Juli 2023
Tinius Digest
Månedlige rapporter om endringer, trender og utviklinger i mediebransjen.
Om Tinius Digest
Tinius Digest gir deg en oversikt over rapporter om og analyser av utvikling i mediebransjen og publiseres en gang i måneden. Her er våre viktigste funn fra denne måneden.
Del gjerne innholdet med kollegaer og bruk det i møter og presentasjoner.
Innhold
- ChatGPT increases writer productivity.
- No link between social media and mental health symptoms
- Algorithms do not change political beliefs
- US dominance in the European AV sector
- AI reduces the costs of data breaches
- Parental controls are only used by 49 percent
- NATO urges governments to increase cooperation
ChatGPT increases writer productivity.
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have published a study on ChatGPT’s influence on writing tasks.
Four main findings
1
Professional tasks
453 professionals were asked to complete two tasks usually undertaken as part of their jobs. These included writing press releases, short reports, and analysis plans.
2
Increased productivity
ChatGPT substantially increased productivity: the average time taken decreased by 40 percent.
3
Better quality
Compared to writing tasks from a control group, an external group of professionals rated the quality of AI-assisted texts as 18 percent higher.
4
Reduced inequality
Inequality between workers decreased, and concern and excitement about AI temporarily rose. Workers exposed to ChatGPT during the experiment were twice as likely to report using it in their actual job two weeks after the experiment and 1.6 times as likely two months after the experiment.
No link between social media and mental health symptoms
Researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University have followed 810 children and adolescents between the ages of 10 and 16 for six years.
The study is unique as it used psychiatric interviews to assess symptoms rather than relying solely on self-reports.
Four main findings
1
No significant link
The study found no clear link between the level of social media use and any changes in symptoms of depression or anxiety.
2
Level of engagement
Even when examining specific activities on social media, such as liking, commenting, or posting updates and photos, no impact on mental health was observed.
3
Usage unaffected by mental health
Shifts in mental health symptoms like depression and anxiety did not seem to affect the amount of social media use going forward—neither more nor less.
4
No gender differences
Regardless of gender, there were no indications that social media use influenced mental health issues.
Algorithms do not change political beliefs
Researchers from several universities have published four studies examining the effects of Facebook and Instagram algorithms on users’ beliefs and behaviour.
The studies included a large number of users and were unique in that they were conducted with direct participation and data from Meta.
Five main findings
1
Effect on political beliefs
Removing key functions of the algorithms had ‘no measurable effects’ on people’s political beliefs. When the ability to reshare posts was removed, users’ knowledge of political news declined.
2
Conservatives bombarded with fake news
Consumption of political news on Instagram and Facebook is highly segregated by ideology. Over 97 percent of links to false news stories attracted more conservative readers than liberal ones during the 2020 U.S. Presidential election.
3
More 'chambers' than 'echo chambers'
Despite the common narrative that social media algorithms create ‘echo chambers’, the research found that reducing content from like-minded connections did not alter beliefs or polarization measurably.
4
Controlling algorithms
One study that manipulated the feed algorithms found that switching to a reverse chronological order increased the amount of untrustworthy content users saw.
5
Several weak points
The studies were independently conducted and peer-reviewed. However, critics point out that Meta held all the data and could veto requests. The researchers caution that the findings are affected by many variables, including the timing of the studies and the continual tweaks that Meta makes to its algorithms.
Gå dypere
- Independence by permission (Science)
- Like-minded sources on Facebook are prevalent but not polarizing (Nature)
- Asymmetric ideological segregation in exposure to political news on Facebook (Science)
- Reshares on social media amplify political news but do not detectably affect beliefs or opinions (Science)
US dominance in the European AV sector
The European Audiovisual Observatory has published a report covering European audiovisual media services and the leading players.
Three main findings
1
3,315 on-demand services
There are 12,664 audiovisual media services available in Europe. 26 percent (3,315) of these are on-demand services. Only seven percent of the audiovisual services are in public ownership.
2
48 percent of children's channels US owned
Approximately half of all children’s TV channels in Europe are US-owned (48%), as are 59 percent of entertainment subscription video-on-demand services.
3
Overall US dominance
US groups play a prominent role in the overall European AV sector. Around one in five (18%) of all private TV channels (excluding local TV) are US-owned, and over one-third of all SVOD (39%) and TVOD (33%) services in Europe belong to a US company.
AI reduces the costs of data breaches
IBM has published their annual Cost of a Data Breach Report for 2023.
Four main findings
1
Rising costs
The global average cost of a data breach in 2023 reached an all-time high of $4.45 million (SEK 49 million/NOK 48 million), a 15 percent increase over the last three years. Detection and escalation costs alone increased by 42 percent.
2
Organizational response
Despite 95 percent of organizations experiencing multiple breaches, 57 percent are likelier to pass the incident costs onto consumers rather than increase their security spending (51%).
3
AI and automation
Organizations using AI and automation saw a reduction in the data breach lifecycle by 108 days compared to those that didn’t. They also experienced nearly $1.8 million lower data breach costs on average.
4
Ransom payments
Nearly half (47%) of the studied ransomware victims paid the ransom. Avoiding law enforcement led to increased incident costs and slowed response.
Parental controls are only used by 49 percent
The Norwegian Media Authority has published a report on the media habits of children between one and five years old.
Five main findings
1
Digital toddlers
59 percent have access to TV, 46 percent to tablets, eight percent to mobile phones, five percent to computers, and three percent have access to smartwatches. 89 percent of those with mobile phones or tablets watch movies, series, or TV programs.
2
Public broadcaster most popular
The children’s channel of the public broadcaster NRK (NRK Super) is the streaming service most toddlers use (65 percent)—followed by Netflix (36 percent), Disney+ (33 percent), YouTube (32 percent), and YouTube Kids (31 percent).
3
Only half use parental controls
49 percent of parents with young children say the family does not use parental controls (filters/settings to protect children) on tablets/mobile phones/computers.
4
Sufficient knowledge
61 percent of parents believe they have the information needed to guide their child’s internet use.
NATO urges governments to increase cooperation
The NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence has published a report examining state communication in a digital reality.
Four main findings
1
Social media increases vulnerability
News consumption via social media and international websites increases the population’s exposure to disinformation and misinformation. This was especially visible during the Covid-19 pandemic.
2
Lack of unified strategy
Even though Nordic countries have a relatively comprehensive strategy for strategic communication, there is little coordinated communication and focus on combating disinformation between governments.
3
Fact-checking essensial
Increased focus on media literacy and fact-checking is fundamental for enhancing the population’s resilience against disinformation.
4
One voice
Establishing internal digital platforms to coordinate outward communication—including media handling—can prevent careless communication and strengthen trust in state institutions.