Current Final

Tag: social media

  • Pilot suspended after video shows him wielding axe, hitting parking lot gate

    Pilot suspended after video shows him wielding axe, hitting parking lot gate

    A viral video shows United Airlines pilot Kenneth Henderson Jones, 63, taking out his anger at a parking lot gate with an axe. NBC has reported that the man was arrested by authorities on Friday on charges of criminal mischief.

    According to the sheriff, parking lot employee Rick Stephens confronted Jones but he refused to drop the axe. Both men were uninjured during the confrontation, and the pilot lost possession of the weapon.

    Kenneth ran across the street and behind a building and stayed in a field until he was contacted by the Denver police, the report revealed.

    James said he was in his car when he came upon six vehicles waiting behind the three gates. Which is when “Kenneth started by saying he just hit his breaking point,” according to the sheriff.

    James said he grabbed the axe out of his vehicle and was only “trying to get rid of issues for everyone waiting.”

  • Zoya Akhtar responds to backlash over Muslim representation in her films

    Zoya Akhtar responds to backlash over Muslim representation in her films

    Zoya Akhtar has been long criticised by social media users for the manner in which Muslims are represented in her films and dramas. The critically acclaimed series ‘Made In Heaven’, airing on Amazon Prime, prompted several users to criticise the director, who is the sister of actor Farhan Akhtar and daughter of Javed Akhtar, for episode 6. The criticism focused on the aspect that only polygamy marriages among Muslims are depicted rather the oppression or violence the community suffers from in India. The episode focuses on a woman Shehnaz, who attempts to kill herself after her husband gets married for the second time.

    On Instagram, Zoya finally responded by responding to a commentator who asked her to show positive Muslim characters, and stop relying on regressive stereotypes.

    The ‘Dil Dhadhakne Do’ director answered by listing several films where she had Muslim characters like Gully Boy, ‘Zindagi Milegi Na Dobara’, ‘Luck By Chance’:

    “Zaffar Khan and Tanveer in Luck By Chance. Imran and Laila in ZNMD. Farah Ali in Dil Dhadakne Do. Practically everyone in Gully Boy. Sarfaraz Khan and Leila Shirazi, Kabir, Faiza and Nawab have in Made In Heaven.”

  • Punjab Police says officer seen beating journalist is mentally ill, receiving treatment

    Punjab Police says officer seen beating journalist is mentally ill, receiving treatment

    Punjab Police have said in an official statement that their constable filmed beating a journalist, is mentally ill.

    The video shows a police officer on a motorcycle being stopped by a journalist and questioned about the missing number plate of his vehicle. Upon confrontation, the policeman slaps the journalist. Later, he hits out at other people who tried to stop the feud. The video stoked outrage on social media, with many users condemning the brutality displayed by the officer and demanding that strict action be taken.

    Punjab Police have released a statement on their Twitter account, while Inspector General Police (IGP) Dr Usman Anwar has also addressed the violent feud, saying that the police officer in question is a constable who is mentally ill, and is currently being provided treatment.

    The constable has also been taking absences from his work, the police have said.

    The IGP went on to talk about the launch of an initiative that involves psychosocial profiles of 200 police officers across the province, reassuring constables that the purpose of these measurements was to ensure that they were all screened against 10 conditions and that it will provide counselling and treatment to affected employees.

  • Musk will no longer let users block accounts on X

    Musk will no longer let users block accounts on X

    Social media giant X, formerly recognised as Twitter, is set to eliminate a significant protective aspect that empowers users to block other accounts, according to a statement by owner Elon Musk on Friday. This decision has sparked controversy, adding to a series of noteworthy actions taken by Musk since acquiring the company last year.

    The functionality in question, termed the “block” function, enables users to restrict particular accounts from making contact, viewing their posts, or following their activities. In a recent platform post, Musk disclosed that the “block” feature would be phased out as a prominent component, excluding its usage for direct messages (DMs).

    Musk confirmed that the “mute” feature will remain intact. This feature allows users to screen out specific accounts, preventing their content from appearing in the user’s feed. Unlike the “block” feature, the “mute” function does not send a notification to the other account about the action taken.

    Elon Musk, a billionaire entrepreneur, has positioned himself as a staunch advocate of unrestricted freedom of speech. However, some critics argue that this stance has led to irresponsible consequences. Researchers have identified an uptick in hate speech and content with antisemitic undertones on the platform following Musk’s acquisition. Governments have accused the company of inadequate content moderation efforts.

    The removal or restriction of the “block” feature could potentially lead to clashes with the guidelines enforced by Apple’s App Store and Google Play, a subsidiary of Alphabet. Both platforms stipulate that apps featuring user-generated content must incorporate mechanisms to counter abusive users. The Google Play Store specifically mandates that apps provide an in-app system for blocking both user-generated content and users themselves.

    As of now, X, Google, and Apple have not issued formal responses to inquiries seeking comments on this matter.

    In response to a plea from anti-bullying advocate Monica Lewinsky to retain the “critical tool for online safety,” Chief Executive Linda Yaccarino defended Musk’s decision. Yaccarino reaffirmed the company’s commitment to user safety and indicated ongoing efforts to develop an improved alternative to the current “block” and “mute” functions. She encouraged continued feedback from users to aid in refining these measures.

    Within the organisational structure, it has been communicated that Elon Musk will lead the product and engineering teams, while Linda Yaccarino will oversee all other divisions, including legal and sales.

  • A Twitter user asked 26 y/o’s about the advice they would give to those in early twenties, and people had the best responses

    A Twitter user asked 26 y/o’s about the advice they would give to those in early twenties, and people had the best responses

    What advice would you give to someone in their early twenties? This was the question posed by twitter user @1ov1bri when she asked her followers about all the things they had learned too late- whether it was about life, career or love. And Twitter users had some amazing replies.

    A user said that the best lesson to learn is on how to be alone so that later in life you don’t invite people in who don’t deserve it.

    Another user said it’s never shameful to feel like you’re behind in life, because everyone works on their own progress.

    On careers, some users said it is better to question misbehavior at the workplace rather than stay silent and endure it.

    Another woman said its better to be absolutely certain about following a hard career like medicine.

    https://twitter.com/aishahbg/status/1691867199214866927?s=20
  • ‘You’ve done so well’: Shah Rukh Khan’s tribute to working mom Gauri is making Twitter wail

    ‘You’ve done so well’: Shah Rukh Khan’s tribute to working mom Gauri is making Twitter wail

    Kitni baar humara dil jeeto gay, Shah Rukh?

    Bollywood Badshah Shah Rukh Khan knows how to make his fans cry a river with moving words. On Wednesday, his daughter Suhana, who is making her debut in the Netflix film ‘The Archies’, gave an interview to India Today, where she was applauded for her grace and poise. Gauri Khan shared a clip on her Twitter account, writing that it was emotional to witness life come full circle, first attending events with her husband, and now watching Suhana at events.

    “The first event I ever attended with @iamsrk was a book launch… and now watching Suhana speak at another such event has made me feel like life has come full circle!”

    Shah Rukh shared the tweet, writing how proud he was of the way Gauri groomed their three children and raised them to become what they are. We aren’t crying, its the sweat.

    “Yeah the circle of life is closing in for us with our babies helping us complete it. You’ve done so well with the three of them…educated them, taught them dignity & desire to share love…& Suhana is so articulate but the dimple is mine!!”

    Aur kya reh gaya hai, SRK? Twitter was just wailing at the moving tweet, watching the actor shower praises upon his wife.

    https://twitter.com/SandraC69740420/status/1691828212723003741?s=20
    https://twitter.com/khudajaaneee/status/1691825635931689117?s=20
  • ‘While we were dating, Ranbir told me not to wear lipstick’: Alia’s Vogue interview sparks outrage

    ‘While we were dating, Ranbir told me not to wear lipstick’: Alia’s Vogue interview sparks outrage

    Alia Bhatt’s recent Beauty Secrets interview with Vogue has gone viral, but for all the wrong reasons. A clip from the interview has sparked backlash, in which the actress reveals that while she was dating her now husband, Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor, he didn’t allow her to wear lipstick when they were going out.

    “When we used to go out at night he would say ‘Wipe that off’”, the actress commented.

    It should be good to mention here that there is a 10-year age gap between the two. Alia was 17 years old when she began working on ‘Student Of The Year’ when Ranbir dropped by on set, and joked to director Karan Johar about whether he should marry her.

    Since the clip went viral on Twitter, users have expressed outrage on Ranbir’s relationship with his wife. A few months ago, the actor was slammed for body shaming Alia during a livestream, while she was pregnant with their daughter Raha. Then, he was criticized for saying that he hopes Raha doesn’t have Alia’s personality, because “she talks quite loud and is vivacious.”

    READ MORE: Ranbir Kapoor under fire once more after comment on Alia Bhatt goes viral

    “I would dump his a**,” one user commented.

    https://twitter.com/bubblesbublu/status/1691606143620046943?s=20

    Many users pointed out how Ranbir Kapoor has qualities similar to a toxic boyfriend, as one user put it:

    “Ranbir is one of those toxic men who finally settle with much younger women they can easily manipulate. she might be happy doing whatever he wants but it’s still a sad situation esp with her background.”

    https://twitter.com/rubypinkpark/status/1691663918530535450?s=20
  • Threads’ hype cools as user activity drops by 79%

    Threads’ hype cools as user activity drops by 79%

    Threads, Meta’s social media application, burst onto the scene in early July, making an impressive debut with an astonishing 5 million user registrations mere hours after its launch. This rapid uptake established it as the most swiftly downloaded app, with a staggering 100 million individuals signing up within the span of just one week.

    However, the initial excitement surrounding Threads has since fizzled out, as evidenced by the declining daily usage of the app.

    Despite its promising start, Threads is grappling with a marked reduction in user engagement. Data from Similarweb shows a notable drop of 79 per cent in active users from its peak of 2.3 million in July to 576,000 by August 7. This waning user activity raises concerns for Meta, given the initial buzz and rapid user acquisition.

    Moreover, significant brands such as Wendy’s, Anthropologie, and Rare Beauty are scaling back their presence on Threads, with reports of “Threads fatigue” indicating dissatisfaction with the platform’s performance.

    Threads’ struggle to compete with Twitter is evident, as even at its peak, Threads had less than half the daily users of Twitter, which boasts over 100 million active users. This discrepancy underscores the challenge Threads faces in unseating Twitter as the leading text-based social media platform.

    Threads was initially positioned to capitalise on the turmoil at Twitter following Elon Musk’s takeover. However, Twitter’s substantial changes, including layoffs and policy shifts, have negatively impacted user satisfaction and advertising revenue.

    Despite the rivalry between Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk, the concept of a cage fight has been abandoned. Zuckerberg expressed scepticism about Musk’s seriousness, signalling a shift in focus.

    The declining user engagement raises questions about Threads’ long-term viability. While Meta has refrained from commenting on the app’s performance, the departure of prominent brands and the downward trend in engagement suggest a struggle for Threads to regain its initial momentum.

    Threads’ explosive entry into the social media landscape has been followed by a notable decline in daily usage. The challenges faced by Threads, combined with changes at Twitter, highlight the difficulty of disrupting the text-based social media sector. The fate of Threads as a contender in the industry remains uncertain.

  • ECP bans entry, exit polls by media in code of conduct

    ECP bans entry, exit polls by media in code of conduct

    The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has banned entry and exit polls by national and international media during general elections according to its code of conduct for national media, international media, and observers.

    According to the code of conduct, the ban is applicable to print & electronic media and any journalist, newspaper, and channel on their official accounts on digital media, and other social media influencers also forbidding them to conduct any kind of surveys at any polling station or constituency which may influence the voters’ free choice of casting votes.

    An entrance poll translates into asking voters whom they are planning to vote for or a similar set of questions. In the same manner, an exit poll is taking opinions of voters regarding their voting pattern after they come out of the polling station.

    While addressing the issues regarding the content, ECP further states that “the content on print & electronic media, any media person, newspaper, channel operating official accounts on digital media and social media influencers shall not include any aspect which might be construed as personal attack on candidates or political parties on the basis of gender, religion, sect, caste, baradari etc.”

    The code bounds media houses to provide details of expenditures made by any political party that runs a paid advertisement on their platform. In addition to that, it further states, “The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Press Information Department (PID), Cyber Wing and Digital Media Wing of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MoIB) shall monitor the coverage given to political parties and candidates for their election campaigns through electronic channels, print and social media. The above authorities shall submit to the commission details of payments made by the political parties and candidates within 10 days after poll day.”

    The code of conduct also advises the journalists or print, electronic and digital media, social media influencers, and media houses that throughout the election period they shall launch Civic and Voter Education programs which must be inclusive, especially targeting marginalized groups such as women, transgenders, youth, minorities, and differently-abled persons to maximize voter turnout and ensure their participation in the electoral process.

    To ensure impartiality, the code of conduct for international media states that, “International Observers and Media persons shall select areas for election observation and reporting in consultation with Election Commission of Pakistan for their security and safety. However, International Observers and media persons shall choose the area to ensure balanced observation /reporting. “

    It also restricts Individual observers from making any personal comments about his/her observation or conclusion on the election process to the media, also obligating them to share their findings, methodology, recommendations, and reports with the Election Commission of Pakistan.

  • English teacher targeted and killed on blasphemy allegation in Turbat

    English teacher targeted and killed on blasphemy allegation in Turbat

    Trigger warning: Murder

    A teacher linked to a language center was shot and killed by unidentified armed men in Turbat town, Kech district. Abdul Rauf, a 22-year-old English teacher, was attacked near a graveyard in the Malikabad area while on his way to an ulema jirga to address allegations of blasphemy.

    Students of the language centre had accused Rauf of committing blasphemy during a lecture, which gained attention on social media. Sudhir Ahmed, the centre’s principal, stated that ulema visited to listen to both sides, with Rauf denying the allegations and apologising for any objectionable words.

    Despite the attempt to resolve the matter, Rauf was killed before reaching the jirga, attended by over 100 ulema. The police were informed, though the family did not file a case. The body was taken to their hometown, Bal Nagor, for burial.

    A case against unknown individuals has been filed, and a special police team is investigating the incident. Authorities discourage spreading hate or unverified news on social media. Rauf was part-time teaching at the centre while studying at Turbat University.