Marketing intelligence firm SimilarWeb is behind the data, which pinpoints time on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat from January to March and covers users located in U.S., India, South Africa, UK, Spain, Germany, Australia, Brazil, and Spain. Overall social media app usage was down the most on the Facebook-owned Instagram and down the least on Facebook itself: Instagram: Down 23.7 percent Twitter: Down 23.4 percent Snapchat: Down 15.7 percent Facebook: Down 8 percent The news aligns with data from tech analyst Mary Meeker’s recent report: Growth is slowly dramatically across many aspects of tech and media, not just social media app engagement....

Platforms including Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, and Twitter have been used by Black Lives Matter activists from around the world to shed light on the causes and effects of systemic racism. Meanwhile, those same platforms have been used by politicians and public figures, notably President Trump, to issue threats of retaliation and violence. Social media platforms are more impactful than ever when it comes to spreading messages of both positive change and hate speech....

The trend makes sense for an increasing number of businesses — roughly 50 percent of the workforce has a job where it’s feasible to replace travel with technology. As far back as 2014, the Harvard Business Review reported that working from home can lead to a dramatic, 13.5 percent increase in productivity while contributing to overall employee wellness and happiness. Employees who work from home at least part of the time are often healthier, more engaged, less distracted, more productive and far cheaper to employ — but what does teambuilding look like in the era of the mobile, remote workplace?...

“We wanted the product from day one to build a bridge between different geographical locations for great advice, and we did the same thing with our investors,” says founder and CEO Dan Martell. The round also included top Canadian investors like Gerry Pond, Real Ventures, and Version One Ventures. Clarity has a directory of over 7,500 mentors who are willing to offer advice, sometimes for a fee. Entrepreneurs can search mentors by expertise, and see information on how many calls they’ve taken, average call length, and average response time....

Your personal data is being collected constantly: your comings and goings, your shopping preferences, your selfies, and how often you hang out with which friends. You opt in to this because it makes your life easier; it makes it easier to find a job, get discounts and perks, and maintain a connection with people and information from around the globe. One of the most thrilling aspects of speculative fiction is just how possible and inevitable such a future seems to be – and that’s precisely what Cumulus achieves....

Digital anthropologist, futurist, and author Brian Solis is known for his expertise in innovation and experience design as well as research in disruptive technology and its impact on business and society. He’s had well over a decade of experience building startups and investing in companies that have come out of Silicon Valley and now he’s looking elsewhere. Brian said while Silicon Valley has this “allure” and founders think they need to drink the Bay Area water, the truth is: I caught up to Brian at SXSW where we sat down to talk about startups, investment, company culture and how investors view innovation vs iteration when evaluating startups in the interview....

It took me a minute to think about it, but then it felt like the clouds parted and the answer was so clear: customers. It’s all about getting customers. You may have a great product, but without customers it’s just a product; with customers it becomes a business. As entrepreneurs, we like to be in control – we can control the technology, we can control the UX, we can control what the product looks like – but none of that matters without customers....

We could not agree with Apple’s statement more. Rest in peace. Thank you for everything you have done to enhance our lives. If you have not seen it already, you might be interested in watching Steve Jobs’ 2005 Stanford University Commencement Address (below) as he urged graduates to pursue their dreams and see the opportunities in life’s setbacks – including death itself – at the university’s 114th Commencement on June 12, 2005....

But these days, McGonigal is spreading a different message, the one encapsulated in her TED talk “How to Make Stress Your Friend” and her book The Upside of Stress: stress can be good for us, particularly if we see the positives in it. I was skeptical when I first watched her talk, because it seemed like an impossible change to make. How could I possibly see stress as beneficial? Stress is the killer, no?...

In a study conducted by Label Insight, 94 percent of consumers claim that they would be more loyal to a brand if they promoted complete brand transparency. No marketing schemes duping potential customers, no product recalls without explanation, and no devious plans to put more money in their pocket at the expense of everyday citizens. And if you think this is too hard, you’re doing your business a serious disservice....

The tool allows users to calculate the probability of falling victim to certain cybercrimes, as well as what personal information is needed to commit certain types of fraud, identity theft, and scams. Surfshark’s data about the financial losses incurred by victims of cybercrime is a sobering reminder to utilize security tools like password managers and antivirus software, but also of the importance of educating yourself on the risks themselves....

Remember! Apply now to Tech.Co’s Startup of the Year competition, which will give you a chance to join us at Innovate! and Celebrate 2017! Register now and get ready for a fantastic 3-day journey. Here Are This Week’s Tech.Co Top Stories: Need more Tech.Co? Sign up for the Tech.Co newsletter today, and get the weekly wrap-up direct to your inbox. Interested in coming to a Tech.Co event? Check out our Tech....

Do you read Tech.Co every day? Once every couple of weeks? What kind of content would you like to see? Are we being helpful enough in providing resources for startups and entrepreneurs.Please let us know! Need more Tech Cocktail?Sign up for the Tech.Co newsletter today, and get the weekly wrap-up direct to your inbox. Here are this week’s Tech.Co Top Stories: Like what you’re reading? Have some great knowledge and think you have what it takes to write some great content for others in the startup or tech space?...

Just for attendees, we have opened up registration for Mentor Circle sessions. These are roundtable-style discussions led by one or two mentors that promise lively and informative conversation on the topics most important to you. Here’s a helpful guide to just a few of the session offerings. If you’re ready to sign up for your appointment, keep in mind that you must be a registered attendee and that we ask that you book no more than 2 appointments....

More than 175 startups have grown in TechNexus since the doors first opened. Collectively those new businesses have attracted more than $200 million in capital, and employee hundreds of people throughout Chicago. Leaders from nearly 1,000 companies have collaborated inside TechNexus in just the past three months. The company first launched at 200 S. Wacker more than six years ago and became the first central gathering point for Chicago’s emerging tech community....

And yes, sales for startups are a little different from sales in general. Startups are generally aimed at a specific audience: People who like change and a new approach are the people who are early adapters to advancements in tech or services. Here are four tactics that work for them, according to Dan Martell in a new Medium post. Selling Isn’t Being Salesy You know the used car salesman type, and you delete any emails that remind you of them....

This week at TechWeek Washington D.C., from October 2-6, entrepreneurs will be treated to a full schedule of speakers, investors and talent cultivators all focused on providing advice and knowledge to help build businesses, as well as an emerging startup showcase, workshops, pitch competitions, even job opportunities! The action will take place in many locations around D.C. during the week, so make sure to check the schedule for locations and times....

For users old and new, here are some of the coolest Foursquare badges out there that you probably don’t have…and can’t have (because it’s nearly or completely impossible). Sorry for your loss. Saalbach-Hinterglemm Badge Why it’s cool:It’s an androgynous clown channeling telepathic waves in the shape of the Austrian flag (that’s what’s happening, right?). Albeit the badge is kind of creepy, it’s unique nonetheless. Why you probably don’t have it:The badge is specific to the Saalbach-Hinterglemm municipality of Austria....

The Back Office Studio is a Ypsilanti, MI-based coworking space that supports the growth and expansion of startup businesses. The goal is to help these startups to develop into second stage businesses that can contribute to the recovery of the Detroit and Michigan regions. By creating a place to build businesses in Ypsilanti, The Back Office Studio has created an inherent stomping ground for the future companies of the world....

In order to obtain this, you must have employees that are engaged, creative, and willing to go the extra mile to ensure projects are not just completed but completed with excellent results — putting your company ahead of the competition. However, employee engagement is a hard thing to encourage. Statistics show that, worldwide, only about 13% of employees are actually engaged in their jobs, with America in the lead with 30% engagement....