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Twitter, now called X, has been a pioneer in microblogging and remains one of the most popular social media platforms. However, BlueSky is quickly catching up, with a rapidly growing number of registrations . Surprisingly, I found it is relatively easier to increase your follower count here. Here are some tips you can use to grow your followers on BlueSky. I have been on BlueSky for less than a month, and I already have more followers here than on X, where I have had an account since 2009. I’m not very active on social media, so this was surprising to me. The answer lies in BlueSky’s federated, user-controlled structure, which influences all levels of posts and ultimately shapes your feeds and followers. If you’re a new BlueSky user, you won’t feel invisible amid celebrity chat and top trends. Your posts and replies are more likely to be seen and reposted by your real connections (not bots), which helps you grow organically. I wasn’t aware of these decentralized algorithms when I signed up, but it quickly became clear that on BlueSky, the end user controls visibility, not the platform. Here’s how it works. If you remember using X, you would see sections like What’s happening and You might like , which are based on location-based trends. Even if some trends, such as those about politics, may not appeal to you, there’s nothing you can do as X uses a top-down approach to determine what you should see. BlueSky, on the other hand, has a different approach. While celebrities do have a presence here, the platform itself is not celebrity-centric. For example, on my BlueSky home screen and on the main Discover feed, I can see posts from a celebrity like George Takei, whom I follow, alongside a regular user, “Sean,” who I just said hello once. Both are given equal importance. The key to increasing followers on BlueSky is to consistently connect and engage with like-minded individuals on relevant topics. The algorithm takes care of the rest. Unless you’re an actual celebrity, avoid posting just to chase popularity (the absence of fake “influencers” is quite refreshing, to be honest). There are no “blue ticks,” and BlueSky does seem friendlier and better moderated . Closely tied to decentralized algorithms, user engagement is vital for building active trust on BlueSky. This involves responding to posts that resonate with you, contributing original and meaningful content, and replying politely to those who engage with you, including dissenters. If you feel passionate about a topic, consistently posting (with a bit of humor) will eventually attract like-minded people. Instead of trying to gain the attention of celebrities or users with many followers, I found better engagement by responding to those who mirrored my ideas (even if they had 0 followers.) These deep-level user interactions gradually helped grow my own BlueSky followers. While some users may have strong opinions, similar to X, the BlueSky environment is largely troll-free thanks to timely moderation of bad-faith commenters. The end result is an environment where you can express yourself without being overshadowed by platform-promoted trends. You also don’t have to worry about seeing posts from users who you’ve blocked . To know how to get followers on BlueSky or any social media app, sharing quality content is essential. With BlueSky, user ideas are actively considered if they have merit, address a challenge, or offer a surprising original insight. For instance, some of my posts that gained high traction (the one below receiving 73 likes) highlighted concerns on tech user privacy, which I found has a strong pull within the BlueSky community. Naturally, what works for one user may not apply to another. Your core interests might vary, but it’s essential to recognize that there are always others who share those interests. Therefore, it’s important to think carefully about how to find your favorite topics. For example, posts about pets, such as cats, are extremely popular. By posting cute videos of your favorite pets, you may attract a large community of individuals eager to connect with your BlueSky account. That certainly doesn’t mean it would work for everyone. You really need to dig in and find out your niche. Also read : worried about Meta being too intrusive? It is possible to wean yourself from using Meta products and it’s become surprisingly common. It can’t be overstated how crucial your profile picture is in capturing attention and attracting followers, given the average social media user’s attention span is less than 3 seconds. Although there’s no perfect profile picture, having your own photo instead of an anime character or something vague generally yields better results in BlueSky. If you’re a company, website, or brand, using your brand logo is essential. However, you should also post original photos. Some of the most popular BlueSky accounts, like “The Onion,” often use witty cartoons to engage with followers. I don’t think my profile picture had much effect, but having a photo next to my views adds credibility and boosts user engagement. Just like Twitter, BlueSky has hashtags on many topics, and you can create your own. However, since BlueSky is decentralized, users have more control over the hashtags they want to see. This differs from what you’re used to, as hashtags on this platform don’t just follow popular trends but reflect what’s visible within your immediate circle. A great way to explore this is through BlueSky’s hashtag Feeds feature. Here, you’ll find the most relevant feeds, starting with Mutuals , which are BlueSky accounts that follow you back and appear at the top. Engaging with them is an excellent way to build trust within your community. Additionally, you’ll find many niche topic areas in “Feeds,” covering subjects like science, astronomy, news, and events. Keep engaging with users and create innovative hashtags that might resonate with many. As BlueSky is still relatively new, there’s a lot of potential for you to establish new hashtag trends. Also read : new to Instagram Threads? Here’s how you can use this app . Timing is crucial for maximizing engagement on your BlueSky posts. It depends on your content categories. Some evergreen categories, like “pets,” aren’t time-dependent. Event-specific posts are different. They have peak activity spans you’ll discover by consistently posting at the same time every day. Observe your target audience’s patterns. My following post got over a 100 likes because I had observed a pattern of users commenting on social media privacy at a specific time during the day. For me, my best time for posting has actually been morning in my time zone. This is during my peak activity rush for my chosen topics which deal with sweeping technological changes. Finding the right time to post is partly intuitive, but with consistent practice, you’ll get it right. Remember, BlueSky is a decentralized platform where quality interactions thrive. Forcing quick popularity has fewer takers. BlueSky is known to suspend accounts that appear fake or ungenuine. Authenticity here comes from contributing meaningful posts. We saw how to get followers on BlueSky using simple techniques that focus on fair play and consistent user engagement. Being viral often happens by accident. We have another personal story on one of our writers going viral on TikTok . Image Credit: Pixabay . All screenshots by Sayak Boral. Our latest tutorials delivered straight to your inbox Sayak Boral is a technology writer with over eleven years of experience working in different industries including semiconductors, IoT, enterprise IT, telecommunications OSS/BSS, and network security. He has been writing for MakeTechEasier on a wide range of technical topics including Windows, Android, Internet, Hardware Guides, Browsers, Software Tools, and Product Reviews.NEW YORK , Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Grid Dynamics Holdings Inc. (NASD: GDYN) will replace Revelyst Inc. (NYSE: GEAR) in the S&P SmallCap 600 effective prior to the opening of trading on Thursday, January 2 . Strategic Value Partners is acquiring Revelyst in a deal expected to close soon pending final conditions. Following is a summary of the change that will take place prior to the open of trading on the effective date: Effective Date Index Name Action Company Name Ticker GICS Sector Jan 2, 2025 S&P SmallCap 600 Addition Grid Dynamics Holdings GDYN Information Technology Jan 2, 2025 S&P SmallCap 600 Deletion Revelyst GEAR Consumer Discretionary For more information about S&P Dow Jones Indices, please visit www.spdji.com ABOUT S&P DOW JONES INDICES S&P Dow Jones Indices is the largest global resource for essential index-based concepts, data and research, and home to iconic financial market indicators, such as the S&P 500® and the Dow Jones Industrial Average®. More assets are invested in products based on our indices than products based on indices from any other provider in the world. Since Charles Dow invented the first index in 1884, S&P DJI has been innovating and developing indices across the spectrum of asset classes helping to define the way investors measure and trade the markets. S&P Dow Jones Indices is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI), which provides essential intelligence for individuals, companies, and governments to make decisions with confidence. For more information, visit www.spdji.com . FOR MORE INFORMATION: S&P Dow Jones Indices index_services@spglobal.com Media Inquiries spdji.comms@spglobal.com View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/grid-dynamics-holdings-set-to-join-sp-smallcap-600-302339444.html SOURCE S&P Dow Jones Indices

Asia shares rose slightly in holiday-thinned trade yesterday, extending gains from earlier in the week with little news or data in the way to alter their direction of travel, while the dollar was perched near a two-year high. As the year-end approaches, trading volumes have begun thinning out and the main focus for investors remains that of the Federal Reserve’s rate outlook. Markets in Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand were closed for a holiday yesterday. Since Fed Chair Jerome Powell primed markets for fewer rate cuts next year at the central bank’s last policy meeting of the year, traders are now pricing in just about 35 basis points worth of easing for 2025. That has in turn lifted US Treasury yields and the dollar, with the greenback’s renewed strength a burden for commodities and gold. The benchmark 10-year yield was last steady at 4.5967%, having risen above 4.6% for the first time since May 30 earlier in the week. It is up roughly 40 basis points for the month thus far. The two-year yield similarly firmed at 4.3407%. “Given December’s hawkish cut, we believe the Fed will skip at the January FOMC meeting and wait for more data before definitely resuming, or potentially ending, this cutting cycle,” said Tom Porcelli, chief US economist at PGIM Fixed Income. “Given the Fed’s shift to less accommodation paired with continued focus on both sides of the dual mandate, we believe the market will have more intense emphasis on economic events in the new year.” In currencies, the dollar was perched near a two-year high against a basket of currencies at 108.15, and was on track for a monthly gain of more than 2%. The Australian and New Zealand dollars were meanwhile among the biggest losers against a dominant greenback on Thursday, with the Aussie falling 0.45% to $0.6241. The kiwi slid 0.51% to $0.5650. The euro eased 0.18% to $1.0398, while the yen languished near a five-month low and last stood at 157.45 per dollar. Japan’s government was set to compile a record $735bn budget for the fiscal year starting in April due to larger social security and debt-servicing costs, adding to the industrial world’s heaviest debt, a draft seen by Reuters showed. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan ticked up 0.04% and was headed for a weekly rise of nearly 2%, taking a cue from its counterparts on Wall Street earlier in the week. S&P 500 futures edged 0.02% higher, while Nasdaq futures advanced 0.13%. World stocks looked set to end the year on a high with a second consecutive annual gain of more than 17%, unfazed by escalating geopolitical tensions and various economic and political headwinds globally. That is mostly thanks to a second year of huge gains for shares on Wall Street as artificial intelligence fever and robust economic growth sucked more global capital into US assets. “At first glance, markets appear to suggest exceptional exuberance that has presided over 2024,” said Vishnu Varathan, head of macro research for Asia ex-Japan at Mizuho Bank. “Notably, US bulls high on American exceptionalism have not trampled on ebullience elsewhere.” Japan’s Nikkei jumped 0.38% and was on track to end the year with a more than 17% gain. China’s CSI300 blue-chip index fell 0.26% while the Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.22%, though both were headed for yearly gains of more than 10% each, helped by a step-up in support from Chinese authorities in recent months to shore up an ailing economy.Stock market today: Wall Street hits records despite tariff talkThere are few movies in recent memory as incomparably high-profile as Barbie (2023). Due to the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon​​​​​​, as well as the involvement of industry darlings such as Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, and, of course, the beloved director of “girly movies” Greta Gerwig. It quickly went down as one of history’s most significant cinematic moments, becoming the 14th highest-grossing film of all time. From the onset of the pink-covered press, the Barbie team pushed a moral of female empowerment, synonymous with the Barbie toy brand. However, when it came to the actual content of the movie, many viewers felt that there was plenty left to be desired when it came to Barbie ‘s feminist messaging. While there is plenty to applaud about Barbie , notably its stellar production design and brave comedy, one must consider the impact that such a confused movie with such a distinct social responsibility will have on generations to come. Here is (just the surface of) why Barbie is not quite a feminist manifesto: In the 2023 Variety Actors on Actors between Margot Robbie and Oppenheimer star Cillian Murphy, Robbie shares with Murphy a bit about the Barbie creative process. Specifically, Robbie believes that Gerwig and Noah Baumbach mostly figured out the script as they went along. They did not know where it would end when they began the script. This is reflected in not only the film’s plot (after leaving Barbieland, the whole thing sort of devolves into chaos), but its teachings. It is quite difficult after watching Barbie to discern exactly what you are meant to takeaway, other than perhaps a general forced idea of “women can do anything,” but even that feels told, not shown. Barbie feels like a gumbo of a bunch of random, disconnected feminist sentences that lose their salience one after the other. The script preaches empowerment in loose statements that are barely connected to an already jumbled story. Within said story, women end up brainwashed and idle multiple times. Assuming that the goal of such a movie is to educate audiences who may be unfamiliar with the ideas of feminism (or resistant to them), the pure lack of clarity that Barbie possesses in making any points is a cause for concern. For example, one of the most lauded moments of Barbie is a monologue given by America Ferrera toward the end of the film in which she lists various experiences that make it “literally impossible to be a woman.” Though this grocery list is true, it is also rather simplistic and, for the average woman, arguably falls flat and feels rather elementary. This could constitute “Women Deserve Rights 101.” For the uneducated viewer, perhaps this would serve as some sort of doorway to understanding. However, this becomes confusing when, within the same movie, you have elevated quotes like “We mothers stand still, so our daughters can look back and see how far they’ve come” and “By giving voice to the cognitive dissonance required to be a woman under the patriarchy, you robbed it of its power.” Not to mention, there is also a simultaneous insane road trip plot mixed with a weird self-aware capitalistic tone that ends up feeling entirely pro-Mattel in the end. Considering Gerwig has gone on record about her myriad inspirations in making Barbie , including things like Paradise Lost , The Umbrellas of Cherbourg , and The Planet of the Apes , it is not bold to say there might have been too many ideas at play. The one important idea, empowering women in a clear way, got lost. Barbie is not streamlined at all and simply contains too much information for anyone to make sense of anything. During the 2023 Oscars season, Barbie received eight nominations, including for Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor for Gosling. In what was considered quite a notable “controversy,” Robbie herself did not receive an Acting nomination for the titular role. Robbie was wonderful in the role, there is no doubt about that, as there is no question at this point in her career that she is a deeply talented and capable actress. That being said, one does not have to reach to figure out why she might have been “snubbed” in this way. Robbie and Barbie were doomed from the start, because they were never clearly about women. The Barbie script is not one in which Barbie herself is an especially compelling or clear character. Regardless of who donned the pink shoes, you cannot create something substantial enough for award recognition or, more importantly, mass emotional resonance out of thin air. Still, there is a character in the Barbie script that is given nuance, complexity, and clarity: Ken. The main male character of the film has the most digestible, most classic character arc, which makes him the most relatable. This allows Gosling (who is also utterly fantastic on average) to give the standout performance in the film,mainly because Ken’s character is better written. Ken is the primary comedic relief of the film (all the Kens are). This is super enjoyable at the start. As the film continues and in hindsight, one starts to consider the implications. The Kens are meant to be emblematic of the patriarchy and the reality that women face. The bulk of the examples it gives of that reality, however, are trivial inconveniences, like having to listen to a guy play guitar (admittedly, funny). It makes no attempt to acknowledge the real threat the patriarchy poses to women. This implies that the situation is much less violent, unjust, and complicated than it is. Arguably, one could say Barbie is attempting to be a family movie and thus should not incorporate too much ugly truth. Barbie does incorporate ugly truths, it just does it rather flippantly (for example, when Barbie is sexually harassed on the boardwalk, and it is pretty much only chalked up to a cheeky joke). This creates a confused picture of what women deal with that ultimately feels harmful, especially to young, impressionable audiences.

The latest development came hours after thousands of his supporters, defying government warnings, broke through a barrier of shipping containers blocking off Islamabad and entered a high-security zone, where they clashed with security forces, facing tear gas shelling, mass detentions and gunfire. Tension has been high in Islamabad since Sunday when supporters of the former PM began a “long march” from the restive north-west to demand his release. Khan has been in a prison for more than a year and faces more than 150 criminal cases that his party says are politically motivated. Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, led the protest, but she fled as police pushed back against demonstrators. Hundreds of Khan’s supporters are being arrested in the ongoing night-time operation. Interior minister Mohsin Naqvi told reporters that the Red Zone, which houses government buildings and embassies, and the surrounding areas have been cleared. Leaders from Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, or PTI, have also fled the protest site. Earlier on Tuesday, Pakistan’s army took control of D-Chowk, a large square in the Red Zone, where visiting Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is staying. Since Monday, Mr Naqvi had threatened that security forces would use live fire if protesters fired weapons at them. “We have now authorised the police to respond as necessary,” Mr Naqvi said Tuesday while visiting the square. Before the operation began, protester Shahzor Ali said people had taken to the streets because Khan had called for them. “We will stay here until Khan joins us. He will decide what to do next,” Mr Ali said. Protester Fareeda Bibi, who is not related to Khan’s wife, said people have suffered greatly for the last two years. “We have really suffered for the last two years, whether it is economically, politically or socially. We have been ruined. I have not seen such a Pakistan in my life,” she said. Authorities have struggled to contain the protest-related violence. Six people, including four members of the security services, were killed when a vehicle rammed them on a street overnight into Tuesday. A police officer died in a separate incident. Dozens of Khan supporters beat a videographer covering the protest for the Associated Press and took his camera. He sustained head injuries and was treated in hospital. By Tuesday afternoon, fresh waves of protesters made their way unopposed to their final destination in the Red Zone. Mr Naqvi said Khan’s party had rejected a government offer to rally on the outskirts of the city. Information minister Atta Tarar warned there would be a severe government reaction to the violence. The government says only the courts can order Khan’s release. He was ousted in 2022 through a no-confidence vote in Parliament. In a bid to foil the unrest, police have arrested more than 4,000 Khan supporters since Friday and suspended mobile and internet services in some parts of the country. Messaging platforms were also experiencing severe disruption in the capital. Khan’s party relies heavily on social media and uses messaging platforms such as WhatsApp to share information, including details of events. The X platform, which is banned in Pakistan, is no longer accessible, even with a VPN. Last Thursday, a court prohibited rallies in the capital and Mr Naqvi said anyone violating the ban would be arrested. Travel between Islamabad and other cities has become nearly impossible because of shipping containers blocking the roads. All education institutions remain closed.

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LOS ANGELES — Matthew Stafford speaks about it often this time of year. The beauty of meaningful football in December. How invigorating it is. How it can’t be taken for granted. If anyone would know, it would be Stafford. Prior to his trade to the Rams before the 2021 season, Stafford’s teams didn’t often have things at stake by the time the calendar turned to the 12th month. He made the playoffs three times in 12 years with the Detroit Lions, and in the down years his team often wasn’t even in the hunt. But in the thick of his third December with the Rams – he missed the final month of 2022 with injuries – Stafford has continued to thrive as the weather gets colder. With four straight wins to start the month, Stafford has improved to 12-1 in December during his Rams tenure, with the chance to improve on that in Saturday night’s game against the Arizona Cardinals. “It’s nice to be on a little bit of a run right now. The cool thing about this group is we know that we earn every single bit of it,” Stafford said. “We don’t win the next game because we’ve won however many times before it. You don’t lose the next game because you had a hiccup the week before, whatever it is. You have to go out there and earn it every single week.” Stafford has completed 67% of his 100 passes this month for 773 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. That improves his overall December stats with the Rams (9-6) to a 66.8% completion rate for 3,272 yards, 25 touchdowns and seven interceptions. The only December loss for Stafford with the Rams came last season in a road game against the Baltimore Ravens that went to overtime and ended with a 76-yard punt return for a touchdown . Aside from that fluky result, a clean record. “He’s just clutch,” head coach Sean McVay said. “The best part about Matthew Stafford is he’s got all these amazing numbers and stats that he’s put up and he’s this special quarterback; he wants to win. And I think he understands what it takes, especially in that month when that’s such a critical time to be able to peak at the right time if you’re gonna get an opportunity to get into the tournament.” A moment that stood out to McVay this month came during the Rams’ final drive in a Week 15 win at San Francisco . After the two-minute warning and in 49er territory, leading by three and trying to add more to the scoreboard, Stafford stood in the shotgun formation with an empty backfield. He sent receiver Cooper Kupp in motion, which pulled defensive backs Talanoa Hufanga and Deommodore Lenoir across the field and away from tight end Colby Parkinson. The play wasn’t designed to go to Parkinson, but Stafford recognized the open man and found Parkinson on a seam route for a 14-yard gain. The play got the Rams a fresh set of downs to burn the 49ers’ timeouts and some clock, too, and put the team comfortably into Joshua Karty’s field goal range to add three extra points. Related Articles “We’ve done a really nice job, especially as of late, just understanding that it’s really more about us than anything else,” Stafford said. “We go out there, we play the way we know how to play, do the things that we’re supposed to do and know how to play the game of football. It’s just whoever’s next up just happens to be. We’ve taken that approach as of late and it’s been a really good outcome for us.” Rams right tackle Rob Havenstein typically gets a veteran rest day on Fridays at this point in the season, or in this case with a Saturday game, on Thursday. But after injuring his shoulder in practice on Wednesday, Havenstein wouldn’t have been able to practice Thursday if he wanted to, McVay said. Asked if Havenstein will be able to play on Saturday, McVay said, “I’m hopeful. We’ll see.” But if Havenstein isn’t able to play, the Rams will turn to Joe Noteboom to fill in over second-year tackle Warren McClendon Jr.