Welcome back to Lately, The Globe’s weekly tech newsletter. If you have feedback or just want to say hello to a real-life human, send me an e-mail.
In this week’s issue:
⛔ Telegram’s CEO arrest spurs questions over who should be responsible for abusive content
🤳 Smartphone bans in Canadian classrooms face a crucial test
😇 Is Nvidia still the golden child of AI?
💁🏻♀️ Why we’re so obsessed with watching other people do mundane tasks
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov’s arrest and the responsibilities of tech platforms
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov was arrested last weekend in France.Albert Gea/Reuters
When Pavel Durov founded Telegram in 2013, he envisioned a messaging app free from censorship, power-hungry moderators and government surveillance. In the past decade, as Telegram has grown to more than 950 million users, Durov has remained true to his free speech ethos, ignoring government requests to surrender data from user accounts. But now he’s feeling the heat from the hands-off approach. Durov was arrested last weekend in France and charged with complicity in a range of crimes, such as enabling the spread of sexual images of children and drug trafficking. He was released on a €5-million ($7.46-million) bail and is barred from leaving France.
The Russian-born billionaire’s arrest is a rare example where a tech CEO has been held personally liable for the content on their platforms, raising questions about the responsibilities of tech companies to prevent illegal activity. In Canada, the federal government believes the onus should be put on the platforms. Earlier this year, the Liberals introduced the Online Harms Act, a proposed bill that would force platforms to remove child pornography within 24 hours.
Quiet, class. Canadian smartphone bans face a crucial test
Canada's classrooms are entering silent mode.Illustration by Rob Dobi
Back in my day, teachers had to contend with students passing notes, secretly playing with a Tamagotchi under their desk or listening to Discmans in class. Now, teachers across Canada say the biggest issue in the classroom is smartphones. They say they’re a distraction and can lead to an uptick in cyberbullying. This school year, governments in almost every province have new rules restricting phone use in the classroom – and, in some cases, spelled out penalties that include suspensions for students who don’t comply. But as education reporter Caroline Alphonso writes, some experts say the science on the effects of cellphones and social media isn’t settled and broad conclusions are being drawn from inconsistent data. Plus, some students say they aren’t sure these restrictions are necessary, or if they’ll even work. Tamagotchis were banned from my elementary school, but that didn’t stop me.
Is Nvidia still the golden child of AI?
Chipmaker Nvidia once again surpassed Wall Street expectations this week, reporting Wednesday that its revenue was US$30-billion for the last quarter, surpassing the US$28-billion estimate in May. The company also projected sales would grow 8 per cent to US$32.5 billion in the current quarter. Even still, Nvidia shares slipped after trading. So, what’s going on? “Death, taxes, and NVDA beats on earnings are three things you can bank on,” said market analyst Ryan Detrick in an interview with the Associated Press. “Here’s the issue. The size of the beat this time was much smaller than we’ve been seeing. Even future guidance was raised, but again not by the tune from previous quarters.” However, the modest selloff shows that investors are still confident in the generative AI boom, even if some analysts warn of a bubble scenario.
The weird, relaxing appeal of ‘get ready with me’ videos
Every single day, thousands of men and women post videos of their daily routines online. Seen on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok, the videos elevate everyday mundanity – like making a two-egg omelette or putting on makeup – into a performance that can be oddly entertaining. As reporter Ann Hui writes, this form of online sharing might seem tedious. Narcissistic, even. But everyday routines have taken over the internet. And for the millions who consume them – scrolling endlessly to take in every detail – they can’t seem to get enough. But why? In a world of uncertainty, they can be soothing and predictable. For people who feel lonely, it can be like sitting with a friend. And for others, it can be aspirational. But whatever reason, it’s clear these videos have become a fixture on social media. Today, there are 4.7 million videos on Instagram with the hashtag #MorningRoutine and more than two million TikTok videos with the hashtag #DayInTheLife.
What else we’re reading this week:
Spotify has a fake-band problem. It’s a sign of things to come (Slate)
The rise and fall of NFTs made and unmade OpenSea (The Verge)
Are AI-created recipes hard to swallow? (BBC)
Adult Money
Pricey, yes, but the Polar Grit X2 Pro could navigate you out of a snowstorm in the Arctic.Supplied
Polar Grit X2 Pro watch, $1,100
It’s the fleeting days of summer: the public pools are closing, the evenings are getting cooler, and the kids are getting ready for school. But this also means the best season to go hiking is almost upon us. The Globe recently rounded up the best hiking gear of the year and this watch caught my eye. Its GPS functions include an altitude meter, elevation profiles, turn-by-turn directions and a backtrack function that prevents wearers from getting lost. Although hiking with a guide has invaluable benefits, a GPS watch might be the next best thing.
Culture radar
The very demure, very mindful Jools Lebron on Jimmy Kimmel Live!Randy Holmes/The Associated Press
Trademarking your own viral TikTok phrase? Very demure, very mindful
Earlier this month, beauty influencer Jools Lebron posted a TikTok explaining how she wears her makeup, spawning the internet’s new favourite meme and sparking a debate over copyright. “See how I do my makeup for work? Very demure, very mindful,” Lebron says in the 38-second clip. “I don’t do too much. I’m very mindful while I’m at work. See how I look? Very presentable.” The phrase “very demure, very mindful” has become a catch-all phrase to describe a range of everyday tasks: drinking an iced matcha latte? Very demure. Reading a book on the subway? Very mindful. Celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez have jumped on the trend, as have brands and politicians (cancelling student debt is very mindful, says the White House).
Once the phrase showed staying power, the trademark applications started rolling in before Lebron could file her own. In videos, Lebron expressed frustration and sadness that someone else had beaten her to applying for the trademark. But as of Wednesday, it looks like the trademark saga may be over. “We got it handled and I’m gonna leave it at that … Mama’s got a team now!” So no, it’s not just you. The word demure has been everywhere lately. And soon, you may start seeing it on hats, T-shirts or however Lebron wants to monetize the phrase.
More tech and telecom news:
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