MedPrime Technologies: The startup that is making healthcare affordable through technology

Niharika Tewari
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MedPrime Technologies: The startup that is making healthcare affordable through technology

Everyone is now aware of the importance of timely medical assistance after the COVID-19 pandemic. The countries that had poor medical facilities faced a lot of difficulties while the others could mitigate the pandemic more efficiently.

MedPrime Technologies is a healthcare technology company founded in 2014 by four IITB graduates with the goal of making healthcare accessible and affordable through innovation, digitization, and automation. The current focus is on microscopy, and we are enabling telepathology through the digitization of microscopy using smartphone and tablet technology.

Team Sociobits connected with the co-founder and CEO of MedPrime Technologies, Mr. Samrat Singh to know more about the company.

Team Sociobits: Would you share a little about yourself and tell us what inspired the idea of founding MedPrime Technologies?

Co-Founder: MedPrime Technologies is trying to make a difference in the healthcare ecosystem by making affordable and innovative healthcare solutions. We want to use telepathology, as it enables people to practice pathology from a distance using telecommunication services.

We (the co-founders) were pursuing MTech in Biomedical Engineering at IIT Bombay when we decided to start our own business. It was during the first year, that I approached the other founders with my idea for a low-cost IV drip monitoring system, later named InfuCheck. Since childhood, I have been keen on experimenting and developing new products, and InfuCheck was a product that I had conceptualized and put together after my personal experience as a caretaker in a hospital. None of us come from a business background, however, all of us were intrigued by the possibility of developing a product that could create a huge impact and commercialize it.

Another factor that boosted the spirit of entrepreneurship was the realization of how few Indian companies were actually developing medical equipment for and within India. In spite of completing Master’s Degree in Biomedical Engineering from one of the premier engineering institutes of India, students were being recruited into IT and consulting jobs, which indicated the lack of research, development, and manufacturing of medical devices within India. This motivated all of us to start our own company that would manufacture medical equipment within India, that was tailored to the needs of the Indian population, and potentially other developing countries.

Team Sociobits: What issues are you addressing through MedPrime Technologies?

Co-Founder: As of now, Indian markets are flooded with imported and expensive products with a myriad of features that are either not needed, or are not suited to the Indian demographic, socio-economic, cultural, geographical, or physiological characteristics, and unnecessarily increase the cost of treatment. One of our goals was to address this issue in any way possible.

There are only 5500 active practising pathologists in India and over 3 lakh pathology labs in India. The number of pathologists are steadily declining, even on a global level.

There are only 5500 active practicing pathologists in India and over 3 lakh pathology labs in India. The number of pathologists is steadily declining, even on a global level. These numbers are not sufficient to address the increasing disease burden. As a result, technicians handle most samples and test reports. In 2018, a Supreme Court ruling declared that all patient test reports should be signed off by M.D. Pathology holders. However, this had to be revised in 2019 due to lack of feasibility and the possibility of pathologists lending out their digital signatures to hundreds of labs. The practical solution to address this huge need is telepathology and automation of microscopy and we are working to provide these solutions.

Team Sociobits: Since 2014, how has your journey with MedPrime been so far?

Co-Founder: There were many ups and downs during our journey. During this course of time, we successfully launched our Cilika series of microscopes. We have more than 500 installations across India. Phase 1 development of our automated series of microscopes (Micalys) has been completed and we are conducting beta trials for certain telepathology applications of Micalys.

Team Sociobits: Who are the potential competitors of your company and why would users choose you?

Co-Founder: The major competitors for Cilika are conventional benchtop microscopes commonly used for pathology which are bulky and not suitable for field use. These are the most widely used microscopes for medical diagnosis and require additional setup comprising of a camera mount and a computer to capture the images or view samples digitally. However, they are majorly used for viewing samples through the binoculars only, due to a reduced field of view in the digital mode. Therefore, they are not comfortable for long-term use due to strain on the eyes and neck.

There are a few portable microscopes such as Steindorff Field Scope, Evolution Brightfield Portable Microscope, or the Newton Nm1 Professional Grade Portable Microscope (imported) which are compact versions of conventional microscopes. Other mobile phone microscopes and attachments that convert mobile phones to microscopy devices do not provide the magnification or resolution required for disease diagnosis and therefore can not be included as competitors.

Cilika is unique due to its ability to provide high magnification diagnostic quality imaging equivalent to standard pathology microscopes while being highly portable and robust and also allowing capture, storage and transfer of microscopic images. Cilika is the only digital microscope that allows capturing of the sample image of an area equivalent to what would be observed through the binocular eyepiece in a conventional microscope. All existing microscopes with digital setup allow capture of images of greatly reduced fields and hence causes loss of information as compared to what is observed through the binoculars.

This has been possible by complete redesigning of the optical magnification system while retaining the image quality and stability of benchtop microscopes. In addition, the ergonomic viewing angle of the tablet display makes it highly comfortable for long-term use. The Cilika application also provides a myriad of features that allows color correction, brightness, exposures, measurements, cell counting, annotations, and labeling, which completely eliminates the need for a PC for post-processing of captured images. With all these features, prices are competitive with those of Olympus, Nikon, and Zeiss microscopes.

“This year we are focusing to complete the Beta testing of our automated version of the microscope named Micalys. This will help pathologists with telepathology and whole slide imaging.”

-Mr. Samrat Singh, CEO of MedPrime Technologies

The addition of image processing algorithms for automated diagnosis in the near future will also provide a strong competitive advantage as compared to other digital microscopes that may try to enter the market.

Team Sociobits: What are your immediate goals and what is your road map for the future?

Co-Founder: This year we are focusing to complete the Beta testing of our automated version of the microscope named Micalys. This will help pathologists with telepathology and whole slide imaging.

We are working to incorporate a machine-learning algorithm to automate some tedious tasks like WBC differentiation. Apart from this, we are also developing AI-based applications for urine and sperm. Our goal is to be the market leader in the field of digital microscopy.

MedPrime wants to reduce the cost of treatment in India by bringing telepathology and automation of microscopes into the picture. It is set to make a difference in the medical devices world by providing cost-effective solutions.

Meta now seems to be making ‘Zuck Bucks’ but it’s unlikely to be a cryptocurrency

Niharika Tewari
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0
Meta now seems to be making ‘Zuck Bucks’ but it’s unlikely to be a cryptocurrency

Previously, Meta was exploring a plan to launch its own cryptocurrency named Libra. But this plan faded away among other big projects like the Metaverse. Meta is still looking into exploring the virtual currency and NFT world. After the company announced it will soon be launching NFTs on Instagram, it is now exploring the world of virtual currencies.

According to a report by Financial Times, Meta is planning to launch a virtual currency which is internally being addressed as ‘Zuck Bucks’ in reference to the CEO of Meta, Mark Zuckerberg. This currency is unlikely to be similar to a cryptocurrency but can be used as in-app tokens that will be controlled by the company. This currency could be shared across WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook.

The company is aiming to re-create Zuck Bucks similar to the currency used in games like Roblox. This game has an internal currency named Robux and it has managed to build a whole business around this. Meta is trying to incorporate this technique into its platforms.

It is also planning to launch a pilot to post and share NFTs on Facebook in mid-May. Then it will subsequently move to test allowing membership of Facebook groups based on ownership of NFTs and for minting.

“We continuously consider new product innovations for people, businesses, and creators. As a company, we are focused on building for the metaverse and that includes what payments and financial services might look like.”

Additionally, the company is looking out for “social tokens” or “reputation tokens” which can be rewarded for any meaningful contributions made in Facebook Groups. Meta is also exploring traditional financial services like small business loans.

The company told The Verge in a statement, “We continuously consider new product innovations for people, businesses, and creators. As a company, we are focused on building for the metaverse and that includes what payments and financial services might look like.”

As of now, there are no updates to share but this only means that we have to wait and see how the company explores these projects. It is venturing into these projects maybe because Meta has to look for more revenue streams other than it has currently. The company heavily relies on targeted advertising for revenue.

IPL 2022: Top Highlights of the second week of IPL Season 15

Navneet Mishra
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IPL 2022: Top Highlights of the second week of IPL Season 15

It’s been a week to savor for Gujrat Titans and KKR, while a week to forget for MI and CSK. In case you haven’t got the chance to watch every match, we have got you covered here.

Mumbai Indians

As usual Mumbai Indians started with a loss and have made three losses in a row, just to make fans more nostalgic. Even with consecutive losses, MI has made giant strides in all three departments and looks solid for the sixth title. Tilak Verma is in brilliant touch and along with Ishan Kishan, MI has begun to look menacing, whereas Tymal Mills and Bumrah shone with the ball.

Gujrat Titans

The debutant began with a win and is still going strong. In fact, they are the only unbeaten team till now. Hardik Pandya has been a revelation, aptly supported by Lockie Fergusson and Rashid Khan. Even in batting, they are very stable with some prolific batsmen in their ranks such as Shubhman Gill and Sudharsan, who enjoyed a blockbuster debut.

Rajasthan Royals

The strongest team on paper was unfortunate to lose against RCB but they have also begun well and already have four points in their bag with 2 wins out of three and look good for more. RR surely have got the best men on the field and would need top-order batsmen to remain in good touch as their middle and lower-middle order looks spineless.

Chennai Super Kings

Like Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings has begun shakily and it looks like a very long tournament for them. 3 back to back losses must have been a hard pill to swallow for CSK fans, but it would be foolhardy to count them out, especially with Dhoni.

Lucknow Super Giants

Lucknow Super Giants has also begun well and with 6 points in 4 matches, looks set for play-offs. Led by Rahul, this team has been able to impose its authority and has generally been the team to watch out for. They might not have the best names, but they have played really well as a team with different match-winner for each match. Ayush Badoni remains the standout player and has been in incredulous form.

Punjab Kings

Punjab Kings with 2 wins out of 4 does look promising but they are too dependent on their top-order for runs. Mayank Agarwal has been strong at the top but apart from Liam Livingstone, none has actually made their mark. Shikhar Dhawan looks good, but he isn’t as prolific as he was at Delhi.

Kolkata Night Riders

Kolkata Knight Riders is on a winning spree. Shreyas Iyer said, that he doesn’t believe his team is playing to their potential, it would be interesting to see what they achieve if they play well. Armed with mystery Spinner, Varun, and Sunil Narine, they look like the best bowling side on paper. With Cummins at 7, they have a team of merciless batsmen, capable of 100+ meters sixes at will. Pat Cummin’s unreal hitting of Daniel Sams was a sight to behold.

Delhi Capitals

Delhi Capitals looked promising and set for another massive season but their batsmen form remains a worry. Their single loss came against a very strong LSG team, where Ayush Badoni held his nerve to win it for LSG. It might have been heartbreaking for Delhi but we are witnessing a star unearth in Ayush.

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Sunrisers Hyderabad has begun poorly this season, with two losses out of two. Bhuvi’s form has to be the highlight of the SRH season till now.

Royal Challengers Bangalore

It’s been two weeks since IPL 2022 began and it still feels extremely exciting. This year the stadiums are full of enthusiasm and the matches feel like every day is a festival. We can only wait and watch which team will win the season.

Unlike every year, Royal Challengers Bangalore has begun with limited expectations but has been brilliant. With 2 wins out of 3, they look like a very strong unit. While people expected Virat to shine, it’s Dinesh Karthik who is the star of the team. With two clinical performances from him, RCB is going strong.

What Happened after Hackers stole $1.7 million in NFT from OpenSea

Niharika Tewari
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What Happened after Hackers stole $1.7 million in NFT from OpenSea

NFTs or non-fungible tokens are becoming the space that everyone is trying to enter. Recently, Meta also announced that it is planning to add NFTs to Instagram. Until now, OpenSea is the world’s largest NFT marketplace, and in February 2022, it fell prey to phishing, resulting in panic among users. The hackers stole $1.7 million worth of NFTs from 17 users. Here’s everything that you need to know about the attack and what is OpenSea doing about it.

Hackers took $1.7 million in NFTs from OpenSea

The attack that happened on 20th February 2022, was confirmed by Mr. Devin Finzer, co-founder and CEO of OpenSea. There were rumors going around that the hacker apparently stole $200 million worth of NFT but the CEO also clarified that they were false and the hacker may have had $1.7 million of ETH from selling this stolen NFT. It was also previously assumed that 32 users were affected by the attack. It was reported that 254 tokens were stolen. PeckShield, a blockchain security service compiled a spreadsheet of the stolen tokens that included, Bored Ape Yacht Club and Mutant Ape Yacht Club.

After the incident, the company tweeted, “We are actively investigating rumors of an exploit associated with OpenSea related smart contracts. This appears to be a phishing attack originating outside of OpenSea’s website.” The CEO also insisted that affected NFT owners message him directly on Twitter.

When and how did the attack happen?

The phishing attack that took place happened when the platform gave its users short notice to migrate NFTs from Ethereum to a new smart contract. This was seen as an opportunity and many users claimed to receive an email from OpenSea which said that if users click on the link, it will enable them to migrate to the new contact system. Instead, users unknowingly gave the hackers access to their assets by clicking on that link. Explaining it simply, the attack took place in two stages; First, the victim signed a blank check, and second, the attackers filled in the details to take the ownership of victims’ assets.

the attack took place in two stages; First, the victim signed a blank check, and second, the attackers filled in the details to take the ownership of victims’ assets.

Although it happened when the company was updating its contract system, the company has denied that it was originated from there. A flaw in the broader platform would be exploited to a greater scale and since the number of people targetted was less, the attack’s origin from the system is unlikely.

The effects of this attack

This attack had identified only 17 users who got affected but there were still some users who are unsure if they were a victim of this attack or not. Several users even tweeted about the same and many other users complained that OpenSea’s support team was not responsive enough to help in the situation. The company later tweeted that it is investigating the origin of this attack and trying to work out the exact details of it.

The company also made users aware of fake OpenSea support accounts on Twitter and notified them that the company’s support account is now verified. After 15 hours of the attack, the company tweeted that the attack doesn’t seem to be live anymore since there has been no malicious activity for some time now.

A couple of days following this attack, it was reported that the trading of NFTs witnessed a price dip. Its seven-day trading volume was down by 37% and there was a 19% dip in the number of traders on OpenSea.

After around a month of this attack, OpenSea is now facing three lawsuits by users who were affected by this incident. A man from Texas is suing the platform because of its security vulnerabilities and has asked for $1 million in damages. Timothy McKimmy’s Bored Ape #3475 token was stolen around 7th February 2022. The NFT was listed on OpenSea for 130 Ether or around $338,000 and was later sold at .01 Ether. The man has also alleged that the platform knew about its security issues but did not take proper steps or actions to inform the users about it. The same lawyer has filed a similar $1 million lawsuit for Mr. Michael Vasile and finally, a third lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada. All these cases are related to the stolen Bored Ape Yacht Club tokens.

The CTO of OpenSea, Nadav Hollander addressed that this attack has highlighted the need to raise awareness about the security issues surrounding off-chain signatures among NFT traders. But this hack has certainly brought the need for increased security for NFTs to the light.

This is not the first time OpenSea was hit by criminals

In January, hackers identified a flaw in the platform’s code which enabled them to buy NFTs for less than the market value. The affected users were reimbursed $1.8 million by OpenSea. Users certainly have to look into the safety measures that they can implement from their side to avoid getting stuck in such situations.

Also, with the lawsuits piling up on OpenSea’s desk, this could be the beginning of a huge problem for the company. They have the potential to result in a big problem for the company. The NFT world is still vulnerable to money laundering and other such frauds.

These lawsuits will certainly put some pressure on the company to improve their security and handle their customer issues better. Although there are several threads that explain the technicalities of the attack, and complaints of users that the platform has not been responsive enough about their doubts, it is still unclear as to what will happen to the affected. According to previous actions taken by the company, it may or may not compensate for the losses faced by the users.

The key takeaway from the whole situation remains that NFT marketplaces should focus on a way that increases the security of these platforms. This way users can feel more secure while transacting.

Twitter starts testing an ‘unmention’ feature

Niharika Tewari
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Twitter starts testing an ‘unmention’ feature

Twitter is now testing a feature that will enable users to opt out of receiving annoying notifications. “We’re experimenting with Unmentioning—a way to help you protect your peace and remove yourself from conversations—available on Web for some of you now,” the company tweeted.

Snap launches a new lens so users can learn the American Sign Language

Niharika Tewari
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Snap launches a new lens so users can learn the American Sign Language

Snapchat is launching a new lens that will help snap users learn the American Sign Language. The lens is called the ASL Alphabet Lens and it is being launched in partnership with SignAll, a company that has the technology to translate sign language.

Meta adds ‘Sharing to Reels’ feature to share videos directly from third-party apps

Niharika Tewari
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Meta adds ‘Sharing to Reels’ feature to share videos directly from third-party apps

Short videos are something that has gained popularity for some time now. These have the ability to increase your reach and you can also explore your creativity using platforms that promote creating and sharing short videos.

Meta announced on Tuesday that it is integrating a ‘Sharing to Reels‘ feature on its social media platform Facebook which will enable creators to share their videos from third-party applications directly to their Facebook accounts. The Reels feature was only available on Instagram first and was recently introduced to Facebook worldwide.

This new feature will be displayed as a button on third-party applications and will also incorporate editing features and tools like audio, texts, stickers, effects, and more. Using this feature will also allow creators to share their creations with the help of one click instead of going through the process of downloading their content and uploading it later.

Meta also highlighted third-party applications like Smule, VivaVideo, and Vita who have integrated this feature into their apps. As Reels was identified as the fastest-growing content which is available in more than 150 countries globally, this feature was launched in an attempt to increase creators’ reach and increase the awareness of Reels as a platform.

This will also help Reels become a go-to option for creators to create, find the right audience, and monetize through it. “We’re focused on making Reels the best way for creators to get discovered, connect with their audience and earn money. We also want to make it fun and easy for people to find and share relevant and entertaining content,” shared John McCarthy, the Director of Product Management at Meta.

“We’re focused on making Reels the best way for creators to get discovered, connect with their audience and earn money. We also want to make it fun and easy for people to find and share relevant and entertaining content”

Although Reels is like a direct copy of TikTok, the company mentioned during its Q4 2021 report that it is the biggest contributor to the growth of Instagram and is growing quickly on Facebook too. The company is set to increase the popularity of Reels while competing with the app.

The gameplay of the company with Reels is very similar to what it did with Stories. Stories were not a big hit on Facebook but they certainly gained a lot of traction on Snapchat and Instagram. By commoditizing Stories on all the apps of Facebook, the company took the uniqueness out of it.

Similarly, the company can make sure that Reels are spread as wide as they can, and if all the functionalities will be available on Facebook and Instagram then users will not bother downloading an entirely different app for the same features.

The features Meta is introducing to widen its reach have the potential to encourage content creators in expanding their reach and investing more into exploring their creative side.

IPL 2022: What does IPL Season 15 hold for Mumbai Indians?

Navneet Mishra
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IPL 2022: What does IPL Season 15 hold for Mumbai Indians?

How would you define the team which goes up and wins the league, then keeps on losing to finish in the bottom half next season, then win again and then lose again to finish in the bottom half? That is Mumbai Indians‘ journey.

There aren’t as many difficult things as supporting Mumbai Indians. Based out of the commercial capital of India, a city of nearly 15 million, they are among the most followed team of IPL and the most successful team with five IPL trophies in their locker. With the catchment area of India’s finest cricket-producing fields, MI are perennially slow starters; Rohit doesn’t like this tag, but there isn’t anything he can do to change it. It’s like setbacks are the fuel to their engines and after a few stuttering defeats, the team performs like a well-oiled machine. Will this be another season to go down or just another season of peaking at the right time?

Needless to say, MUMBAI INDIANS has begun poorly. Having lost all three matches, they are languishing at the bottom of the table

Needless to say, MI has begun poorly. Having lost all three matches, they are languishing at the bottom of the table and still searching for a winning combination with only a few players looking apt for their role. Rohit, with the additional burden of being India’s captain, has plenty to think about.

Mumbai has many plunging holes this time around, which are evidently visible post their results. They don’t really seem to have firepower in their bowling department, whereas batting is missing the reliability of Quinton at the top of the order. Out of all the season, this team’s bowling looks weakest on paper and has had a difficult few weeks. MI is also missing some flamboyance with Hardik and Krunal moving to different teams and they have been unlucky with tosses as well. MI has been poor in the powerplay: batting and bowling both, which has been the primary cause of their losses. Daniel Sams was mediocre even last year, and Rohit needs to evaluate his options before sticking with Sams.

But, there have been many positives as well which deserve to be mentioned. Tymal Mills has bowled brilliantly in the powerplay as well as at death. Youngster Ishan Kishan along with Tilak Verma has shown promise and with ever-reliable Bumrah, they do have the team to compete. Rohit hasn’t performed as per his standards but which means he is due for something big and Surya Kumar Yadav is back from injury. And these big names would make them the least favorite opposition to face by all other IPL teams but is this year for the sixth trophy or another trophyless season?

Mumbai Indians may be accustomed to the scenario, but it does seem like an uphill mountain to climb. Rohit, though is set with his ammunition, and it would be time before we see them rising again. With teams shuffling and many surprises that viewers received during the auction, IPL Season 15 is going to be an unpredictable season.

Google Maps to display toll prices to your destination

Niharika Tewari
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Google Maps to display toll prices to your destination

Google Maps will display people the estimated toll price until the destination before they start a trip. This estimate will be given by considering factors like the day of the week, whether they will use a pass or other payment methods, and more. It will also enable an ‘avoid tolls’ option to display a toll-free route.

Twitter announced that it is working on an edit button

Niharika Tewari
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0
Twitter announced that it is working on an edit button

Twitter announced on Tuesday that the company is working on an edit button that will enable users to edit their tweets. It will be testing out this feature in Twitter Blue Labs in a few months.

(emdrprofessionaltraining.com)

Intel has suspended its operations in Russia

Niharika Tewari
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0
Intel has suspended its operations in Russia

Another tech company has joined other companies in suspending its operations in Russia. Intel announced that it has suspended business operations in Russia, only a month after stopping its shipments to Belarus and Russia. “Intel continues to join the global community in condemning Russia’s war against Ukraine and calling for a swift return to peace.” announced the company.

Is SEO already dead or is SEO still evolving?

Arun Nadar
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Is SEO already dead or is SEO still evolving?

Since the beginning of the internet, there has been a lot of talk about SEO being a dying craft. Although there have been significant changes to the way SEO is now handled, it would be a massive exaggeration to suggest it is now dead.

Let’s take a look at why there’s a rumor that SEO is on its final legs every now and then. When SEO first began, it was all about link building that was excessive and unrelated, keyword stuffing, invisible or buried texts, and other black hat SEO techniques. Although these approaches are now regarded as spammy, they were popular at the time since they produced excellent results in a short amount of time. However, we must keep in mind that what is popular today may become obsolete tomorrow.

Those who are still involved in SEO realize that it is changing at a quick pace. And it was at Google that this requirement for ongoing innovation was first noticed. Webmasters were engaging in a variety of spammy behaviors in order to improve their search ranks, according to Google. As a result, the company’s goal of better addressing customer searches was harmed, as less-relevant results appeared.

In November 2003, they sent out their first search algorithm upgrade- the Florida Update. Since then, Google has released thousands more changes, all with the same purpose in mind: to offer consumers high-quality, relevant information.

How is SEO still not dead?

A channel isn’t dead just because the analytics aren’t working in your favor. When it comes to search as a whole (and I’m not just talking about Bing and Google; people search on other sites and platforms as well), Google still has a huge 92.6% market share.

People still use Google and prefer it as a search engine. What has changed, though, is how Google is used. It used to be that networks like Instagram were utilized for discovery and Google was used for commerce (purchasing). Over time, the tendency has shifted to Instagram being heavily utilized for commerce and Google being mostly used as a discovery engine. ‘

So, SEO cannot be dead for the reason that people are engaging in shady activities. Google can work around its way to figure out what can be done to tackle this. Not all SEO is dead, but there are a few methods that are no longer effective. Outdated SEO strategies might lead to a dip in rankings and a decrease in traffic. Over time, Google has picked up on dodgy practices and fine-tuned its ranking elements. They’re better than ever at promoting useful information, which implies that in some circumstances, SEO specialists will have to take a different approach

How to use SEO in your favor?

Internet marketers must adapt their strategies as algorithms are tweaked and redesigned. The trick is to use Alive and well SEO strategies. SEO is a labor of love that demands constant administration and tweaking. SEO that thrives in 2021 follows Google’s Webmaster Guidelines and keeps current with industry news.

It’s vital to keep track of industry leaders and resources in order to understand what’s doing well. The SEO tactics listed below can help you remodel your site and increase revenue in 2022.

Is SEO Still Relevant in 2022?

Yes, SEO is more important than ever before. In the United States alone, different organisations and agencies spent over 65 billion dollars on SEO operations in 2016. The figures jumped to 72 billion dollars in 2018 and are predicted to exceed 80 billion dollars in 2020.

For instance, if you search for the phrase “what is off-page SEO,” you can see how many people are attempting to answer the question.

To put it another way, this incredible development proves that SEO is here to stay!

Every year, Google conducts 2 trillion online searches, or 5.5 billion requests every day. Organic or unpaid traffic accounts for 51% of all website traffic. And the majority of these individuals are being sent to sites that rank in the top five search positions on Google’s SERPs. Consider how much money you could make from organic traffic. As a result, having your website optimized is critical if you want to stay at the top of search results or outperform competitors in your niche.

Over time, changing user behavior has necessitated a rethinking of optimization strategies. The following are some of the most significant changes in the field:

  • Increased Mobile Search

Google moved to‘mobile-first indexing’ after a surge in the number of individuals using smartphones or mobile devices. This means that when indexing and ranking a website, Google will take into account the mobile version of the material.

  • Rich Snippets

Rich snippets, first introduced by Google in May 2009, have let consumers find a lot of information right on the SERP (search engine results page) without having to go to any other websites. Ratings, votes, read time, calories, and other data may be included.

  • Google AI Algorithms like RankBrain

RankBrain is a machine learning-based search algorithm that aids Google in processing search queries and providing users with more relevant, contextual results based on the search intent.

  • Featured Snippets

A featured snippet is a box of information that appears above a SERP’s organic search results. It holds the exact response to a user’s search query. In addition, the featured snippet may be displayed in response to voice questions.

  • Voice Search

Since its beginnings, voice assistants have come a long way. Siri, Google Assistant, and Cortana have gone a long way, and customers have been enticed to use them. As a result, the number of voice search inquiries has steadily increased. If you want to optimize for voice search, keep in mind that longtail keywords are the key to success.

“This is the global smart speaker market share, according to a poll conducted by “voice bot,” which demonstrates how much smart speakers will be utilized in the coming years.”

Image Credits: Voicebot.ai

With the updates and tweaking that are happening around SEO, we can say that SEO is not dead in 2022, it is evolving. Old methods will no longer work and may result in severe penalties. In such a situation, staying current on all of Google’s search algorithm modifications is the only way to stay ahead of the game.

The Real Estate and Business Excellence Awards 2022 was a power-packed event!

Niharika Tewari
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0
The Real Estate and Business Excellence Awards 2022 was a power-packed event!

Very seldom do we get to see our presence embraced around stars but that is exactly how the Real Estate and Business Excellence Awards felt like.

The stage was dazzling with the presence of award-winning business owners working in real estate and other sectors and social media influencers at the felicitation event. The 7th Edition of “Real Estate and Business Excellence Awards” held on 15th March 2022 at Taj Lands End – Bandra Mumbai, was organized by Adsync- Dubai and CNBC Awaaz was the media partner. It was powered by Touchwood Advisory and Management, marketing partnered by – Be Incridabe Events & Marketing, and alliance partnered by mediadekho.com.

Some of the prominent award builders who embraced the function with their presence included, Lodha Luxury, ANAROCK Creative Agency, Empire Centrum – Ambarnath, Chandak Group, M3M-Delhi, Suraj Estate Developers Ltd., Mantra Properties, Mahaavir Superstructures Pvt. Ltd., 7 Oak Developers Pvt. Ltd., Myzo Club & Resort, Metro & Satyam Developers, and many more.

Image Credits: CNBC Awaaz/ Adsync- Dubai

The event honored and recognized everyone involved in helping to give the real estate sector a boost. The event revolved around the world of entrepreneurship and provided an opportunity for influencers for exploring their potential in this sector.

Adsync- Dubai along with its partners brought this innovative idea into the picture. It was crafted in a way that would applaud the excellence in business sectors. The real estate business world was connected with social media influencers in order to utilize influencer marketing as a strategy to market real estate projects.

Touchwood Advisory and Management successfully created a link between the real estate world and prominent social media influencers. We have seen that social media influencers generally work in the areas of fashion, food, and lifestyle but it will be the first time that influencers will enter the arena of real estate. The event recognized how the role of influencers can be used vitally in businesses.

The entry of influencers into the world of business will help the development work both ways. While social media influencers can use their strengths i.e. channelizing their reach to keep the relevant audience informed about what is going on in the world of real estate; the real estate world, on the other hand, opens a new branch of opportunities for influencers.

Image Credits: CNBC Awaaz/ Adsync- Dubai

The Awardees of the Event

The moments that kept everyone on their feet and stole the limelight of the award show were the felicitation moments. Builders were felicitated for the excellence they have displayed in their work. Along with the above-mentioned builders, Fazlani Realty (Part of Fazlani Group), HawareLegaccy, Asmita Group, Akshar Developers, Arvind Smartspaces Ltd., Pansari

Developers Limited – Kolkata, Dream Heritage Pvt. Ltd. (DHPL), B. Kandhari Group, Ornate Developers, Kalpataru Limited, VTP Realty– Pune, Travedise World Co. Private Limited, Oxford Realty, Emperia Group, Anant Builders, and many more also received awards.

Miss Jannat Zubair received the ‘Promising Fresh Face Award 2022’. Miss Chahatt Khanna was awarded the ‘Entrepreneur of the Year Award’ for the brand Amaarzoo Fashion and the ‘Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year Award’ was awarded to Miss Pavvitra Punia. It addressed the keen interest they have displayed in building a brand. Among the other honors, the title of, ‘Style Diva of the Year 2022’ was given to Miss Ashnoor Kaur, and the title of ‘Most Glamorous Sister Duo 2022’ was adorned to Chinki Minki. Miss Surbhi Chandna was awarded the title of ‘Trendsetter of the Year’-Female category while the ‘Fashion Influencer of the Year’ was awarded to Miss Sameeksha Sud. Flora Saini bagged the title of ‘Glam and Style Icon 2022’ and Shimmer Entertainment was voted as the ‘Best Artist Reputation Management Agency.’

Image Credits: CNBC Awaaz/ Adsync- Dubai

The awardees were felicitated by “Maine Pyar Kiya” actress Bhagyashree as the guest of honor. The event was also resonating with the lively energy of Ms. Simran Ahuja- Miss. India 2013, Filmfare and IIFA Anchor.

The event was a memorable one and has made a place in the heart of everyone who was a part of it. The award recognized outstanding entities that perform exceptionally in their areas.

ByteDance, TikTok’s Parent Company accused of making fake accounts and ‘scraping’ content

Niharika Tewari
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ByteDance, TikTok’s Parent Company accused of making fake accounts and ‘scraping’ content

Everyone wants to see their company growing rapidly. We often come across the term ‘growth hacks’ being used when people talk about growing their company using certain tricks that can boost it. But what TikTok’s parent company ByteDance has done will certainly remain in the grey area of this term.

It has recently come to light that ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok made fake accounts using or ‘scraping’ data from Instagram, Snapchat, and other social media platforms without the users’ knowledge. The company took photos, videos, usernames, and other content and uploaded them on the Flipagram app in 2017.

Flipagram was an application that enabled users to create and share short videos, like a predecessor of TikTok. This company was taken over by ByteDance which is when the scraping began and it was later renamed Vigo Videos.

Four former employees of the company came forward anonymously and BuzzFeed News reviewed the company’s documents to find out more about these allegations. According to the former employees, these allegations were some of the ‘growth hacks’ of the company and this also included manipulating likes. An employee who witnessed this said, “One like was not one like.” Another document that was viewed, described plans to “crawl video > 10k/day in P0 countries”, which an employee explained meant to scrape more than ten thousand videos in a day, in the high priority regions or countries.

The documents also suggest that the company began to copy content from its China focused video applications and through fake accounts, it uploaded that content on Flipagram. While some employees identified Instagram as the source for scraping, others identified Snapchat and Musical.ly as a source to scrape and upload content.

Two of the employees pointed out that this scraped data was utilized to train the “For You” algorithm of ByteDance on US-based content. This algorithm currently powers TikTok and Douyin (its Chinese equivalent).

“ByteDance acquired Flipagram in 2017 and operated it, and subsequently Vigo, for a short time. Flipagram and Vigo ceased operations years ago and aren’t connected to any current ByteDance products”

-Jeniffer Banks, Spokesperson of ByteDance

It was also noted that the company was scraping and uploading content from Musical.ly which is now TikTok. The internal documents explained a lot about why the company was scraping data, one of which was for testing which type of content will perform best on the platform. The users could also mimic the scraped content to improve their popularity.

Employees also noted that some people noticed their content was on Flipagram and addressed it to the company. To this, the company instructed the employees to either delete the accounts or give control to the respective owner. Many creators also reached out sayinf someone was impersonating them on Flipagram and some users complained through Twitter.

Along with these allegations, BuzzFeed News prepared a detailed set of questions and sent it to ByteDance. In response, the company’s spokesperson, Jennifer Banks said, “ByteDance acquired Flipagram in 2017 and operated it, and subsequently Vigo, for a short time. Flipagram and Vigo ceased operations years ago and aren’t connected to any current ByteDance products.” Brian Dilley, former CTO of Flipagram denied the scraping allegations placed on the company. None of the co-founders respond to the requests for comments.

This isn’t the first time that ByteDance is facing allegations for controversial practises. Many other companies have previously filed lawsuits against it.

Google offers free electric scooters to get employees back to the office

Niharika Tewari
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Google offers free electric scooters to get employees back to the office

To help employees transition from work-from-home to the office, Google is offering free electric scooters to its employees. It is teaming up with Unagi, the e-scooter maker, and launching a program “Ride Scoot.”

Now you can share YouTube videos as a sticker on Snapchat

Niharika Tewari
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0
Now you can share YouTube videos as a sticker on Snapchat

Snapchat is now allowing its users to share YouTube videos as stickers in their stories and snaps. Users can directly share videos from the YouTube app without having to attach them via link. This is available for both Android and iOS users.

IPL 2022: Top 5 Young Players to Watch Out For in IPL Season 15

Navneet Mishra
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IPL 2022: Top 5 Young Players to Watch Out For in IPL Season 15

IPL 2022 has started and it has been a massive week for all the cricket lovers. It has been an exhilarating week for us, with the world’s best in action. Some of the well-known domestic players are also making their mark, while many unknown faces are taking to IPL as fish takes to water.

There are many youngsters who are playing their first or second IPL: some are from tier 3 cities with humble backgrounds and very little Ranji experience while many are direct from under-19 teams. It’s an incredible opportunity to showcase their talent on the world’s biggest stage.

While there are many youngsters who deserve our mention, we have selected the five most promising that we feel, will be most brilliant to watch:

Umran Malik:

Hailing from J&K [Umran Malik], barely 22 years, is the find of IPL. He hasn’t even played a full IPL, but he’s already in the news. Retained by SRH, Umran was very impressive in the first game and was one of the few bowlers who were able to stamp their authority against the rampant Rajasthan Royals(RR). In spite of limited experience, he is brilliant at death and likes to intimidate even the best with his searing pace. In his short career, he has shown remarkable consistency and clocks more than 150 KMPH at his will. If he goes on like this, he would only be the second cricketer after Pervez Rasool to play for India, and who wouldn’t want that?

Image Credits: Sportzwiki

Ayush Badoni:

Ayush Badoni is barely 5′ 6″ but he makes even the tallest bowlers in the park look small. Such was his innings against Gujrat Titans, that even Harsha Bhogle fell short of words to express which may have opened the floodgates for more and we won’t be complaining either. Hailing from Delhi, Ayush was the pick of the batsmen from both sides, looked calm in the crease, and was able to pace the innings tremendously. He came in, at a very precarious situation but took them to a very respectable total with Deepak Hooda. LSG did fail to cross the line, but it was surely the sign of many more such innings from Ayush.

Abhinav Manohar:

Another player: who was unknown till a week ago, is in the limelight for all the right reasons. From Karnataka, Abhinav has all the qualities of becoming a batting all-rounder, which India has been looking for a long time. His brief cameo against LSG may have left us wanting more, but he was able to mark his presence as well as take his team home. Abhinav’s price tag of 2.6 crores was nearly thirteen times his base price, but it is looking like a bargain for GT already.

Abhinav’s price tag of 2.6 crores was nearly thirteen times his base price, but it is looking like a bargain for GT already.

Abdul Samad:

Abdul Samad like Umran Malik hails from J&K. Signed by SRH in 2020, he came into reckoning with his brilliant strokeplay. Such has been his repertoire, that he has been commended by the greats of the game like Kane Williamson and Hayden. He doesn’t get the chance to bowl his leg-spin often, but it’s another aspect of his play that’s the gold standard. Abdul Samad has the dream of playing for India, and we hope he does that very soon.

Kamlesh Nagarkoti:

Kamlesh may not look like an express-fast bowler, but he can easily clock 150Km/h plus and is a brilliant fielder too. Honed by KKR in his growing-up years, multiple injuries have hampered his progress extensively but with the new franchise, Delhi Capitals, and a bit of luck: Kamlesh would be hoping for a better IPL this time. There are very few fast bowlers who could bowl as fast as him, it does seem odd that he hasn’t scaled as one would have liked, but with a brand new season, and time on his side, Kamlesh would be hoping to check most of the boxes to represent India.

Kamlesh Nagarkoti
Image Credits: SportsRush

IPL Season 15 is definitely going to be exciting! Every match is going to be cutthroat with such amazing youngsters and experienced players playing as one. Along with this, these players are also going to get some fangirls to watch their game.

Anahat for Change Foundation- Creating a safe and sustainable world for women, by women

Niharika Tewari
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Anahat for Change Foundation- Creating a safe and sustainable world for women, by women

It is high time that we address the needs of women all over the world and help each other in building a community that acknowledges the rights of a woman. Women empowerment is a topic that people from privileged positions may not understand unless they witness the realities that are faced by women in vulnerable and remote areas.

The founding duo of Anahat for Change Foundation – Namrata Karamchandani and Purvi Tanwani, have left their careers behind to picture a better world for women. Namrata Karamchandani, with twelve years of experience in social research, observed the plight of grassroots communities through her extensive research projects which was the reason behind her founding of a Not-For-Profit. And Purvi Tanwani, who was always a people person left her 9 to 5 job working as a financial analyst with the urge for working with women and girls at the grassroots level.

The Anahat for Change Foundation and Team Sociobits got in touch to know more about the NGO and understand the tireless efforts the founders have made through their foundation. You can read about it in the interview below:

Team Sociobits: Will you please tell us a little about Anahat for Change Foundation?

Co-Founders: We began our journey with Anahat in 2018 and started a grassroots level organization that will speak and work for the empowerment of girls and women in vulnerable and remote areas. Anahat has been tirelessly working with women and adolescent girls of West Bengal.

Due to the strategic location, adolescent girls present at the border of West Bengal are vulnerable and unequipped to fight for their rights. We are working on a holistic community program where they work on behavioral change in the community around the rights and entitlements of women and girls, and create an enabling environment so that the girls and women can make free choices to enjoy their rights and entitlements

Team Sociobits: What are the issues that you are addressing through Anahat? and can you tell us a little about your brand Unnati?

Co-Founders: We work in the area of Menstrual Health and Hygiene, Sexual & Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR), and Gender Equality. Apart from this, through our woman-supported brand called Unnati, we make reusable cloth pads, masks, baby diapers, and other sustainable products.

Unnati means ‘development’ in English and it is a brand that strives for woman empowerment in all possible ways. The brand showcases products that are organically made “By the women, For the woman”.  Our primary line of products includes reusable cloth pads which are made by the women of Project Unnati- a sustainable livelihood project.

 “Through our brand Unnati, we wish to diversify the product range and include baby diapers, kantha based products like masks, file covers, stoles, and cushion covers made by survivors of child marriage in Murshidabad.”

-Purvi Tanwani, Co-Founder of Anahat

Team Sociobits: How has your journey with Anahat been so far?

Co-Founders: Our journey so far has helped us to grow in many ways. We have learnt from our mistakes and have always worked as a team. Starting Anahat merely out of passion and being fresh to the sector, we have faced various scenarios. Sometimes, the journey was incredible and sometimes, we needed to prove ourselves as a team. And the trick lies in how we took the challenges, shaped our future, and never gave up.

In three operational years of Anahat, we have had the privilege to work with the most prestigious organizations in India. We have had the opportunity to work with OXFAM, UNICEF West Bengal, World Vision, ITC, Govt. Of West Bengal and other prestigious names in Kolkata.

Apart from working hard to build our own capacity, I (Purvi Tanwani) have been an active member of Global Shapers Kolkata Hub, Winner of the YKA Action Network Grant, and the holder of a Diploma from the Swedish Institute Leader Lab 2021.

Team Sociobits: What are the challenges that Anahat has faced or may face?

Co-Founders: Fundraising, followed by lack of marketing techniques are some of the major challenges that we faced. As we mentioned that we started Anahat passionately, our network was limited. We put our heart and brain into making our projects successful but we paid little attention to marketing ourselves. Despite being one of the major organizations in West Bengal that is engaged in training and making reusable cloth pads, very few people know us. With a small team of 8 people, we work wholeheartedly for a project but when it comes to pitching for fundraising or marketing, we lag behind in many ways.

Surviving the COVID-19 pandemic was another major challenge that we faced. Being an organization that is always at the forefront, we had to take some serious decisions for our team during the lockdown and persistent period of pandemic. We worked hard to secure funds for covid relief and started normal operations during the lockdown.

Team Sociobits: Are there similar NGOs like Anahat?

Co-Founders: There are NGOs working in the same sector in West Bengal and also NGOs working on the topic of menstruation too. But the core area remains different. We work in the space of Menstrual Health & Hygiene for the last three years as the main component whereas other NGOs keep MHH as a side component of WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene). NGOs working on this issue have a different modes of operation. Majorly organizations that produce reusable cloth pads are social enterprises that are profit-making at the end of the day.

We work in a different model where we train women to make pads and include the product in their alternative livelihood. We do not make profits from the sale of pads. Our products purely support women and their livelihood needs.

Team Sociobits: What is Anahat currently focusing on? and what is your roadmap for the future?

Co-founders: Since we have been based out of Kolkata for three years, the last three months have been all about focusing on expansion plans which are aligned with fundraising and marketing for Anahat. In the future, we also want to branch out and start our operations in other states of India.

We are also focused on establishing a brand for the reusable cloth pads made by SHGs in order to give them a stable income throughout the year. We are also creating a workshop space for the ladies of a nearby slum, where they can work and earn an alternative livelihood for their families.

Through our brand Unnati, we wish to diversify the product range and include baby diapers, kantha based products like masks, file covers, stoles, and cushion covers made by survivors of child marriage in Murshidabad. We eventually plan to create a platform where these products can be sold to sustain the livelihood of more than 100 women involved in our projects. A new product like reusable baby diapers is currently in the R & D stage.

During our first year, we did a study on WASH facilities in 16 states of India which clearly showed the lack of menstrual hygiene management and ignorance among women & girls. We would like to address this issue and reach more and more adolescent girls and women through our program and address their needs effectively by being present in their location.

Society prefers “men” when you are dealing with vendors or suppliers. But we are quite hopeful for the future and we are definite that things will change.

Team Sociobits: As a woman entrepreneur, what are the challenges that you have faced?

Co-Founders: Women entrepreneurship has its own challenges and acceptances. It varies from person to person. One of the major challenges, we think, is to get people to accept a woman as a leader and to get her voice heard and her capabilities taken seriously. There is a lack of confidence in society for women entrepreneurs and they are often looked down upon as somebody who does not have knowledge. Society prefers “men” when you are dealing with vendors or suppliers. But we are quite hopeful for the future and we are definite that things will change.

The co-founders of Anahat are set to create a better living for girls and women by creating awareness about menstrual health and hygiene. Aiming to expand to other regions, they are creating a community of women who will take care of their health and create awareness among the women who come after them.

Instagram introduces new messaging features

Niharika Tewari
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Instagram introduces new messaging features

Instagram has announced that it is introducing new messaging features to enhance the way users connect with each other. Users can share music previews, reply to messages while they scroll their feed, see who is online at the top of their inbox, and many more similar features are rolling out. As of now, these features are only available in selected countries.

Interested in Scuba Diving? Meet Coral Warriors: India’s first diving grant with a social cause

Niharika Tewari
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Interested in Scuba Diving? Meet Coral Warriors: India’s first diving grant with a social cause

Climate Change is real! if we sit in nature for just ten minutes and observe we can witness how fast natural things are deteriorating. Social activists have been tirelessly working to raise awareness about climate change and push people to act on their actions. But only some of us have heard about Coral bleaching and the kind of impact it can have on our ecosystem.

23-year-old Vidhi Bubna, founder of Coral Warriors witnessed coral bleaching and was heartbroken. She realized that what someone does on the land has an adverse impact on life underwater.

Team Sociobits and the founder Vidhi Bubna connected with one another to explore the startup Coral Warriors and know more about coral bleaching.

Team Sociobits: Could you tell us a little about yourself and about Coral Warriors?

Founder: I am an Economics graduate from Ashoka University but I was always drawn to adventurous things and experiences. I knew that economics was not my field of interest and always wished to try diving. It was during the COVID-19 pandemic that I got experience scuba diving for the first time.

Although scuba diving was challenging and I faced difficulties but it was at that moment that I finally let go of my fears, I felt one with water. Every time I dive, I feel closer to myself and it feels like a peaceful meditative practice. I also completed my master scuba diver course from Maldives, Egypt and Andaman.

I founded Coral Warriors in September 2021 to provide Indian diving enthusiasts a chance to apply for India’s only diving grant. While selecting an eligible candidate for the grant, I look for individuals who are keen on scuba diving and someone who wants to help in making a difference regarding global climate change. Before finally selecting a candidate, there is also an interview round that is conducted.

Team Sociobits: What are the issues that you are trying to address through Coral Warriors?

Founder: During my first scuba-diving experience in Andaman, I remember that all the corals were bleached. It was almost looked like a graveyard inside the ocean. (https://basicbluesnation.com) This made me feel very guilty and I kept questioning whether I was responsible for it.

When the temperature of water rises, small animals i.e. corals start turning white or begin to die. This can be witnessed across the world. The problem is, if corals start to die, the small fishes that eat them will also die in turn disrupting the whole ecosystem. People need to understand that climate change is not just a political topic anymore. Some reports suggest that seas will be empty by the year 2048 and I think it is high time that people wake up and realize this will definitely impact human lives also.

Team Sociobits: Could you tell us about the Coral Warriors grant?

Founder: The grant is for diving enthusiasts who want to experience the underwater world through diving and witness the whitening of coral reefs. We believe that this will help in increasing the awareness of climate change in water and experiencing the reality of it.

There are eligibility criteria and an application process that makes sure the person who is chosen keeps walking on this path of spreading awareness. This grant is only available for Indian nationals and as of now there is no other organization like Coral Warriors in India but there are similar organizations in Australia and the UK. We are now also present in Brazil and are following a similar application process as India for Brazilian nationals.

“reports suggest that seas will be empty by the year 2048 and I think it is high time that people wake up and realize this will definitely impact human lives also.”

-Vidhi Bubna, Founder of Coral Warriors.

Team Sociobits: Why did you choose scuba diving as a way to create awareness about coral bleaching?

Founder: The way I felt during my first scuba diving experience was a reality check for me. Facing natural experiences like coral bleaching a few times can help people realize that something is going wrong on our part. After around one week of scuba diving, I saw how real coral bleaching was.

If someone gets a chance to experience this first hand, the person usually has an emotional response and also profoundly understands what is climate change doing to our blue side and ultimately affecting each and every being. Scuba diving is something that will allow individuals to interact with the water world and understand its problems.

Team Sociobits: What is your roadmap for the future?

Founder: As of now Coral Warriors is aiming to spread awareness about coral conservation in India and get as many people as possible to get involved in this cause.

Apart from continuously working towards spreading awareness, we are also looking to get more investors and board of directors on board so we can create opportunities and fund as many people as we can. We aim to do this for people who are interested in learning about underwater life and diving because we want to share our privilege as well as create privilege for other people.

The founder feels that if we together take more conscious steps every day, then we can make a difference in helping reverse the climate change process. It is as simple as thinking about all the organisms while making daily decisions and choosing the less environmentally harmful one.

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