 |
|
|
|||||
With any innovation comes risk, but those risks can be managed with the right precautions. Protecting yourself online is just as important in your crypto wallet as it is in your email inbox or your banking app. According to the largest ever study of crypto holders in America, which my organization conducted, just 3% reported negative experiences with crypto, and of these, less than a third had experienced fraud or security breaches personally. Thats less than 1% total. Compare that to traditional banking scams, where 34% of U.S. adults have experienced in the last year, or online dating, where 40% of users have reported being targeted by scams. The point is that scams happen in every corner of the internet. The good news? The habits that keep you safe in other online spaces also work in Web3. Find the scams before they find you Scams can happen to anyone, anywhereno matter how smart or tech savvy you may be. By staying alert, you can avoid the hassle and heartache that comes with being swindled. These are some of the most common tactics used by online scammers: Pig butchering: Scammers build fake relationships onlineposing as a friend, love interest, or mentorbefore persuading you to invest in a cant miss opportunity. Once the crypto or money is sent, the scammers vanish. Pump and dump: A lesser-known token gets hyped up by influencers or group chats, driving up demand. The scam organizers then sell their holdings at the topleaving latecomers holding the bag. Fake giveaways: Look out for messages claiming youll receive free crypto if you send a little first. No legitimate organization or person asks you to pay in order to receive a giveaway. Impersonation scams: Fraudsters pretend to be customer service reps, government agencies, or wallet providers to get you to send funds or hand over your login details. Phishing attacks: These often come through fake emails or links on social media, asking you to log in or verify your wallet. The goal? Steal your private keys or seed phrases. Stay safe with smart internet habits Online safety isnt about paranoiaits about preparation. Governments, companies, and organizations are working to improve consumer protections so that people can use crypto securely. And while those measures can make everyday use more secure, no system is completely foolproof. But with these six simple practices, you can help protect your coins, your identity, and your peace of mind: Never share your private key. Your public wallet address is safe to share (its like your email) but your private key or recovery phrase gives full access to your wallet (its like your password). Keep it secret, and store it securely offline. Avoid clicking random links. Whether its a text, tweet, or email, always double-check the source before responding or clicking. Be skeptical of urgency. Scammers rely on pressure tactics. If someones telling you to act fast or youll miss out, take a step back. Real opportunities dont rush you. Research before you invest. Dont believe the hype or anonymous tips. Look up the project, the people behind it, and whether its widely recognized and reputable. Trust your gutand verify the details. Misspelled names, strange email addresses, or too-good-to-be-true offers are always red flags. Beware of random texts or emails. Hey I found your number in my contacts, a random How are you? from an unknown number or, other out of the blue overtures should always be treated skeptically. General rule of thumb: If it seems too good to be true, it’s probably a scam. Take control of your digital destiny Crypto gives people more control, more access, and more opportunity. But that means nothing without trust and safety. You dont have to be a tech wizard or finance pro to use crypto. You just need to be a little crypto curious. When you decide to dip your toe in, practice and a few smart habitshabits you hopefully already uselike double authentication (where your bank, for example, will text you a code). So lets build a safer digital future together. Not by avoiding whats new, but by learning how to navigate it responsibly. Stu Alderoty is president of the National Cryptocurrency Association.
Category:
E-Commerce
In a time where almost anything you could want is just a tap awayAI-powered answers in seconds, groceries delivered within the hour, endless content streamed instantly, and real-time validation through likes and sharesit’s no surprise that we’ve come to expect that same level of immediacy from our health. GLP-1 drugs promise rapid weight loss. Telemedicine provides patient care from the comfort of your own couch. At-home diagnostic tests deliver near-instant health insights. Social media and on-demand culture have rewired our brains to crave this kind of instant gratification, trapping many of us in a dopamine loopthat endless cycle of seeking out short-term rewards at the expense of long-term well-being. The consequences of this mindset are much deeper than we realize. In fact, the ripple effect is reshaping how we view our bodies, our health, and what it means to feel good. And it’s taking a toll on our physical and mental health. The health and wellness industry, which should be offering a counterpoint to this culture, has too often played into it, promising overnight results, quick fixes, and immediate transformations. The truth is, our bodies dont operate on the same timeline as our screens. The disconnect between instant gratification and whole-body health Biological transformation is a slow and intuitive process, one that unfolds over months and years, not overnight. Yet we’ve been conditioned to feel like we’re failing if we don’t see instant results. This gap has real consequences: People abandon solutions that could meaningfully improve their health simply because they haven’t delivered fast enough. In the chasing of short-term wins, we’re ignoring the foundational systems that fuel long-term well-being: our stress response, hormone health, gut microbiome, and the delicate balance of nutrients that power our bodies. The rise of quick-fix wellness has only reinforced this cycle. The common thread? They all offer a dopamine hita fleeting sense of progresswithout addressing the root causes of why we don’t feel good in the first place. The problem is, quick wins rarely translate to lasting health. When we expect instant results from our bodies, we’re setting ourselves up for disappointment, and that disappointment breeds distrust. We start to believe that our bodies are failing us, when in reality, it’s our expectations that need recalibrating. Whats more concerning is that this mindset is compounding the very issues we’re trying to solve. Stress, fatigue, thinning hair, breakouts, brain fogthese are all signals that our bodies are out of balance, not problems to be hacked. But in the dopamine loop, we treat the symptoms, not the root causes. So the cycle continues. A new mindset: Longevity over quick fixes The most profound health transformations happen when we work with our bodies, not against them. This requires a radical mindset shiftone that prioritizes optimization over instant gratification and rewires the way we measure progress. What if the question wasnt How quickly will this work? but instead How will this support the future version of me? This is the mindset of whole-body longevitythe belief that how we feel today is deeply connected to how we’ll feel five, 10, or 20 years from now. It’s about setting your body up to not just feel good right now, but to stay strong and thrive for the long haul. As an industry, we have a responsibility to lead this shift. That means telling the truth about what it really takes to transform your healththat lasting change happens over months, not days. It means designing products that address the root causes of how people feel, not just surface-level symptoms. And it means empowering people to celebrate progress, not perfection, and to understand that feeling better is a journey, not a destination. The future of health is whole-body True wellbeing doesnt come from quick fixes; it comes from lasting habits. While treatments and medications can offer short-term relief, sustainable transformation requires a deeper, long-term commitment to how we live every day. Whole foods, regular movement, quality sleep, stress management, and mindful choices like reducing alcoholthese arent trends; theyre the foundation for clarity, resilience, and longevity. When these habits are supported by science-backed clinical tools, they create the conditions for real, lasting change. Health becomes something we cultivate, not hack. Imagine if we shifted the focus from fast results to long-term vitality. If success was defined not by how quickly we feel better, but by how well were preparing our bodies and minds to thrive for decades to come. This is the future of health: slow, intentional, science-driven, and whole-body, because no part of us functions in isolation. As leaders, aligning with this vision means building not just better businesses, but a healthier world. Giorgos Tsetis is cofounder and chairman of Nutrafol.
Category:
E-Commerce
Recently, Google dropped a quiet but monumental announcement: Google Meet will soon support real-time translation. It may seem like a product feature update, but it’s actually a glimpse into the future of how the internet and global business will function. Were on the cusp of a world where every conversation on the internet, regardless of language, can happen in real time. And that changes everything. For B2B enterprises, this isn’t about novelty. It’s about unlocking collaboration, creativity, and commerce at a global scale. Language wont be as big of a limitation Language has long been one of the final friction points in cross-border collaboration. Even as video calls and messaging platforms brought teams closer together, they still relied on a common language, most often English, as the conduit. That created limitations on who could participate, how much nuance was retained, and how ideas flowed. With real-time translation, we move from a world of adaptation to one of direct contribution. Suddenly, a designer in Buenos Aires, a strategist in Nairobi, and a developer in Tokyo can jump into the same conversation without stopping to translate or interpret. Everyone speaks, and is understood, in their own language. This isnt just a productivity boost. Its a structural shift in how we think, ideate, and build together. Collaboration without borders What happens when you remove the communication tax from global teamwork? You get more voices in the room. More diversity in thought. More creativity, sparked by perspectives that were once hard to access in real time. Enterprise companies will be able to: Run global design sprints with fully multilingual teams Support customers in their native language with real empathy Develop cross-cultural products with richer user insights The internet becomes not just a place to publish or consume, but a space to co-create. Together. Instantly. Here comes a new kind of global enterprise This technological leap doesnt just make business more efficientit makes it more human. Companies will no longer have to localize after the fact. Theyll build global from day one, with the input and collaboration of people around the world. Imagine: Sales teams conducting live pitches in any language, without intermediaries International vendor partnerships operating in sync, not in silos Internal documentation, onboarding, and training auto-translating in real time This is about scaling relationships, not just transactions. Culture, context, and the human layer Of course, language is more than just words. It’s culture, tone, idioms, and nuance. Real-time translation won’t always get that right. And thats where intentional leadership comes in. Companies will need to: Equip teams with cultural fluency alongside technical fluency Stay alert to how AI translation might flatten or distort meaning Create norms and rituals that preserve empathy and clarity Technology can connect us instantly. But connection without understanding is just noise. The opportunity lies in blending speed with sensitivity. What B2B enterprises can do today Real-time translation is arriving fast. To stay ahead, enterprise leaders can: Audit your communication tools: Are they ready for multilingual functionality? Rethink your hiring lens: Global talent is no longer gated by English fluency Train teams to collaborate across cultures, not just across time zones Start small: Pilot real-time translation in internal meetings or support channels Be prepared for errors The future of work isnt just distributedits multilingual, multicultural, and massively connected. Real-time translation is the infrastructure that will make it all possible. Remember technology should elevate human connection, not replace it. Real-time communication, across every language, brings us closer to that vision. Not just faster meetings or wider reach, but deeper collaboration, richer relationships, and a more inclusive world of work. The internet just got a lot more fluent. Lets build what comes next. George Brooks is founder and CEO of Crema.
Category:
E-Commerce
Metas artificial intelligence tool might be a little too easy to use. The discover feed for Meta AI, the social media giant’s one-stop shop for AI image creation and chatbot brainstorming sessions, is full of what appears to be peoples deepest, darkest personal queriesunknowingly shared for all to see. The feed is accessible via Facebook and is mostly a collection of harmless user-generated AI images, such as Tony Stark designing Air Jordan sneakers and Donald Trump surrounded by a pit of flames. But interspersed throughout the fire hose of content is a significant amount of chatbot prompts from users who may have no idea that their activity is public. Examples include a user asking for tips on how to ask Asian women if they date older men, what to do if you have red bumps on certain parts of your body, and how to improve bowel movements. Many of the queries include the chatbots responses and follow-ups from the users, resulting in full-on conversations about highly inappropriate topics. And since Meta AIs discover feed is meant to be a social experience, users can comment on the conversationstherefore, many of the most inappropriate threads also include comments from well-intentioned users trying to alert people that their potentially embarrassing posts are public. One Meta AI user even asked Meta’s chatbot if it is aware of the problem and how it plans to fix itself: “YOU are the app. What do YOU think?” Meta did not immediately respond to Fast Company‘s request for comment. Breaking a few eggs in the AI arms race Meta AI does warn users when theyre about to post something publicly, but the interface is new and may not be familiar to Facebook users who are newly encountering the discover feed. The intimate and inappropriate nature of the chats offers an interesting window into the types of queries that people plug into AI tools when they think no one is watching. Meta, like all other Big Tech giants, is investing heavily in generative artificial intelligence, most recently preparing a research lab that it reportedly hopes will lead to the AI holy grail of “superintelligence.” But the company has seen missteps along the way. As Fast Company reported earlier this year, its AI studiowhich allows users to create AI characterswas prone to creating bots that were sexually suggestive and sometimes appeared to be underage. Don’t expect Meta to slow down, however. The parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp said in its most recent earnings report that it expects capital expenditures of a staggering $64 billion to $72 billion this year. In the short term, it may need to use some of that money to make the merging of social media with generative AI a little less awkward.
Category:
E-Commerce
At the Exceptional Women Alliance, we empower high-level women to mentor one another, encouraging personal and professional fulfillment through meaningful connections. This month, I am delighted to interview Marissa Andrada, culture master and kindness catalyst at the firm bearing her name. Marissa shares her valuable insights on all things fashion, empowerment, and the importance of self-expression in the workplacewhy dressing confidently is about who you are, not just what you wear. Q: How has your personal relationship with fashion evolved alongside your career growth? Marissa Andrada: Early in my career, the companies I worked in had a power profile, e.g. a language to use, a certain style of clothing to wear. I was coached to adapt to this power profile as a way of fitting in and making it. I felt like I could only show up as a small part of me and it impacted my ability to bring my full self to work. I had to carefully curate my outfits each day. Because I wasnt dressing authentically, it became exhausting to get ready every morning, overthinking how not to be too much. However, navigating that phase taught me so muchit helped me to build resilience, reinforce my personal values, and deepen my understanding of how culture shapes belonging. Today, I intentionally create and advocate for cultures that embrace authenticity and celebrate individual style. I can now use my experience to empower others and help evolve workplace fashion norms and labels. I have seen firsthand the impact of connection through style and self-expression. Q: Many people feel pressure to dress the part at work. What advice would you give someone trying to stay authentic while navigating professional expectations? Andrada: If you are in a culture with a specific dress code that feels limiting, look for small and personally meaningful ways to express your individuality. For example, sport a pair of funky socks that only you can see, rock a statement ring, wear your favorite drop earrings, a cool watch, special belt, or your post-gym ponytail (sans Nikes). The key is to find little moments of joy and self-expression even within the boundaries of a formalized dress code. The small touches will remind you and those around you of who you are. Pro tip? Gamify the experience each dayhave fun with it. Q: In your experience, how does feeling good in what you wear impact how you show up as a leader? Andrada: Oh wow, this is a great question because, when you show up for yourself, when YOU feel good, it radiates through everything you dohow you walk and carry yourself, how you talk and greet others, how you inspire those around you, and how you lead. Feeling good transforms your energy. Feeling confident in your appearance is not about aesthetics, it is about ownership and honoring yourself. When you can do that for yourself, it gives permission for others to do the same. Q: How can organizations better embrace and support authentic self-expression through fashion in the workplace? Andrada: It starts with leadership. Culture is a reflection of leadership. When leaders set the tone and lead by example, it has a ripple effect on the rest of the team and ultimately the organization. It is about values and outcomes, not conformity. When companies create true cultures of belonging, dress codes naturally evolve and allow more room for authentic self-expression. When employees feel seen, accepted, and empowered, they will perform at their best, and that includes how they express themselves through style. Q: Who or what inspires your approach to fashion, style, and leadership today? Andrada: I am inspired daily by life itself. Each day is a new opportunity for me to discover something or someone new, whether its a new designer or a future business leader. My regular interactions always lead to new energy and inspire my approach to fashion, style, and leadership. I love the creativity of using what I wear as an extension of my energy. While I follow whats happening on the runway, I am equally inspired by street fashion. I love a high-low combo too as it reflects my perspective on leadershipbeing bold but remaining real. A touch of aspiration while being relatable and attainable. Q: What advice would you give your younger self about fashion, work, and self-confidence? Andrada: I would tell her that it will get easier and to continue to follow and lead with heart. Your style is an expression of you and your true spirit, and you should never have to hide that but embrace and celebrate it in the ways you can at any given moment. Confidence isnt about being fashionable, its about being true to yourself. Through Marissa, its clearly visible that fashion isnt just about clothes, and if you saw her in person you would know what I mean! It is about confidence, identity, connection, and empowerment. Through style and spirit, we can create cultures of inclusion and vibrancy. Larraine Segil is founder, chair and CEO of the Exceptional Women Alliance.
Category:
E-Commerce
Sites : [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] next »