Dear Reader,

Welcome to Between Calls, your weekly dose of hand-picked stories from the worlds of digital marketing, wellness and science. Blending commerce, consciousness and curiosity Between Calls brings you insights to make you think and think again.

This week we're exploring hidden systems that shape our world. First, we'll look at bot farms, the fake accounts making social media trends feel more popular than they really are. Then we'll plunge into floatation tanks, where people pay to destress and rest. Finally, we'll travel back to when Earth's oceans were green instead of blue, and what that tells us about climate change today. 

Kabir says : Bot farmers manufacture fake trends, floatation therapists sell perfect stillness, but it’s oceanographers who are charting the real deep, proof that in the attention economy we’ll pay for both the noise and the silence yet rarely explore what lies beneath.

DIGITAL MARKETING

Bot Farms

Did you know that about 35% of all internet traffic today is driven by bots? So much so that in the age of digital influence, the authenticity of online engagement is under threat. Bot farms which are data center like facilities filled with smartphones are being used to amplify narratives and manipulate public opinion on social media platforms. These operations employ real mobile devices to mimic human behavior, making them challenging to detect and allowing them to bypass traditional security measures. The result is a distorted perception of popularity and influence, which can sway public opinion and impact brand reputation. This is a reality which can't be ignored today.

WELLNESS

Floatation Tank Therapy

Imagine a place free from the hustle and bustle of the world, no emails, no notifications, just you in a state of deep meditation.
This is the essence of sensory deprivation tanks, also known as floatation tanks. These tanks offer a unique approach to mental wellbeing by immersing individuals in a dark, soundproof environment filled with warm epsom salt infused water. This setup allows the body to float effortlessly, minimizing external stimuli and enabling the mind to enter a deeply relaxed state.​ Studies have shown that floatation therapy can reduce stress, alleviate anxiety and enhance creativity. The experience is often compared to floating in space, free from the constraints of gravity and sensory input. I haven't tried it yet but is the kind of thing I'd like to. 

SCIENCE

The Ocean’s Color

Did you know that for nearly half of Earth's history, oceans were green due to bacteria thriving in high iron and low oxygen conditions? As the atmosphere changed, these bacteria became extinct, revealing the blue waters we know today. Recent studies indicate that coastal areas have turned green again, this is due to phytoplankton blooms fueled by pollution and warming waters. While some blooms absorb carbon dioxide, others create dead zones. Earth’s history shows that ecosystems can shift drastically, and such changes come with consequences, supporting only specialized life forms. Climate change today is an unplanned experiment that could revive ancient ocean colors, so is the return of the green ocean good or bad for us? We don't know.  

PROMPTITUDE

Ignite Ideas, One Prompt at a Time: Plug in this prompt to any LLM and learn more about Bot Farming.

As a cybersecurity expert specializing in automated threats, create a comprehensive, beginner-friendly guide to bot farming. Define bot farming and explain how malicious actors create, maintain, and deploy networks of compromised devices or fake accounts to conduct coordinated activities online. Break down the different types of bot farms like social media bots, click farms, credential stuffing networks and their mechanics using clear analogies and everyday examples. Explore the common techniques used to create and control bot networks, including malware distribution, account generation, and command-and-control infrastructure. Discuss the real-world impacts of bot farming on businesses, social media platforms, online communities, and individual users. Address common misconceptions about bots while explaining detection methods and protective measures that organizations and individuals can implement. Maintain an informative yet accessible tone throughout, using straightforward explanations without unnecessary technical jargon. Your goal is to provide readers with a thorough understanding of this digital threat landscape, balancing technical accuracy with practical insights for beginners. 

FROM THE BOOKSHELF

To do this week : Seeking a mental reset? Dive into the science of sensory deprivation and its profound effects on stress and creativity.​

Watch here

Stay Informed, Stay Ahead!

About the author: abhinavchetan.com

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