Life's Games, the Role of Luck, AI Issues, Afef Abrougui, and More

We're a peacebuilding startup aiming to create a healthier internet by finding the highest-quality content online. To do that, we ask everyone around the globe what content sparked new ideas, understanding, joy, and more for them. ✨

So far, 33 people have sent in their top links, along with a little note about the effect it had on them. You'll find a set of submissions below for the first time.

Mexico’s subway drivers depend on WhatsApp to keep the trains running

https://restofworld.org/2023/mexico-metro-drivers-whatsapp-trains

💪 Sparked resilience: "This a good lesson about the resourcefulness of workers and the danger of underfunding public infrastructure." —Paula

These Women Tried to Warn Us About AI

https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/women-warnings-ai-danger-risk-before-chatgpt-1234804367/

🙇 Sparked inspiration: "I've been inspired by reading about the women who sounded the alarms, not on long-term threats, but 'right-now' problems with AI technology, such as ethical issues, perpetuating biases, and the lack of transparency in tech companies." —Unknown

A Life-Changing Philosophy of Games

https://spotify.link/h1B4FTJWXDb

💡 Sparked ideas: "10 minutes in, this podcast starts getting amazing. It talks about the point systems and games we play as members of society, consciously or not. It gave me a new view, especially on social media." —Unknown

Jessie Inchauspé: How balancing her blood sugar changed her life

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2Px2gYh7RvU8WTIdA3t8kF?si=b179f11dd86d4c89

🧠 Sparked new understanding: "I started researching glucose (spikes) and realized the effect it can have on us. I didn't have an interest in this at all before, but now I'm thinking about purchasing her book!" —Dominique, 25, Switzerland 🇨🇭

The Circle of Human Concern

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9UaVaKtr7c

🖤 Sparked compassion: "This short animation paints a powerful depiction of the ways people can be marginalized and excluded from belonging in society. [...] It made me cry a little." —Janna, 35, USA 🇺🇸

Tim Urban: Inside the mind of a master procrastinator

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arj7oStGLkU

💡 Sparked insight: "If you only start your projects at the last minute, this is for you! In this hilarious and insightful talk, Tim Urban [...] encourages us to think harder about what we're really procrastinating on, before we run out of time." —Xeenah

GOODnews

https://goodnews.eu/en

🌞 Sparked optimism: "Positive news serves as a constant source of inspiration in my daily life, serving as a reminder that amidst the challenges of the world, there are always uplifting and encouraging stories to embrace." —Laura, Germany 🇩🇪

Afef Abrougui

Advisor, researcher, and community organizer at the intersection of technology and human rights.

Afef has expertise in network shutdowns, content moderation, and online gender-based violence and works with communities from the Global South.

What's your biggest question at the moment?

How can we, as a community, advocates, and digital rights/human rights groups, collaborate and work better together to counter the multiple ways in which powerful actors (governments, tech companies, sellers of mercenary spyware, etc.) infringe on human rights in digital spaces? These actors have lobby power, plenty of resources, and extract troves of data on people everywhere. How can we take collective actions to counter that?   

What work are you most proud of?

This is a hard question to answer. I don't have one specific piece of work or project I’m most proud of, but rather certain aspects or experiences I cherish, such as storytelling. For instance, as an editor for Advox, a project by Global Voices that covers the intersection of technology and human rights between 2016 and 2020, I got to work and collaborate with passionate writers, journalists, and human rights defenders on factual and insightful stories in regions, countries, and communities that are often overlooked by mainstream and partisan media.

Who inspires you, and why?

Friends and colleagues in the field who continue to persist and resist despite the multiple challenges that our community faces. 

Where can we connect with you?

• Afef's Website ↗
• Afef's LinkedIn ↗

Read the full interview

Discover Afef's career advice, lessons learned, and insights on work-life balance. Plus, don't miss her thought-provoking book recommendation! 📖

Curated by @vardon.world, inspired by @crumbler and others.

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