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Democratic congressman Ritchie Torres takes on SEC over crypto … – Cryptopolitan

Description

Representative Ritchie Torres (D-CA) has taken a stand against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in what he calls a war on the whole industry in the cryptocurrency space. On July 28, Torres publicly criticized the regulatory agencys approach under Chair Gary Gensler, accusing the SEC of regulation by enforcement and imposing arbitrary actions Read more

Representative Ritchie Torres (D-CA) has taken a stand against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in what he calls a war on the whole industry in the cryptocurrency space.

On July 28, Torres publicly criticized the regulatory agencys approach under Chair Gary Gensler, accusing the SEC of regulation by enforcement and imposing arbitrary actions on crypto innovators.

In response to these concerns, Torres has put forth the Financial Innovation and Technology (FIT) for the 21st Century Act. This proposed legislation aims to reform the market structure by clearly defining which cryptocurrencies fall under the SECs jurisdiction.

The SEC would have authority over a crypto asset until it can demonstrate sufficient decentralization. Once proven to be decentralized, the asset would be reclassified as a commodity, falling under the jurisdiction of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

During the House Financial Services Committees session on July 26, Torres strongly advocated for the FIT Act, signaling his determination to bring clarity and fairness to the crypto market.

Moreover, Torres is supporting an additional measure that focuses on stablecoins. He emphasizes the significance of stablecoins as a clear and practical use case for cryptocurrencies. The proposed measure aims to establish comprehensive guidelines for stablecoin issuers to ensure that all reserves are adequately maintained.

Furthermore, Torres has expressed support for providing stablecoin issuers the freedom to choose between federal and state regulations, such as New Yorks Bitlicense. This move could foster innovation and create a more conducive environment for the stablecoin industry.

However, despite Torres support, Reuters reported on July 27 that a bipartisan compromise regarding the stablecoin measure has recently collapsed. This development adds a layer of complexity to the ongoing discussions about stablecoin regulations and highlights the challenges in reaching a consensus among policymakers.

Consequently, the crypto industry closely watches the developments surrounding the FIT Act and the stablecoin measure. The proposed legislation has the potential to significantly impact how cryptocurrencies are regulated and provide much-needed clarity for industry participants. The outcome of these legislative efforts could shape the future of the crypto market in the United States, influencing investment, innovation, and consumer protection.

Representative Ritchie Torres is at the forefront of advocating for comprehensive regulatory reforms in cryptocurrency. With the FIT Act and stablecoin measure on the table, the coming weeks will be crucial for the industry as policymakers strive to balance innovation and investor protection.

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Sam Altman claims Worldcoin onboarding 1 user every 8 seconds … – Cryptopolitan

Description

Sam Altman, the creator of Worldcoin, caused a stir on Twitter on July 26 when he confidently asserted that one person is getting verified every 8 seconds now for the ambitious Worldcoin project. He shared a cellphone video featuring long queues of people waiting to participate, aiming to showcase the massive demand for the eye-scanning Read more

Sam Altman, the creator of Worldcoin, caused a stir on Twitter on July 26 when he confidently asserted that one person is getting verified every 8 seconds now for the ambitious Worldcoin project.

He shared a cellphone video featuring long queues of people waiting to participate, aiming to showcase the massive demand for the eye-scanning technology used for verification. However, the lack of substantial evidence to back his claim raised skepticism among many.

Despite boasting over 2 million pre-registrants for Worldcoin as of July 13, Altman refrained from disclosing the actual number of participants in the experiment. Furthermore, on-chain data indicated little uptake, with only 3,650 unique token holders and 13,766 transactions involving the WLD token.

Worldcoins price experienced a surge on July 24, reaching above $2.60, but it quickly dropped to $2.09 afterward. Despite this fluctuation, the cryptocurrencys market valuation of $232 million positioned it in the top 150 by capitalization.

The Worldcoin identification system and currency, launched on July 24, rely on scanning participants eyes to create digital World IDs, granting access to restricted areas and distinguishing humans from bots. Incentives in the form of Bitcoin rewards, specifically 25 WLD (equivalent to approximately $52.50), were offered to those who signed up for the program.

Interestingly, while cryptocurrencies traditionally emphasize unrestricted and pseudonymous access to digital money, Worldcoins reliance on user identity has drawn criticism from decentralization proponents who argue that it undermines this fundamental principle.

Despite the initial hype and perceived demand, users at some locations, such as one sign-up site in Dubai, reported no waiting times, indicating an uneven experience for participants. This, coupled with the need for more transparent data supporting Altmans claims, has left some questioning the projects true impact and scalability.

Moreover, with the highly volatile cryptocurrency market, the future of Worldcoin remains uncertain. Its success will likely hinge on its ability to address concerns related to user privacy and security while proving the viability of its eye-scanning technology on a larger scale.

While Sam Altmans bold assertion sparked curiosity and excitement around Worldcoin, the lack of concrete evidence and mixed user experiences overshadowed the projects potential. As the crypto community continues to monitor its progress closely, only time will tell if Worldcoin can successfully strike a balance between innovative verification methods and the principles that underpin the world of cryptocurrencies.

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The Provincial Nominee Program has changed Canadian immigration – Canada Immigration News

Canadas immigration landscape has been largely transformed by the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), according to a new Statistics Canada study.

Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

The PNP was introduced in all provinces, except for Quebec and the Yukon, between 1998 and 2009. Its purpose was to spread the settlement of economic immigrants outside major Canadian cities and to address the labour force needs of each province and territory.

Each province and territory is responsible for the design and management of its PNP. There are several different streams to which applicants can apply. While the streams vary significantly between the provinces and territories, there are a few main types, including workers with job offers, workers without job offers, entrepreneur streams and international student streams.

The PNP has been continuously expanding, resulting in 68,000 provincial nominees in Canada in 2019. That year, the PNP was the largest selection program for economic immigrants, accounting for 35% of all new immigrants in Canada, up from 1% in 2000.

Each year, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) releases new Immigrations Level Plan which it uses to guide its operations. In 2023, Canada aims to welcome 465,000 new permanent residents, and this number is increased to 500,000 in 2025. The Immigration Levels Plan target for permanent residents under PNP exceeds Express Entry, which is the federal governments main economic class pathway. In 2025, IRCC aims to welcome 117,500 permanent residents through the PNP.

The main finding of the Statistics Canada study was that a decentralization of economic immigrations occurred simultaneously with growth in the PNP as the PNPs grew, economic immigration became less centralized in Canada. The provincial distribution of new economic immigrants shifted significantly from 2000, when there were virtually no provincial nominees, to 2019.

In particular, the share of immigrants intending to settle in Ontario (mainly Toronto), declined from 61% to 42% in that time period. The share headed to British Columbia also saw a small decline, from 17% to 15%.

The Prairie provinces gained substantially, the share of immigrants going to both Manitoba and Saskatchewan grew from virtually zero to around 7%. Alberta experienced an increase share along with the Atlantic provinces, with their collective share rising from 1% to 7%.

As the PNP has evolved, the characteristics of those selected through the program has changed substantially.

The most consequential change was the increased tendency to choose economic immigrants that had Canadian earnings prior to landing, essentially meaning temporary foreign workers. The proportion of provincial nominees aged 20 to 54 who were previously temporary foreign workers rose from 6% in 2002 to 61% in 2019 and further to 72% in 2021.

Research showed that immigrants who were previously temporary foreign works had better labour market outcomes, both in the short and long run, compared with immigrants without prior Canadian work experience.

There was also a large increase in the number of PNP immigrants with pre-immigration Canadian study experience. In 2019, 38% of new PNP immigrants had pre-immigration Canadian study experience, up from 7% in 2010.

Another important characteristic was age. Age at immigration has declined among provincial nominees in the past. The share aged 20 to 29 at immigration increased from 24% in 2005 to 38% in 2019. According to the study, younger immigrants tend to have better economic outcomes than their older counterparts, particularly in the long run.

As the share of nominees in their 20s increase, the share who were principal applicants without spouses and dependents also increased.

Official language ability among provincial nominees has undergone major changes. In 2005, one fifth of nominees spoke neither English nor French. In 2019, the number of nominees not speaking English or French upon arrival in Canada has fallen to virtually zero, probably due to the fact that most PNP programs currently require nominees to speak English or French at some specified level.

The proportion with a mother tongue other than English or French but who also speak English or French increased from 64% to 91% from 2005 to 2019.

Finally, the source countries of economic immigrants have seen a change. Traditionally, economic immigrants came to Canada from a wide range of source countries with no single country or region dominating, but this is shifting. In 2019, 70% of new provincial nominees originated from three regions in Asia: Southern Asia, Eastern Asia and Southeast Asia.

Since the inception of the PNP, a substantial decentralization of new economic immigrants has been achieved. The characteristics of new provincial nominees has changed significantly as well, largely in a way that would tend to improve economic outcomes.

Continued growth of the PNP has the potential to continue fuelling the trend of greater regional decentralization of immigration, which is intended to better respond to the demographic and labour market challenges experienced in different regions of Canada.

As the study demonstrates, the numbers, settlement patterns and characteristics of provincial nominees change over time and affect their labour and demographic roles.

Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

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How Fantom’s Middleware Impacts the Blockchain Ecosystem – Crypto Times

Fantoms middleware approach is a novel solution that addresses key challenges observed in the blockchain ecosystem, such as scalability, interoperability, security, and decentralization.

By implementing advanced techniques such as sharding and parallel processing, Fantoms middleware is able to achieve high throughput and low latency, enabling faster and more efficient transaction processing.

Additionally, Fantoms middleware promotes interoperability with other blockchains, strengthens security and privacy measures, and promotes decentralization and community governance.

This article explores the impact of Fantoms middleware on the overall efficiency and functionality of blockchain networks. If you are dealing in the blockchain and crypto ecosystem, you should not miss out on using quantumprimeprofit.com and its automated trading features.

To understand Fantoms middleware approach, its essential to grasp the concept of middleware in general. Middleware acts as a bridge between different components of a system, enabling seamless communication and interaction.

Fantoms Middleware adopts a unique hybrid consensus mechanism that combines the benefits of both Proof of Stake (PoS) and Proof of Work (PoW). This hybrid approach strikes a balance between security and efficiency, delivering a robust network that rewards active participants while preventing malicious activities.

At the heart of Fantoms Middleware lies its DAG architecture, designed to facilitate efficient transaction processing and achieve scalability. DAG technology replaces traditional blockchain data structures, eliminating bottlenecks and enabling near-instantaneous transactions.

The Lachesis Protocol plays a pivotal role in achieving consensus in Fantoms Middleware. By utilizing an asynchronous Byzantine Fault Tolerant (aBFT) algorithm, the Lachesis Protocol ensures that transactions are confirmed with incredible speed and security.

In the context of Fantoms blockchain architecture, middleware plays a crucial role in enhancing performance and functionality.

Fantoms middleware is designed to optimize and streamline blockchain operations. Unlike traditional blockchains, which often face scalability issues due to increasing transaction volumes, Fantoms middleware provides a scalable solution.

By implementing sharding and parallel processing techniques, Fantom achieves high throughput and low latency, enabling faster and more efficient transaction processing.

Fantoms middleware addresses the challenge of interoperability within the blockchain ecosystem. Interoperability allows different blockchains to communicate and interact with each other, fostering seamless asset transfers and cross-chain transactions.

Fantoms middleware facilitates integration with other blockchains, enabling users to leverage the benefits of multiple networks and facilitating the seamless flow of assets.

Security and privacy are paramount in blockchain ecosystems, and Fantoms middleware approach excels in this area as well. The middleware layer incorporates robust consensus mechanisms, ensuring network integrity and protecting against malicious activities.

Additionally, Fantoms middleware offers privacy features that enhance data protection, assuring users of a secure and private blockchain experience.

Fantoms middleware approach has implications for decentralization and governance. Decentralization, a key principle of blockchain technology, ensures that no single entity has control over the network.

Fantoms middleware promotes decentralization by implementing innovative governance models and involving the community in decision-making processes. Consensus participation and voting mechanisms enable stakeholders to actively participate in shaping the networks future.

Scalability has been a significant challenge for many traditional blockchains, as the increasing number of transactions can lead to congestion and slower processing times. Fantoms middleware approach addresses this challenge by implementing advanced techniques such as sharding and parallel processing.

Sharding involves dividing the blockchain network into smaller subsets called shards, each capable of processing transactions independently. This distributed approach significantly improves scalability by allowing multiple transactions to be processed simultaneously across different shards.

As a result, Fantoms middleware enables the blockchain network to handle a higher volume of transactions without experiencing performance degradation.

Parallel processing, another key feature of Fantoms middleware approach, further enhances scalability and transaction speed. It enables multiple transactions to be executed simultaneously, leveraging the computational power of multiple nodes within the network.

By effectively utilizing available resources, Fantoms middleware significantly reduces the time required to validate and confirm transactions, resulting in faster transaction speeds and improved overall network efficiency.

Real-world examples showcase the impact of Fantoms middleware approach on scalability and transaction speed. For instance, Fantoms implementation in the DeFi (Decentralized Finance) sector has demonstrated remarkable transaction throughput and low latency.

This enhanced scalability and transaction speed not only improve the user experience but also enable the blockchain network to handle high-demand applications and services effectively.

By addressing scalability challenges, Fantoms middleware approach opens up new possibilities for blockchain technology. It enables the seamless execution of complex smart contracts and supports the growth of decentralized applications (DApps) that require fast and efficient transaction processing.

Furthermore, the improved scalability and transaction speed provided by Fantoms middleware contribute to the wider adoption and utilization of blockchain technology in various industries, including finance, supply chain, and gaming.

Fantoms middleware approach has a profound impact on scalability and transaction speed within the blockchain ecosystem. Through the implementation of sharding, parallel processing, and other innovative techniques, Fantoms middleware overcomes traditional scalability limitations and enables faster transaction processing.

This not only enhances the overall efficiency of the blockchain network but also opens up new opportunities for decentralized applications and services. With Fantoms middleware, the blockchain ecosystem can achieve scalability without compromising security, revolutionizing the way transactions are conducted in the digital era.

Also Read: Fantom (FTM) vs. Cardano (ADA): Which Token Should You Buy?

Conclusion

By enhancing scalability and transaction speed, enabling interoperability with other blockchains, strengthening security and privacy measures, and promoting decentralization and community governance, Fantom paves the way for a more efficient and inclusive future for blockchain technology.

The adoption of Fantoms middleware sets a new standard for blockchain networks, revolutionizing the way transactions are conducted and opening doors to endless possibilities.

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Ether.fi, Arthur Hayes’ New Investment: Is it Truly Non-Custodial and … – Cryptopolitan

Description

Staking is a way to earn rewards on your cryptocurrency holdings by locking them up to support the security of a blockchain network. However, traditional staking can be illiquid, meaning that you cant access your funds until the lock-up period is over. Liquid staking solutions solve this problem by allowing you to stake your tokens Read more

Staking is a way to earn rewards on your cryptocurrency holdings by locking them up to support the security of a blockchain network. However, traditional staking can be illiquid, meaning that you cant access your funds until the lock-up period is over. Liquid staking solutions solve this problem by allowing you to stake your tokens while still being able to trade them or use them as collateral.

Liquid staking is a process that allows you to stake your cryptocurrency tokens without having to lock them up. This is done by using a third-party service that holds your tokens and stakes them on your behalf. You can then continue to trade or use your tokens as normal, while still earning rewards from staking.

Ether.fi is a non-custodial liquid staking platform which raised $5.3 million in funding in February 2023 from North Island Ventures, Chapter One and Node Capital and the funding round included participation from founder of derivatives exchange BitMEX founder Arthur Hayes. The platform seeks to provide better services than existing liquid staking platforms and is focused on decentralization as its primary objective.

As per the official documentation of ether.if, the platform claims that it will never compromise on the non-custodial and decentralized nature of the protocol.

Following the transition of the Ethereum Network from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake consensus, an increasing number of crypto holders are interested in liquid staking platforms like Ether.fi. However, every investor needs to carefully assess the situation and invest their money wisely on any platform.

Backed by Arthur Hayes and additional investors in the crypto sector, Ether.fi raised significant money during a bearish phase in the crypto sector in 2023. Ether.fi is a decentralized and non-custodial delegated staking protocol that offers users the ability to stake their Ethereum (ETH) and earn rewards for validating transactions and securing the Ethereum network. The protocol introduces a Liquid Staking Derivative token, which represents the staked ETH and provides users with the flexibility to maintain control of their assets while still participating in staking and earning rewards.

As an emerging liquid staking platform, Ether.fi aims to provide a sustainable and decentralized solution for staking ETH and earning rewards while maintaining control over their assets. The protocol acknowledges the contributions of other delegated staking solutions like RocketPool, StakeWise, Diva, and Lido, which have inspired and motivated its development. The protocol adheres to principles of decentralization, ethical practices, and transparency, aiming to serve the Ethereum community and offer long-term solutions for stakers.

The features of the Ether.fi liquid staking protocol are as follows:

Decentralized and Non-Custodial: One of the distinguishing characteristics of Ether.fi is that it offers truly decentralized staking. The staker, not the node operator, owns all the keys. Stakers maintain control of their ETH throughout the staking process, and the key generation for staking is performed using the Ether.fi Desktop Application, ensuring a non-custodial approach.

Liquid Staking Derivative Token: Ether.fi introduces a Liquid Staking Derivative token, represented by a pair of NFTs (T-NFT and B-NFT), for every 32 ETH staked. The T-NFT represents a 30 ETH interest in the validator, offering holders a significant interest. This liquid representation allows stakers to have more flexibility in their staked assets and potentially participate in other DeFi activities while earning staking rewards.

Creation of Node Services Marketplace: Ether.fis mechanism allows for the creation of a node services marketplace, where stakers and node operators can interact and engage in validator operations. This marketplace aims to foster an ecosystem for staking services and related offerings, contributing to the overall growth and decentralization of the protocol.

Expected High Yields: Ether.fi anticipates staking yields to be greater than those offered by competing protocols, especially in Phase 3 of its rollout, where individually mapped nodes have a programmable surface area for additional service offerings and revenue.

Funding and Backing: The protocol has successfully completed a funding round of $5.3 million co-led by investors North Island Ventures (NIV), Chapter One, and Node Capital, with participation from other notable investors such as Arrington Capital, Maelstrom, Version One Ventures, and Purpose Investments. This funding enables Ether.fi to continue its development and expansion in the decentralized staking market.

Focus on Decentralization and Long-Term Sustainability: Ether.fi is committed to decentralization as a primary objective and has a sustainable revenue model to support the protocols long-term growth. The team behind Ether.fi emphasizes ethical practices and accountability to the Ethereum community, aiming to provide a reliable and trustworthy staking solution.

Ether.fi has distinctive features that set it apart from other delegated staking solutions in the Ethereum ecosystem.

Liquid Staking Protocol: Ether.fi is a decentralized and non-custodial liquid staking protocol that allows users to stake their Ethereum (ETH) or ETH-pegged assets. In a liquid staking protocol, users retain control of their staked assets (e.g., ETH) while delegating the staking process to node operators. This delegation enables users to earn staking rewards while still maintaining ownership and control over their assets.

Control of Keys: One of the key features that make Ether.fi unique is that stakers retain control of their private keys throughout the staking process. This eliminates the need to entrust their keys to third-party custodians, which mitigates the security risks associated with centralized custody. By keeping control of their keys, users have more control over who has access to their assets and reduces the risk of unauthorized access or theft.

Node Operator Marketplace: Ether.fi facilitates a node services marketplace where stakers and node operators can participate. Node operators run Ethereum validators on behalf of stakers and, in return, receive a share of the staking rewards. This marketplace enables efficient and decentralized node operation, providing stakers with multiple choices of node operators to delegate their staking to.

Early Adopter Programme and Airdrop: Ether.fi has conducted an Early Adopter Programme where users who staked ETH on the platform earned bonus points. These bonus points could potentially lead to an airdrop of the platforms native token called ETHFI once it is launched. The airdrop eligibility was determined based on users participation in the staking process during a specified timeframe.

Ethical Principles: The team behind ether.fi takes their ethics seriously and commits to maintaining decentralization as a primary objective. They prioritize the non-custodial and decentralized nature of the protocol, ensuring that stakers maintain control of their ETH. Additionally, the team emphasizes transparency and accountability, committing to do the right thing for the Ethereum community and promptly addressing any mistakes.

Arthur Hayes is a former CEO of BitMEX, a prominent cryptocurrency exchange platform. He gained recognition in the crypto space for his role in leading BitMEX, which was known for offering cryptocurrency derivative trading products and for its high trading volumes.

Over the years, Hayes has been known for his predictions and insights into the cryptocurrency market. He has offered various perspectives on Bitcoins price trajectory and market movements. In some of his predictions, he anticipated periods of volatility in the cryptocurrency market, and at times, he shared his views on the potential for Bitcoins price to reach new highs or experience significant changes.

One of his notable predictions includes his anticipation of Bitcoins price not reaching an all-time high of $70,000 in 2023. He suggested that the milestone might be achieved in the following year, 2024, particularly after the upcoming halving event that slashes Bitcoins block reward in half. According to his insights, crossing the $70,000 barrier would likely happen in 2024, followed by a potential blow-off top in 2025 or 2026, which he referred to as Armageddon a significant societal event or major war. He linked this potential market movement to factors such as rising national debts and geopolitical tensions.

Arthur Hayes opinions and predictions have been widely discussed and debated within the crypto community, and his insights have garnered attention from investors, traders, and analysts alike. However, its essential to note that the cryptocurrency market is highly volatile and influenced by various factors, making precise predictions challenging and subject to change.

Liquid staking is a concept that addresses the liquidity and capital utility challenges faced by crypto holders who participate in staking on Proof of Stake (PoS) blockchains. When users stake their cryptocurrencies in PoS networks, they contribute to the networks security and earn rewards in return. However, the staked tokens become locked up for a certain period, which can vary from days to weeks, making them illiquid and limiting their use in other financial activities.

To address this limitation, liquid staking provides a solution where users can stake their tokens and receive a liquid token in return, representing their staked amount of specific assets on the network. This liquid token is referred to as Liquid Staking Derivatives (LSDs) or Liquid Staking Tokens (LSTs). These tokens are tokenized representations of the staked assets and offer flexibility and liquidity, enabling users to trade, store, or use them in various decentralized finance (DeFi) applications while still earning staking rewards.

The process of liquid staking involves platforms or protocols that facilitate this functionality. Users stake their tokens through these platforms, and in return, they receive the corresponding Liquid Staking Derivatives (LSDs) or Liquid Staking Tokens (LSTs). These derivatives can be traded, sold, or utilized in DeFi protocols similar to regular cryptocurrencies like ETH.

The recent Shapella upgrade on the Ethereum network has further boosted the popularity and adoption of liquid staking. The upgrade allows stakers to withdraw their staked assets and accumulated rewards for the first time, enhancing the appeal of liquid staking by introducing competition between different liquid staking solutions.

The benefits of liquid staking are as follows:

Enhanced Liquidity: Liquid staking addresses the liquidity issue associated with traditional staking. Instead of locking up staked tokens, users receive derivative tokens representing their staked assets. These derivative tokens can be freely traded or used in other DeFi protocols while still earning staking rewards, providing increased liquidity for staked assets.

Maximizing Yield Potential: With liquid staking, users can leverage the derivative tokens to participate in other DeFi platforms and potentially earn additional yield on top of the staking rewards. This flexibility allows users to optimize their yield potential and explore various DeFi opportunities.

Participation in DeFi Ecosystem: Liquid staking allows users to actively participate in the decentralized finance ecosystem. The derivative tokens obtained through liquid staking can be used as collateral for borrowing, lending, and liquidity provision in various DeFi protocols, expanding users financial opportunities.

Risk Mitigation: Liquid staking can offer risk mitigation benefits. In traditional staking, if the value of the staked asset declines significantly, users may incur losses when they unstake. In contrast, with liquid staking, users can potentially sell or trade the derivative tokens if they anticipate a price drop, providing an avenue for risk management.

Accessible for Smaller Stakers: Liquid staking pools enable smaller stakers to participate collectively in staking and earn rewards as if they were a larger validator. This accessibility makes staking opportunities available to a broader range of users, regardless of their token holdings.

Supporting Network Security: By participating in liquid staking, users contribute to the security and stability of blockchain networks using the proof-of-stake consensus mechanism. This helps maintain a strong and decentralized network while earning rewards for their contributions.

Innovative Financial Instruments: Liquid staking introduces new financial instruments in the form of derivative tokens. These tokens represent ownership of staked assets and can open up new possibilities for financial engineering and product development within the DeFi space.

There are significant risks associated with liquid staking and this includes any platform like Ether.fi. The risks of liquid staking include:

Impermanent Loss: Similar to liquidity providing in decentralized exchanges (DEXs), liquid staking carries the risk of impermanent loss. If the price of the staked asset increases significantly while it is locked up for staking, users may miss out on potential gains compared to simply holding the asset.

Smart Contract Vulnerabilities: Liquid staking relies on smart contracts to mint derivative tokens. Any vulnerabilities or bugs in these smart contracts could lead to potential security breaches, resulting in loss of funds for users.

Counterparty Risk: Users delegate their tokens to a liquid staking service provider. If the service provider experiences operational issues, becomes insolvent, or engages in malicious activities, users may face losses or lose access to their staked assets.

Network Risks: Liquid staking is dependent on the underlying blockchain networks security and reliability. If the network experiences technical issues, attacks, or undergoes significant changes, it could impact the performance of the liquid staking service and users rewards.

Slashing Risks: In proof-of-stake networks, validators can be penalized or slashed for committing malicious actions or being unreliable. Liquid staking service providers may employ multiple validators, and if any of them are slashed, it could affect users staking rewards.

Regulatory Risks: The regulatory environment for DeFi and liquid staking is still evolving. Changes in regulations or legal uncertainties could impact the operation of liquid staking platforms and the ability of users to participate.

Centralization: Liquid staking service providers often control the nodes and infrastructure for staking. If a small number of providers dominate the market, it could lead to centralization concerns, reducing the decentralized nature of the underlying blockchain network.

Lack of Governance Rights: Users holding derivative tokens through liquid staking may not have the same governance rights as direct token holders. This could limit their ability to participate in network decisions and have a say in protocol upgrades.

Exit Scams and Fraud: As with any financial service in the crypto space, there is a risk of exit scams or fraudulent schemes where liquid staking service providers may disappear with users funds.

Market Risks: The value of derivative tokens obtained through liquid staking can be influenced by market fluctuations, and their prices may not always reflect the exact value of the underlying staked asset.

Lido Finance: Lido Finance is a well-known liquid staking platform that allows users to stake Ethereum (ETH) and receive stETH (liquid staked ETH) tokens in return. These stETH tokens can be used for other DeFi activities while still earning staking rewards. Lido Finance is one of the popular choices in the liquid staking space.

Rocketpool: Rocketpool is another liquid staking platform for Ethereum that offers decentralized and trustless staking services. It allows users to participate in Ethereum 2.0 staking by depositing any amount of ETH, and they receive rETH (Rocketpool ETH) tokens in return, which can be traded or used in other DeFi protocols.

Benqi: Benqi is a liquid staking platform that provides users with the ability to stake and earn rewards without locking up their assets. They offer users a representative token in return for their staked assets, which can be utilized in various DeFi protocols.

Marinade Finance: Marinade Finance is a liquid staking platform that allows users to stake Ethereum and receive staking derivatives in return. These derivatives represent the staked ETH and can be used in DeFi applications to maximize yield while still earning staking rewards.

Parallel DeFi Super App: Parallel DeFi Super App offers liquid staking services that allow users to stake Ethereum and receive a tokenized representation of their staked assets. This representation can be traded or used in other DeFi platforms, providing users with additional liquidity options.

Stakewise: Stakewise is a liquid staking platform that enables users to stake Ethereum and receive a tradable representation of their staked assets. This representation, called BPT (Stakewise Bonding Pool Tokens), can be used in other DeFi protocols to generate yield while participating in staking.

StaFi: StaFi is a decentralized liquid staking platform that offers a range of liquid staking solutions for various cryptocurrencies, including Ethereum. It allows users to stake their assets while receiving tradable staking derivatives, which can be utilized in DeFi applications.

Liquid staking is a great way to earn rewards on your cryptocurrency holdings without having to lock them up. However, its important to be aware of the risks involved before using a liquid staking solution like Ether.fi. The platform offers increased decentralization along with many unique features that gives it an edge over its competitions.

However, protocols like Lido Finance are currently leading the crypto space in terms of Ether staking and in order for protocols like Ether.fi to compete with the leading liquid staking platform, an additional investment and newer products are required.

Interestingly, investors in the Ether.fi protocol believe that the ability to allow stakers to retain the control of their keys is a critical aspect of a decentralized protocol, and it helps reduce counterparty risks.

Ether.fi is a non-custodial liquid staking platform which raised $5.3 million in funding in February 2023 from North Island Ventures, Chapter One and Node Capital thefounder of derivatives exchange BitMEX founder Arthur Hayes.

Liquid staking is a concept that addresses the liquidity and capital utility challenges faced by crypto holders who participate in staking on Proof of Stake (PoS) blockchains.

Ether.fi allows the stakers on the platform to retain the control of their keys which prevents multiple risks that come with other liquid staking protocols.

Alternatives to Ether.fi include Lido Finance, Rocketpool, Benqi, Marinade Finance, StaFi, and Stakewise.

Liquid staking addresses the liquidity issue associated with traditional staking and also offers risk mitigation benefits when compared to traditional staking protocols.

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Hardest Concepts in Blockchain’s Industry – Part 1 – Altcoin Buzz

As newcomers and even seasoned professionals delve into the blockchain ecosystem. They often encounter mind-boggling concepts that challenge their understanding.

In this article, we explore the ten hardest concepts to grasp in the blockchain industry.

At the core of blockchain lies the concept of decentralization. Unlike traditional centralized systems governed by a single entity, blockchains are distributed across a vast network of nodes. Each holds a copy of the entire ledger. Understanding how this decentralized network reaches consensus and validates transactions can be challenging. Especially for individuals accustomed to centralized systems.

Consensus mechanisms are algorithms that enable nodes in a blockchain network. In other words, consensus happens when nodes agree on the validity of transactions and maintain the integrity of the ledger. Here are some examples: Proof of Work (PoW), Proof of Stake (PoS), and Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS). Others can be bewildering for newcomers trying to grasp their significance and implications for the networks security and scalability.

Smart contracts are self-executing agreements with predefined terms written in code. These contracts automatically execute when specific conditions are met. Their potential use cases and the risks associated with their deployment require a solid grasp of blockchain fundamentals.

Cryptography forms the backbone of blockchain security, ensuring data privacy, authentication, and integrity. Concepts such as public and private keys, digital signatures, and hash functions. Also, encryption might be perplexing for those without a technical background.

Immutability is a defining feature of blockchain technology. It refers to the inability to alter past data once it is recorded on the blockchain. Grasping how data remains secure and unchangeable in a decentralized environment can be challenging. Especially considering the implications for auditing and dispute resolution.

Blockchain forks occur when a blockchains underlying protocol splits into two separate paths. Soft forks and hard forks represent different approaches to updating a blockchain. With each having distinct implications for the networks consensus and community.

Blockchain interoperability refers to the ability of different blockchains to communicate and exchange data seamlessly. Understanding the technical challenges involved in achieving interoperability. So, its importance for the widespread adoption of blockchain technology can be complex.

As blockchain technology evolves, the challenge of scaling networks to handle an ever-increasing number of transactions becomes apparent. In other words, scalability means that a blockchain can have more transactions without sacrificing security and operability. Concepts like sharding, layer-2 solutions, and off-chain transactions are crucial to comprehend when exploring potential solutions for scalability issues.

Blockchains often have unique governance models. It determines how decisions are made concerning protocol upgrades, security measures, and community involvement. Grasping the nuances of decentralized governance and its impact on a blockchains evolution can be intricate.

Tokenomics refers to the economic model and design of blockchain-based tokens. Understanding how tokens are distributed, their utility within the ecosystem, and the potential effects on supply and demand dynamics requires a comprehensive understanding of both economic principles and blockchain technology.

With its promise of disruptive innovation, this industry is a fascinating yet intricate realm of technology. As individuals dive into this evolving space, they must navigate through various challenging concepts that underpin the decentralized world of blockchain.

From decentralization and consensus mechanisms to smart contracts, cryptography, and tokenomics, a firm grasp of these complexities is essential for realizing the true potential of this technology across industries. Embracing continuous learning and exploration will be the key to overcoming these challenges and driving the transformative power of blockchain forward. Here is the second part.

For more cryptocurrency news, check out theAltcoin BuzzYouTube channel.

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The Growing Differences Between Web 2.0 and 3.0 – Qrius

The World Wide Web has experienced monumental changes since its inception, with each version signifying a major shift in how we interact with the digital world. Currently, were transitioning from Web 2.0 to Web 3.0. Understanding this evolution is vital as it holds profound implications for technology use and digital communications. Here, we delve into the growing differences between these two iterations of the web.

Web 2.0, also known as the Social Web, marked a fundamental shift from the static Web 1.0. It facilitated a participatory culture, enabling users not just to consume but also to create and share content. Social media platforms, blogs, wikis, and multimedia-sharing websites epitomize Web 2.0s interactivity.

Web 2.0 also ushered in a new level of personalization and user-centered design. Despite these advancements, it is essentially a platform where data is siloed and controlled by centralized authorities, making data interoperability and privacy a constant concern.

Plus, its just all we know. If you want to set up a website, you know there are a plethora of free website templates and an endless list of the best web hosting sites to select at affordable prices you link the two, and youre away. With Web 3.0, the process is slightly more complex this link will go into more detail for you because it would take an article to explain how to do it.

Web 3.0, or the Semantic Web, aims to transform the internet into a more intelligent and intuitive system. Its about enhancing the webs capability to understand context and meaning, ultimately offering a more personalized and immersive online experience.

A few key elements differentiate Web 3.0 from its predecessor:

Web 3.0 strives for a globally connected data environment. Instead of isolated data silos, information is linked across various platforms, leading to more valuable, comprehensive insights. The rise of APIs, cloud-based services, and cross-platform applications illustrates this shift toward seamless data integration and interoperability.

One of the most transformative aspects of Web 3.0 is its shift toward decentralization. Unlike the centralized data repositories of Web 2.0, where data is stored and controlled by specific entities such as corporations or governments, Web 3.0 empowers users to maintain control over their own data.

Decentralization is facilitated by technologies such as blockchain, which enable peer-to-peer interactions without the need for an intermediary. The blockchain operates as a decentralized ledger of transactions that is transparent and immutable, meaning it cant be altered or tampered with once a transaction is recorded. This concept forms the basis of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum but is also utilized in many other aspects of Web 3.0.

Blockchain technology also enables the concept of smart contracts, which are self-executing contracts with the terms of the agreement directly written into code. Smart contracts automate transactions without the need for a middleman, enhancing efficiency, security, and trust.

Decentralized Finance (DeFi), another product of Web 3.0, leverages these technologies to bypass traditional financial intermediaries and offers financial services directly on the blockchain. It is an example of how decentralization is revolutionizing sectors beyond just data management.

And thats just the tip of the decentralized iceberg. Follow this link to learn more about it.

Web 3.0 integrates Artificial Intelligence and machine learning algorithms to provide more tailored, context-aware experiences. This sophistication goes beyond just recognizing keywords to understanding the nuances of human language, sentiment, and preferences. The vision of Web 3.0 is a highly personalized web where information comes to the user proactively.

The Internet of Things is an integral part of Web 3.0, linking physical objects to the digital world. With interconnected devices that communicate and exchange data, Web 3.0 fosters an immersive, real-time web experience.

Web 3.0 isnt just an upgraded version of Web 2.0; its a paradigm shift towards a more semantic, intelligent, and user-empowered digital ecosystem. As we transition from the interactive web to the intelligent web, users can expect more personalized, immersive, and secure online experiences. While the full realization of Web 3.0 is still a work in progress, its promise of a more integrated, intuitive, and inclusive web holds significant potential for reshaping our digital interactions.

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Phl Local Officials Forge Ties With Maldives Counterparts – Journal Online

The Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) and the Philippine Councilors League (PCL) embarked on an exchange program with the Local Government Authority of the Republic of Maldives (Maldives LGA) and the Baa Atoll Council to reinforce collaboration and mutual learning in local governance on 20 to 26 July 2023.

This initiative was in response to the request of the Maldives LGA, through the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), of which ULAP and PCL are members, to enhance the governance and administration of the select members of the Baa Atoll Council, as they continued their efforts in decentralization.

As we embark on this study mission, we are reminded that true progress knows no borders. Our shared challenges and triumphs in local governance unite us in our pursuit of better governance practices and sustainable development. Quirino Gov. Dax Cua, ULAP National President, said.

The exchange program included capacity-building activities, exposure trips, and information sessions to share Philippine best practices on decentralization and devolution with the Maldives delegates.

Through this capacity-building program, we open doors for meaningful partnerships and lasting friendships. Together, we build bridges that transcend geographical boundaries and work hand in hand towards a brighter future, PCL National Chairman Raul Corro said.

We are excited to strengthen our ties with the Republic of Maldives through this capacitybuilding exchange program. This collaborative effort will not only enhance the governance and administration of the Baa Atoll Council but also create lasting partnerships for the benefit of both countries, PCL National President Handly Lao meanwhile said.

As part of the capacity-building activities, a session on Capacity Development and Exchanges of Organizational Policy Development Frameworks with Best Practices took place in the PCL Legislative Academy during the exchange program.

The session delved into key topics such as the Philippine administrative system and the impactful outcomes of Philippine decentralization efforts.

The delegates from the Baa Atoll Council and the Maldives LGA also attended a session in Muntinlupa City Local Government to observe proceedings of LGU councils in the Philippines and a learning visit in Valenzuela City Local Government to learn about their Local Governance Program on eGovernance and Digitalization.

The delegates also conducted learning visits to tourism landmarks and heritage sites and meetings with local city officials.

The Baa Atoll Council, also known as the Secretariat of South Maalhosmadulu Atoll Council, is the governing body mandated to oversee the overall development and resource management of South Maalhosmadulu Atoll in the Republic of Maldives.

Meanwhile, the Maldives LGA is an oversight body responsible for facilitating the capacity building of Local Councils and Womens Development Committees to strengthen the decentralization system in the Maldives.

ULAP is the umbrella organization of all leagues of local government units and local government officials in country, serving as the focalrepresentative and mouthpiece of the subnational government in all policy and program platforms to amplify our unified advocacy towards the strengthening of LGUs into able partners in nation-building.

Learn more at http://www.ulap.net.ph

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Introduction to AI & Data Literacy: Empowering Citizens of Data … – Data Science Central

One of the reasons that I moved back to Iowa last year was that I saw an opportunity to work with local educational institutions to create an AI Institute for organizations in middle America that either get overlooked in the AI conversation or are unsure what AI means to them. I wanted to reduce the AI hype to a simple conversation in which everyone was empowered to participate. Plus, life is much more fulfilling when one has a mission, and this seemed like the perfect mission at the perfect time in my career.

AI is not just for the high priesthood of large corporations and 3-lettered government agencies. AI is a tool that everyone needs to understand where and how to use. We must ensure that AI is a tool that is approachable and usable by anyone: that its not some ominous, independent-acting entity that will take over the world.

However, AI is only a useful and practical tool if we take a comprehensive approach to ensure its proper design, development, deployment, and ongoing management. Achieving this goal necessitates the involvement of everyone. We must train everyone to become Citizens of Data Science to be educated in AI and data literacy so everyone can actively participate in where and how AI is used to improve the human condition.

Thusly, the motivation and inspiration for my latest (and final?) book, AI & Data Literacy: Empowering Citizens of Data Science.

Figure 1: AI & Data Literacy: Empowering Citizens of Data Science

First off, notice the cover of this book.Simple. Straightforward. No hyperbole about the extinction of humankind.No outrageous claims about massive human unemployment.Just a simple cover with a simple title to reflect the simple concept of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Because here is the simple truth about AI: AI will do exactly what you train it to do. The actions AI takes and the decisions AI makes will be guided 100% by the user-defined desired outcomes and the metrics and measures against which outcomes effectiveness will be measured. And all of these are 100% defined by you.

AI is only a tool, but unlike any other tool we have seen, this tool can continuously learn and adapt with minimal human intervention. And thats what scares people.How do you control what AI learns? How do you control how AI adapts to make new decisions and take new actions?

So, lets simplify the conversation. Lets empower everyone with the knowledge to ensure that AI is working for the benefit of humankind. But first, an important point about your upcoming AI & Data Literacy journeywhat is your role as a citizen?

Citizens of Data Science Mandate

Ensuring that everyone of every age and every background have access to the education necessary to flourish in an age where economic growth and personal development opportunities are driven by AI and Data

The purpose of this book is to equip everyone with the necessary skills to thrive in a world driven by AI and data. However, do you really understand your obligation as a Citizen of Data Science? To quote my good friend John Morley on citizens and citizenship:

Citizenship isnt something that is bestowed upon us by an external, benevolent force. Citizenship requires action. Citizenship requires stepping up. Citizenship requires individual and collective accountability accountability to continuous awareness, learning, and adaptation. Citizenship is about having a proactive and meaningful stake in building a better world.

I believe that in the future, the best-paying and most rewarding careers will be those that require mastering where and how to leverage AI and data to make those professions more meaningful, relevant, and effective.

The book starts by discussing how your personal data is gathered, analyzed, and used to influence or manipulate your beliefs, perspectives, decisions, and actions. Then the book will transition into a conversation about data privacy efforts that are currently underway and their potential ramifications on you.

We will review the advanced analytics maturity index and supporting ecosystem to understand where and how to leverage these advanced analytic algorithms to drive better personal and professional outcomes and create new business, operational, environmental, and societal value sources. We will then deep dive into AI how AI works, the importance of understanding and determining user intent, and the critical importance of building a responsible and ethical AI Utility Function.

We will then discuss how we can build decision models that leverage AI and data to make more informed, more accurate, and less risky decisions in an imperfect world. We will review how we can hone our problem solving skills to create models that leverage AI and data to improve the decisions that drive improved business, operational, and economic outcomes.

Sorry, but well have a short primer on statistics, probabilities, and confidence levels. We will discuss how we can use statistics to help us improve the odds of making more effective and safer decisions in a world of constant economic, environmental, political, societal, and healthcare disruption.

Next, we will discuss how organizations of all sizes can leverage AI and data to engineer or create value. We will learn a framework for understanding how organizations define value and then identify the KPIs and metrics they will use to measure their value creation effectiveness. We will also discuss why the economies of learning are more powerful than the economies of scale in a digital-centric world.

Then we will talk about how we can approach the tricky topic of ethics. We will frame the ethics conversation from an economics perspective because we need to codify the variables and metrics around which we define ethical behaviors to create AI models that exhibit ethical behaviors.

Then, well talk about the importance of empowerment; to ensure that everyone has a voice in deciding and defining how best to leverage AI and data from a personal perspective. We will discuss how we must become more human to thrive alongside AI. This is clearly my favorite chapter!

Finally, Ill apply the concepts from the book to the current world of ChatGPT and Generative AI (GenAI). I will quickly review the key enabling GenAI technologies and then test myself to see how well the book has prepared me to understand where and how I can apply GenAI to deliver meaningful, relevant, responsible, and ethical responses.

This is a relatively easy conversation if we break the AI and data literacy conversation into its material components. To facilitate a more holistic awareness and education, we will break the AI and data literacy conversation into six interlocking components (Figure 2):

Figure 2: AI & Data Literacy Educational Framework

I hope you enjoy reading and learning from the book as much as I did in researching, testing, learning, relearning, and writing this book. I hope you enjoy your AI & Data Literacy journey and becoming a Citizen of Data Science!

BTW, if youd like to get a personalized Certificate of Completion, complete the AI and data literacy radar chart in Chapter 9, post it on LinkedIn, and tag me. In return, Ill post a personalized Certificate of Completion on your LinkedIn post!

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Is seeing believing? W&M professor collaborates on study … – William & Mary

Jaime Settle, the Cornelia Brackenridge Talbot Associate Professor of Government and Data Science at William & Mary, was a collaborator on the most comprehensive research project to date exploring the impact of social media on American democracy.

The first findings were released July 27 from the study on how critical aspects of algorithms that determine what people see in their Facebook and Instagram feeds affected what they believed during the 2020 U.S. presidential election period.

Settle was among a group of academics from U.S. colleges and universities that worked in collaboration with researchers at Meta, the company that owns and operates Facebook and Instagram, to produce an initial batch of papers that were peer-reviewed and published in the journals Science and Nature.

The research showed that algorithms are extremely influential in on-platform social media experiences, and there is significant ideological segregation in political news exposure. But changes to critical aspects of algorithms that determine what subjects saw did not sway political beliefs.

Settle remarked on the high quality of data available to do what she called very rigorous social science focused on data and democracy, two key initiatives of William & Marys Vision 2026 strategic plan. She says this large-scale project was an admirable place to advance the understanding of potential solutions to combat polarization on social media platforms.

You have to start somewhere, and you have to explore what could work to tackle the problems we know exist, said Settle, the associate director of data science at W&M and the director of the Social Networks and Political Psychology Lab. Doing so could lead to some counterintuitive findings and unintended consequences because most of our really complex problems are going to have really complex solutions.

I think a lot of times the public or pundits will latch on to an idea that they think is a panacea: if we could just fix this one big problem it would solve a lot of the other problems we have related to our political system or social media. However, the findings of these papers speak to the idea that there arent simple solutions.

The project has spanned more than three years and required intensive work from the likes of Settle.

This was one of the great honors of my professional life, Settle said. I learned an incredible amount from my colleagues, both the other academic researchers as well as the data scientists and researchers at Meta. The sophistication of the processes and the methods and the thoroughness with which we were able to think things through was an exciting intellectual challenge, and it was fun to be a part of that.

The team proposed and selected specific research questions and study designs with a clear agreement that the only reasons Meta could reject such designs would be for legal, privacy or infeasibility reasons. Meta could not restrict or censor findings, and the academic lead authors had final say over writing and research decisions.

Internal researchers at Meta initiated the partnership with Professor Talia Jomini Stroud, founder and director of the Center for Media Engagement at the University of Texas at Austin, and Professor Joshua A. Tucker, co-founder and co-director of the Center for Social Media and Politics at New York University and director of the Jordan Center for the Advanced Study of Russia.

The core research team consisted of 15 additional academic researchers, including Settle, with expertise in four areas political polarization, political participation, (mis)information transmission online and beliefs about democratic norms and the legitimacy of democratic institutions.

Settle was a co-lead author on a study called Like-minded Sources on Facebook Are Prevalent but Not Polarizing along with professors Brendan Nyhan from Dartmouth, Emily Thorson from Syracuse and Magdalena Wojcieszak from University of California, Davis. The study presented data from 2020 for the entire population of active adult Facebook users in the U.S., showing that content from politically like-minded sources constitutes the majority of what people see on the platform, but political information and news represent only a small fraction of these exposures.

This speaks to this concern about echo chambers, Settle said. Everyone believes that were so polarized and we all dislike each other because we are in bubbles where we only encounter points of view that are similar to our own. What we show is that randomly assigning some people to encounter less content from like-minded sources didnt have these beneficial effects that some people thought it would.

Settle said her research team didnt just downrank political content; it downranked all content that came from like-minded sources. There is a lot more to politics on social media than just explicitly political content, she said. Even non-political content can send an important signal about other peoples political identities. And since political content is such a small fraction of what people encounter on Facebook, we wanted to design a treatment that would have a larger effect on the user experience.

Our treatment didnt make attitudes less extreme, nor did it make attitudes related to affective polarization any less severe, Settle continued. Interestingly, one of the secondary findings is that even though the people in our treatment group saw less content from like-minded sources, when they did see that content, they were more likely to engage and interact with it. I think this shows that you cant use algorithms alone to entirely override the psychological predispositions that people have.

This finding reinforces the takeaway from Settles 2018 book Frenemies: How Social Media Polarizes America. In it, Settle contends that any solution to polarization must take into account both algorithms and a persons psychological disposition. The book recently won a prestigious award from the American Political Science Association recognizing it as the best book published at least five years ago on the topic of elections, political behavior, and voting.

I think this study really speaks to my previous work in that we were able to work with Meta to do this really important intervention on the algorithm and alter the experience that people had on the site, but that alone is not enough, Settle said. Its not a simple fix. Well have to push further as we brainstorm and think about other potential solutions to polarization.

Settle said more studies related to this project are expected to be published over the next several months. She was a co-lead author on two more papers one about behavioral polarization on social media, such as friending and defriending or decisions to connect or disconnect from groups, and the other about content from untrustworthy sources.

Good science takes time, Settle said, and she is confident in the integrity of the process used in the study.

We hope that this can serve as a model and launching point for future collaborations, not just with Meta but other tech companies as well, Settle said. Itll be up to them to decide how they want to proceed moving forward, but weve learned a lot from this collaboration that should be useful for the process of science moving forward.

Nathan Warters, Communications Specialist

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