Industry News
NEWS AND UPDATES FROM THE MEDIA INDUSTRY
What Does LinkedIn’s Repeated “Record Engagement” Really Mean?
LinkedIn has once again reported "record levels of engagements," as it has for almost every quarter since 2018. But a story in Social Media Today raises questions about what that means, especially for specific feed activity and post performance. And some of the information provided by LinkedIn doesn't necessarily add up: Despite losing more than 59 million members in China because of regulatory issues, and removing China from its list of 200 countries with members, LinkedIn doesn't appear to have removed those Chinese users from its total membership count of 930 million.
Read more of the Social Media Today story here.
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“Head of AI” title might be Artificially … Inflated
Afraid of being left behind as Artificial Intelligence becomes more widely used, many companies have rushed to name heads of AI – without necessarily having a clear idea of what someone in that position can or should do. According to LinkedIn, the number of people in AI leadership roles in U.S. businesses, including some of the largest corporations, has tripled in the past five years. Among the observations from experts interviewed about the trend for a Vox story:
- AI is one of the few areas where companies are actively spending money. While no one knows how AI will evolve, there’s growing certainty that businesses need AI stewardship now. But what that stewardship should mean in practice is still to be determined.
- Heads of AI at digital companies generally focus on incorporating the technology into their products, while people in those positions at non-tech companies focus on how best to use existing AI technology to improve their business models.
- The majority of heads of AI previously worked in tech, though an increasing number come from business or marketing backgrounds
Read more of the Vox story here.
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Generation Gap Among Workers Isn’t Very Wide
Research conducted by McKinsey & Company shows that there are many fundamental similarities between workers of different ages: They want to be fairly compensated for work that’s meaningful and has a broader purpose, and they want real connections with co-workers and managers. The findings also dispelled some common stereotypes about different generations of workers, including:
- Generation Z employees aren’t necessarily more motivated by money than their older colleagues, but they do tend to speak more openly and often about money.
- Millenials are not the only workers who value flexibility. While younger workers may need flexible hours for child care, older workers may similarly want flexibility so they can assist aging parents.
- Across generations increasing numbers of male workers are also seeking workplace flexibility so they can be more involved with family – though working women of all ages continue to be responsible for a disproportionate amount of caregiving and household upkeep in addition to their jobs outside the home.
Workplace safety is one area where there are notable differences among generations. Younger workers tend to experience feeling “safe” as believing that their identity is valued at work, while older workers tend to equate safety with the security a paycheck provides for their families.
Read more about the McKinsey research here.
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