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Should you accept internet cookies? BU researchers say the open web could suffer without them

A study by Boston University researchers found that removing cookies cuts website publishers' revenue by over a third, with privacy-enhanced alternatives recovering only a small portion of the lost revenue. The loss of cookies could impact the quality and usefulness of digital products.

SourceBoston University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 18, 2026

Study reveals surge in gambling addiction following legalization of sports betting

A new study reveals a dramatic increase in sports betting and gambling addiction help-seeking since the Supreme Court legalized sportsbooks in 2018. Online sportsbooks have had a substantially greater impact on this issue than traditional brick-and-mortar sportsbooks, with nationwide searches for help increasing by 23% nationally.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateFeb 17, 2025

Four state-of-the-art, artificial intelligence search engines for histopathology images may not be ready for clinical use

Research suggests that four proposed AI search engines for automating search and retrieval of digital histopathology slides have inadequate performance for routine clinical care. The algorithms showed less than 50% accuracy in some cases, highlighting the need for rigorous external validations and standardization before clinical adoption.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalNEJM AI·TypeImaging analysis·DateMay 2, 2024

Users actively seek and share child sexual abuse material on Tor – but help is available to those willing to stop

A recent study on the Tor network found that one in five onion domains shared child sexual abuse material. The researchers also discovered that users sought CSAM through popular search engines and found that viewing violent material correlates with addiction, while seeking help is often hindered by lack of resources.

SourceTampere University·JournalScientific Reports·DateApr 3, 2024

Evaluating the truthfulness of fake news through online searches increases the chances of believing misinformation

A new study by researchers at New York University found that searching online to evaluate the truthfulness of false news articles actually increases the probability of believing misinformation. This phenomenon is concentrated among individuals for whom search engines return lower-quality information.

SourceNew York University·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 20, 2023

Study finds only about half of AI-generated ads only labeled as such

A University of Kansas study analyzed over 1,000 AI-generated ads and found that they are only labeled as ads about half the time, often appealing to consumers in positive ways. The prevalence of AI in programmatic advertising raises concerns about consumer deception and the need for updated guidelines to require transparency.

SourceUniversity of Kansas·JournalJournal of Strategic Marketing·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 14, 2023

Research finds that Google searches may be a predictor of domestic violence

A new study by Bocconi University researchers found that Google searches are an effective tool to track and predict domestic violence, especially in crisis situations. The study analyzed keywords related to domestic violence and found a positive correlation with calls to the Italian helpline and emergency number.

SourceBocconi University·JournalEuropean Journal of Population / Revue européenne de Démographie·DateJun 27, 2022

Does presenting credibility labels of journalistic sources affect news consumption? New study finds limited effects

A new study by New York University's Center for Social Media and Politics found that labeling credible sources does not shift people away from low-quality information or reduce misperceptions. However, providing credibility indicators may improve the news diet quality of heavy misinformation consumers.

SourceNew York University·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 6, 2022

Ranking apps on privacy

Researchers developed an algorithm to rank apps based on their privacy scores, allowing users to easily find and install non-intrusive apps. The system considers two scores: permission and listener access, providing a ranking of apps from least intrusive to most private.

SourceUniversity of Groningen·JournalConcurrency and Computation Practice and Experience·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 3, 2021

Restricting internet searches causes stock market instability: study

A new study published in the Journal of Financial Economics found that restricting internet searches for investors can lead to increased stock market instability. The research, conducted by RMIT University, discovered that firms regularly searched on Google were 19% more unstable after Google's withdrawal from mainland China in 2010.

SourceRMIT University·JournalJournal of Financial Economics·DateApr 28, 2021

You might be paying too much for ads on Google, Bing

A new study from Binghamton University found that advertisers may be getting more clicks by placing ads in lower positions if they prioritize website quality, brand equity, and selling proposition over top spot ad placement. The model helps advertisers quantify expected clicks based on these factors.

SourceBinghamton University·JournalJournal of Business Research·DateFeb 6, 2018

What do Google search queries reveal about brand attitudes?

Researchers found that users who are actively shopping in a category are more likely to search for any brand, but as users move from recognition to purchase intent, they become increasingly more likely to search for the specific brand. Brand owners are also more likely to search for their brand, even when not actively shopping.

SourceDrexel University·JournalJournal of Interactive Marketing·DateJan 4, 2017

Diverting redirection spam

Researchers have developed a system that uses fuzzy logic to analyze web addresses and detect redirection spam. The system provides an extra layer of security against phishing and malware attacks by assigning a probability to whether a suspicious link is safe or spam.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Electronic Security and Digital Forensics·DateJun 16, 2016

CSI -- on the metabolite's trail

A team of bioinformaticians at the University of Jena has developed a new search engine, 'CSI:FingerID', that significantly simplifies the identification of molecular structures of metabolites. The tool reduces the number of possible compounds from thousands to ten, making it feasible for precise lab tests to identify specific compounds.

SourceFriedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 22, 2015