Before smartphones and cellular data became affordable in India, people used missed calls to stay updated. Companies such as ZipDial saw an opportunity, and would send texts of the latest cricket match scores, play Bollywood songs, and advertise when a customer would call their hotlines and drop before they were charged. In 2008, it was “estimated that more than half of Indian phone users were in the habit of calling people with the expectation that they wouldn’t pick up.” Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
