Thumbnails play the YouTube equivalent of a movie poster, aiming to draw your attention to click and watch when you have hundreds of videos clogging your recommended content. Most of us have been baited to click on a video thanks to a flashy title and enticing thumbnail, only to be disappointed when the actual content has nothing to do with what the headline promised.Using attention-grabbing (often misleading) thumbnails and titles has become a standard practice on YouTube. However, the platform has now announced a crackdown on particularly egregious examples of clickbait.Starting with a rollout in India, YouTube will take action against videos that feature clickbait titles and thumbnails, particularly those tied to breaking news or current events. YouTube spokesperson Jack Malon told The Verge that the enforcement will extend to more countries in the coming months. While creators wont receive strikes during the initial phase, any videos violating the new policy will be removed.Were strengthening our efforts to tackle egregious clickbait on YouTube. This means were planning to increase our enforcement against videos where the title or thumbnail promises viewers something that the video doesnt deliver, the company said in a Google India blog post. This can leave viewers feeling tricked, frustrated, or even misledparticularly in moments when they come to YouTube in search of important or timely information.YouTube provided examples of egregious clickbait, such as a video titled The President Resigned! that doesnt cover a resignation, and a Top Political News thumbnail attached to a video with no actual news content. Accusations of clickbait are common, so YouTubes fairly narrow definition is useful for those who want to avoid getting into hot water with the platform.As we continue to educate creators, our enforcement efforts will prioritize new video uploads moving forward, YouTubes statement added. The question of how to tackle misinformation and disinformation has long been a challenge on the internet. Over the past year, YouTube has introduced a number of other changes, including a feature that allows users to leave notes correcting misinformation, similar to Xs Community Notes.

Heres my Christmas wish this year: I wish everybody would just quit redesigning everything.Take Jaguars recent highly publicized rebranding.Im still trying to figure out what that bevy of angular models prancing around in a circa-2008 iPod ad palette has to do with the companys commitment to going all-EV in 2025.But my main takeaway from the campaign was that Jaguar has been trying for an awful long time (and apparently without much success) to get Americans to adopt its British pronunciation (Jag-You-Are).Every year a few giantsPaypal, Pepsi, Nokia are recent examplesand countless minor players redesign their presentation in ways that are not really good or bad, but simply different.This annoys me on a level of principle. When it comes to small, basically arbitrary changes in the fabric of daily life, I am the first to admit that Im more conservative than the love-child of Edmund Burke and Margaret Thatcher. A few years ago, Philadelphias 30th Street Station replaced its distinctive click-clack analog flipboard with a silent digital model, and I nearly launched a one-woman riot. When a beloved meatball shop closed, I sank into a fit of depressive mourning.It is bad enough that the old keep dying and the babies keep growing. The least we could do is have the common courtesy to keep everything else exactly the same always.At this point in my rant, someone usually points out that everything I love was, at some point, new, and as likely as not replaced something old; that I am fulminating against the fundamental and inexorable processes of time and metabolism themselves. This line of argument I consider a mere cop-out, an appeal to primordial authority. As Vincent Gardenia so memorably puts it in Moonstruck: Everything is temporary! That dont excuse nothing!Incessant UI tinkeringNowhere is the temporariness of everything (which I persist in hating) more obvious and inescapable than online. But even worse than surface design changes are the minor tinkerings with user interfaces. The loss of Google reader was tragic. Instagrams reshuffling of the sharing process has proved mildly maddening (I have never once remembered where the new share button is without the help of a prompt).Merely annoying have been Twitters (sorry, Xs) regular tweaks to the like, share, and retweet functions over the years. Apple seems to update the minor hardware requirements for dongles and accessories with each new launch. Design and redesign at best seem to exist in space, unmoored from beauty or utility. At worst, they seem a project to constantly make my life minutely but measurably more annoying.The designer has always had a privileged position within the system of mass production. A heady mix of craftsman, artist, and technocrat, the designer (theoretically) discovers and creates the beautiful, useful, fitting shape to fill a consumer need, which workers and machines in factories all over the world make real in a thousand automated processes. In doing so, the designer helps determine the texture of daily life for millions. But with the blossoming of life online, barriers to entry for a slice of this kingly power have fallen dramatically. Suddenly, it wasnt just objects forming the material of daily lifeit was interfaces. Graphic design and UX design have seen explosive growth over the past two decades. Hence, the proliferation of redesigns.Stop iterating!Good design, I know, is fundamentally republican, seeking to enact the will of the users. So, here is my request to the collective product owners and marketing departments of America: Could we stop? Stop redesigning. Stop iterating. Stop fiddling with the buttons. Stop trying to build a better instant pot. Stop deploying those sinister little pop-ups that say, Hey! You may notice a few changes around these parts!Part of the promise of the design era, I know, is that if we keep iterating, keep A/B testing, we will get closer and closer to the user experience that solves all imaginable problems, fulfills desires people didnt even know they had, and ushers in a golden age of social progress while finding a fool-proof way to monetize a free service. But when I think back on all the little adjustments Ive adapted to over the years, Im hard-pressed to think of one that came anywhere near to living up to a fraction of these lofty goalsor even the more modest goal of unambiguously positive change.The You/I updateWhen some facet of UX gets updated, this means you, the consumer, also need to get updated. And it is never as easy as it sounds.Old person problems are all of our problems, sooner or later.At some point, most of us realize that we will spend a great portion of our lives outside that first flush of youth when the mind is a sponge and the body is a rubber band. This may prompt us to do many things: Stop pretending were going to learn French, stop eating drug-store ramen three meals a day, develop a weightlifting practice, take up sudoku.For me, it means culling anything that requires me to learn how to use it more than once. I was grandfathered into Apples intuitive design in my teens. I will not be learning again. I doubt it would go as fast this time around. And I have no interest in using that timetime I could spend learning to knit or read polyphonic music notation or making mead or simply sitting in the sun with a fishing rod and a beerto relearn how a cursor is supposed to work or figure out where the startup menu is in this iteration.I know that I am fundamentally on the losing side here. People change, their needs and desires change, and so the things we make will change with them. But youd be hard-pressed to convince me that human need drives the constant updates to the user experience of liferather than design for designs sake.

The next generation of corporate directors will need to be more adaptable, strategic, and visionary than ever. Todays pace of change demands it, and obligations to generate long-term value creation necessitate it. This means young professionals must begin to prepare for board service early in their careers to increase their odds of getting a seat at the table.A mindset overhaulTheres been a sea change. Historically, leaders didnt actively seek board service. Typically, someone tapped them on the shoulder to serve after theyd achieved notable success. Today, board leadership is a profession. It requires distinct skills and experiences that are in high demand. Boards are now deeply engaged in managing complex risks, shaping strategy, and driving innovation. Young professionals should think about that trajectory early to build knowledge and expertise in technology, risk management, and strategy.Being a leader in the boardroom takes a diverse set of skills that can only be built over time through real-world experience. Those who will thrive in these environments begin preparing early and adopt a board-leadership mindset from the get-go.Fostering relationshipsLeadership is about more than achieving personal success. The most effective board directors have strong connections up, down, and across the business community. They build deep relationships and understand that leadership isnt a solo endeavor. Its built on collaboration, trust, and a shared vision. It requires mentorshipin both directions. It requires the humility to ask for help when needed and give it generously. To start, young professionals can evaluate their existing relationships. What can they learn from them? And how can young professionals give back? Now is the time to foster the relationships needed to govern effectively in an increasingly complex, global environment.Skills to developCertain skills and experiences will be indispensable to future board directors:Strategic thinking: Boards exist to guide organizations through complex, long-term challenges. Developing a strategic mindset early can contribute to those high-level conversations later. Young professionals should seek out experiences that push them to think beyond day-to-day execution and to focus on the bigger picture.Financial acumen: Financial literacy is a fundamental skill for a director. Understanding budgets, financial reports, and key performance indicators will enable emerging leaders to make informed decisions and help others to do the same.Risk management: Boards are increasingly focused on navigating a wide range of risks, from cybersecurity to environmental impact. Learning how to assess and mitigate risk now will make young professionals more effective directors in the future.Technological literacy: Technology is rapidly transforming every industry. Staying ahead of digital trends and innovations will be crucial for future directors. Younger leaders often have a natural edge here, but the key is to continually learn and adapt.Communication and collaboration: Boards are collective bodies that require consensus-building and effective communication. Cultivating these skills in current roles will prepare young professionals for the collaborative nature of board service.Critical thinking: Effective leaders ask multilayered, thought-provoking questions to gain fuller understanding. By honing their critical thinking skills early, young professionals will be better equipped to evaluate decisions and their potential impact and to develop successful strategies as future directors.Continuous learningTheres always more to learn. The best directors are lifelong learners who never assume they know it all. They remain curious and willing to ask questions, challenge assumptions, and seek new perspectives. The most successful leaders are those who adapt and evolve throughout their careers.I learned this principle through firsthand experience. Earlier in my own career, I thought I was ready for a CEO role. Although I was passed over for the spot I wanted, the person appointed CEO became a critically important mentor who taught me a tremendous amount about leadership. I encourage young professionals to recognize what they can gain from their disappointments. Sometimes, those detours can prepare us better than any success ever couldincluding for board service.Finding leadership momentsnowFor directors, the journey to the board service starts long before they take a seat at the table. Young professionals can seize leadership moments everywhere. Whether taking on a new project at work, volunteering for a nonprofit board, or simply building stronger relationships, each moment is an important step in the journey.Young professionals are our future leaders who will carry the torch of promise into a better tomorrow.By thinking differently about their career paths now, they will be best positionedto make a meaningful difference for their organizations, boards, and society.

Featuring a boutique retreat on the Mexican coast, a skinny building in Tokyo and an ex-sanatorium in the Greek mountains, here are 10 of the most memorable hotelspublished on Dezeen in 2024.Photo by Fabio SemeraroVocabolo Moscatelli, Italy, by ArchiloopFlorence studio Archiloop helped convert a 12th-century monastery on a remote estate in Italy's Umbria region into a boutique hotel.The 800-year-old buildings were carefully restored, with the original wooden floors, exposed brickwork and ceiling beams among the features kept. New additions include a travertine swimming pool coloured to match the surrounding woodland.Find out more about Vocabolo Moscatelli Photo by Keishin Horikoshi/SS TokyoHotel Rakuragu, Japan, by Kooo ArchitectsSqueezed between two buildings on a site of just 83.5 square metres, this Tokyo hotel's constrained space inspired its distinctive design.Japanese studio Kooo Architects created gaps in the building's facade by incorporating cut-out balconies that let in light while preserving privacy.Find out more about Hotel Rakuragu Photo by Jasson RodriguezCasa Yuma, Mexico, by TAAC and Sara SkalliArchitecture studio TAAC and interior designer Sara Skalli utilised traditional, regionally-sourced materials to create this seaside hotel in Playa Los Naranjos.The material palette centres around the use of chukum, a water-resistant and plaster-like finish made from tree resin and limestone, to create "an ambience that is both organic and sustainable".Find out more about Casa Yuma Photo by Giulio GhirardiPalazzo Talia, Italy, by StudiolucaguadagninoOriginally built in the 16th century, this palazzo was turned into a luxury hotel by the interior design studio of film director Luca Guadagnino, marking its first venture into hospitality.The design combines historic features with contemporary elements, featuring 18th-century frescoes painted by Italian artist Gaspare Serenario, a floral carpet in the reception lobby and a rich colour palette to achieve a "balanced decorative effect".Find out more about Palazzo Talia Photo by Kris ProvoostFloating Hotel, China, by More ArchitectureA large zigzagging roof crowns this hotel nestled within the bamboo forests and mountains of Dachangping. Perched on a grid of steel columns and raised above an open ground floor, the hotel is aptly named Floating Hotel.Designed by Amsterdam studio More Architecture, the rooms are arranged with varied orientations to provide guests with an "immersive relationship with nature".Find out more about Floating Hotel Photo by Jason O'RearPopulus, USA, by Studio GangClaimed as the "first carbon-positive hotel" in the US, this triangular-shaped hotel employs several energy-saving design techniques, including a green roof and overhanging "lids" that shade the windows.Located in downtown Denver, architecture practice Studio Gang intended for its design to reflect the "Aspen eyes" of Colorado's native Aspen tree.Find out more about Populus Photo by Michael Sinclair The Brecon, Switzerland, by NicemakersAmsterdam-based studio Nicemakers updated the interiors of this century-old chalet to feel "like a high-end version of your own home".With wooden panelling, integrated bookshelves and mismatched mid-century modern furniture, the design studio aimed to create a series of intimate and characterful spaces that feel both personal and inviting.Find out more about The Brecon Photo by Ana Santl (also top)Manna, Greece, by K-Studio and MonogonSituated within a fir forest in the mountainous region of Arcadia, this hotel was converted from an abandoned sanatorium into a wellness retreat.Greek architecture offices K-Studio and Monogon fitted the place with natural materials and neutral tones to amplify the sense of sanctuary offered by the remote location and enhance the feeling of connection to nature.Find out more about Manna Photo courtesy of PolicronicaHotel Elyse Montmartre, France, by PolicronicaDesign studio Policronica transformed this 850-square-metre space using almost exclusively a single species of wood, with nearly every element of the architectural woodwork and furnishings custom-designed and crafted on-site at its Lisbon workshop.The monochrome interior, made from locally-sourced eucalyptus wood, is a nod to the studio's signature aesthetic.Find out more about Hotel Elyse Montmartre Photo courtesy of RosewoodRosewood So Paulo, Brazil, by Jean Nouvel and Philippe StarckFrench architect Jean Nouvel designed this lattice-covered tower to serve as the main accommodation hub at Rosewood So Paulo. The 25-storey concrete structure features interiors by French designer Philippe Starck that exclusively use Brazilian-sourced materials.The tower's tiered design creates space for large roof gardens and balconies, while its vertical timber screens integrate indigenous flora and fauna.Find out more about Rosewood So Paulo The post The top 10 hotels of 2024 appeared first on Dezeen.

We meet the Alien-obsessed concept artists who revived the visual style of the classic films.

These are the visual identities that defined 2024.

Despite the arrival of new competitors and growing political tensions between the US and China, the ecommerce juggernaut Temu proved in 2024 its here to stay.

Countries must collaborate if were going to create a less fearful future for artificial intelligence.

As the technology is widely adopted, some once-struggling midsize cities in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and South may benefit, new research predicts.

A few notable writers who made their Medium debut in 2024Published inThe Medium BlogSent as aNewsletter4 min readJust now-- Its my favorite time of year: Dead Week, the no mans land between Xmas and New Years EveIssue #237: weird libraries, beating procrastination, and a goal-setting techniqueOn Medium, anyone can publish a story, find an audience, and earn money. This happens thousands of times a day, often for writers brand new to the platform. Case in point: Here are a few of the top Boosted stories written by people who published for the very first time this yearGaming journalist Giovanni Colantonio close-reads the lyrics to Taylor Swifts Tortured Poets Department, which broke the record for most daily Spotify streams in April. He sees the album as a meta commentary on Swifts parasocial relationship with her fans, writing: The subtext here is that overprotective Swifties dont actually have Taylor Swifts best interest in mind.Adam DeMartino, cofounder of a buzzy specialty mushroom startup once valued at $90 million, conducts a public postmortem into why it failed. Essentially, they thought they were a tech company but were really a food company and food cant scale as fast as tech. VC bets are inherently speculative, he writes, and if you want to ride that dragon, you need to be a literal dragon rider. I couldnt ride the VC dragon.Zhafira Aqyla sparked a conversation about why she chose an arranged marriage. To me, arranged marriage is different [than] forced marriage, Aqyla writes. From the many candidates my parents offered, I had a choice to say no, and I did, plenty of times [] Its a lot like Tinder, except in this scenario it is an extremely vetted Tinder customized to my personal interest.Remylyn Tornilla (aka Remi) joined Medium via TikTok, publishing personal, confessional stories that resonated with hundreds of thousands of readers. We interviewed Remi on our blog last summer. I honestly didnt expect so many people to relate to my writing, she says. Writing on Medium has been my escape.Jack Handey of SNL fame penned a satirical tale of young love. Theres an Aristocrats joke element to this, i.e. a twist at the end. I am 58 years old, Handey writes. My fiancee, Holly, is 18. Some people might look askance at our relationship, because of the age difference. But what they dont realize is how much Holly and I have in common: We both like to have sex a lot, we both like to make out in public, and we both like to drink heavilyThose are just a tiny handful of the new writers who opened up a blank post page and shared their ideas, experiences, feelings, and perceptions with us. Who were some of your favorite new writers this year? Who did you discover? Respond to let us all know, and to give us a few new writers to follow in 2025. Harris Sockel Elsewhere on MediumToday is the first day of Kwanzaa, a weeklong celebration of African American culture that began in 1966 and, as Chant Griffin writes, its principles of unity and collective responsibility transcend its founders controversial past.To end procrastination, ruthlessly eliminate nice-to-haves. (Evgeny Khoroshilov)Youre not living if you dont have a Weird Library (a cache of esoteric, out-of-print books that arent easily categorized). Read outside the lines! Find a dusty paperback in a used bookstore and get into it. As Rebecca Solnit says, originality is partly a matter of having your own influences. (AP Strange) Your daily dose of practical wisdomMost of the goals we set for ourselves are mimetic: Weve been influenced into wanting them. Luke Burgis, author of a book on mimetic desire, recommends an exercise to help you become more self-aware of your goals:On a piece of paper, draw a circle.Inside the circle, list all of the people or institutions that have influenced your goals, covertly or overtly (e.g. Instagram Fitness Influencer That I Follow Who Has Six-Pack Abs)Outside the circle, list what comes to mind when you ask yourself this question: What things might I want to pursue that are completely outside the boundaries of what people and institutions are asking of me, and for which there is no support or understanding? (Examples: learning needlepoint, starting a blog about your obscure interest in the history of mechanical keyboards, or really anything youre zesty about that no one is asking for.)