🆕Is the resounding male gaze in chatbots an opportunity for responsible anthropomorphism?🆕

In May 2021, two prominent YouTubers, Mirko Drotschmann and Léo Grasset were approached with a concerning offer from an influencer marketing agency, Fazze. The agency asked them to promote false information claiming that the death rate among people who received the Pfizer vaccine was almost three times that of the

My parents always had the same look on their faces whenever they saw my phone in my hands. I could see the worry plastered on their faces – “I hope she’s not talking to any strangers”, “Is she watching something she’s not supposed to be?”, “What if she falls into a trap?”, “Staring at that screen is so bad for her eyes.” 

As the second anniversary of the pandemic outbreak draws closer, we can all agree on one thing: technology has been a lifesaver for most of us. In the last two turbulent years, when the world was thrown into a state of chaotic disarray, we surrendered to our devices to be able to live, work, play and stay in touch with loved ones. As we adults buried ourselves in our devices, our children had no option but to follow suit. During extended lockdowns and stay-at-home mandates, digital technology helped us maintain a semblance of normalcy in a world that none of us knew how to navigate. It helped children continue with online lessons, stay entertained, and connect with friends. It also helped adults buy a few hours of sanity everyday – when we could work or go about household chores when the kids were occupied on their devices.

My friend’s almost five-year-old, the brightest, most articulate child I have ever known, doesn’t know what a TV is. Her mother’s hand-me-down laptop is her TV – the one she uses for her online school as well as entertainment. My friend, the most evolved, 2021-compliant parent I know, makes sure that she vetts and curates everything the child watches on her “TV”, to be 100% sure that no ambiguous or inappropriate content slips through between episodes of Peppa Pig and Octonauts.

Young people don’t ask for your number anymore. They ask for your Instagram handle. Over the past decade, Instagram has catapulted over Facebook and Twitter to become an indispensable part of the lives of teenagers and young adults worldwide. As of July 2021, 62% of Instagram’s users are between the ages of 18 and 34. To no one’s surprise, Instagram has become one of the most popular social media platforms for young people. What sets this platform apart from all the rest for the most cynical generation yet to become so dependent on it?