Stories and News

Stories and News No. 1291 In recent years we have become increasingly hyper-connected , especially adolescents, who spend 8 to 10 hours a day on the internet, largely on social networks, with disastrous consequences for physical, mental and emotional health. Hence the following likely dialogue inspired by a really recent event happened to me: "You’re not on social networks?" A friend of mine, who I haven't seen for a while, asks me recently. “No, I quit those things a few years ago,” I reply deliberately being ironic comparing theme to drugs, or something that cause a harmful form of addiction. "For real?" He insists. "Yes, really," I reply. "And how can I put you in my Facebook group?" "By simple logic, you can't, that's it." "So you can't even add a like to my fan page?" "No for the same reason." "Understood. But can I always share a few posts, an image or a video with you?" "You c...

A short story by Alessandro Ghebreigziabiher A tale from the future, or the present too. It always depends on where you choose to travel with your own imagination... That’s peace, that’s what I called serenity. All thanks to the new world where I was born. To be honest, to those who designed, implemented and sold it. I've got peace, now. Especially tonight, this early spring’ Saturday, under the shelter of my beloved apartment, my very thick walls, the surgically armored front door and all the fabulous double glazing windows. May the sacred operating system, which controls all of us, bless them. I’m calm, finally, because my diligent voice assistant just told me that I have no other option available, since I have reached the maximum level of quiet within the social media. I've always called it my social network, despite it has become a colossal spider web as big as the planet itself. Yes, I know. It sounds disturbing. It looks like the work of an evil creature ...

Stories and News No. 1160   According to a recent Italian research conducted on nearly 6000 under 20 young people about 1 in 4 of the interviewees never worried about the privacy of their data online and, almost as many, they are occasionally interested on that. In addition, more than 7 out of 10 teenagers joined a social network when they were under 14 and 4 out of 10 know only half of their so-called 'friends'. My name is Mark, but I may have lied. I could also be Jennifer, or Carl. Okay, okay, a possible lie is certainly not a good start, building everything else on that. However, I wouldn’t be the first, right? Right? In any case, my name is Mark and I am a person, period. So far, nothing special, everything normal, almost like reality. Well, that ‘almost’ is what makes me awake at night. So, I found the solution to all my problems. I don’t tell you names, but I’m talking about a social network, that one. You know it, right? Well, I used my picture editor...

In your image By Alessandro Ghebreigziabiher "Good morning, I'm Tom, how can I help you?" "Hi, yes, I have got a problem with the profile picture." "I see. Account holder?" "Avatar." "Not the nickname, I mean the real name." "Well, yes, it's Avatar." "Are you making fun of me?" "What do you mean? I’m not having fun at all." Click. "Hi, I'm John, how can I help you?" "Good morning to you, yes, look, I've called before too, there's something wrong with my profile picture." ... "John? Are you still there?" "The name, sir, I need your real name." "Avatar." "The real one, sir, I have no time to waste." "Why? Are you dying?" Click. "Hi, I'm Fred, how can I help you?" "Hi, yes. Listen, Fred, I have got a faulty profile picture." ... "Fred?" "I'm here...

The true story of the man who invented Internet By Alessandro Ghebreigziabiher How much of true history we remember. And how much of liar pieces of one we should forget. At the same time, how many small, unlikely, but real stories we ignore. Like the names of all those who unconsciously discovered something remarkable. In the wrong place or time. Like the man who invented Internet, without knowing it. Once upon a time, therefore, a long time ago, a remote island of the Pacific Ocean. A community of humans lived there, let’s remain on the generic road, so everyone will feel involved and no one will be exiled beyond the wall. The remote island’s human community loved to call itself a tribe. I wanted to say it from the very beginning, but I was afraid of evoking the usual disqualifying clichés about savages, bare-body and living in huts around the fire. Well, in fact, to tell the truth, that is all true, but not in the diminishing meaning mentioned above. They were...

Close everything By Alessandro Ghebreigziabiher Somewhere, that is, in many homes of the socialized, modern world... Tom? … Tom?! ... Tom!!! Here I come, Mary, what’s up? What’s up?! I didn’t hear you shutting the door, honey... Really? Of course, yes, close it, hurry up, the sun got out a long time ago! You're right, I'm going. ... Tom? What? Tom! I said what! I see, but come here, please. Do we have to talk from one room to another? You want strangers to hear us? Right, I'm sorry, I'm coming. So, what is it? Did you close the door? Yup… What about the bolt? And the alarm? Oops... you're right... Tom... do you want thieves to enter the house? These days, at this hour, who knows who’ll be out there... close everything! Yes, my love, luckily you’re there. No, luckily we have an alarm and impact-proof glass. Also, love, but you are the best. ... Tom! What's up now? What’s this air? Well... I think it's the window in t...

Social By Alessandro Ghebreigziabiher Hi, I would like to subscribe to this new social network. Because it's new, right? Of course, very true. What's its name? Social . Social? Just... social? Only social. Without only , social, period. Without period . Do you like? I don’t know, can you tell me more? Yup, you see, once you have registered, you will have the chance to choose a nickname for the profile, you can upload an image as avatar and you can post phrases, images, and even videos on your personal page! Do you like? But it's not so original... don’t you offer something innovative? Are you kidding? First of all, we’re the first to make available to users an entirely experimental function, which will be the best of third millennium. Would it be? Hypnotic characters . What?! Hypnotic characters, young man. Nicknames, status shares, any kind of posts, the words typed with the aforementioned letters guarantee the total encumbrance of the readers. They...