By Dan Keene, Chief Business Officer of Portal Cross-chain interoperability is the key to achieving the mass adoption of blockchain technology in any sector. Interoperability enables blockchain networks and protocols to , making it easier for everyday users to engage with blockchain technology. The rise of blockchain technology has led to the development of new blockchain networks that tackle specific niches within certain industries, each blockchain having specialized functions based on its purpose. communicate with each other However, there is no one perfect solution that will be able to meet all of the needs associated with blockchain technology all at once. Therefore, as more organizations become aware of both the challenges and possibilities, the interconnection of unique blockchains is becoming increasingly necessary. Blockchain interoperability refers to a wide variety of methods that enable many blockchains to communicate, share digital assets and data, and work together more effectively. This makes it possible for one blockchain network to share its economic activity with another. For example, interoperability allows transmitting data and assets across different blockchain networks via decentralized cross-chain bridges. One main consequence of this is , the pooling of small, inaccessible pockets of users and liquidity into a single, easy-to-access market. At Portal, we see this is a major step towards bringing mainstream audiences into Web3. More than that, our innovative tech stack, built with LayerZero, allows this interoperability to occur via infrastructure that is . By ensuring user peace of mind and ease of use, we maximize our chances of uptake in blockchain technology. defragmentation trustless the chances of mainstream adoption are significantly smaller unless interoperability issues begin to be resolved. Current processes like bridging or swapping tokens between chains entail significant user frictions; onboarding into Web3 is, at present, clunky and intimidating to prospective users, particularly when sending digital assets between networks. The bottom line: Let’s look at Gaming. Like many established Web2 industries at scale, gaming is currently largely centralized, with all related data stored on a server that is fully controlled by the game administrators. This means that players don’t have real ownership of their accounts and items, and centralized servers present many limitations and vulnerabilities. However, nascent blockchain technology can eliminate or mitigate most of these problems by enabling players to have permanent ownership and full control over their in-game assets. But what happens when players want to move their assets from one chain’s ecosystem to the next? Typically, this is done through clunky “bridging” or “swapping” processes, but these are the opposite: easy and user-friendly. These mechanisms are a world apart from contemporary mainstream payment solutions found in the likes of e-commerce and app stores. Next-gen Web3 solutions like the Portal Wallet allow users to seamlessly and securely move assets (such as currencies, in-game items, skins, and the like) between dApps on different blockchains, boosting trust and reducing friction. Only by solving these very practical considerations can we begin to talk about blockchain and Web3 gaming in terms of utility and possibility rather than processes and pain points. Blockchain interoperability can enable the creation of a unified gaming ecosystem useable by all. Portal is building one such ecosystem, an all-encompassing umbrella where value and users flow easily between walled gardens. The Portal Wallet’s seamless UX makes it the go-to entry point for prospective Web3 gamers, whilst the Portal Platform and Network will leverage world-class representation across entertainment to accelerate adoption by Web2 and 3 games alike. Blockchain-based games allow players to have full control over their in-game assets, which are represented by unique, non-fungible tokens (NFTs). These assets may include in-game cards, skins, equipment, and characters, and they can all be linked to blockchain tokens, which are maintained by a decentralized network. More broadly, blockchain’s ability to transparently record information and transfer assets allows users to capture a portion of the economic value created by gaming. Portal’s extensive entertainment and streaming network allows it to connect games and gamers, with native token $Portal efficiently flowing between all parties. Blockchain interoperability can also enable the creation of decentralized marketplaces, which can be used to trade in-game assets. This will allow for the creation of a more transparent and fair gaming economy, where players can trade their assets without the need for intermediaries, and most importantly, enable the creation of cross-game assets for , creating a much more immersive, enriched gaming experience that paves the way toward a fully realized industry. use across different games What else might then be possible? Once blockchain interoperability happens at scale, it will enable a wide range of products and services outside of gaming. At Portal, we’re constantly keeping an eye on possibilities not just in our own sector, but more broadly. The potential use cases that could emerge are, frankly, myriad, but some great examples are: Interoperability can enable the creation of a unified supply chain ecosystem that can be used by everyone. 1. Supply Chain Management: . This will allow for the seamless transfer of goods and services across different supply chains, making it easier for businesses to track their products and services from start to finish Imagine the reformation of a unified healthcare ecosystem that can be used by everyone. 2. Healthcare: . This will allow for the seamless transfer of medical records and other health-related data across different healthcare providers, making it easier for patients to access their medical records and receive better care Interoperability paves the way for a unified and democratized real estate ecosystem where it’s possible to . 3. Real Estate: seamlessly transfer property titles and other real estate-related data across different real estate providers, making it easier for people to buy and sell properties I’m ready for a world where you can transfer energy credits and other energy-related data across different energy providers, making it easier for people to access renewable energy sources and reduce their carbon footprint. 4. Energy: It’s clear that we stand at the precipice of mass adoption for the industry. Once interoperability is the order of the day, I believe we won’t say things like “Web3” anymore. We’ll just do our business and build great tech using the best infrastructure available, leaving the user to enjoy novel products and experiences as they please. Imagine that! ### About Dan Keene With a career grounded in traditional finance, Dan has 10+ years at the forefront of consumer tech. Named in Forbes’ 30U30 Europe list for 2021, he has spent the majority of his time founding, scaling, and selling companies across multiple sectors. Highlights include scaling one company to Unicorn status and raising $650m in investment for another; investors included the likes of Goldman Sachs and Softbank. Dan has been full-time in Web3 for the last 3 years and is bullish on the disruptive force that blockchain and digital assets can bring to all industries, particularly gaming. About Portal is the universal gaming ecosystem powered by $Portal. Through market-leading tech products and a world-class network, Portal is bringing blockchain gaming to mainstream audiences. It’s the crucial first step in their mission: to onboard the first billion gamers into Web3. The Portal Ecosystem is composed of multiple interconnected elements, each providing a unique value add for users: the universal gaming coin, Portal Platform, Wallet, and Network. With 180+ games integrated at launch, Portal is set to be the world’s access point to Web3 gaming. Portal Follow on X (Twitter) at https://twitter.com/Portalcoin Claim Portal Rewards via__ __ CrystalDash

Crosschain Interoperability: Soon, We Won’t Say “Web3”

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2023 Review of Social Media Trends There continues to be a and private communities wherein users are sharing in DMs or closed communities such as Slack, Discord, WhatsApp, Messenger group chats, etc. as opposed to posting to their public-facing timelines. userbase shift to “Dark Social” The lack of safety and moderation tools provided by platforms means that end users are having a very poor experience. They are fed up with bots and dogpiling. People have found that it is safer to share an opinion in a community that knows them and doesn’t seek to misinterpret their intentions. If you happen to misspeak or try out a hot take to clarify your own thoughts on the matter, the people in your closed circle know you well enough to know your intentions and can challenge you without it escaping your sphere of influence and becoming a larger cancellation. This shift to Dark Social can frustrate marketers because there could be bumps in sales that current analytics tools may not be able to explain. Sharing within closed communities can lead to strong word-of-mouth gains for some. There has been with the advent of X Premium/Twitter Blue, Meta Verified and Ad Free options, and Snapchat+. This will continue across all platforms. movement towards paid subscriptions As For You Pages, timelines, and feeds become increasingly clogged with paid content placement, users might be willing to pay for an ad-free experience or for paid-exclusive premium features. ? The Death of Twitter/X There has been so much speculation about the big changes at leading to the death of the platform, but the situation has not been as dire as the “doom and gloomers” had initially forecasted. It is true that CEO Elon Musk’s behavior has been erratic, and there has not been good follow-through on publicly-stated plans, which has driven away brands and prompted advertisers to pull their funds from X and re-invest on other platforms. Twitter/X The changeover to the x.com domain broke back-end analytics so marketers and social media managers have been “flying blind” without access to the data they had previously relied upon to fine-tune their content strategies. There is ample publicly-available data to support claims that bot activity has increased on the platform and that users have not been spending as much time on the app or have abandoned it altogether. Additionally, X currently has no data security team. Giving X access to any form of payment information is ill-advised at this time. Threads, T2, Bluesky, Mastodon, etc. have not lived up to the promise of being a full . Twitter replacement The widely-anticipated launch of Threads has been viewed by some to be a failure due to the sharp drop in active users after an initially impressive uptake. The platform, at launch, lacked many basic features and had geographically-restricted access which put a damper on adoption rates. Mastodon has seen widespread adoption among tech workers, but non-tech consumers found the setup process to be too intimidating and complicated. Bluesky has struggled with individual users not being able to find their niche communities. ByteDance launched a fulfillment service called to compete with Amazon and Meta Commerce, but it struggled. TikTok Shops Software glitches in the rollout of TikTok Shops negatively impacted the small businesses that were early adopters leading to a poor experience for both sellers and buyers. This led sellers to send up the alarm in their communities prompting others to halt their plans to use the feature for direct sales. It was a huge stumble out of the starting gate and uptake has been slow ever since. TikTok broke trust with the creators they were relying on to make the launch of the tool a success, and they are struggling to recover. HarperCollins and WH Smith launched a test program in partnership with TikTok Shop UK in 2022 to allow users to order books directly from videos without leaving the app in an attempt to capitalize on the impact that has had on the sale of certain titles. Since the initial press coverage of the launch of this partnership, things have gone quiet, so the assumption is that publishers have still not been successful in using the platform’s commerce tools for direct-to-consumer fulfillment. On the flip side of that coin, record labels have been effectively using Meta Commerce to boost both physical and digital album sales. Booktok launches have been the biggest social media marketing success stories of 2023 Creator-led consumer goods Prime from Logan Paul, Skims from Kim Kardashian, and Feastibles from Mr. Beast were giant successes because of the trust that influencers have built up over time with their audiences. Similarly, in publishing, titles like by B. Dylan Hollis, a by Danny Freeman, by Mercury Stardust, the Trans Handy Ma’am, etc. have been topping bestseller lists. Baking Yesteryear Danny Loves Past Safe and Sound continues to be the most engaged-with form of content across all platforms. Live video Live video can have a huge barrier to entry for many would-be creators, but there are so many creative workarounds for people who prefer not to have their faces on camera. Creators have been using voice-over only, blocking their faces with large microphones, using sock puppets or paper cutouts of an avatar of themselves, etc., to avoid doing a full “face reveal” and protect their identities while still building audiences on social media through both streaming platforms and on short-form video platforms that have live video features. 2024 Social Media Trends Forecast The future of is still bright. text-based “micro-blogging” platforms The launch of Threads in the EU will be a big boost to the platform. The addition of accessibility features and a continuous improvement of user experience will be big determining factors in userbase growth over time. Given how unpredictable the CEO of X is and the somewhat dire forecasts for the future of the platform’s revenue sources, shifting away from investing too much energy into growing your audience on X makes sense. Elon Musk’s behavior Text-based micro-blogging platforms still lead image-based platforms in driving traffic to “owned media” sites due to robust support of links. Even when links are de-emphasized by the algorithm, users still see better traffic statistics from text-based platforms like X and Facebook than from short-form video platforms and image-based platforms like Snapchat and Instagram. The major challenge for brands on social media will continue to be moving towards using platforms for instead of strictly for raising brand awareness. conversion This is why we’re seeing so many commerce tools come online and why companies like Meta have shifted their focus away from communities with huge layoffs in the Facebook Groups teams. Social media, however, is not a storefront. It was built for having conversations and sharing ideas, not for making purchases, so it’s trying to be something it’s not and was never intended to be in service of market pressures. Expert Matt Navarro thinks TikTok will have an easier time trying to become Amazon than Amazon will have trying to become TikTok but having an existing logistics infrastructure in place may mean his prediction is incorrect. has been gaining a lot of traction in Asia on all platforms that support live video (mostly Instagram and TikTok), but there is still low market penetration in the US. Live Shopping Multi-level marketing schemes were early adopters of live shopping in the US when Facebook Live came online in 2016, so that may have left US consumers with a poor impression of social commerce. Amazon is trying to tap into social commerce by partnering with Meta and Snapchat to add  features to their e-commerce platform that mimic social media platforms. These changes are geared towards bringing more live shopping to the Amazon app. Similarly, LinkInBio is implementing tools that will facilitate direct sales. Expect TikTok Shops to continue to be pushed heavily in the For You Page algorithm, and watch for ByteDance’s foray into publishing as they’re expected to launch their own imprint and begin direct book sales on the app. is coming to multiple platforms utilizing location data to customize your feed in real-time. Nearby Feed This was one of the main strengths of Snapchat circa 2018, but expect data privacy challenges to slow integration into more platforms. - Influencer marketing has outpaced ad spend and will continue to take a larger share of advertising budgets, but still, only 4% of creators make six figures. The Creator Economy New subscription tools on LinkedIn, YouTube, and X are trying to give content creators more ways to charge for access, but many still rely on third-party platforms such as Patreon, Substack, OnlyFans, and others such as Five.Me. Many content creators will likely try to diversify their income streams through publishing contracts and product launches in 2024. is the Wild West. Short Form Video Monetization YouTube has suffered three straight quarters of ad revenue declines (NOT LOSSES, just declining growth). Per analysis from Logically Answered, this is largely an effect of YouTube Shorts not being able to be monetized as effectively as long-form video and a shift towards short-form video taking away market share from long-form content. YouTube continues to be the most stable platform for creators to monetize their output. The TikTok Creator Fund did not live up to its promise and is being replaced with The Creativity Program. Monetization on the Reels Play program is still invitation-only, and creators have very little insight into the analytics behind their payouts, but this program is expected to expand, and Meta should bring more reporting features online in the future. will allow creators to automate and streamline processes like copywriting so they’re able to publish content more frequently. AI-powered large language model tools Generative AI tools are making some tasks that used to require the involvement of highly-skilled specialists more accessible to everyone, which could lead to an overall increase in output (and also an intensification of the squeeze on creators to do more and more with a finite time resource). Spammers will be early adopters and everyone else will be feeling the pressure to develop new skills like writing effective AI prompts and researching what the best options are amid the rapidly expanding suite of new tools. More bulk-created content will lead to a higher signal-to-noise ratio for thoughtful, long-form content to break through. Expect less overall reach on public posts across all platforms due to cluttered feeds. Improvements in will continue to drive customer service successes via social. Designing conversations will be a needed skill for digital marketers to learn. chatbots Generative AI images and video are improving at a rapid rate, with new tools expected to be released to the public in 2024. Tech giants, including Microsoft, Google, and Meta, are continuing to make huge investments in artificial intelligence. , but there are liability concerns surrounding the copyrights on the contents of the datasets that these machine-learning tools have been trained on. Expect more landmark lawsuits to be filed and the public to begin making  calls for an increase in the transparency of where training datasets have originated. For AI tools to be useful, users must be able to trust their output which requires high quality input. Platform integration of AI-driven tools will be a big growth sector Malicious making the rounds on social media will continue to be a big problem for free and fair elections and for prominent public figures’ reputation management. deepfakes AI avatar technology continues to improve and will allow more creators to begin using live video anonymously. Expect more augmented reality to infiltrate digital commerce sites like Warby Parker’s virtual try-on. Trends such as the “make it more” image prompts will continue to make waves on social networks. in Europe and elsewhere have had a big impact on platforms and will continue to be a major focus. Regulatory challenges Privacy concerns and data security compliance will need major investments from US-based entities if they want to continue to operate in jurisdictions that are investing in passing laws to protect their citizens’ rights. Rapid-Fire Platform Predictions for 2024: will continue to add functionality. Adding in-app scheduling will be a game-changer. An API is coming, which will mean third-party app integrations including off-platform scheduling. Improvements in accessibility tools like Alt Text and Voice Messaging have already made the app much more usable and this trend will continue. The addition of translations will be a big step forward. Threads doesn’t have much of an identity currently. It hasn’t distinguished itself with any unique features. Threads will try to woo back advertisers. There will be more focus on video on X and a shift toward payment systems, transaction management, and banking. There has been no indication that there will be new data security hiring. The prediction is that X usage will continue to flag, and the company will be less and less profitable in future. X will keep its focus on online commerce and expanding messaging services but will face more regulatory challenges in multiple jurisdictions. Keep an eye on The Creativity Program and improvements in search features as the platform continues to challenge Google as an information source. TikTok ’s universal inbox will be a model for all other platforms that are trying to capitalize on the shift to dark social. WhatsApp will continue to grow its user base and reap the benefits of the expanded features they’ve rolled out in recent years. They are planning to add AI-integrated features. LinkedIn is still hurting financially from the failure to launch of the Metaverse, but their Ad-Free subscription has seen decent uptake and their investments in messaging and acquisition of WhatsApp are paying off. Facebook is too noisy with bot activity and poorly targeted ads which is driving users away. Whether or not they have more to offer in 2024 than continuing to clone the popular features of other apps is yet to be seen. Instagram ’s robust content moderation has continued to serve it well in terms of attracting and retaining advertisers. It’s a place where brands feel safe, but the modes of moderation have had  the effect of stifling creativity. We’ve all seen the creators trying to have a serious conversation about certain topics who’ve had to dance around the issue by using euphemistic language to avoid de-monetization. This creates a poorer experience for the audience and hopefully YouTube will be able to build some nuance into their automated content moderation tools with improvements from machine learning tools. YouTube has put a huge investment into its augmented reality virtual try-on tool, but it’s not quite ready for primetime yet. Pinterest

Social Media Trends: 
2023 Review & 2024 Forecasting

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